Danielle Christmas shopping at Macy's

We fought the madness that was The Mall on Saturday night. Danielle insisted on carrying our bag of shoes. Well, not so much carrying as dragging. But it's the thought that counts.

Danielle discovers Dandelions

We made a quick day trip today to visit my Mom and stepfather, who live between College Station and Huntsville. It wasn't a long visit, but we took Mom to lunch, and we all ran around the fields outside the Navasota football stadium, where Danielle had fun picking dandelion seed heads and watching them blow out of her hand as she ran around. Alas, my crappy iPhone camera shutter was too slow to catch any of those action shots.

Mom loaded Big D up with presents, including a new purse and cute musical reindeer (life expectancy: 30 days). She also sent us back with a homemade cherry pie, baked by one of the local town ladies. Yummmmmm.

On the way back, we stopped at a Dairy Queen, where Danielle chomped down a Dilly Bar, then decided to "share" with Mommy.

Oh yeah- during dinner, Mary helped me figure out my "special purpose" (apologies to Steve Martin).

Long day, but lots of fun.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

We all miss you.

Steelers flatten Cowboys

It was ugly. Really, really ugly. But the cookies were great!

My friends Kai Dupe, Scott Artman, and Lance Armstrong watched the Pittsburgh-Dallas shootout at our local Steeler Fan Club establishment, although there were more Cowboy fans there than Steeler faithful.

One Steeler Grandma was there handing out homemade cookies- to the Steelers fans. :-)

Down 13-3 in the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh's league-leading defense saved us again, scoring the game-sealing touchdown on the game's third pick of a Tony Romo pass.

Like Dave Thorson said, "Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships."

The Danielle Show

Big D being silly at home.

Family time

Danielle had a fun visit to Grandma's last month. She decided that Grandma Janie's rollers were about the coolest thing going, so she made Momma put them in her own hair.

Later she had fun trying to keep up with cousins Patrick and Broderick, and visiting Aunt Caroline.