Merry Christmas

Christmas Day finally arrived! We were very excited that Nana and Papa were able to come down late Christmas Eve night and spend Christmas with us. Even on Christmas morning, my boys sleep in. Finally around 9:00 everyone was up and ready to open presents.

Santa has been here!

A very happy boy with a new PS2 game.

All ready for Baseball season

The big present for everyone was a DS and a Club Penguin game.

After all the presents were opened everyone went off to try out all of their new games and gadgets.

An intense game of College Baseball on the PlayStation

Tanner's favorite present was an "American Farmer" computer game. He and Barry played it all afternoon. You have to build a farm operation. You plant crops, sell crops, buy tractors, etc... He loved it! (I think Barry loved it too!)

Later that afternoon we had a nice ham dinner and then enjoyed the rest of the night playing new games and watching new movies. What a nice Christmas with family! Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas holiday.

Christmas Eve

We started our day off with breakfast at Cracker Barral (along with everyone else in Jonesboro). Actually by the time we all got up and got there it was closer to lunchtime. We saw several families from church there who also have the "Christmas Eve breakfast out" tradition. We had a good meal and then headed home to wrap presents, make a few last minute goodies, and get ready to go to Grandmama and Grandaddy's house at 5:00.

We had a big Mexican meal at the Jones' and then it was time for PRESENTS.

Kannon trying out his new "Spiderman" cell phone

Tanner with a new Pokemon tower play thing

I think one of Kannon's favorite presents was a "Camp Rock" CD that he got from Shay. Whenever Kannon goes over to her house to play they listen to it and dance, so he was excited to get his own CD.

Kannon is SO unlike my other boys. They would NEVER think of dancing in front of people but Kannon was just having a great time. He sure brings a lot of fun to our family.

When everyone was gathering up their presents to leave, Kannon came and said to me, "Aren't we going to do the Mary and Joseph play". Last year, I had brought props for all of the kids to act out the Nativity but I had forgotten this year. I hurried and gathered a few towels for props and got Mary and Joseph into place while Barry read from Luke 2. It was a wonderful way to end the evening. It helped to remind us of what Christmas is all about.

December 23rd

For the last few years, we have gone bowling on the 23rd. It has turned out to be a favorite tradition for the boys. I think everyone's goal was to at least beat Mom :) which they all did. I am not that good of a bowler and that is WITH the bumpers up. Anyway, it was lots of fun and we also got in a few video games before we left.

Kannon gave a "Thumbs Up" on the bowling night.

Part of the bowling night is coming home and having Christmas goodies and sparkling cider in fancy glasses. It doesn't take much to thrill my boys. :)

Graham Cracker Houses

Last year, we made our first Gingerbread House. The boys had a great time but were not real excited when I told them that they couldn't eat it. So this year, I had each boy make a small graham cracker house and told them they could eat them whenever they wanted. Much more fun!

Kannon and Tanner had all of the candy eaten off their houses in the first day or two but Corey did not touch his until Christmas and then he ate the whole thing. They all agreed that having their own house to nibble on is lots of fun.

Basketball Season

Dustin is busy with High School Basketball. His team is doing well. They just won a big game in the Holiday NEA Tournament which is held annually at ASU. Dustin had a great game and there was a nice write up in the paper about it the next day along with a picture of him. We all love going to his games and supporting his team. Kannon and Tanner have Valley View Blazer basketball jerseys that they wear when they are playing basketball at home. They know all of the players and their numbers. Tanner starts his basketball season in January which he is looking forward too.

Dustin is #4

Christmas Parties

Thursday was Party Day. Kannon and I started off the morning with a Preschool party. The moms brought goodies and planned a couple of games. The "Make a Snowman" game was a big hit - the kids paired up and had to wrap each other up with toilet paper to make a snowman - they actually looked more like mummies but that wouldn't have fit the Christmas theme :)

It was also Green day.

