Christmas with the Lawson's

19 December - 21 December 2008


Dustin and I pulled into my parent's house around 0100 on Saturday morning. It took us a bit longer to get up there than normal because of the road conditions up there. Eric opened the door for us as we piled out 6 dogs and the two of us. Here's Eric in his lizard-sex position shirt he took from a buddy's truck. Yes he is working on a shot gun at this time of night too.

Next day... dad deep fries a ham. This was the most delicious thing in the word. It had a sugary crust for some reason and the flavors of the ham were so intensified it rocked. Dad got this off of Paula Dean. Want to try it? Check out her recipe at Food Network Dad didn't use her recipe much other than cooking time. He did inject the ham with some Cajun jalapeno mix he made. When we took it out and put it in the kitchen to rest, we could push the top of the meat and it would just juice everywhere... so good! None of it was left Sunday morning.

Here's dad watching the fryer temp. Thinking we should get him an electric one sometime in the near future. Oh yeah, Mable is running away from the garage after getting in trouble for trying to eat dear carcass.


Right there in that snow is where mom fell trying to feed her all-important birds so her old ladies could watch them. Isn't the snow and ice beautiful?

Dad and I dropping in the turkey.


The finished turkey product. Soooo good of course.


Here's Dottie trying to find a place to do her business... There was absolutely no grass to be found up there. Notice how tall the snow pile is.... I really miss the snow.

The dogs running around on the front side of the garage enjoying the snow before it got too cold.

Eric showing the love after a long day at work on the Avilla PD. He worked a lot of 10-50s because of the icy road conditions. This was the same day that Dustin and I ran into Kendallville to get some dog food cheaper than we do down here and then went to Radio Shack. I got an iPod boom box for only $30 when it was originally $129.99... pretty sweet deal, huh?!



Here's mom at her first attempt of doing the Wii Fit. We left it up there for her to continue trying-- we'll see how that goes! Eric video taped her on his cell phone. It was hilarious watching her do the hula-hoop and the running. We were laughing so hard!!


Eric and I playing this Terrorist game on the Wii. The first picture is nostalgic to Eric and I because here we are shooting like we did as kids (except with real guns back then) and our instructor is sitting behind watching us. BTW I took this game home to practice so Eric and I can demolish these terrorists haha.

I had to take this picture because mom was making fun of me. It was -27 with windchill today, yet mom wanted to go shopping. So I bundled up and was wearing this hat. I love it because it covers my ears and everything. She was making fun of me because she said I looked like a dork... now whose the dork?? Hm...

Camp Atterbury Christmas Party 19 Dec 2008

Friday was a crazy-busy day, that's for sure. I had to go to work at normal time on Friday and the students were dismissed at 10:30. The teachers had a full day of work ahead and it was quite frustrating because all I could think about was what was going on later that day.

Below are some pictures for the Atterbury Christmas party. All the Airmen and their families got together and had a beautiful banquet and some fellowship.

Above is Dave, Deb, Chrissy, Bob, Merle, Ernie's wife, Ernie, and Dustin. Dustin was the last one to eat at our table and he was quite slow. Notice the Starbuck's cup... this was one of my Starbuck's fraps cleaned out and being used as a beer container--Leave it to Dave ;)


Here is Stanley wiping his mouth. His name really isn't Stanley, it is Steve. He is doing man days at Atterbury and is quite odd. He was a home schooled if that starts it out? I didn't believe half the stories Dustin told about this guy. For example, JT would get out the bull horn and hollar at how he was doing everything wrong (like on the movies). After meeting the breathing individual, I now know why he is called Stanley and enduring the pain the Atterbury men inflict... Have you ever met a person who just totally is out of touch with not just reality, but social skills? A person that doesn't understand how to react or engage in dialogue with people? This is Stanley...
Notice the little girl in red in the back? She's holding a toy snake. See the man tha belongs to the hair line that is receding? He is terrified of snakes, just like me... Bet you can't guess what happened next??? :) The worst part was, she walked past me and my blood pressure was high. Dustin comes up and grabs me as she walks by and I screamed. Such horrible pranks...


Here's Quatar (Cutter) in the blue AF polo and his girlfriend with the silver scarf. Cutter is doing man days at Atterbury as he prepares to deploy to Iraq next month with Terre Haute. His girlfriend is deploying as well.

