Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween

Jack my pumpkin, for those of you who are not familiar with Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas, the main character is a skeleton named Jack and this is what he looks like.

Ray spent a couple of hours carving my Jack O' Lantern today. As the ghosts and goblins came by the house to do their trick or treating they gave our house an A+ for decorations.

Inside and out we went with the Nightmare Before Christmas theme this year, with the exception of some Lenox pieces here and there. We have enjoyed this Halloween and we hope that all of you have too!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Oh what a Treat

Aunt Brandie with the kids decorating cupcakes for a sweet treat! There were many little characters to choose from at this family gathering. Shanna the oldest was a Zombie, Aliceia was a rock star, Christian was a caterpillar, Beulah was Cinderella, Julius was a jock, Zeth was a business man, and Zoe was a princess.


It has been a while since we have all tried to get together in one place and still we did not quite make it. We missed having Blake and Kaleb with us during this fun time. Also, Isaiah was visiting some other friends of the family during this gathering.

Aunt Brandie holding Zoe. She is 3 months old now and she has pierced ears! She was extremely well behaved just like the little princess she is.

Zeth, Beulah, and Christian striking a pose for the camera!! They are the three musketeers when they are together. What one does they all do.
The three peas in a pod! They are so close and will always remain each others greatest supporters and adversaries on occasion. My sister Lulu with her three kids at the Pheris house. All healthy, happy, and having fun! The little princess did her part in entertaining the adults as well as her older siblings did in giving them a run their money.
Sisters, so much alike, but also different in many ways. My nieces started a new private school this year and the teachers and students both get the two mixed up. How, I don't know since they are two grades apart.

Everyone had a great time talking, taking pictures, eating, decorating cupcakes, and playing Rock Band. The kids got so into Rock Band that Zeth was moving around and accidentally knocked a door off of its hinge.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Reggies Favorite Spot














One of Reggie's favorite spots is watching TV with Ray.
When he is extra needy he will go chair to chair from me to Ray.
This is also Ray's favorite spot to relax and unwind after a long day.
He loves to watch football, wrestling, poker, etc... He watches so many shows that there are a total of 42 shows that are set to record on the DVR. I will admit that some of those shows are for me as well.

Trick or Treat

We love to celebrate the holidays and Halloween is one of our favorites. Halloween is almost here and we become more excited as each week passes and we get closer to all the candy and good times. We got all of our stuff down from the attic today and decorated the inside and outside of the house. We wanted to show everyone what the ghouls and goblins will see as they approach our house this "all hallows eve."

The Raven


The Raven

by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow will he leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore

Renaissance Festival





Today we went to the Texas Renaissance Festival. We walked around and took in the different sights, sounds, food, and entertainment. We always hit our favorites with the junk food, including funnel cake, fudge, and kettle corn. We usually hit the Ded Bob show and the Joust each visit along with a stop at one or two other shows. This year was our first year to go to opening weekend and it was muggy!! We made our usual circle and toured the many different and unique shops and by the time we entered the gardens we were soaked through with perspiration! So to say the least, we still had a wonderful time. We love going each year and this year will be one of those years that we go twice. We usually wait until November to go with the cooler weather, but we wanted to experience the Oktoberfest theme this year.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Don't Ya Want Some???

Ray made me these today from scratch! He used a Paula Dean recipe from the Food Network website and they came out awesome. Even the glaze is homemade!

Birthday Boy

Kaleb and big brother Blake playing at Aunt Brandie's house. Kaleb is turning 5 today! Such an important and memorable birthday for our wonderful nephew. We are wishing Kaleb a very special and fun filled birthday!


Love,

Aunt Brandie
Uncle Ray