Here's our 2023 Christmas picture... our family pics for 2024 were hysterical. I'll share those, later.
Usually, throughout the year, I find gifts on sale and tuck them into the back of a closet. By doing this, I can spread out the cost of putting together a fun Christmas gathering, especially for the youngest among us. But this year, I'll take advantage of the after-Christmas sales to add to our fun in February - fun to include Pappy's 60th birthday celebration.
And these days, Christmas has new meaning as now we've come fully into our new alias's... Nana and Pappy. That means... I'm Lana the Nana.
Each year, for our holiday gathering at BootCreek, I organize a group activity, and it gets wild. Last year, I bought everyone Nerf guns. Everyone. And I bought extras, just in case. We also purchased huge packs of nerf bullets; we had hundreds. After we opened all the presents, we went outdoors for an all-out "friendly-family" battle.
Unfortunately, my two son-in-laws are great shots, and this is the reason they both got smaller Nerf guns than our two daughters or the kids. Little did I realize, those mid-sized Nerf guns would shoot those spongy bullets with surprising zest. My bum ended up with small zings as I ran from them, but they still managed to aim straight for the largest target on my body... Brice especially racked countless success against my losing backside.
Our family got out extra energy as they dodged around tall pines, releasing life's frustrations. Each of us had great fun playing. BootCreek was filled with giggles, shouts, ducking, and mad dashes to pick up reload after picking up spent Nerf bullets.
This year, I have another activity in mind. I'll have to share the details of it, later. I don't want to ruin the surprise, but it'll provide a day of solid competition, for young and old, alike. Our family loves torturous competition in the most thick-skinned, loving way.
My husband and I are now in our 50's. Not to point it out so harshly, but I'll say my husband is at the apex of his 50's. He'll go over the tipping point in February, which is too weird to imagine. We've known each other since we were kids. I can still look into his face and see the kid in him.
I clearly remember his scrawny 14-year-old face, his skinny legs and knobby knees, and that broad smile I grew to adore. Today, he's a big man who is far from scrawny. Once upon a time, we were kids with boundless energy, both of us couldn't gain a pound. Back in those days, I'd totally forget to eat - for the entire day. I'm talking... totally forget. I can still do the same now, but there's no worry I'll blow away because I've got excess to spare.
And the reason we've come a great distance, weight-wise, is due to our mutual love in paying out our yang-yangs for culinary delights a/k/a eating out.
Too much eating out...
In fact, our little town in Texas has grown exponentially due to Houstonians fleeing the city for a country setting. The same as we did, more than ten years ago.
We didn't even have a Dairy Queen when we moved to a rural area of Texas in 2013, but since then, the town has grown. However, over the last five years, it's really exploded. In addition to our local favorites, several chain businesses have opened in town. We now have a Starbucks, a Dairy Queen, a Chick-fil-A, Wendy's, and a Panda Express, among others.
But the best new spot has gained a good deal of our bank account funds... a wonderful French patisserie called "Stella's."
Lord help us... Stella's Bakery is a French-style hotspot that the locals love to LOVE. Stella's even imports a particular flour from France to create heavenly pastries, prepared by their French chefs.
And since I love Quiche and apparently every other meal and/or dessert on their menu, the imported flour works wonders for our tastebuds. Anything with raspberries is my favorite. And since they're the experts on desserts with berries, I'm in serious trouble.
Anyway, when we first moved here, the taxes were low. After living in Harris County (Greater Houston), we were ready for some low taxes and low home insurance. Hurricane Ike soured us to living by the bay, south of Houston. But over the last decade, there's been an influx of people moving here to escape the city, especially after Hurricane Harvey caused Greater Houston to flood as never before. Especially in the last five years, our small town has boomed. This includes fast rising taxes.
However, growth isn't too bad for our foodie personalities. There's no doubt that we're enjoying an increasing selection of local restaurants. And it's always sweet to see hard-working people realize their dreams with their businesses.
Thankfully, the growth affecting the center of our rural town won't affect us too much. We live far enough away from town to enjoy country life in a thick forested landscape. However, I do see more and more land selling throughout the area for more and more money. Local scenery will continue changing. One day, we will actually have a neighbor in view.
As for changes, a few fantastic versions have hit our home with the growth of our family. We sure enjoy our five grand-children. They are rapidly growing little riots, and we love them. The five of them love coming to Nana and Pappy's house, especially for the entire clan to come together for cousin connections.
In today's world of wireless, cold connections, we must work diligently toward fostering warm face-to-face bonds that outlast the passing of time. Seeing and feeling the love of family and friends in person is a part of humanity to always cherish. And, the more the merrier!
