The Bright Eyed Brunette

Well, with Christmas day came the first snow of the winter season, here in Arkansas!  There were places that got 8 to 10 inches, but we only got 2 to 3.  The kids had a blast playing in it, and we were very blessed to not have lost electricity like so many did!  Here are a few snow pictures I took:             I know that for a lot of people who had to go 7 days or more without electricity this was not a fun snow storm, but for us, it was a fun snow day!   Beth     

We finally got to celebrate our Christmas with Nanny and Pop when the Simpson's decided to come in from Jonesboro.  The kids were so ready to open their presents! He was tired of me taking pictures, and ready to tear into those presents! New personalized luggage! New necklace and earrings from the Simpsons! Trey loved his castle! Luggage for Kena, too! Carlie got a new Mack's shirt :) Pop, opening the gift we got him....a drill.   It seems that I never get a picture of my mom opening presents...probably because she's always worried about other people opening their presents, and isn't really all that concerned about opening her own!  We love you Mom, and thank-you for all that you do!   We had a great Christmas, and we know that we are blessed beyond what we deserve!  I'm so thankful to have been able to spend the day with family and make memories that will last a lifetime, but most of all I'm thankful that God sent his so...

This "present" from Trey to me was under the tree and I had to take a picture of it.  I kept throwing boxes away and he is like a hoarder and likes to keep all boxes so he wrote me this little note on the box...Do not frow this away!!! He spelled it (on his own) just like he says it :)  Carl was in charge of the pictures at our house....enough said. This one cracks me up...I made them wait until the last minute to give all three of them their tablets!  They were SUPER excited :)   And that's all they wanted to do all day... play on their tablets!  I did splurge a bit with the girls and picked up cute Vera Bradley tablet cases :)  T didn't care a bit, though! They got other stuff from us too: remote control terrain thingy, pogo stick, tennis shoes, TOMs, iphone speaker, Duck Commander shirts, and more! After we opened our presents at the house we went to Grammy and Papa's for Christmas lunch. He's such a goofball!...

As soon as we got back from Wynne (well, after a quick wardrobe change!), it was time to head to my Grammy and Papa's house to eat some more and open more presents!  Over half of the people there were sick (you all know how I feel about that), so I stayed away as much as possible.  Sitting in a different room to keep from sitting across from a sicky, keeping all of my kids at the same table or in the same area, were just a few of my tactics :)  My OCD was kicked into overdrive!!  We really did have a good time, though.  .   It was a fun-filled day of Christmas!   

We had our Christmas with Carl's family on Christmas Eve in Wynne.  It was good to see everybody and visit.  Of course, the kids were more interested in opening presents and playing with their cousins (and Uncle John).  We even got to meet sweet baby Maggey, who by the way is only a couple of weeks old!  I always say that we are going to do better about staying in touch with everybody, but it's just so hard when everybody is so busy!  I mean come on, it had been almost 4 months since we had seen Carl's parents!  Gotta do better than that!       Super Fun Day!! Beth     

My mom has been teaching my dad, Makena, Carlie, and Trey piano for the past 5 months or so.  Carlie dropped out about 8 weeks in to it.  I think it was partly because piano just isn't her thing, and partly because it just comes so natural to Makena.  I definitely know how that feels, so I didn't make her do it, but I tried to encourage her.  She still didn't want to, so we quit :( Makena is doing great, and Trey is doing about the best that a 7 year old boy can do!  My dad is also doing well.  He too gets a little discouraged because it doesn't come to him as natural as it does to Makena.  I guess she takes after her Aunt Jamie and Nana :)  Anyway, Sunday night we didn't have church, so we went over to my parents house to eat and have a Christmas concert from Pop and Makena. They both did so well!!  I took a couple of pictures with my phone to document the occasion :) Pop, playing his music.  He played Silent Night, Jesus Lov...

Merry Christmas from all of us!!   Beth 

Tonight was the Christmas program at school.  Carlie had a duet with one of her friends and Makena was in both the opening and closing numbers, and Trey was an angel with the rest of his class.  He wasn't happy about it, but he didn't look too girlie, and since all the other boys were angels too, he didn't balk. They all did a great job! Of course we had to have a few pre-program pictures. Mommy and Trey I did have to make her take this one.  I really do think that it's all just an act.  She really loves me!!  She didn't have to dress up for the program because she played a student in the Bethlehem library. Trey did a pretty good job taking this one! Makena in the the opening number! Trey in the choir Carlie with her friends in the "library" Trey singing on stage   Carlie and Makena were both in the closing number   It was a great program, but it's also great that it's all over!  We get to ...

Today Trey's whole class went to our local nursing home to sing a few Christmas Carols.  They did such a great job and I was very proud of them.  Everyone seemed to enjoy them.  "Yes, Lord Yes, Lord Yes, Yes, Lord"   Singing Away In A Manger Makena's class made edible Christmas Trees! Makena, breakin' it down Carlie and T are both in this picture:  Carlie is in the pink jacket on the left and T is on he very end standing up in the black shirt.   The kids have been pretty busy this week, but after tomorrow (yeah) we will be on Christmas Break!!!  We are ready to spend the holidays together as a family, and enjoying it every minute of it :)   Beth