Christmas with Family

The 5 stockings were hung..............

James getting greeted by Sprinkles.
Jackson could not take his eyes off Mylie during breakfast.

Grandpa Square Pants tells the

Christmas story and holding

the audiance captive.

Logan and Payton open their video cycle.

The dogs try to hide in Bert's lap

Bubbles in her Santa Baby dress.

Mylie fashionably dressed.

Mason wishes he was a little taller. Payton

Playing Break the Ice

Jackson couldn't leave the snowman aloneThe precious five in the back of the truck.

Thank you family and friends for all the cards and presents.

Thank you family for making Christmas morning special and memorable.

CHRISTMAS WEEK AT GRANDMA'S

The week before Christmas Payton, Logan and Jackson came to spend the night. We played hard and then had snacks while watching Thomas the Train. Jackson was sick during the night and ended up in Grandma's bed. Good snuggle time!

Then just a few days ago Mylie and Mason came to Grandma's and Grandpa Square Pants for the afternoon. Jennifer and Mason played baseball in the driveway while Mylie drove her baby around in the truck.

Then there was the coloring session. Pretty serious work to stay in the lines!

Then Grandpa and Grandma needed help finishing up the Christmas fruit baskets for the neighbors. Mylie was a big help!
Some of the baskets got a lot more candy than others.

But shhhhhhhhh, it's suppose to be a secret!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then it was snack time with Jennifer's new air popcorn popper, (it is suppose to be healthy for you but it sure taste bad). Mason thought it was great but Mylie thought it was noisy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Homesick

It is this time of the year when I really get homesick and miss family and a time when life was simple.
I miss the south, the southern accents and the slow moving people. The colors of winter and sometimes snow. I miss the smell of Faye and Furman's fireplace, the smell of peaches on Nannies back porch and Granddad's pipe. I miss the sound of Sam bellowing out Amazing Grace and Grandad singing The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago. I miss fussing with Tom over the chocolate pie, (I still have not gotten over the fact that Mom made you banana bread to take home every visit). I miss seeing my Mom in her beautiful Christmas sweaters and earrings. I miss puzzle time with my sister.
I miss a simpler time when a kiss and a band aid healed all my children's hurts and pain. I miss a time when being held and rocked was a consolation and time of comfort.
Nannie, Grandad, Sam, my Mom and Dad are spending Christmas with Jesus. I can only imagine what kind of Christmas they are having. Now I am really homesick!

Christmas of Old

James 4 months old.
James 16 months old.

Christmas 1980

James 2 years, Stephen 3 months.

Stephen 5 years old.

Jennifer age 6.

Jennifer 8 months old.

James and Stephen ages 6 and 4.

Precious Memories!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laundry Lifecycle

The other day Bert asked me what were my plans for Saturday. I gave him the answer I have been giving him for 36 years. "Laundry" You would think by now he would know the answer to that question. He commented, "You sure have done a lot of laundry in your life time." After thinking on this for a while I realized that like a lot of things that can measure a persons life, laundry was one of them.

Towels go from new (because they were gifts) to hooded towels with pink or blue ears, to bigger jumbo towels, back to new towels that are now old.

Sheets that are new (gifts), to teddy bear sheets to football sheets, back to new sheets that are now old.

Socks, dress socks, to tiny booties, to socks with ruffles, tall baseball socks that grew taller with time, back to dress socks.

Pants, thin jeans and dress pants, pants with snaps, overalls, baseball pants that grew like the socks, wider jeans.

Dresses, work dresses, little pink dresses, lacy dresses with matching bottoms, back to work dresses.

Shirts, dress shirts, Mom loves me t-shirts, Daddy's All Star t-shirts, sesame street shirts, numbered baseball shirts that always got bigger in size, back to dress shirts.

Pajamas, cute romantic pj's, one piece footed sleepers, zoro pj's,
superman pj's, Punkie Brewster pj's, pink lacy gowns, shorts for pj's, flannel pj's.

Underwear, (won't get to personal) briefs, bikinis, training pants, superman briefs, hulk briefs, boxers, etc.

The loads of wash vary. It started out with 3 loads a week, then went to 4 loads, then 6, then 8. Then it reversed 6, 4, 3 as each family member left. Now they start a laundry life cycle of their own.

I miss feeted pj's, baseball uniforms, the smell of freshly washed baby clothes washed in ivory. But looking back, I did it well! Moms, enjoy doing the laundry, it won't last forever!

Fun Time at Dickey's BBQ

Fun Pictures

Logan crawled in the dog crate and Jackson was making sure the door was shut.

Fun at McDonald's

Wonderful Easter

This weekend was so special, I just wanted to share. Saturday night we went to Stations of the Cross at our church. It was a touching event to experience a little of what the final hours of Jesus must have been like.
After taking a tired Bert home Jennifer and I had fun egging James and Stephen's houses. Not real eggs, plastic eggs all over their yards and cars. I was told the Grandkids had a great time picking them up.
Sunday we were blessed by a musical drama at church It was a wonderful time of praise.
After church all the family came over for lunch, always entertaining. Bert gave a short lessen on Jesus rising from the dead, which Mason quickly corrected Bert by saying , "He rose from a tomba".
Mylie's dress came off so she could do some serious eating. The picture below shows the dress can stand by itself.
Logan told us Jesus lives in his heart. Mylie tried to pull all the tissues out of the box, reminding us of Jennifer, must be a genetic thing.
Sitting around the table the topic of a past family reunion came up. Grannie showing the boys how to vacum the basement, Sam belting out "Amazing Grace", were some of the topics. James does a real good imitation Sam. Lots of family already with Jesus.
My girls cleaned the kitchen while I hid eggs for the boys. Such excitement at finding an egg.
Bert and I sat on the couch and watched all the action going on in the playroom and our children in the kitchen and could not help but comment on how truly blessed we are. After everyone left, the house was very quiet. Nap time was needed.
Thank you Jesus for family.