Oh.. what can I say about this guy. First of all he's drinking Mountain Dew-- young and wet behind the ears. Tadpole (Jason Hart) or at times I call him Skittle, is the newest edition to the Atterbury bunch. He is still older than me, but we don't tell him that. He's got a lot to learn but he's definitely a cool guy. I guess it really doesn't take much to be better than "Stanley." haha



Here is Dustin's girlfriend... not the one on the left, but the one on the right who always wears his gortex. Dustin and JT can't do anything without one another. They go to lunch together, hide together, do radio/computer geek stuff together, and even hold each other's hands in the bathroom. We love JT and Tracy :).


I had to get a funny pic of Stanley... doesn't he just look like a Stanley?

Here's JT in the corner, Chris (Beech) Snyder, Mike (mad day guy), and Dustin. I had to take this picture for some many of reasons.

Mrs. Aders and Mrs. Nester... showing how we Air Force wives have to stick together and be of a certain tribe haha.


Merle's oldest, Isabella, showing off her necklace she made. Libby, Beech's wife is so great with the kids. She always brings so many activities for them. I actually wanted one of these necklaces... great job, Isabella!

Here is Evan Payne, Gabrielle Aders, Beech's baby girl, Elaina (Merle's snake friend daughter), and Bob's daughter in the corner.

Merle thanking everyone for being at the party and explaining the rules of the White Elephant gift exchange.
Jason Monroe is opening the gift I wrapped. Dustin found his id card still in the CAC reader in his computer. Dustin gave it to me and so I put it in the box and somehow he was the one that picked the gift and opened it. He loved the gift, of course ;)


Kevin and Gabrielle. She gets to wear the necklace and I don't even get one. By the way, isn't he a great dad? He can even do hair like he's had hair all his life... hahahahahahaha

Dustin and I left the party around 8:30 and headed back home to get packed and get the dogs to head up north for the evening.

Christmas Survey

Danielle's Christmas Favorites [Dustin's are below]

1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree? I prefer the real tree, but since I'm so allergic to pollen I now prefer to keep a fake tree.

2. Favorite Ornament- I'd have to say my favorite ornament is/are the South Park characters. I absolutely love them. My other favorite ornaments are my I Love Lucy collectibles from Hallmark.

3. Favorite Christmas Song- I fell in love with "Ave Maria"sang by Wynonna last year. I also love "Little Drummer Boy" and the whole Vince Gill album.

4. Favorite Tradition- I love waking up in the morning on Christmas to Dustin cooking breakfast and coffee brewing. We would sit and open up gifts in the morning. I really love the idea of spending time with family all day and just relaxing.

5. Favorite Gift Ever Received- Honestly, I do not know what my favorite gift has ever been. It is cliche but I love all the gifts I receive, even if they are donations in my name or just the gift of time. I'll tell you though, I'm grateful for the refrigerator this year :)

6. Favorite Christmas Meal- I love ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, noodles, relish tray, green bean casserole/broccoli casserole, and of CHOCOLATE PIE :)

7. Favorite Christmas Cookie- One of my mom's customers, Judy, makes these sugar cookies that are delicious. They are just puffs of air with sprinkles of sugar on top. I hope she makes them again this year and mom saves some!!

8. Favorite Place to be- With Dustin and family.

9. Favorite Memory- My favorite memory has to be when Eric and I would wake up early in the morning and get mom up. Dad would be working because the police can't take the day off like the rest of us. Dad would wrap our presents at night and then make "sleigh" marks on the drive way with his car. He'd also write us a note from Santa. Mom would call the Sheriff's Dept to tell dad we were awake and he'd come home to see us open our presents. That evening we'd go to Joni's and have dinner and chat all night.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie- Hands down Home Alone is the best Christmas movie. I've watched it every year since it came out in the theaters :) I also want to add The Family Stone into that as well.


Dustin's Christmas Favorites

1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree? Fresh tree.

2. Favorite Ornament- My favorite ornament is the one my grandmother gave me when I was born and then the other one when I was one.

3. Favorite Christmas Song- "Father Christmas" by The Kinks

4. Favorite Tradition- Getting up in the morning, cooking breakfast, and watching A Christmas Story on TV all day long.

5. Favorite Gift Ever Received- When I was a kid I loved my Atari I got and now I'm grateful for anything I get because it doesn't matter to me if I get anything. I'd rather have the thought or spend time with the people.