Kannon and I grabbed a quick lunch and then off to Tanner's party. Kannon actually went and stayed with Barry and went to Corey's party since they were at the same time.

Tanner's class sang Christmas Carols for all of the parents first and then did a craft, a few games and then of course ate goodies. His class didn't exchange gifts with each other but brought hats, gloves, mittens and scarves to donate to the needy. I thought that was a great idea.

Tanner is in the middle back with the red and gray shirt on.

Tanner and his teacher Mrs. White

Corey had a fun party too. They exchanged gifts with each other and then ate goodies. Corey got a Clue game which we have been enjoying. I had not played Clue in many, many years. Everyone got to come home after their parties and that was the official start of the CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY! We are all excited for no homework, staying up late, sleeping in, eating goodies, and spending time with family.

Snow

Okay, it wasn't really snow - but it was white and cold and we got out of school for two days, so we are calling it SNOW :) Monday afternoon it started sleeting and continued until Tuesday. Actually it was just a solid sheet of ice covering the ground. We slipped and slided all over the place. Both Corey and Tanner had field trips planned since it was the last week of school before Christmas so it wasn't the best days to miss but hey we take what we can get. We enjoyed our "Snow" days.

Christmas Traditions

December is here and so are all of our Christmas traditions. Sometimes I think we have too many but we enjoy them all. We have an advent calendar, a candy countdown, and Christmas Book basket that we do each day. I can't keep up with whose turn it is to do what but the boys seem to always know. Picking out our Christmas tree is another favorite tradition. We go up to Goobertown (yes, there really is a town named Goobertown) to a great tree farm. We pick out the tree and then the workers go and cut it down and bag it up for us. While you wait for your tree there is hot chocolate and cider to drink. That's Corey's favorite part.

The search begins

Kannon has fun looking for the saddest tree.

This is the one!

Tanner doesn't like hot chocolate but he wanted to hold one to warm up his hands.

Another fun trip to the Christmas tree farm

Kannon putting the star on the tree

Looks like some of Santa's elves have been busy decorating the tree :)

Now on to the next thing on the Christmas list - outside lights.

Santa Claus

Kannon was so proud of himself this year because he was not afraid of Santa. He said that now that he is 5 he can talk to Santa. He wanted me to take a picture of him with Santa at our Ward Christmas party last week but I didn't have my camera. Aunt Shena works at the bank and she told us that Santa was coming there so we went and I made sure to bring my camera. When Santa asked Kannon what he wanted for Christmas he said, "I am not sure yet" :) Santa asked Corey if he wanted a girlfriend for Christmas and Corey just smiled. My boys have never been big Santa fans so it was fun to get a picture of them with smiles on their faces. I told Santa that they had all been very good this year!

Thanksgiving Holiday

Dustin, Kannon and I went to Mountain Home over Thanksgiving to visit Nana and Papa. We had great food, beautiful weather and lots of fun relaxing each day. Kannon enjoyed being outside with Papa and also went on walks in the woods with me. Dustin and Kannon worked one afternoon helping Papa haul wood to the front porch.

Corey, Tanner and Barry went to Big Island down in southern Arkansas to the Jones' Family hunting cabin. Barry's dad and brothers and nephews went also. Corey looks forward to this trip all year. They wear their camoflauge and read hunting magazines and just have a "boys" weekend. Tanner loves riding the four wheelers and Corey loves shooting at tin cans. That is about as close to hunting as it gets for them. :)

We all got home on Saturday and then had a Thanksgiving dinner at Barry's mom and dad's on Sunday evening. What a nice Thanksgiving holiday - spending time with family and eating lots of good food!

Corey's Basketball Season

Corey just finished his 6th Grade Intramural Basketball season. He had a great time! He played outside almost every day after school practicing for it. He was their inside man. They would throw it to him and he would turn and shoot. He made several baskets throughout the season and got quite a few rebounds. We enjoyed watching him play.

Great Job Corey!