Meme sitting in Santa's chair. We took Meme to "Chistmas in Roseland" at the American Rose Center in Shreveport, to see the Christmas lights display. 

Meme standing in front of our house. 

Can you see Zev's airplane by the chimney? 

Merry Christmas Eve from Louisiana! We woke up this Christmas Eve morning with a lovely phone call from all the family in Australia who were just celebrating Christmas!! As it was a nice, still morning outside, Zev flew his little Slo-V battery powered airplane in our backyard... 

Meme thoroughly enjoyed visiting Zev's family in Canandaigua. Here she is standing in the backyard of Zev's parents house- Dave and Judy. The temperature was -15 degrees on this day and Meme is well rugged up against the cold- so rugged up that she could hardly move!!! 

Merry Christmas from Louisiana! Love Zev, Fiona and Maria. xoxoxoxo 

On Monday, Meme and Fiona did some light shopping. Meme is pictured here trying to find a hunting rifle that suits her needs..... 

Meme also continued to acquaint herself with the locals... 

On Saturday, December 10, Meme, Zev and Fiona ventured down to Natchitoches, home of the movie "Steel Magnolias". We took a tour through the historic places and took a picture of the actual house that Shelby lived in (Julia Roberts' character), in the movie. This house is now a quaint bed and breakfast. 

We had lunch at "Merci Beaucoup", a local Natchitoches restaurant, where Zev and Fiona enjoyed Sausage Gumbo, a traditional Louisiana dish, and Meme enjoyed the Shrimp Etouffe, another typical Louisiana dish. 

Meme got up close and personal to some cuddly Louisiana natives....she didn't feel like petting these little darlings unfortunately!!! 

Our friends, Scott and Taylor from Montgomery, Alabama, were in town visiting family for Thanksgiving weekend, and were able to drop by and visit us last night. It was great to catch up!  

Happy Thanksgiving! We spent Thanksgiving at home, where Zev had prepared a wonderful spread, including home-made pumpkin pie and raspberry cheesecake.  

We finally found a car to replace the totalled SAAB. The PT Cruiser is stylish but not as "gutsy" as the SAAB!! 

Happy Halloween!!!! Zev is really happy to be wearing his Shrek costume. Doesn't he look cute though 

How do you like me now!!?? 

Look at me!!! I'm Shrek! The good looking version!!! 

Trick or Treat!! 

And I enjoyed being his Princess Fiona... 

He looked pretty cute as Shrek! 

I think Zev had the most fun of all.... 

Zev bought a smoke machine especially for the occasion, and we had fun flicking the porch light switch on and off, and saying "ooooo" as the kids came up the porch steps to trick or treat..... 

Halloween 2005 was a fun event, and even though it was rainy and stormy that night, we had quite a few kids from the base come and empty out our basket of goodies. 

We hiked through some beautiful gardens; went on a "duck tour" which is an amphibious WWII truck tour through that drives through downtown Historic Hot Springs and then goes into the water at Lake Hamilton.  

Zev and I enjoyed a wonderful weekend away in Hot Springs, Arkansas (birthplace and boyhood town of President Bill Clinton as the town folk liked to constantly remind us). The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed a hot springs bath, hot towel wrap and massage at the Arlington Hotel. Guys and Gals were separated into separate bath houses. Zev wanted to get a facial too but he might have to wait until the next time we visit Hot Springs. He did say that he enjoyed his massage by "Jimmie" with the big hands though..... ;-)