Christmas Lights

You have to check this out. It is a neighbors house...
http://mywinterwonderland.com/

Check out the videos.

Christmas!

Hot Gingerbread cookies

We had a great Christmas! Nice and quiet! Dad came up from TN to share Christmas eve and Christmas day! We had a wonderful time! Merry Christmas everyone!

Journey to Bethlehem

We went to the Journey to Bethlehem at a local church. It was a blast. Abby just wanted to hold the baby Jesus! We all got new names and were put in a tribe. We than watched a play and than went outside (in the freezing cold) and started our Journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. You meet Roman soldiers, kids with animals, hear the scriptures by the priests... dance, go to the market, try to find a room to stay in and see the baby Jesus. Check it out!!! http://www.journeytobethlehem.com/287543.ihtml We had a great time! Auntie Shannon went with us too!

I forgot to post the one of me dancing with the people in the tent! Shannon snapped the picture. I will post it... maybe...

Can you see me?!! You should have been there getting your dance on too! ;) Too bad I didn't have one of the tamborines... maybe next year.

Christmas Portraits

What a great, but very cold day we had taking our Christmas pictures. It is just the kids because it is not about us parents anyway. ;) Abby kept saying she looked like an "American Doll". We were so cold! But we did get to ride in the horse carriages when we were done. As you can tell noses and hands were cold, but we got it done pretty quickly after people kept inturrupting us Not that the kids aren't the cutest things, but we were cold! They did SO well. Merry Christmas everyone!

Happy Late and meatlessThanksgiving

Happy late Thankgiving to all of you! We at the Castruccio house decorate for Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend. James put up the lights and got the tree up for us to decorate. He decided our other tree was too small for the living room and so he bought a 12 footer. Since we only had decorations for a tree half the size, I ran out of ornaments 2 times!! Goodness! So off Abby and I went to get more. It still looks kinda sparse upclose, but still is pretty. James and the neighbors went together to get a lift to put up Christmas lights on the houses. I think there are already plans for next years lights... oh boy! ;)
We had a great and quiet Thanksgiving. Although meatless, it was still good. We shared it with Shannon and had a good time! So here's the story. The 10 pound-thawed turkey took over 5 hours to cook! So we ate everything, including pie, and finally the turkey was done. What in the world!! It has been good leftovers... but are the technically leftovers if you never had it in the beginning??!!!

Snow!

Our first snow of the season yesterday! Yea!!

#2 of Abby's Christmas lines

Abby's Christmas lines 2.

Visit

After almost 10 years I got to really have a good visit with my friend Karen.

Abby's Christmas Lines

She cracks me up!!

God's Paint

I did nothing to this picture. The red is the true color with the sun shining through.

Not a clue what this is... a plant. Enjoy!

Ahhh little grass-hopper. Ok, so it is a big one.

Hinge on old Bunker

I went to Busch Wildlife preserve again this fall. The outings are always so fun. I hope you enjoy the photos!!! God has an amazing paint palette.

Trunk or Treat and Pumpkins

So I am way behind. That is ok. We went to Trunk or Treat at our church. Abby was a cat and Jonah went as himself. You will have to ask him about that one!! We had a great time! After that we stayed at the church for an outdoor movie! The pirates who don't do anything. 1 coat, 3 blankets, popcorn and hot chocolate later we finally kept warm that night!

Branson Vacation!

Vacation with our friends the Westbacks. We had a great time! Magic shows, train rides... and tons of FOOD!

Fall family session

~ Here are some pictures of a friend and his family. They are just a ton of fun and the little one is getting to be so much fun. Thanks guys, I had a great time with you all.

Don't you just love St. Louis in the Fall?!

Happy Fall everyone! This is my favorite time of the year. Not only for James and my birthdays, but cooler weather and sweatshirts! Today was a great day at the park, and we took some pictures of the kids. They are just too fun!! Enjoy!

Fall Festival

We went to the Fall festival here in town. We had alot of fun! They made Home Depot projects, listened to music,and rode a train. It was such a beautiful day! We could not have asked for a better day.

Baby Samantha

Welcome Baby Samantha!! She was born today at 1:20 am. She is so beautiful. Congratulations to the proud mommy, daddy and big sis Taylor!!

We are so glad that you all are safe and well!

Kurt, welcome state-side! You were missed!

Col. Phillip C. "Pappy" Rawlins

Col. Phillip C. 'Pappy' Rawlins (91) passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2008 in San Antonio, from complications with pneumonia.

