Christmas with Nana

My mother's mother is getting up there in years and it just is a bit overwhelming to her to have a large get-together. Also, five minutes after it's over she's forgotten that it ever took place and is fretting about getting everyone gifts. This year, some of us just met at a frozen yogurt place to give her little do-dads and so she could give the younger family members some candy and stickers. While we were there, I convinced Claire to let Pappy pull her very first tooth. It was very exciting. Later on that night, I pulled the next loose tooth. We tease her that Nora stole her teeth since the two that she is missing are the same two in Nora's mouth.

And now Part 3

Christmas in AR part 2 (just pictures)

Tra, la, la, la, la, la, cough, snort, sniff.

I am sick. Nora is sick. Elaina is sick. Eily is sick. Claire was sick but she seems to be over it.

We are in Tennessee for Christmas and I'm hopeful that we will all feel better before the rest of the out-of-towners show up. We are all going to the chiro in a few minutes to see if Dr. Jason can get help us get on the road to recovery.

I hope you all have a happy, healthy, harmonious holiday weekend.

Our AR Christmas 2011 Part 1

We had a fun time opening presents, eating donuts and playing with new toys. I don't have much time to write a stimulating paragraph so I'm just going to post pictures.  Warning: I get a little carried away editing with a seventies feel. Sorry.

Christmas is a coming, la, la, la, la, la...

This was Christmas last year:  Click here. It was so much fun. Today, Jason and I decided tomorrow morning would be our Christmas this year and we have peen prepping all day. I have cleaned and folded laundry and we have been wrapping and sneaking around stuffing stockings. I am a firm believer of a full stocking. I think it is a side effect of stockings from my childhood that were made to look full but really the present sticking out the top was the the only goodie in the bag. The rest was wadded up newspaper. I was disheartened each year even though I fully knew what to expect.

Egg nog: check
Presents: check
Hot Chocolate: check
Donuts: check
Full stockings: check
Fat, happy baby babbling in my lap: check

:)

All 99 of them

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the super-duper talented Gabe met us in Van Buren for our first family photo shoot in 4 years. (complete picture-scheduler fail) It went very well, considering the number of children and the ages of those children. We only had one melt down which in my opinion equals a stress free event.

We love them, Gabe. Thank you ever so much.

Click here to see all 99 photos. :)

My Christmas Wishlist

Item #1

Sharing is important

We went to two parades Saturday and racked up quite a lot of candy. Sunday afternoon, Elaina was chowing down on a piece of gum and she came into the computer room at Mom's where Rachel and I were visiting.
Elaina: "Um, excuse me Aunt Rachel, um, can Lukey have a piece of gum?"
Rachel: " Well, no. I don't think that would be a good idea. But thanks for asking."
Elaina: "Well, um, excuse me, but, um, can Eli have a piece of gum then?"
Rachel: "Well, No. I don't need to let him have one if I don't let Lukey have one."

Elaina stood there a minute, sighed dejectedly, took the wad of gum out of her mouth and said, "Well then who can I give this to?"

Family Photos

Here's a little preview of our family pictures we had taken a couple of weeks ago. I can't wait to see the rest!!! (And yes, I really mean those exclamation points. I'm waaaay excited.    !!!)

Click here:
http://fireflyspark.wordpress.com/

This is the new generation.

Aunt Abi mailed the girls really cool chime birdhouses that you paint and assemble. We were talking about how neat they were and I told the girls we needed to call her to thank her.

Elaina heaved a big sigh and said,  "I don't like being on the phone. Can't we just text her?"




In case you were wondering, the answer was no.