Family

Fun day today. Roger's side of the family came to see us today and have Christmas. We had a very nice time....sooooo glad they came to see us. While they were here...the "boys" thought they needed to play some Rock Band (one of Jacob's Christmas gifts).
Roger was very serious about his singing~he thought he did a fine job. We had a couple of laughs.

The "crew". Glad everyone came to see us!! Love you guys.

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS!

Today was NOT as relaxing as I would have hoped for on Christmas Eve day. Finished wrapping a "few" presents that took "several" hours...more time than what I wanted to devote to wrapping today. Did the Wal Mart run...that was terrible! Then Michael FINALLY got up and we made chocolate cookies for "Santa". This is a tradition I have done with my boys for many many years....some things ya just can't let go! I'm so glad that they like to continue to make cookies. Michael took over .... and .... we had some great big giant cookies. They were Yum-O!

We had some friends over for burgers tonight. Then we all went to the movie to see INVICTUS.

We always go to the movie on Christmas Eve. Jacob has had an earache...so we swung by the ER, nobody sitting in the waiting room...but they told us it would probably be TWO hours before we could be seen. SOOOOOOO........my crew did NOT want to wait. Jacob said it wasn't hurting that bad. Bet we end up in ER AGAIN before the weekend is up!

Off to my side of the family for Christmas dinner tomorrow (if we aren't snowed in).....and my in-laws will be up on Saturday for dinner with us. Can't wait for some family time....I sure am loving every minute with my little family.

It's Been Busy...

SATURDAY: It was the day to make Gingerbread houses. Each boy had their own house to do. I have NO idea why we did 2...we usually only do one...I LOVE that my 18 year old son still participates and enjoys doing this....
Good job!

Doesn't this side of Jacob's house look yummy!?

Ta Da...his finished product.

Saturday night...went to see PLANET 51 with our friends and their two little girls. It was actually a cute movie.

SUNDAY: SILVER DOLLAR CITY

Standing in line to ride "Powder Keg"....they stood for over an hour...they love this ride. NO, I did not ride it. I rode EVERY roller coaster with them in Disney World...but refuse to do it at Silver Dollar City...no idea why....

Boys getting ready to BLAST OFF!!

We don't even consider leaving the park UNLESS...the boys have had "THE SKILLET"--corn, peppers, sausage, and potatoes...AND "Cheesy Potatoes"....

We HAVE to have a "funnel cake" when we go to Silver Dollar City.

Mr. & Mrs. Claus found the sleigh loaded with the presents!

One of my favorite guys!

TWO of my favorite guys! They are pretty awesome!

Getting ready to ride the train. I LOVE riding the train in Silver Dollar City. One of my favorite things to do. Love the sing along songs, love the Christmas story that "Grandpa" tells, just love it. Nice fun family day. Boys "REFUSED" to have their picture taken with Santa!ha We usually do it as a family picture at Silver Dollar City...but they gave me a hard time this year...they said I told them last year that would be the last year to do it! (I don't remember saying that)...I'm still not giving it up...Christmas isn't over yet.... love this crew anyway....

Tomorrow off for a "girls day"...shopping with the girlfriends..... no sleeping in on the first day off from work! :(

HE IS HOME....

My boy is home for the holidays!!! Michael finished his semester exams on Wednesday. He got home Wednesday afternoon. He had originally planned on going to Breckenridge, CO on a ski trip with his fraternity brothers, but one day last week sent me a text and said that he wasn't going...that he just wanted to come home!!!!! I can't tell you how relieved I was to hear that. He would have been gone from December 17-21. Soooo ... he is home! Just hanging out with his brother, friends, and playing video games. I am so glad to have him home with us!!!! (It will be rough AGAIN on me when he leaves in January-but who wants to think about that).
Just a quick brag session....Michael had a heavy load his first semester...he carried 16 hours of hard classes/some honors classes. He made "A's" and "B's"....he worked very hard for those grades and we are so proud of him! 1/2 semester down....bunch more to go! WAY TO GO SON!
This little guy is asleep in the vehicle coming home from Branson tonight. We needed to run a few shopping errands, and he wanted to eat at Steak and Shake. So we met Rog at Harrison and went to Branson for awhile. He is all pooped out.
Today was our last day of school until January 4....whooo hooo!!!!! Sooooooooo excited.
Ready to spend some time with my boys and family!

