She makes me smile!

Short story about a day brightener…

While doing reading with Abbey, we were working on the sounds that  "ear" can make. She was with me taking it all in. I then explained about "tear" as in ripping something up  and "tear" as crying. I explained that they were spelled the same, but were pronounced completely different, and that you have to use context clues to know which word is correct.

Without missing a beat and with utmost seriousness, Abbey looked at me with a shocked face and said, "You just rocked my world!" 

No, no, my little girl, it is you that rock my world every single day!!

Christmas Eve 2013

When Evie Claire was born, we only got to see her for a day before we had to leave and come back home. John and I were so excited that she and her parents would be spending Christmas with us this year. We were so looking forward to getting some time to love on her.

Beth and Greg had a dickens of a time getting here. It took them about 7 hours to make a trip that usually takes 4 hours. The traffic was horrid! But, they finally got here. I was cooking in the kitchen and looked up to see Bella jumping on the kitchen door, wanting to be let in. I petted her and then ran out to see the baby, family. While I greeted Beth, Greg and, of course, Evie Claire, Bella ran laps all around our cup-de-sac. She was glad to be back in ole NC!

Shortly after they got here, Beth and Greg gave Evie her first bath at Mimi and Papa's house.

She looks like she's saying, "What in the world are you doing to me?"

We all worked and worked to get a coo or gurgle out of her.

Gave lots and lots of kisses.

(Bella got her cuddles too)

Mimi and Papa even got to babysit one night, while the parents went out to eat and see a movie. We tried to help the new parents get some much needed sleep by taking care of Miss Evie, (a tough job, I know, but someone had to do it).

She's such a beautiful baby. We are totally in love with her.

Christmas Evie in her Santa suit.

Christmas Eve was a little different from past years. We went to church earlier in the day, but for some reason, we were running behind schedule. We still gathered and read the Christmas story from the Bible.

sang some carols,

gave family gifts

and did the annual pig out.

For some reason this year the horseradish wasn't as hot as in previous years. The annual challenges lacked some of the "punch" of years past.

No singed nostrils and tear-filled eyes. No one's suffering to laugh at…aww shucks!

After we were stuffed and the little ones were asleep. Beth and I watched a "chick-flick" and the boys played cards. If you happened to be our neighbors and couldn't sleep for the loud, exuberant yells, then I apologize. If the decibel level was proportionate to the enjoyment, then they must have had a blast!

Christmas Eve 2013 was wonderful, because of these folks were here:

It was great! If Anna, Jamie and Layne had been here, it would have been perfect!

Christmas was coming….(a simple, and I mean really simple, poem)

The signs were everywhere. Christmas was on it's way!

Small group caroling denotes the approach of that glorious day…

Black Friday evening shopping leads the way.

As I follow my blocker, and he nabs the big deals of the day!

Home from school for the holiday, the computers are humming; modern-day communiqué

Christmas cookie baking's a must, we all say…

A foot in the dough, requires no dismay…

'tis a Tarheel house through and through we portray!

A tradition through the years, where the bright colored sprinkles rule in disarray.

Then, off to an afternoon spent with the D family faraway.

Where techno-junkies are allowed to play.

and the more athletic types compete, showing their round-ball prowess (or so they say)

A kindly big brother's height requires no repay.

The new Grand-baby is admired and displayed.

While the matriarch, aka Grandma, watches the whole display.

Treasured traditions leading up to that day that makes us all jump and shout, "Hip-Hip-Hooray!"

Elijah's musings

There are times when one of my kids makes a statement that I want to remember. Of course, as the years flow by, who said what sometimes becomes blurry. Lately, Elijah has said several things that I want to remember.

Last night during bedtime rituals, Elijah touched my heart with his prayer. He said, "God, please help the poor people. Maybe give them some pennies, or nickels or quarters? And they need toys." This was totally unprecipitated by me and struck me that he was developing a heart for others. He's also starting to get some things spiritually as shown by his statement as he said the blessing one night. "Jesus, thank you for you."

The other day while Christmas shopping with my two youngest side-kicks,  Abbey picked up a little negligee thingy and held it up towards herself. Elijah matter of factly looked at her and said, "Abbey, you've got to grown some bigger boobies before you can wear that. Right now, you have little bitty boobies."

It's fun to see how kid's brains work by listening to what comes out of their mouths.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

One reason big brothers are fun to have around.

Spinning the merry go round, while we peruse the trees

It was too cold to take too much time to discuss, so we chose pretty quickly, got it home, set it in the living room and began the decoratin'.

Layla and Dad supervises

Setting up the nativity sets.

All that decorating can tire out both man and beast.

Our family Christmas trees aren't beautiful productions to the untrained eye. To the eye trained to look for precious memories, our tree is a treasure trove. Most of the ornaments have pictures of our family from the previous years, or they were actually made by the kids. I do a walk down memory lane each year as we go through the ornaments.

Voila`