Christmas 2008

We were able to celebrate Christmas early with our cousins from Paragould, AR this year. They were expecting Raeven's sister's baby to be born in December so we got to have them up to see us early. I decorated for Christmas so that the house would look right when they came. It is also easier for me to decorate early before the realization that we are going to have to do Christmas again hits me. We had so much fun with them. The kids picked up right where they left off at the lake a few months ago. I wish they could spend more time together.

My brother was able to come up and spend 2 days with us. We missed him at Thanksgiving so we were grateful for anytime he was able to spend with us. He cooked almost the whole time. The kids LOVE his speghetti. He is required to make it at each visit. We all went to my cousin, Scott and Wendi's, house on Christmas Eve. We have spent that night in that house since I was born I think. It is so full of memories for all of us. The kids are older now so the evening is more pleasant. The kids play very well together and are never ready to leave when it is time.

Alaina got a porcelain egg with a dancer inside that spins while music is played. She collects music boxes and snowglobes. This one was so delicate and pretty. She also got a cupcake maker and was sooo very excited. We made several cupcakes during the rest of the day. So very cute. I think she made one for everyone. The rest of her Christmas was either Hanna Montana or High School Musical 3 related. Wow! Little girls have so many more cute things now than when I was little. It is hard not to spoil her rotten. She is just so cute.

Cale received an Alabama bedding set. Obviously Santa thought it would be funny to bring that crap into my house. He was so excited. It was hard to tell my nasty it was, but I did. He held it up and chanted about how Alabama was better than Auburn. Really nice. He has enjoyed a game called me2 more than just about anything. He ran 30 laps around the island in the kitchen just to get enough points to play a game. It is a neat concept. We'll see how it works long term. The mp3 players were a huge hit as well. I am hoping that car trips will be easier if they are occupied.

Snowday!

Today is 12/1/08. I cannot believe that we have snow already. It started yesterday morning while we were feeding the baby calves. The boys are enjoying it.

Thanksgiving was nice. We spent Thursday with my family in Bentonville. My cousin's wife, Wendi, made everything imaginable for us to eat. It was so nice. The boys played games and the girls searched the black friday ads and developed strategies for getting all the stuff we "needed". The kids and I stayed until after dinner then came home to feed calves. Friday - BLACK FRIDAY - was crazy. I met a friend at Wal-Mart in Fayetteville so I could get a bike for Braden. The price was just too good to stay in bed and sleep. I'll sleep later. We filled our carts and struggled to get to the check-out. It was so crazy! We went to Penny's, and Toys r us but we couldn't get in so we went to Starbucks to wait out the line. Finally I had to go home to cook for lunch so she went on without me. Lunch at Jason's aunt's house was equally amazing. Jason was an hour and a half late for lunch so the rest of us were finished by the time he got there. We watched the hogs somehow pull-out a victory against LSU. What a game! Too bad my luck in football didn't hold for the rest of the weekend. The Auburn/alabama game was disgusting. I heard all about it at church on Sunday. Glad it is just a game - sure feel sorry for those people who take it personally - ha ha. Saturday was a full day of football and cleaning any part of the house that I could still hear/watch the tv from. I LOVE college football!!! (even when my team has a bad year)

This is our last day before school starts back and we are going to stay inside and stay warm - or at least I am. This is also my Dad's birthday - Happy Birthday Dad!

Pappy came for a visit

My Dad came in from Phoenix to spend some time with us. It was great to see him. We got in the pool everyday, went to Locomotion to ride the bull, go-carts, and bumper boats, and had the first day of school during his visit. It was busy but he was a huge help. Dad even did schoolwork with the kids. Very cute. The brave soul on the back of Micah's go-cart was making his go faster. It was the slowest one and he was mad so the guy jumped on there to help him out. I think he might have even passed someone before the race was over. I met Sonny in Conway and he took Dad to Memphis for a couple of days before he had to fly home. It was nice to be all together again. Doesn't happen often.

The First Day of School 2008

Alaina loves her teacher, Mrs. Keylor.

I cannot believe that all four of my babies are in school this year. Providence Academy has added a second campus this year. Micah and Braden are together at the new one and Cale and Alaina remain at the original campus. I wish the boys were as excited about school as Alaina was on that morning. What a blessing it is to have Mrs. Keylor teach her class. She is so sweet and I know that Alaina already loves her. Cale has 2 teachers for second grade. They will co-teach to make the classes smaller for math and reading. It was so wonderful to see so many of his friends return this year. Micah and Braden love the new campus. It has a gym! That is really huge for us. Braden's teacher has a son who played baseball with Micah a few years ago. It was nice to see her again. She is new this year to our school but she will be great!!! Micah has Mrs. Brinson again and I am so thrilled. She makes history come alive for her students. We are so blessed to be there. God has something special planned for this school for this year and I can't wait to witness it.

I even left Alaina in class without crying. Is that good or what? I am so proud of all of them. I will post pictures of the older boys as soon as I get them. I was coaching cheerleading so it was more difficult to get pictures of them.

Luau - 1st youth group event

Alaina and Katy

Micah and Braden played "chubby, chubby, bunny." Both went out with 3 marshmellows.

Slip-n-slide. Micah seems to be the one who got to put the soap on the tarp for everyone. This is a game of "Pantyball." It is basically dodgeball with the balls made out of pantyhose filled with flour. That way a mark is left when you are hit. Good times.
103 people or so were in attendance. We ate bar-b-que and a host of other things. Nick presented the talk to all of us. Parents filled out paperwork while kids played. Braden got a black eye from a collision to avoid a pantyball. Cale was sick with a fever. The new 6th graders are so excited about being a part of this youth group.

Day at the Lake

We all met Jason's family at the lake for the weekend. Caleb (Jason's brother), Raeven, Darbie, and Beau came from Paragould, AR to meet us. Donna (Jason's mom) came from Prairie Grove, Ar. Champ, Sarah (Jason's sister), Malachi, and Elijah came from Prairie Grove. This was our second year for this event. Jason, Caleb, Braden and Cale went out early to beat the crowd and ski when the lake was calm. Later we had some technical difficulties with the boat before my boys had a chance to try to ski so we had to rent a ski boat for the afternoon. Micah and Braden were so close to being able to ski. Next year they will get it for sure. I made it up but had a nasty crash that nearly knocked me out. I am thankful for life jackets. The kids love this time with their cousins. Hopefully next year we can all get in the boat and off the dock. The little kids (with their moms) were stuck on the dock for the majority of the day. We had a great time.