Christmas Caroling

Hannah's Girl Scout Troop caroled last night. They went to all the girl's home, sang a couple of carols and ate treats. Hannah came back home on a major sugar high!!!

Christmas has arrived in the Williams' Home

For the last few years, we go to Santa's Christmas Tree Farm in Eustis, FL. We have made some wonderful memories. Santa's Tree Farm has a petting farm where you can pet animals and ride the horses, take a hayride around the farm until you find your tree and then cut it down and then there's a bon fire that you can roast hotdogs and marshmellow. This year the kids rode horses but we bought a fir tree that was brought down from one of our Northern states (the trees on the farm were pretty sad looking...like a Charlie Brown tree). We still had a great time together...and we got to wear short sleeves :-)

These two pictures are just showing Richard's and Boozer's help in decorating the tree :-) Actually, Richard does a pretty big job of getting the tree ready for decorating...cuts the tree to fit the house, makes sure it is straight in the stand and then puts the lights on.

Hannah Makes her Cooking Debut for Thanksgiving

Hannah made her cooking debut for Thanksgiving. She did most of the Cherry and Pumpkin pie and was very proud of herself....espcially since all of us complimented her...they tasted SOOOOO good!!!

We had a beautiful time with Richard's Uncle Bill & Aunt Priscilla and his cousin Lynn and Max. (We missed my family though and are looking forward to Christmas)

Making Gingerbread Houses and Men

The kids made gingerbread houses and men on Thanksgiving morning. (Top picture: From left to right: Hannah's, Andrew's & Sarah's)

Sarah Turns 13!!!!!

I remember the night that my daughter was born...I remember calling Mom and all three of us crying on the phone...Sarah because she was just born and Mom and I from joy and wishing that we were together. I remember the day that we brought her home from the hospital. Grandpa came and picked us up from the hospital. Grandma had Thanksgiving ready for us and that was Sarah's first day home...

I can't believe that my daughter is 13 now. She is beautiful, very smart and kind!!!! I tell her all the time that she'll bring us a big bride price. She can cook, clean and has high aspirations for the medical field.

I'm very proud of my little girl and the young lady that she is becoming!!!! Sarah, may you lean on God who made you as you grow. He will direct your path and cause you to prosper!!!

My Little Girl is Growing Up

I don't have a picture to put with this...but Sarah went through my closet tonight to pick out one of my shirts to wear to school tomorrow...

I remember when my Grandpa picked Sarah, her dad and I up from the hospital on Thanksgiving day thirteen years ago. Grandma was at our apartment making Thanksgiving dinner...that was Sarah's first day home!

I pray for my daughter all of the time. She is becoming quite the young lady!

Painting on the Wall

We are making the house our home. We have our foyer, bedroom & bathroom to paint and the laundry room. (Seems like a lot left to paint, but we have quite a bit done) We painted the music room this weekend. Richard taught the girls how to make "w" when you roll paint. He let them draw on the wall then covered it up. They are learning from the best.

Hannah is in the Lake Mary Art Fesitival

Hannah had art work chosen by her school to be on display at the Lake Mary Art Festival. When she told me about it, she said, "I am just so proud that I was chosen." Richard and I have to say that we were impressed with her picture. She had quite a bit of detail in the branches and sky. Grandma went with us to see the show. I found out that my Grandpa was very artistic and his sister taught art. I never knew. I know that my Dad is quite artistic...it runs in the family.

Orlando Speedway

On Friday, we went to Orlando Speedway to watch a friend qualify for this Sunday's race in Pro-Street Racing. I had no idea that this is such a Big venue! There were so many people that had been at the Speedway since Thursday....they bring their RV's, bar-b-que, dogs, families, crew team and of course, their "garages" to work on their cars. Richard used to do this when he was younger...at first he told me that we could be looking at a very expensive hobby if he were to get back into it...but as the night went on...he decided that he doesn't want to get back in to it...as he said...you race for 7 seconds and then have to work on your car for 10 hours because they break so easy...but Andrew has been bitten by the racing bug.

We really enjoyed ourselves though...being a part of all that commotion....the above picture is of Hannah and Bailey. Bailey's dad is who races. She had been at the track with her dad since Thursday and was glad that Hannah came to rescue her. Bailey wears those ear phones because the noise is so loud...but her baby sister slept through it :-)

Brian, Bailey's dad, didn't race that night because of the rain. He was the next to go when they had to call it off because of the rain. When you average 183 mph...you can't race down a wet track. His wife called yesterday to say that he qualified and will be racing today (Sunday).

Hallowen Spooktacular - Sea World

We decided to take the kids to Halloween Spooktacular at Sea World this year. (Our neighborhood doesn't do much for Halloween and we have year passes to Sea World) We had such a good time as a family...even Richard had to admit that we had a good time. We spent the afternoon and evening riding the roller coasters, visiting the Polar Bears, Beluga Whales (Sarah wants to buy one), the Walrus. (I am always amazed at the size and grace of these animals) Richard and Hannah visited the penguins and feed the seals while Sarah, Andrew and I rode Kraken.

We walked down Spooktacular Lane where the kids trick or treated at several "stations" and got their baskets filled.

We finished the evening at the Shamu Rocks show...which is absolutely AMAZING...the strength, grace and size of the killer whales...even the baby whale is BIG! But to see these animals interact with their trainers just amazes me.

These pictures are of Andrew and Hannah sitting three rows away from the Shamu tank...they didn't stay there :-) Richard, Sarah and I were sitting 13 rows away....and they joined us later...I think that they decided that they had gotten wet enough from the rain

Miss Hannah - the "Diva"

Hannah was a Diva this year. When I asked her what a diva was...she told me that it is a princess that can dance and sing at the same time.

Mr. Andrew - the Vampire

Andrew was a vampire this year. He did pretty good at keeping the make up and teeth on throughout the night...but by the time we got home, his eyebrows were running down his face :-) We were competing with the rain through out our day at Sea World

Miss Sarah - the Princess

Sarah was a "princess" this year for Halloween. We even did a French manicure on her nails...notice the eyelashes...even they had a sparkles on them....she did pretty good with them until they got too wet to stay on.

Journey to Atlantis

Sarah and Andrew are in the first row....they got SOAKED!!! Hannah and I are behind them...as we're riding up the big hill and knowing that we were going to have to go DOWN....Hannah asked if we could get off NOW....we had fun!!!! Then Sarah, Andrew and I rode the Kraken....Andrew's first upside-down roller coaster...We got up to the ride and then had to wait because the rain. That is when Andrew started questioning if he wanted to do this...but I kept telling him that fear is in his mind and he'd be OK...when we finally got on the ride...I could hear him laughing...Sarah screaming....when we got done...he wanted to go again!! (By the way...each of us got wet because of the rain)

The kids trick or treated down Halloween Spooktacular. Their baskets got pretty full...actually it's the first Halloween that my children turned down candy. (Both Hannah and Andrew quit getting candy because their baskets were so heavy)

Hannah Kay

It seems as if this child decided to loose all her teeth at once...