Who Are You Going To Call . . . . .

Santa and Mrs. Claus are a bit worried this Christmas Eve . . .

an asteroid is headed right for the 

NORTH POLE!

Rudolph has a cold and can't guide the sleigh  . . .

and it's foggy outside.

How will Santa see?

So, who are they going to get to help them?

Who are they going to call for help?

THE INCREDIBLE REINDEER!

There's Robo Guy

He's partially bionic with super science and math skills.

There's Laser Squint . . .

He can disintegrate tall mountains with just a look!

There's Hyper Speed . . .

She's the fastest reindeer in the galaxy!

There's Mighty Moose

(He's not a moose - it's just a cool name)

He's the strongest reindeer of them all!

Together they work together to save the North Pole 

The asteroid was destroyed!!!

Thank you, Incredible Reindeer!

Robo Guy will use his laser beam to guide Santa's sleigh

saving Christmas Eve as well!

Thank you, Incredible Reindeer!

Thank you, First Graders!

You were

INCREDIBLE!!!

and

thank you, Mrs. Claus and Santa!

Cookie Time!!!!!!

The question I heard all year, "When are we going to do the Christmas Cookie Swap?"  We set the date and invited our friends for another Saturday afternoon of food, family and FUN, FUN, FUN!!!  Gran Willis hosted the party at her house this year.  We are so thankful for her opening up her home (and Grandad leaving it) so we could have a good time with our friends.  

As the girls arrived, they put together gingerbread houses for their treat boxes.  There were plenty of big friends to help and lots of creative minds going as the houses were decorated to each little personality.

Gathered around the breakfast table to put together their gingerbread houses

Thankful for BIG friends who help us

Each family unit brought 3 dozen cookies to the party.  We shared some, ate some and took some home with us!  

Once our houses were placed together, each girl/mom/grandma got a container to fill for someone else.  Many of these containers were delivered as a groups later on in the party.  Some were taken back to other special people.  We got the containers here.  After we filled the containers for others, we feasted on the goodies ourselves!!!!

Cherri and Mary Katherine fix their container of goodies

After eating and eating and eating some more, we broke into two groups to deliver the containers of cookies to some of the older people in our neighborhood.  Each group took the time to not only deliver the cookies, but to stop and spend some time with the ones we visited.  This was one of the most special times of the day!

Eden, Kristi, LB, Lilly, Mrs. Ann, Melissa, Cecily and LeAnn went to visit

Group Number 2 - Me, Jana, Madlyn, Cherri, Kinlee, Stephanie, LeighAnn, RoRo

Visiting Mrs. Hogan

We are so thankful for all of our friends and family who came to celebrate this special day with us.  I think I see a tradition in the making here!

Suzanne and Lillie

LB and Anna Catherine - Mrs. Donna came, too, but got out of the picture!

RoRo even got to come this year!

LeighAnne and Jana

Madlyn and Cathy

Cecily and LeAnn

Kinlee and Stephanie even joined us for the day!

Lilly, Mrs. Ann and Melissa 

Eden and Kristi

Thanks to all who made this a great day!

Dinner with the "W"

Each year Freed Hardeman University holds its Benefit Dinner.  Former sports stars, politicians, actresses, actors, etc. have all been a part of this special night.  This year's Benefit Dinner speaker was former President George W. Bush.  I had the pleasure of hearing both his father and mother at previous Benefit Dinners and was excited about this one.  Mom and Dad had two extra tickets, and invited me and LB (the president obsessed granddaughter!) to go along for the night.  We were all very excited!

Grandad and LB at dinner

We were so excited to hear Mr. Bush!

Gran, LB and Grandad

Even Whitney was there!

It was a wonderful night!! The best part was seeing Laura Beth's face light up when she saw President Bush behind the curtains before he came on stage! We will always remember our night with the "W!"

Why Would You?

Why would anyone want to sit out in the freezing cold for 30 minutes BEFORE the parade
started?

to play around with close friends . . .

to catch up . . .

to just sit and take it easy.

Why would anyone want to go to a small town parade full of tractors dressed in Christmas lights,

convertible after convertible of small town queens,

and all the low rider trucks decked out to nines one can take?

to see little ones get excited about just being cuddled under blankets . . .

to see this little one see the parade for the first time he can remember . . .

to hear this one yell, "Merry Christmas" to every one who went by and 

to hear him declare this "the bestest parade EVER!" . . .

to see this one break down to all the different kind of music that went by us . . . .

(Whose child IS he, really?)

to see this one love all the wonders that went by . . .


and to see this one interact with young ones helping them to embrace the holiday season. . . .

to just sit back and relax before the craziness that is the season really hits . . . 

for Mommas to sit and hold their babies - no matter how big or small . . . .

I think the real question is . . . .

Why wouldn't you?

Santa's Elves At Work Again!

A few years ago the Young Family and the Welch Family decided to begin a new tradition.  Instead of exchanging presents, we would go out to eat with each other and then take the kids shopping for others who do not have as much.  We adopted two children, got their wishes, and set the date!

We met for supper at Snappy Tomato!! (Did you know kids eat FREE on Tuesday nights?) We were even blessed to have Gran Willis and Nana Vickery to join out little excursion!  After supper, we headed to Wal-Mart and invaded the toy department!!  The kids were precious wanting to get EVERYTHING they saw! If only our pockets were as big and as deep as their hearts!!!

Here are the kids with their shopping carts FULL of toys for two dear little boys!

What a great night! Thanks for the wonderful memories! We are ready for next year!

Decking the Halls . . . .

The kids were so excited to put up all the trees in the house this year.  So much has been going on with me at this point, I have not "been in the Christmas spirit" as much as I usually am.  It was nice this year to have some help putting up all the trees!!!  

Damon and the kids working on putting the family tree together

Laura Beth's ornament for the year - Thanks, Gran and Grandad Willis!!!

Our family tree is quite full just with the "normal" ornaments, so a few years ago, we began the boys' sports tree.  It actually came about because I was not a huge fan of Larry Bird being right in the middle of our beautiful tree!! Can you blame me?  However, this tree is always a favorite of people who come to visit us.  The tree grew this year to a 7 foot tree!!!  Carter and LB put it together ALL BY THEMSELVES! Carter and Damon worked hard decorating it.  It was so neat to hear Carter asking questions about the different players he was putting up on the tree.

Carter and the sports tree

Carter with his ornament of the year - Ryan Howard!
Thanks again, Gran and Grandad!!

I hope to have more of our decorations up here for you to see. I am having camera troubles so bear with me!  As of now we have 4 trees up and decorated, and with the help of my little elves, I am getting more in the Christmas Spirit!!!