College Soccer

Michael is on an intramural soccer team at college. Him and some of the local boys who are REALLY good. They hadn't lost any games-- until tonight! It was the finals. :(
Roger and I made a flying trip to Fayetteville Monday night to take Michael some video that he didn't think that he needed for a project, but ended up needing. When we got to Fayetteville at 7:30 they were at half time of the soccer game. So we got to watch the second half (20 minutes). The game went into over time and they had to do a shoot out.

Michael made the winning goal of the shoot out! We were the ONLY parents at the game! But we couldn't help but yell and cheer for them. Man, we love our soccer! And we sure did enjoy seeing Michael on the soccer field again...even if we only did get to watch him for 20 minutes.

Thanksgiving

Last year during this time, we were on vacation in Florida. We spent Thanksgiving Day with these characters!! It was a very different Thanksgiving day for us. We had a wonderful time, but did miss our "traditional" dinner. So this year we are looking forward to our traditional dinner.
We are so thankful for so much in our lives. We love our family and friends. Hope everyone enjoys the day.

Weekend of Soccer!

We had a gorgeous weekend of soccer. The weather could not have been more perfect for soccer. We went to North Little Rock to Burns Park to play in the Fallfest Tournament. It was suppose to have been last weekend, but the rain forced it to this weekend. We have been playing in the tournament for as long as I can remember. Michael started playing in it years ago, then it became to the point where they BOTH played in it, now it is just Jacob playing in it. Jacob was so young when Michael was playing that he use to have to "trick or treat" down there, because many times it would actually fall on Halloween! Our weekend games were not so good to us. We played two games Saturday and one game Sunday. We lost all 3! Two games were good, close games. The boys played their little hearts out, played on a field much bigger than they are use to. These are great memories they are building. Not only are they a team, they are friends. Great group of boys! Great group of parents! The parents are the ones that make it all possible.

When I first saw this picture appear on my computer screen, it took my breath away. He looks so much like Michael!!!

And he really looks like Michael here! STOP growing!

Michael did drive down from Fayetteville and joined us. We sure did enjoy spending the weekend with him. Jacob LOVED that his older brother came to watch him!

We had lunch with Michael in Conway. Then to Wal Mart to pick up some necessary college essentials. Then we each headed our different directions. That was sad! But I sure did have a lovely weekend with my three favorite guys!

Halloween '09

We had some fun carving Halloween pumpkins. We didn't get to carve our pumpkins until HALLOWEEN day! We had to wait for Michael to come home. We have carved pumpkins every year. Both of my boys love to carve pumpkins, and it makes me so happy! (It makes me happy when Michael comes home too!)

What's wrong?

The good ole nasty stuff.

Ta da! Would we expect anything else but some type of sports theme? Awesome job!

Working so hard on his pumpkin. He was the LAST one to get done. Takes such pride! (He had coffee break and salsa/chip break during his carving)

Ta da! Witches brew! What a fine job!

Are you scared Michael?
Alex carved a ghost. She thought it looked like a thumb!
The three happy campers!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!

Basketball

Monday night was our first basketball game. We lost to ICC 21-16. We could have played better. Maybe next time! Tuesday night was soccer, we tied. So far...busy week.

War Eagle

Picture doesn't even do the color of the trees justice. I love fall. Everyone knows that I live for War Eagle weekend in Fayetteville. I have had our motel room reserved for months, our agenda all planned out...etc...Well things didn't go as planned....but they did work out. I've gone to War Eagle for YEARS..not much keeps me from going..I went when Jacob was two weeks old! Jacob has heard me talk about War Eagle all his life, but has never got to go. It's always been something that Roger and I did together, and the boys stayed behind. Well this year, Jacob got to be my War Eagle partner. He LOVED it. He and I left Friday afternoon and left daddy at work. They are having union negotiations, so he didn't get to leave with us. BUT he did get to join us. One of the guys lives at Springdale, so he rode up with him.

Jacob standing on the bridge in front of the mill. There were a ton of folks on this bridge. We blocked some traffic for this picture. What a trooper Jacob was...thanks for going with me son! You were a good lil shopper. (I did NOT buy one thing at War Eagle).

