Christmas in Little Rock

Nothing like celebrating Christmas twice!  We arrived in Little Rock around 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday night...we ate a quick supper and then hauled the Christmas gifts in to celebrate gift-giving with Ben, McLean and Mary Elizabeth [and their mom and dad, of course].  What a fun age Ben and McLean are - they know exactly what to do with those presents!  They had a hard time going to sleep that night!  Oh, and how cool is it that the boys are sleeping in big boy beds now!  My how time flies.  We played hard all day today after taking one of the toys back to the toy store because it was broken...the boys loved the remote controlled  "digger", so instead of replacing the fire truck, we got another digger...they've had so much fun learning how to master the controls.  When daddy got home after work we all packed up and went down to the River Market in downtown Little Rock...the boys enjoyed watching the ice skaters and then on to Gusano's Pizza...the yummiest pizza I've had in a long time.  Since I spent so much time showcasing my christmas tree ornaments, I thought I'd feature some of Anne's decorations.  She has adapted well to Arkansas customs with the lovely mesh used on the mantle, the tree and the front door. 
It has been a different Christmas this year, but we have certainly enjoyed celebrating with both daughters in two different places.  I love it!

Bath time right after opening presents!

The Trolley

These decorations are on top of the trolley

Our version of a winter wonderland and playing with Piper

Yes, this is our version of a snowy wonderland...I'll send it on to my friends in Wisconsin and compare landscapes...feet vs. inches.  Well, I like the idea of enjoying the snow and then it's gone....on to warmth and golf, or other outside activities in the dead of winter!

The pictures of Piper show how she entertains herself all day long just wandering around the house pushing her baby doll and her toy cart...chattering to herself all along.  Then she stops and pulls a book out of her toy cart and begins to read...lively and animated!  She walks over to the staircase and sits down with the nutcrackers to read them a story...still chattering non-stop making dog noises while she reads the doggie book.  Precious.

I had to stop and give baby a kiss...I haven't given her a name yet...I'll let you know when I do!

Two fisted...couldn't decide which one I wanted to push, so I decided to push both!

Christmas 2010

Last night I was feeling very sorry for myself because there were no little voices echoing in my home...no daughters and sons-in-law playing games at the kitchen table.  I was thankful Garry and I were together...we had enjoyed being at both Christmas Eve services...Garry served communion for both services and I sang in the choir for both.  We came home and made a few last minute preparations for the following day and settled down to watch a Christmas movie.  My heart was sad, so we called Anne to see how McLean was feeling after being sick the night before.  As I was speaking to Anne on the phone, I suddenly heard the front door open and Garry said, "Looks like Santa is here!".  I looked up and there stood Paige, Piper and Trevor after driving 3 hours following their Christmas Eve service to surprise me and be with us Christmas Eve.  I was completely surprised [Garry had been in on the whole thing and had unlocked the front door to help with the surprise].  What a sweet, sweet gift.  We let Piper open her stocking gifts, so the pictures that follow are of that and Christmas morning.  Paige and Piper went to bed and we stayed up a while catching up with all Trevor was learning in law school.  The next day we enjoyed gift opening, especially watching Piper tear open the gifts...she had so much fun.  The looks on her face were priceless.  She was so cute...she'd tear off a piece and walk over and give it to Pops to put in the trash and then go back to opening..step by step.  Following this, we prepared for our Christmas meal and the Brownings joined us at noon.  We enjoyed their company so much as they shared stories of their travels around the world.  Jim is an Air Force Chaplain; hence the world travels...they have moved 11 times in 21 years.  After lunch, Piper went out for a fun time of swinging with daddy!  She kept asking to go 'owside'.  Soon they packed up and headed over to Trevor's parents to continue their family celebration.  Trev, Paige and Piper will be back with us until the 29th at which time they will return to Athens and we will leave for Little Rock to see the rest of our precious family.