Basketball

Kannon's basketball season started a few weeks ago. He has been so excited to play. His first game he could hardly concentrate because he was smiling so much. Even one of the mothers commented on his smiling. He is on the Little Polar Bears team along with 6 other kindergarteners. They play at different churches in Jonesboro each Saturday morning.

They play music and the team runs out and then they announce all of the players. It is really cute and Kannon loves it.

What fun it is to watch Kannon play.

50th Wedding Anniversary

December 26th was my parent's 50th wedding anniversary - hence all of the family traveling to Mountain Home for Christmas. The four daughters and Matt took them out to eat while all ten children stayed home with my cousin Kate. They were busy decorating the house for a surprise party later in the evening.

Jamie, Me, dad, mom, Tracey and Kristen

When we got home all the kids were hiding in the kitchen and jumped out and yelled "Surprise". They had decorated the table and put up Christmas lights. It was very fun.

The portrait of Nana and Papa was done by Maia. Very cute!

Nana and Papa looking through a wonderful book that Tracey put together for them filled with thoughts, memories, and pictures of friends and family from their 50 years of marriage. It was a wonderful day celebrating such a big event in our family. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Christmas in Mountain Home

Christmas Afternoon we headed up to Mountain Home to Nana and Papa's house. The rest of the family was already there celebrating. We got there in time for a delicious Christmas dinner. The evening was spent opening more presents and playing with cousins.

Kannon, Tanner, Owen, Maia, Maggie (my cousin Kate's daughter) and Brooke just hanging out

A game of Harry Potter Clue

Then a game of Trouble

Owen, Quincy and Kannon

Tanner was happy to sit and hold Henry.

The big girls - Maggie, Maia, and Brooke

We had a wonderful weekend in Mountain Home with family. I am so glad that everyone made the effort to come for Christmas. It was great!

Christmas Morning

We don't have any 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. risers at our house on Christmas morning. We are lucky if everyone is up and ready for presents by 8:00 a.m. I guess we all love to sleep in.

Waiting, sort of patiently, for the last sleeper to arise.

Which one to open first??

Tanner with his new Yankees blanket. The rest of the family is not too thrilled that Tanner is a Yankees fan.

A happy boy!

Wow, our family got a Wii! Tanner said, "I knew Santa was going to get us a Wii." All the family was excited to try it out.

After presents, Barry made a big breakfast for us. It was a nice Christmas morning together. I think everyone was happy with their presents. Especially, the Wii. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas Eve

We started the day with breakfast (more like brunch) at Cracker Barrel. Then it was home to finish up last minute Christmas preparations. We spent the evening at Grandmama and Grandaddy's house with all of the Jones family. We had a big Mexican Fiesta for dinner and then presents and goodies.

All the presents are handed out and then we open them from youngest to oldest. Kannon was so excited for his turn.

A new Peyton Manning Jersey for Tanner

A new PlayStationII Game for Corey (who would have guessed)

New clothes for Dustin

Grandaddy and Grandmama with all of their grandchildren - 7 boys and 2 girls

When we got home from Grandmama's all the boys opened new pajamas. That is a tradition that I have been doing since I was little. Everyone loves new pajamas for Christmas.

Then we put out the reindeer food and the cookies for Santa and it was off to bed.

Christmas Activities

December is always such a fun, busy month. I had a Faculty Christmas Party in early December which was really nice. We had a good dinner and then played "Dirty Santa" with Christmas items. I am still getting to know all of the teachers so this was a great opportunity to visit with everyone.

The 2nd grade teachers.

The teacher on the back row second from the right is a friend I have had since I moved to Arkansas in 5th grade. It is so fun to teach with her.

Kannon and Shay visited Santa at the bank.

Making a new Christmas snack favorite: dipped pretzels in almond bark and then decorated with colored sugar and sprinkles. YUM!

Our annual trip to the tree farm to pick out our tree.

Class parties:

I had a mom who planned my whole class party for me. She had organized games, crafts and snacks for the party. It was a fun afternoon.


Kannon's party was in the morning so they had brunch foods which I thought was nice. They decorated sugar cookies, made reindeer food, and also made a couple of cute ornaments.

Kannon and his teacher, Mrs. Schulte

Making reindeer food

Tanner and his teacher, Mrs. Robertson.

Barry got to go to Tanner's party because it was the same time as mine. I asked Tanner what he did at his party and he said "We ate lots of goodies". Sounds like a fun party to me.


During the month, we had a fun visit from the Jensen family (my sister Kristen and her family) who stayed with us a few days before heading up to Nana and Papa's house.

Cowboys Quincy and Kannon

My boys enjoyed playing with their cousins and Tanner especially enjoyed holding his newest cousin, Henry, who is only 7 weeks old. We were glad that Sophie and Quincy were visiting when we made our graham cracker candy houses too. What fun!

Tanner and Baby Henry

Candy and kids - what's more fun than that?!

Also, during the month we had our annual December 23rd bowling night, visited the "Winter Wonderland" display downtown, and just enjoyed time off from school and time together with family.

We brought a few friends along for the bowling fun.

Kannon and Corey doing a little "Guitar Hero" at the bowling alley - actually they were just playing along with the demo but they were having fun.

Our after bowling party!

What a fun month December is - and we haven't even gotten to Christmas yet!!