This months News and Views (December 1999)
- Visitors coming for Christmas
We've been able to arrange for Paula's parents and Paula's Grand mother to be with us during the Christmas holidays. They'll arrive after our annual "Christmas in Birmingham" trip, and stay with us until a few days after Christmas. We're looking forward to their visit, and will miss them when they return home. Since this is our first Christmas in our new house, it's going to be nice to share it with some loved ones.
- Christmas in Birmingham
Once again, it's time for Christmas in Birmingham. Paula's side of the family gathers in Birmingham, Alabama to exchange gifts, see each other, eat good food, and watch football (Or, at least TALK about football - hopefully Alabama football).
Clark posed an Saint Nick, apologized for having to enter through the back door (The chimney was too small, I believe was the excuse given), handed out Clark Bars, and asked those in attendance what they wanted for Christmas.
To the right, Annette asks "Santa" for a convertible. A red one. I don't think Santa was listening; no convertible was found under their Christmas tree.
Click here to see Baby Myles enjoying his pacifier in Birmingham (1.1 Mb.)
We also attended "The Gospel According to Scrooge". It's the 11th. year of this production, and it becomes more elaborate each year. This year, Barry Franks was Scrooge, and he did a wonderful job. The new church is beautiful, and allows for a more elaborate stage production.
- Sickness hits hard this month
First it was Micah for 5 days, then it was Steve for 2 days, then it was Clint for over a week, then it was Paula for over a week. Micah, Clint and Paula all were diagnosed with pneumonia. All were given rather strong antibiotics. Thankfully, all have fully recovered, and are ready for the Christmas holidays.
- Christmas Town USA
During the visit, we all had fun, as we shopped, cooked, and stayed up till the wee hours of the morning. We even had time to go to McAdenville, nicknamed Christmas Town USA. It's a small community where everyone (And, I mean everyone - there are zero exceptions) decorates their house for Christmas.
- Christmas Cookies
Christmas cookies are a tradition here at the Hughes Family. Each year, we personally bake cookies for Santa, and decorate each cookie by hand. This year, some interesting, and quite funny, things happened when we were decorating cookies for Santa.
- Visit to Santa
What Christmas would be complete without a visit to Santa Clause? Each and every year, the kids see Santa Clause, and tell them what each one wants for Christmas.
Each child asks Santa for two pretty important gifts. If they've been good, there's a good chance they'll get those two special gifts.
Depending on how good they've been during the year determines the quantity and quality of additional gifts they receive (And, the depth of Santa's checkbook).
- Christmas is also Mary's birthday
Know someone who has a Christmas birthday? So do we. Paula's mom, Mary, is a Christmas baby. To make the date a little more special, Paula asked her mom what she wanted for her birthday dinner. Mary said a Mexican fiesta sounded good to her.
So, I put my thinking hat, and came up with the following menu. Tacos (soft and hard were available), nachos, queso sauce, refried beans and Mexican rice should be enough to fill anyone and everyone up. As you can see, the picture to the right shows a sample of what we enjoyed.
- Grandmother's Lane Cake
Grandmother makes a special Christmas cake, called a Lane Cake. It's made with fruit, nuts, coconut, and brandy. Well, we didn't have the brandy, so we substituted some home made wine (Thanks, Gene).
We got the recipe from Grandmother, and video taped her making this special cake. For Mary, it brought back a lot of childhood memories.
- Christmas Morning
Christmas morning is always full of wonder, joy and anticipation. But, before we tear into our presents, we spend a few minutes remembering the true meaning of Christmas. Gene read a few passages from the Bible, and Brad and Clint recited their Bible verse (Found at Luke, Chapter 2, versus 8 through 11). It's the same passage that Linus quotes in "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown".
Santa has usually left his bounty sprawled under the tree, and the kids can't wait to see what goodies await. To the right, see what things looked like before the kids had their chance to rearrange things.
- Steve
Steve's always easy to shop for (at least I think so). I asked for the usual - new clothes, socks, etc. Paula came through in a big way with a talking Bozo the clown. I still have my Bozo the clown from when I was a kid, although he doesn't talk any more. Paula found a talking bozo at a local specialty shop, and got it for me. It was a great Christmas gift, full of thought and love.