6. Favorite Christmas Meal- Turkey, fried.

7. Favorite Christmas Cookie- Peanut Butter cookies

8. Favorite Place to be- Home relaxing with Danielle and the dogs.

9. Favorite Memory- Not sure

10. Favorite Christmas Movie- A Christmas Story which Danielle can't stand.

O Christmas Tree

I don't know how to turn this around, but this is our Christmas tree for this year. The angel on top is supposed to be fiber optic, but she doesn't work anymore. She is still beautiful though.

For Christmas this year, it seems like we'll be on the run for the full two week break. December 19th is my last day at work until the first Monday after the new year. That day is a full day for teachers and a half day for students. So I'll have most of the afternoon to get things arranged for the next grading term when we get back. Maybe I can get my files organized as well! Can I get an Amen to that, fellow teachers?! Anyway that same night is Dustin's work Christmas party. So after school, I'll come home and run straight to Camp Atterbury to enjoy the camaraderie of his fellow workers. They are a blast to hang out with so it will be pretty fun to catch up with people I haven't seen in awhile. That night we plan on coming back home, picking up the dogs, and heading up to Albion to spend the weekend with my parents and brother. Eric is hopefully getting to have most of Saturday off so we can have a Christmas dinner together. It will be quite entertaining.

On Christmas Eve, Dustin and I will then be going to the Christmas Eve service at our church and then going to his mom's for dinner. The next day, Dustin and I want to go see Valkyrie with Tom Cruise in it. We didn't even know about this movie until we watched the History Channel special on the real deal. It seems quite interesting. We will also go and visit Dan & Jackie that day.

Dustin and I have already exchanged gifts for this year. Last year we didn't buy each other anything because we bought mutually the HD receiver from Direct TV. That was one gift we felt would benefit both of us, and we've never had a regret since it was installed. This year Dustin got a new scanner that he wanted. I bought him a hand held scanner a couple of years ago and he was wanting a new scanner for the house. This was a pretty nice scanner and he could even put it in his car if he wanted.

Dustin got my Christmas gift at Fry's this year. I have been wanting this present for a long time and I finally got it. We were able to get this out of luck of the draw because it was on sale AND was exactly what I wanted.

I made my first dessert with this past week. I made some peanut butter cookies that were so delicious. Have you ever had a cookie and knew it was just a bit too rich and sugary? These cookies were so totally the opposite. Dustin wanted peanut butter cookies because they are his favorite. So this recipe I found at Allrecipes.com packed in the punch of peanut butter flavoring. If you'd like to try the recipe, let me know. It was truly amazing :)


As for anything else going on, not too much for now. I will definitely not be this aloof from the blog next time! Thanks to those of you who read the blog and post comments :)

Thanksgiving 2008

I know I'm a bit behind and playing the catch-up game with posting pics, but here are the two Thanksgiving pics I took. I totally forgot to get the camera out at Dustin's side and tried to get the camera out for Thanksgiving with my 'rents, but the battery went dead after two pics.

Enjoy :)
Here is dad outside in the garage waiting on the turkey to finish up in the fryer. He was working on cutting up the last pits of the deer he got.

Here is what's left of the deer :) Notice, I said it was Dad's deer... Eric hasn't gotten one yet :)


Here's dad with Sadie and Gracie eating some turkey.


Here's what we looked like the next morning, stuffed and tired!

Benefit Concert in Martinsville, In for flood victims

This was a concert Dustin and I went to in early November. It was held at the Martinsville High School gymnasium. There were about 2000 people there and people such as Bryan White, Tracey Lawrence, Jimmy Wayne, Darby (something), and Bigg Country. It was a blast, that's for sure!

Blue Gate Restaurant, Shipshewanna, In Oct 2008

So I know it's been awhile since I've been on here to actually post. So much has been going on and I have a collection of pictures to post. So please bear with me as I will have many posts on one day. Enjoy :)


First of all, we got a new camera so we brought it up when we went to visit with my parents while I was on fall intercession in October. Here's a picture of mom laughing at the boys probably making fun of me!

Here is a picture of the best restaurant around. Sure you say you know of a better one, but who can beat Amish food, right?

This was an attempt of me trying to take a picture of a combine Amish style. This by the way was the first interaction Dustin really had with the Amish way of life. We have tons of pictures because he was freaking out the whole time!