Looking forward...

 

Wool Shrinks!

About a year ago Caleb showed up at our front door and was holding 2 sweaters.  He held them up and they looked small (compared to him).  With a sad look on his face he said, "I guess I shouldn't have dried these sweaters!  Do you think they'll ever fit Brody?"  At the time they were too big....but not anymore!  Today he wore one of them to church...and he looked super cute! 

Daily Face Paint

 

Daddy Steve & Namaw gave Barrett a face paint kit for Christmas.  I think I'm getting pretty good at painting their faces!!  It helps that there are stencils and instructions.

Christmas with Grammy & the Jacksons

 

 

 

 

 

Brody's 1st Duck Hunt

 

 

Archer - newborn portraits

 

 

 

 

 

 

Backyard Hunting

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

 

 

Starting Christmas Eve off right...

coloring a picture for Santa Claus in front of the fireplace...

One of the best times of the week...

Mike and I love working with the Kindergartners on Sunday mornings. Last week was especially fun because we got to watch some of them act out the nativity story!  It was so cute...and they had so much fun doing it!

 

I think I must be feeling crafty lately.  The other day I tried out a new sugar cookie recipe and they turned out perfect!  I'm a big fan of a soft sugar cookies (like the iced ones you buy in the bakery at the grocery store).  They were so good that I decided to make a couple dozen more, but some little goodies (pencils, candy canes, stencils, etc) and make goodie bags for our kids at church.  I also made my own gift tags.  See...I said I was feeling crafty ;)

 

Relaxation

Brody's School Christmas Party

Today was the big day...the last day of school before Christmas Break!!!  I think the kids (and teachers) were just a little excited!  I went up to the school at 10:20 for Brody's class party.  They had fun making an ornament, decorating cookies, eating goodies, and having a book exchange.  I think this is Brody's "I love Christmas parties!!!" face...

 

The book exchange.  One of the dads read a story (from his iPhone!..my how times have changed! lol) while the kids passed the books around the circle.

 

Brody asked me to take a picture of him with McKinley and Kathryn.  Brody and McKinley are in a reading group together (they read to each other during reading time) and he and Kathryn have been friends since he was in Mrs. Pam's class at Little Hearts!

 

I didn't realize all the moms would be taking their kids with them after the party was over...so we got an unexpected early release from school today!  Yay!!!!

Funny Face

 

Archer's here!!

 

 

Lunch with B

Today Namaw, Barrett, and I went to school to have lunch with Brody. I think I scarred him by coming at the wrong time my first time to meet him for lunch. This morning I verified his lunch time (with him and his teacher), but he still said, "Maybe you should come at 11:00 (lunch is 11:20) so that you're sure you're not late!"  Poor guy!  We made sure we were there by 11:10 today...just in case they went to lunch early!  I could tell he was surprised when he rounded the corner and saw Namaw with me and Barrett (he didn't know she was coming too)!  We took a few pics with my phone...but Barrett refused to give us a good smile for the camera (even when Brody tickled him!)

 

Brody & Namaw

 

Footed Jammies!!!!

Last night Barrett went with me to Wal-Mart to pick up his new glasses. While we were there we did a little bit of shopping for other stuff. As we walked by the boys section Barrett exclaimed, "THEY HAVE SOME THAT ARE MY SIZE!!" I followed his pointing finger to see heaven open up and sunlight streaming down on a pair of camo footed jammies. (At least I think that's the way Barrett saw it!)  Personally, I thought they were pretty ugly...but he thought they were awesome!  He's been asking for some footed jammies for a while now...but I thought they seemed kinda babyish...so I haven't purchased any for him.  Last night he said that he'd decided to use his stars (money they earn doing chores) to buy himself a pair of footed jammies.

Since they only had size 3T or 5T (no 4T), he insisted on trying on the 5T's to make sure they fit.  Sure enough...they did (and his new glasses looked good with them too!)

 

I can't even began to describe his enthusiasm about theses footed jammies.  He hugged them the rest of our shopping trip with a huge smile plastered across his face.  He even made up a song about them! 

"I've got footed jammies!  I've got footed jammies!  I've got footed jammies!

I'm gonna keep them for forever and then I'll pass them down to my kids!" 

Yes...he was very excited about them.  As we rode home he'd say, "Momma?"  "Yes Bear?"  "I have footed jammies!" he'd exclaim and then grin from ear to ear!  This morning he asked me to go straight from dropping Brody off at school to work so "maybe Namaw will still be in her jammies too and we can match!"  I texted Namaw and let her know Barrett's plan....so she put on her footed jammies (a present from all of us last Christmas) and waited for Barrett.  He was so excited to cuddle with her....and I didn't think I was ever gonna get him to put real clothes on today!

 

You Better Not Pout!

Barrett's Christmas program was absolutely adorable!!! I've never seen kids look so cute "pouting" while singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"!

 

"He sees you when you're sleeping..."

 

"So be good for goodness sake!"

 

Brody was sick tonight, so he didn't get to go to the program.  He sent Barrett with strict instructions on what to tell Santa that he wants for Christmas.  Barrett told Santa his wish and then he said, "My brother couldn't come because he's sick, but he wanted me to ask you to bring him a whole package of BB guns!"  Santa just laughed a big "Ho ho ho!"  lol!