The OKIE's Christmas . . .

We had a great Christmas! Started the holiday with a one night getaway for Kathy and I to a bed and breakfast in Norman on Monday and Tuesday before Christmas. We really enjoyed the chance to getaway and do a little Christmas shopping. The above picture on the left was taken in the lobby of the Montford Inn, where we stayed.

Kara got home on Sunday night before we left for Norman and stayed with us until Thursday before New Year's. When she went back to Ardmore, she took her Mom with her to help her get ready to return to work. I think they just wanted a little girls-only time and was glad they were able to do it!

On Sunday night before Christmas, we enjoyed our annual Christmas on the Mountain at Mountain Home Baptist Church where Kathy's Mom attends. James and Shawnee surprised their Grandma and came down for the evening. Kara and James sang What Child Is This and I joined them to sing I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.

James and Shawnee came down on the afternoon of Christmas Eve and stayed with us until Monday morning at 5:30 AM. James had to get back to Stillwater to a class that he was taking. It was a 2-week class that met for the week before Christmas and the week after Christmas.

On Christmas Day, we had the pleasure of having Kathy's brother Wayne and his wife Debbie join us for Christmas dinner. They also brought Kathy's Mom down to have dinner with us. Kathy had never gotten to cook a meal for them, so it was a really special day to her. The above picture on the right is Kathy, her brother, and her Mom. Wayne says he only poses for pictures when he's holding a fish -- so I think he and Kathy just caught a whopper.

After Christmas, Kara, Kathy and I took a quick little trip to Dallas on Tuesday and Wednesday. As I said on Facebook, they shopped until "I" dropped. But I was reading a couple of good books, so I got some good reading time in while they shopped. Kathy and I enjoyed a quiet New Year's Eve -- just the two of us and celebrated the New Year with New York City and went to bed.

As I said, it was a wonderful holiday! The only thing that would have made it better would have been if all of you could have been here, too. We love you and really enjoy treasuring our heritage and memories that we have enjoyed together over the years. Hope you all have a wonderful and blessed New Years!