History: Born in Milburn, Oklahoma (January 20, 1917). Moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma (1920). Graduated with honors, Ardmore Sr. High School (1935). Enrolled in ROTC, Oklahoma A & M University, graduated with honors (1939), commissioned 2nd Lt., US Army Reserve. Called to active duty, 23rd Infantry, Ft. Sam Houston (1939). Married Mary Patricia Bartley (1940). Transferred to Army Air Corps (1942). Completed Flight School (1942). Assigned 77th Troop Carrier Sq., 435th TCG (1943). His 77th trained the 101st Airborne Infantry, Ft. Bragg (1943). Arrived England (1943) & trained with 101st until D-Day. Became Squadron Commander (1944). His 77th TCS participated in all seven Airborne Operations in ETO during WW2, including Bastogne. Returned USA (July 4, 1945). Air Inspector School (1947). Air Command & Staff School (1948). Air Instructor, Infantry School, Ft. Benning (1948-51). Revised curriculum for Air-Ground Operations School, Southern Pines, N. Ca. (1952). Chief, War Plans Group, Far East Command, Tokyo (1953-56). National War College (1957). International Affairs Division HQ, Pentagon (1957-61). Chief War Plans Division, JUSMG, Madrid (1961-63). Vice-Commander, Andrews AFB, Md. (1963-67). Clark AB, Philippines: Base Commander (1967-68); 6th Air Division Commander (1968-69); and 13th AF Inspector General (1969). Commander, 1131st Support Group, Bolling AFB (1969-70). Retired USAF (January 31, 1970). Divorced Patricia (1973). Married Lt. Col. Sally Hayes (1974), (D) (2001). Remarried Patricia (2001).

Skilled pilot: Flew 28 accident-free years, in peacetime & in combat, piloting 17 different aircraft, from gliders to 4-engined types, including trainers, utility, transports, medium & heavy bombers, jet fighters, and became a 'Mach-Buster' in Korea. Decorated Veteran: Received 17 medals including Presidential Unit Citation, French Croix de Guerre, Bronze Star, Air Medal (5th Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit, AF Commendation Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster). Earned Master Winemaker Certification (1975): Produced & bottled 13 varieties of wine & champagne from 1971 thru 1986. An avid golfer with 6 handicap; Andrews AF Base Champion (1967); Marshalled Texas Open Tournament 11+ years. Scouting: 17 years service; Troop Leader, Tokyo (1953-56); Troop Leader, Arlington, Va. (1956-61); Spain-Morroco, District Commissioner (1961-63); Scoutmaster, 11th World Jamboree, Athens, Greece (1963), and 6th National Jamboree, Valley Forge, Pa. (1964); Prince George's Co. District Commissioner (1963-67); Philippine District Commissioner (1967-69); Recipient of 'Silver Beaver' award (1966). Civic Duties: Rotary Club, Philippines, Member (1967-69); Honorary Son of Angeles City, Philippines (1969); Kiwanis International, Southern Prince George's County, Charter Member (1972), and Club President (1973-74); Kiwanis International, Texas-Oklahoma District, Outstanding Lt. Governor (1977-78), Honorary Life Member (1985), Governor (1986-87), Foundation Chairman (1992-93), Legion of Honor (25 years service) (1997), Key Club 'Hall of Fame' (1998-99); Freedom Foundation, President, San Antonio Chapter, (1988-90).

Authored & Published five books: 1) 'A Man Called Pappy' (Autobiography, 1990); 2) 'Red Light, Green Light, Geronimo' (History of 77th TCS in WW2, 1992); 3) 'A Walk Down Memory Lane' (Testament to his Mother, Josie Rawlins, 1994); 4) 'A History of Texas-Oklahoma District, Kiwanis International' (1996); and 5) 'The Lay Minister's Manual' (rewritten 1997). An active member of Church of the Resurrection, Episcopal, San Antonio, as; Lay Reader (20 years), Vestry Member, Senior Warden, Accolite Master, Trainer & Manager of Lay Ministers.

Family: His beloved Mother, Josie (104) (D). Wife: Patricia. Children: Ginger (D), Penny (D) & Phillip. Grandchildren: Kathy, Ann, Terri, James & Stephanie. Great Grandchildren: Josh, Jessica, Jacob, Vanessa, Alison, Jonah, Kyle & Abby. Sister: Helen. Her Children: Andrew, Rena & Val. Her Grandchildren: Rob, Alex, Hunter, Ashton, Josie & Grace. Wife: Sally (D). He is greatly loved and shall be sorely missed. Godspeed.

(Obituary by Phil Rawlins)


PS. There is a link to a video of some of the service on the right side of the page under "our Links". Click on our video's.