Santa also got me Donkey Kong 64, a very large (And lengthy) Nintendo 64 game. Paula also got me a few sets of pants, and a few shirts for good measure. The kids got me a golf ball monogramming tool, as I've started to dabble a little in golf. But, since most of my golf balls end up in the woods, this gift might never be used to distinguish my golf ball from someone else's golf ball.
- Paula
Over the summer, Paula visited an art museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. On her visit, she fell in love with a portrait titled "The Shepherdess" by William Bougureau. I got the information on the print from Paula's mom, and her sister, Pam (Thanks for you help).
Via the internet, I was able to find an individual who could get me the print. I also got two other prints related to this print; one called The Tiny Shepherdess", and another called "The Young Shepherdess". I has all 3 prints dry mounted, and Paula will pick out a frame later.
Paula also got a mother's ring from the boys, and some shower items, including body wash and soap. Strangely enough, there are 4 spaces for stones on the ring, and Paula swears this means that "Ashley" will be on her way soon. No comment from me.
- Brad
Brad's request to Santa was for "Kermit the frog and My Pal 2000." Little did he know that one of his requests would be filled by Rammy. Since My Pal was given to Brad by his Paw-Paw when he was 4 years old, it was only appropriate that My Pal 2000 be provided by Rammy.
Bradley also received Ray Man II, a Nintendo 64 game that is probably one of the most graphically beautiful Nintendo 64 games I've ever seen. It's also quite humorous, and is suitable for all ages. If you own a Nintendo 64, you need to at least rent this title.
Brad also received several games, including scrabble, tip it, connect four, several car models (Plymouth Prowler and the Dodge Viper), some clothes, several christian CD's, and a few other odds and ends.
Click here to see Brad's Christmas picture, and learn some more about him.
- Clint
Clint wanted a remote control car called Super Rebound, and Super Smash Brothers, a Nintendo 64 game. Santa obviously thought he had been good enough this year to receive those. We've all played Super Smash Bros, and it's a fun, fighting game. Up to four players can play at the same itme, at different stages, and it's pretty fun.
Clint also received some nice clothes, several puzzles, a Pokemon puzzle, a CD player for his room, some Hot Wheels track, and cars (XV Racer - the chargeable Hot Wheels), and some other goodies.
Click here to see Clint's Christmas picture, and learn some more about him.
- Micah
At Micah's age, getting information out of him isn't always easy. But, since he's at the Sesame Street age, he finally admitted that he wanted (Or, we talked him into asking for - I can't remember) Elmo and a guitar. Santa presented him with the Rock and Roll Elmo, and a nice child guitar that doesn't seem to run out of batteries quickly enough!
He also received a large Tigger, a play farm complete with animals and vegetables, a Telle Tubbies aaadventure set, a Pooh puzzle, and several shape puzzles (You know, the square shape goes into the square hole), a Little Tykes car, and other kiddie toys to play with.
Click here to see Micah's Christmas picture, and learn some more about him.
- Gene and Mary
Gene has started quite a nice collection of knives, as he has several of the Franklin Mint knives. I helped him with this collection by getting him a 17" bone handle bowie knife with a leather sheath. I purchased the knife from the eBay auction site. It was MUCH larger that I anticipated, but Gene seemed to love it. Mary had flash backs to the O. J. Simpson incident when she first saw the knife. I had flash backs to the Crocodile Dundee movie where he draws his knife and says "Now that's a knife." to the people attempting to mug him.
Mary was easy to buy for. Now that she has a new Gateway computer, Paula and I put together a computer basket full of goodies. We got her a electrical and modem surge protector, some ink jet printer paper, blank greeting card paper, a new Pooh mouse pad and some very impressive multimedia Bible software. In talking with her after the holidays by Netmeeting, she is really enjoying the software.
- Grandmother
Grandmother is another easy one to buy for. Annette had mentioned that she needed a winter coat. Paula searched Charlotte for several weeks before finding the ideal coat. Grandmother was thrilled with her new coat.
We also put together a small basket of goodies for Grandmother. In this basket, we placed hand lotion, Pantene, and other travel accessories.
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