Kid with Character

Rhett received an award for Honesty at the November "Kids With Character" program. We broke the rule of "one special guest", but I didn't have cookies or punch and I packed snacks for Alexee and Crosby so maybe it was okay. :) Alexee wasn't feeling well today--I actually had to go right back to MDO to get her after I dropped her off because they called to say she'd thrown up. Well, she didn't throw up again all day, but she seemed tired and told me several times that her tummy hurt. I felt bad for taking her to R's school for both her sake and for anyone who might be within reach of a potential stomach bug germ, but I also couldn't stand to think of Rhett sitting there having his cookie and punch alone. So I woke A up from her nap (C didn't sleep long anyway), and off we went to the school.

My camera battery showed fully charged before we left home, but it mysteriously had zero charge when I turned it on as Rhett's name was called during the ceremony. This sure seemed like a Monday. So I grabbed my phone and took a few fuzzy pictures of him walking across the stage.

We're proud of you, R!

(Last year he received an award for "responsibility". Look how much he's grown!)

Rhett and a little girl from his class

We checked Rhett out early a few minutes early, picked up our school fundraiser order at the other end of the building, stopped by the house to pick up something, Bogart hopped in with us, and then we went to the bank. The kids thought it was funny that the bank teller sent Bogart a dog treat along with their suckers! :) I didn't realize she could even see in the back of the vehicle, but everyone was pleased.

It didn't take C long at all to notice the Christmas decorations I added to the kitchen today. He pushed a chair over to take a closer look(touch). So far he has only taken one ornament off the tree--a big pine cone. When I found him with it he was throwing it across the entry-way like a ball!

Playroom Tree

There are still Christmas decoration boxes in the hallway. I still haven't put the topper (glittery sticks, gold leaves, etc.) on our downstairs tree, and I'm almost afraid to now because I'm worried I'll knock ornaments off and break them in the process. I might just skip that part this year...along with the Dickens Village because you-know-who will NOT be able to keep his cute little hands away! :) We did most of the decorating yesterday afternoon, and it tested my patience a little. The sound of ornaments crunching/breaking was pretty much a constant. That and me saying, "SHHH! If you wake Crosby up then we're done decorating!" He slept an hour and 20 minutes...it was one of those days when a 2.5 hour nap would have been super awesome! The kids were extremely excited though, and it is so fun to have everything decorated and the house filled with the glow of Christmas lights.

We did finish the playroom tree. It is an artificial tree we've had forever, and we fill it with all the kids' ornaments given to them from friends, sweet little homemade things from school, church, our baked cinnamon cut-out ornaments, etc. I really do love it. It sits in front of the playroom window so you can see it from outside. We have lots of Christmas artwork which we hung from the ribbon along the wall. This is the one clean, organized room of the house at this moment in time, so that's what I'm showing pictures of. I'll take more of the rest of the decorations soon!

Back to the Tree Farm

This morning we went back to cut down the tree that we tagged last weekend. It was still there! R & A were so excited, and C just has fun wherever he goes. R & A packed a zip-loc of marshmallows to take with them for their free hot chocolate, but they didn't make it to the car with the bag. Here they are at the window for the free hot cocoa. Rhett drank a little of his, but Alexee said hers was "too hot". I think she would have preferred chocolate milk.

They loved the hay playground, left over from the pumpkin patch season.

C waving at the guy on the tractor. He's such a friendly little boy.

Lane let Rhett have a turn with the saw

Good work, guys!

They bring a trailer through the field, and you load your tree and ride back to the tree-wrapping station.

I love this:

Garner boys

Our tree at the shake-station

Our tree getting wrapped

Our timing was perfect today...just as we were finishing up with our tree, the pig races were starting! This is our third year to this farm, but our first time to see the race. It was cute--the kids enjoyed it (well, Lane and I did too!).

The front row was reserved for kids-only

There they go!

Friends
(This chicken climbed up and sat down on the little goat's back.)

Happy Holidays!

We have lots of decorating to do, but it's going to have to wait until tomorrow.

Thanksgiving in Warren

We had a great Thanksgiving with Lane's family. We drove there yesterday morning and spent the night. We had lots of good food and enjoyed spending time with everyone.

Rhett and Alexee always like hanging out with their older cousins, Luke and Katie. We ate lunch around 1:00, so Crosby ate early and then took his nap. He's sitting in the high chair that Lane used when he was a baby.

Bob slicing turkey

Rose Mary and Lance in the kitchen

Aunt Shelby and two of Lane's cousins (Amanda & Dena) were there, as well as (sister-in-law) Jennifer's parents and grandmother.

Crosby playing basket ball.

Rose Mary & Dena
Crosby spent a lot of time at the door--he loves to open and close doors.

Luke trying the potatoes

Bob impressed us all with his bullwhip popping trick before lunch.

Lunch time--Everything was delicious!

Luke, Katie, Rhett & Alexee

Beulah & Zanette

I took two buttermilk pies. I cannot stand to drink buttermilk, but this is my FAVORITE pie. My family got the recipe from Judy at His Doorkeeper, and she posted the recipe here. I ate way too much of this.
Rhett in their back yard. They have so many big trees in their yard, and the leaves were so pretty. When we got there yesterday I think it was 77 degrees. A cold front moved through with the rain though and it was in the upper 40s this morning...gotta love Arkansas weather!

Katie & Alexee

I think the back yard is so pretty

Thankful for this sweetie!

Guys playing Angry Birds.

Lane, Amanda, Dena, Rose Mary & Katie

Luke and Rhett still playing Angry Birds

Katie & Alexee playing an old-fashioned BOARD game!
I wish we still played Pictionary and Scattergories!

This is Luke's Thanksgiving mouse. Luke, now 15, made it in Kindergarten and brought it to Grammy & Bobba's house for Thanksgiving. It is part of the centerpiece every year.

Crosby was so good and had fun exploring Grammy & Bobba's house.

Playing the organ

Grammy & Alexee

We're so blessed!
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!