After Roger joined us we went and picked up Michael. Went to eat at Outback, then to the mall to buy Michael new shoes and a winter coat. (Gets mighty cold in NW Arkansas). He did spend the night with us at the motel...but this is what he HAD to do...STUDY! Pretty devoted kid, and pretty proud of him.

We took Michael back to his dorm around 9:00 am Saturday morning, he had some fraternity community service to do. We continued on our "craft" shopping in the area. Had a full day. Even started Christmas shopping. Bought one boy a Christmas gift. Go me!

Red/White Game

We kicked off the basketball season tonight by having a red/white game with all the teams. This was something new. The kids had a great time. Our first game is next Monday night. Can't wait. LOVE basketball.
I have trouble getting good basketball shots. Jacob shooting free throws..he missed both!

Whoooo Pig Sooooie

It was a chilly day in Razorback stadium yesterday. We all went to the Auburn football game. We won... 44-23. My boys LOVE football, I go because they go. I love the "tail gating" part, but we didn't get to do this yesterday, because the game started at 11:00. So not alot of time to do that. I do not understand football, guess I never will, they have tried to explain it to me over the years... We did call the HOGS!
We were in the nose bleed section! It was PITIFUL! We were at the very top...seriously. We climbed so many steps to get there, I didn't know if I was going to make it.ha
Full house!
I love to watch the band. They do some pretty amazing stuff.

What a show.

Love this kid. Glad we got to spend the day with him.

Love this kid too! He enjoyed the football game.

Another family that we know went to the game. We all went to eat at Logan's Roadhouse...it was YUM-O. Michael took us on a "tour" of his fraternity house. He is "pledging" right now. He is pledging Lambda Chi. We got to meet his "big brother". He is excited about all of this. Me? Not so sure about it all yet! We also went to the mall and then to Wal Mart. Our typical stops when we go to see the boy. We had a great day!

NJHS

Today Jacob was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society; along with about 20 other 7th and 8th grade students. We are so proud of you! Congratulations!

13th Birthday...

Soooooooo....on Friday my baby turned 13! Can you believe it? He is now a teenager. 2009 has certainly been a year of milestones for us. Jacob is such an outgoing, caring, loud, rowdy child. He certainly keeps us on our toes. We love this boy! Happy 13th birthday son.
Friday night we celebrated at the bowling alley with 15 of his friends...boys AND girls! The kids seemed to have a really good time. This is the first year in a long time that I didn't have the boys over for a sleepover. This was a nice change.

One of Jacob's buddies got him a "crown" and "Barbie". This has been an on going joke between the two. The older brothers started it years ago! Tradition continues. He did NOT wear his crown all night...just slipped it on for me to snap a picture.

He couldn't get the candles to go out. They kept re-lighting. He didn't like that. He had some help getting them out.

Another buddy got him a Batman costume. We had a lot of laughs. This is such a fun group..they love to aggravate one another.

On Saturday both sets of grandparents came up to celebrate. And the Elliott's who are just like family to us! We had a cookout and made home made ice cream. I had an ice-cream made before I knew we were going to do homemade ice cream. I LOVED how the cake turned out. He was proud of his ice cream cake. (We didn't eat any of it today--oh well, we will eat on it this week).

I LOVE this picture of Jacob and his Grandma Leonard. I just managed to snap it at the right time.

Jacob with Aunt Mel and his grandparents. They made a 3 hour drive. We were soooooooo happy that they came to celebrate with us!

Jacob with his other set of grandparents. He was one lucky boy to have both sets of grandparents come celebrate his day.

And....we finally got our go-cart fixed. We have had this go-cart forever! But it had to have a new engine in it...our friend has been working on it for awhile....well, it was ready today.

His helmet is as big as him!

Michael even rode it for awhile! He was funny to watch. He is almost too big for it...

But I guess some things you just never out grow.

Yep, he came back in this weekend to help celebrate Jacob's birthday. EVERYONE was happy to see him! He spent some time doing homework...he seems to have plenty of that!!! I don't care if he comes home and has to do homework...I just LOVE it when he IS home!

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY JACOB! IT WAS A GOOD ONE!