January/February Birthday Celebration

The Smith/Cassada families gathered last night......

to celebrate Joshua, Christy and my birthdays Presents were gathered

pictures were taken (hmmm, where's Pat?!?)

yummy food was eaten

got caught up with each other

fun was had by all

lots of laughter

Just good to be together ~ great relaxed evening together

Dad and son

Courtney and Pat hosted ~

with Courtney's creative touches.

homemade enchiladas ~ quacomole and chips

was served and enjoyed ~ yum!

the table was long.......and we ALL fit around it

the girls ~ :)

(Brittany and Andrea were missing ~ they were at church

for their small group time ~ we missed them!)

the cake ........awesome!

{chocolate cake with white icing....and sprinkles}

Wii was enjoyed ~ by kids....and adults :)

Stephanie REALLY getting into it :)

Hannah and Courtney

Randy and Barbara enjoying the fun

gifts were opened ....... and appreciated

oh yeah ~ there are those two cute boys

enjoying Joshua's toy.....together!

Steve and Randy

Bailey giving us a little piano recital

the girls doing "dance Wii" :)

Simply a wonderful evening together ~

we love our family.......

we are certainly blessed.....beyond measure.

Catch Up

Three posts put into one ~

it's not too long....I think you'll be able to handle it. :)

Alden and I headed downtown DC, near Chinatown

{the night after the latest snow storm}

for a fun visit with an out-of-town friend

Mark and his wife Rhonda go back 36 years.....um really! Alden and I were newlyweds, Mark and Rhonda were single when we first met..... and then they married!

Mark's work brought he and his friend Brian to town ~ we had the BEST time getting caught up!

We have sent Christmas cards back and forth for these 36 years....but this is the FIRST time we were together after all these years. And.....what a GREAT time we had.

We missed Rhonda, but hope to SEE her before too long as well. Listen to this amazing story: Okay, so Rhonda and I have been Facebook friends for a couple years ~ Thursday, Rhonda put up a "video" that Mark had done interviewing Mike Pence. (9:49 a.m.) {Mark is a broadcaster on Moody Radio} 1. We know Mark. 2. We know Mike Pence. 3. We now realize Mark is here in town. 4. I comment to Rhonda "ahhh, Mark was in town and we missed him". (2:13 p.m.) 5. Rhonda comments back that he is still here in town and will be overnight. (2:15 p.m.) 6. Great! 7. I send Rhonda another "comment" with our cell phone numbers and to have Mark contact us. 8. She sends back Mark's cell phone number. 9. Alden calls Mark (5:30 p.m.) 10. We set up a time to go have dinner. 11. Dinner with Mark and Brian (7:30 p.m. Thursday) How cool is that???!!!! Way to go Facebook ~ you certainly do keep us in contact!

What a blessing!

The Capitol blanketed in snow ~ Yesterday we went to Joshua's basketball game ~ his first year playing. He did GREAT and even made a basket!!!! Notice ~ he is always smiling. :) Both sets of grandparents enjoyed the game ~

Bailey and Rebekah ~ Mom and daughter :) The refs do a great job ~ they do a little "coaching" along the way

team meeting after the game

There was an old telephone booth in the meeting room :)

the kids were so funny trying to get that this is where people used to make phone calls

the entrance to our neighborhood ~

the effects of our last storm.

branches and trees down.

It has been so cold that our snow has stayed around ~

to finish off the post ~

of course, H.A.D. to make chocolate chip cookies during the snow days.

Yum.......

Few More

24 hours later.......

beautiful sights .....with the sun setting over the snow beautiful

just a little more shoveling.....

by the mailbox

my favorite "snow shoveler"

my man ~ :)

oh my ~

almost done ~

we love our mailman

(don't ya'll love that we still get mail delivered right to our houses!) a blessing ~

Goodbye "January Snow of 2011"

It's been nice { tough 24 hours for some...without power

and long rides home from work).

I still say...... :)

January Snow

What a storm it was!

It dumped 8" on our area.....

in a very short amount of time.

It was beautiful last night ~

the snow came down.....poured actually,

and stuck in all the trees

to present a "winter wonderland".

Alden decided he'd better get a start on the "snow blowing"....

{we are most thankful our dear "across the street" neighbor

bought a snow blower last year}

He did her driveway and sidewalks....

and got to ours as well.

A snow plow even made it's way to our street ~ We were surprised that Burke made the National News/Weather this morning. What fun!

When we woke ~ the sun was peeking through the clouds.....

Enjoyed going from window to window to see the sights ~

then we headed out to finish up shoveling ~

our own and some neighbors. :)

Beautiful sights to behold ~

We lost a branch from our maple tree out back ~

this storm was something else.

Many people were without power (we were thankful to have ours!), and

the heavy snow caused many branches to fall around the area.

If you could have "heard" the effects of this storm ~

thunder, branches cracking and falling, transformers popping (the sound and the blue light).

Quite a storm to remember.

It is beautiful ~

January 2011

Snowstorm

Content. Happy!