Sarah Kathryn's ballet preview!

Since it was Bennett's birthday and Neil was in town he was able to come to Sarah Kathryn's ballet preview!  They did great, but she was a little shy! 

Bennett and the Social Studies Fair

I am going to start off by saying that Bennett made a 100% on his SS project.  Way to go, Bennett!

The rest of this process was the absolute bane of my existence.  They say to let the kids choose the topic so they will be interested...I did that.  They say you should let the kids write a research paper.  They say they need to make a board AND A MODEL for the project.  It is such a great learning experience for the family.

What I learned: 

My next two kids aren't choosing some topic that is way out of their league, too mature for them, or something with not one bit of information about the topic.  Bennett had all out melt-downs over this topic as we "researched." It was too mature for him as it involves bidding and gambling.  Too much.

Fourth graders don't know how to do research papers.  Yes, it is a wonderful idea for them to try.  But, the idea of students doing this totally on their own is so, so hard.  This was a huge source of frustration for Bennett and me.

The board and model is very pricey...if you want it to look decent.  We happened to have the football men for the model and made the goalposts out of skewers, but the board, border, fake grass (optional), fake money, and ancillary items were $$$! Oh, and my kid doesn't know how to put it together and would have serious hissy fits when trying.

I am so proud of my Bennett's board! :)

This was the most excited he was throughout the whole process!

HECK YES!  It's turned in and done!

I am not complaining AT ALL about anything related to Bennett's teacher.  She was absolutely amazing through this process.  She helped EVERY child and even answered my questions.  I believe projects like this are a great way to learn about a topic.  It is just unrealistic to think that nine year olds will sit down and write a research paper.  At least my nine year old. 

Birthday Party for Jesus

We had a wonderful morning at the Birthday Party for Jesus at church this year!  It was such a fun time and I love how special our children's minister makes everything!  This year was pancakes and pajamas and I loved it!

The kids heard so the story of the birth of Jesus, decorated pillow cases, ate cupcakes, and played fun games!

Here are these sweeties bringing their tennis ball cans for the party favors for the Love Feast.

Look at all those delicious toppings!

Coloring the pillowcases was so cute!

They even made cute ornaments.

And my absolute favorite part-singing Silent Night to candlelight!  (battery operated candles!)

Christmas Celebratin'

I put up our tree before we left for NOLA so the kids would come home to a Christmasy house!

It made me so happy when Neil decided to put Christmas lights on the house!  We've always been of the mind-set that no one sees them, but WE see them!  And That's all that matters!

EEEEEKKKKK LOVE!

Danae and I planned this fun idea!  The girls were so excited to get to school and they were matching!

I had my Capt. Shreve class of 2000 annual girls Christmas dinner!

We delivered our neighbor gifts!

We went to Neil's work Christmas party at Cantina Laredo.  They said it was tacky Christmas, but it sort of wasn't so I just wore the headband!

We changed in the parking lot of Cantina into our western wear and headed to Clark and Lauren's 90s country Christmas party!  So much fun and the attire was perfect!

John Mayton Williams is here!

To say we were absolutely amazed, thrilled, thankful, and downright emotional would be an understatement!  Amy and Daniel got the call that they were going to be parents around 9am and they picked him up at 4pm!!!!

When Amy called me during ballet that Tuesday to let me know they got a baby, I about lost it!  Actually I did lose it and it was an experience I will never forget! I couldn't even remember if she told me the baby was a boy or not!  Well he is!

Their little boy was born Nov 21st and is just so precious!  Our family is soooooo happy for them!

Thank you, God for answered prayer!

Amy feeding her precious son for the first time!

I immediately got on the phone to the monogrammer to get something for that baby boy! He couldn't come home without something with his initials on it! After all, he will be the best dressed baby in town!  They were so backed up that Jennifer offered to do it at home for me!

Catherine and I sneaked over to see that little angel right when he got home.  He was wearing the outfit Daniel came home in!

 The gift of adoption is such a precious thing.  It is selfless and giving and just simply amazing.  I am so glad that we get to be so close this sweet angel boy and his parents!

Dallas Christmas Weekend

Jill and I had been planning a quick trip to Dallas to do the Christmas stuff with our kids.  Our plan is to always roll in on the free hotel room idea when Neil and Kenneth are working in Plano.  We are geniuses.  

Neil's Plano office Christmas party was at the Dallas Star and we were pumped to go!  The Dallas Christmas parade was that Saturday morning and I couldn't even handle my excitement! Sadly, Neil's grandfather passed away and the funeral was to be on the Saturday of the party.  To go to Dallas or not to go?  GO!  So, we went Thursday night (Neil and Kenneth went to the Dallas/Saints game). Jill and I and all of our kids got there around 11pm.  We checked in and went straight to bed!

We got up the next morning and just hung around the hotel.  It was a nice, easy morning.  Since the guys get off work at noon on Fridays in Plano-we headed to a fun lunch! The Lewises went to the Arboretum and the Favrots went to the Perot Museum.  

Sweet family lunch!

I am so glad we went to the Arboretum!  I had been wanting to see the 12 days of Christmas gazebos and they did NOT disappoint!  The only thing that would have been better is if it was dark, but it was our only chance to see them.  We stayed for 3 hours and the kids loved every second.

a partridge in a pear tree

2 Turtle doves!

3 french hens

4 calling birds

5 golden rings!

6 geese a laying

7 swans a swimming and 3 kids a dancing

8 maids a milking

9 ladies dancing or as Bennett says "Creepy"

I LOVE THESE PEOPLE

I love a fellow mom who knows the struggle of getting a family pic and she takes different angles for us!  What a gem.

10 lord a leaping (they were ice skating-I didn't know that's what it meant!)

you were supposed to find these animals with Santa hats on and win a prize if you found 4.  We searched high and low and did not find 4.  Maybe they didn't have prizes! :)

Here's the second animal we found.  Photo taken right after they pulled the dang frog off the bench.  It was glued down.  Heathens.

Sweets.

I love this action shot!

11 pipers piping

12 drummers drumming!!!

We went to North Park right after the Arborteum and met up with the Favrots and Leone for dinner at Leone's favorite-The Mermaid Bar inside Neimans!  She goes there every Friday night and they straight up know her in there.  It was a cute place with delicious house made cakes!  Where is my picture from that night? No idea.

We walked around the mall for a second because I wanted to see some Christmas stuff, but my kids were acting like animals so we just called it a night and headed back to the hotel.  

We got up bright and early and headed right to Ruston for Papaw's visitation and funeral.  We dropped SK and Henry off at Rebecca's friend's house.  She was so sweet to offer to keep them!  It was great to see everyone in Ruston.  The funeral was nice and really special with Taps and a flag folding ceremony.  Papaw's 92 year old brother even flew in for the funeral.  So glad we went and got to be together with everyone!

I'd say we wore these babies OUT!  This was the view in our car on the way home to Shreveport after being in Dallas AND Ruston that day!

Christmas Card 2018

Loved our Christmas card this year!  I had a really fab pic of us dressed in matching outfits with hair and make-up done...but I just felt like this picture was us "in it!"  Love it!!