Last Week of '16

The week between Christmas and New Year is always weird to me.  I laughed when I saw this cat post on Instagram.  

I sent Rhett into the grocery store to buy black-eyed peas for good luck on New Year's Day.  The kids had friends here for a sleepover.  Alexee had the opportunity to be on the Court Crew during a game at a local college.  We met friends at the new indoor adventure place...it was a fun week.

I was impressed with how well the kids did on the ropes course and climbing wall!

We had a quiet New Year's Eve at home.  I think the kids stayed up until midnight, but I didn't.  Farewell 2016, and welcome, 2017!

Christmas in Flippin

The kids and I went to Flippin for Christmas night and the 26th.  My sister's family was there, too.  We loved getting to be with baby J on his first Christmas.

Dad's side of the family on Christmas night

the kids with their Great-Grandparents

and with Mo & Grandad

How are the kids all so grown up already!?

Rhett & Jaiden, 12 1/2

Jerry & Alexee, 9 1/2

Crosby, 7 1/2

Jamen, 4 1/2 months (love his polar bear sweater!) :)

Biscuits and chocolate gravy on the 26th--always the breakfast the kids ask for there.

My sister had lots of help giving Jamen his bath and getting him dressed for bed.  :)

A very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve & Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve was a baking day.  We made red velvet cookies, peanut butter kiss cookies and snickerdoodles.  We arranged most of them on a plate for Lane to take to work the next day, but we kept some for Santa, and some for us to eat!

Christmas Eve night L had to work, but the kids and I went to the Christmas Eve service at our church.  Well, tried to go.  We got there early and there were very few cars in the parking lot, so we weren't in a big hurry.  We had our family photo made...stopped by the restrooms...then we got hot chocolate in the lobby.  It still didn't seem overly crowded in the lobby, but when we walked inside to look for seats we couldn't find four together anywhere.  We made several laps around the church before deciding we would have to split up and sit in twos.  But that didn't work either, still no seats and really nowhere to stand without blocking views.  So then we were encouraged to try the overflow room, but found it to be completely full as well.  So we finally decided to go home and have our own Christmas Eve service.  We laughed about it because this would have never happened had Lane been with us.  He would have hurried straight to reserve seats without slowing down for the photo, the bathroom break or the hot chocolate.  This confetti picture makes me laugh though, and even though I'm sure the church service was wonderful, I loved the one we had at home.  The kids made a quick slide show containing some songs (Christmas and non-Christmas) they wanted to sing, then they took turns reading the Christmas story from Luke.  

And now the fun and excitement of Christmas morning!

LOVE THEM!

Crosby made a sweet calendar for us at school, and the kids got us a jigsaw!  I'd mentioned wishing I had one recently when I was working on a project, and they remembered.  :)

After opening gifts, we cooked our usual breakfast.

Lane had to be at work at 11:00, and the kids and I packed up to go to my parents' house for Christmas night.

The Grinch & School Parties

Trying to catch up again...

12/16-Crosby's class Christmas party was sweet.  I loved getting to be there with him--he is such a joy to me.  They made cards, played games, did a craft and had a snack.  Second grade is a cute age.  

Dec 15 & 19-Drama Club presents How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  The kids did GREAT!  Alexee had a wonderful time doing it.   A huge "thank-you" to the amazing drama club instructors that put so much time into helping the students do this!

So proud of Alexee for trying out and getting involved in something new!  It's super fun to watch her grow!

Mom & Dad drove up of the evening show on the 15th, then they came over for dinner afterward.  I tried this recipe for a gingerbread cake for dessert.    

The second performance of the Grinch was during the monthly awards assembly.  Alexee received a math club award for scoring in the top 50% on a nation-wide, online exam.  Way to go, A!

Rhett is becoming a great cook!  I look forward to letting him make all the meals around here soon!  :)  He made these peanut butter bars for a class party with no help at all.  He let us share the leftovers, and they were delicious!   The last day of the semester was PJ day for C & A.  That day was also A's class party.  Her teacher asked all the girls to plan the winter party, and the boys will get to plan the valentine party.  They decided to have a hot chocolate bar, photo booth (Alexee is working at that station in the photo below), paper snowflake craft table and a snack table.  It was fun to celebrate with her class.

C's sweet teacher gave each student a Humphrey book for Christmas!   So thoughtful!  It's hard to believe we are half-way through this school year.  Time for CHRISTMAS BREAK!

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Potpourri, Peanut Clusters & Other December Fun

On December 5th we had our last women's Bible study meeting for the year.  I don't even remember now what I cooked!?  I made these little Christmas potpourri bags for the girls in my group (printable tag here, contents: an orange, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, rosemary, whole cloves, bay leaves and a dash of nutmeg).  These girls have been such a blessing to me this fall--I always enjoy the time with them.  The potpourri was super easy and made the house smell really good.  Unfortunately my rosemary plant shriveled up and died right after I made these because I let it freeze on the porch.  Sad!  It had been so healthy all summer and fall.  :(  

One evening Alexee and I made the annual batch of peanut clusters.  I think of our Little Rock neighbors when we make these because we used to deliver them to everyone on our street.  We still miss them!  This year we shared with the kids' basketball coaches and our next-door neighbor.

December 10th we made a quick overnight trip to Flippin to help my parents with a few things.  I went to feed hay with Mom that afternoon.  She has a lot of mouths to feed every day!  This picture on the bottom left is home to me.  I spent so many hours of my childhood playing in that barn that you can see in the distance, and just across the road from it is the house I grew up in.  We lived there until I started 11th grade (then we moved just a few miles down the road).  I'm glad my kids can play in these same places that are so special to me.  

 Mom had a bottle calf in the barn, and the kids loved helping with her.   They named her Maggie.  

Crosby & Bogart tucked in for bed that night.  :)

Rhett and Grandad shot this mistletoe out of a tree.

We had a COLD few days where the temperatures were in the single digits.  It was miserable!  We got a very light dusting of snow the night of the 17th, but it wasn't enough to play in.  On the 18th we had reservations for the Christmas brunch at the Keeter Center.  The restaurant looked pretty with all the Christmas decorations.  I liked the white churches above the fireplace.  

Great holiday meal with my family.

That evening Lane and the boys went to see the new Star Wars movie, so Alexee and I had a girls' date.  We did some Christmas shopping and had hot chocolate at Starbucks.  She's so much fun!  The boys all had a great time at the movie, too.  

And because it only blooms once a year, here are a few more pictures of our Christmas cactus.  Some of the blooms are a peachy color and some are a pale pink/almost white.   So pretty!

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