December Happenings

Hi, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful December and a very Merry CHRISTmas! Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. We had a great, wonderful, full December with lots of fun memories made.

A couple of months ago, my dear friend Jessica Alexander moved to Salado. Her hubby, Drew, is in the Texas Game Warden Academy in Hamilton (outside of Waco) for 8 months, so she is living in Salado to be near a familiar face. Jessica has always been like my little sister. As a young teenager, she was in our wedding. And, then, a few years ago, I got the privilege of being in her wedding. Jess and Drew are both home school graduates. For Tony and I, it is great to be around adults who were home schooled and are thriving. It is encouraging to us as home schooling parents! I LOVE having Jess 5 minutes away versus in Florida, where she and Drew have been the last few years. We get to see Drew on occasional weekends, and we are enjoying that, too.

Here is a pic of Ally Beth, myself, Jessica and Caleb on a "girls and baby's night out."

Here is our Christmas Tree and Stockings...

In early December, we went to the Mayborn Museum in Waco with our home school group and the Browne family met us there. The kids got to learn about Christmas traditions around the world, take part in a Nativity reenactment, learn about winter weather forecasting, and see a huge exhibit of electric trains.

Here, Blane and Ally Beth are some of the Kings celebrated in Spain at Christmas.

In the Nativity reenactment, Ally Beth played the part of Gabriel...And Wesley and Blane were shepherds...

Lydia couldn't keep her hands off Caleb :-) She wanted to hug him and love on him! Caleb just drooled all over her...

Here's the B&B crew in the narthex of the museum...

This last month, we took time off of our normal school schedule and just read a lot of books, especially Christmas books. Caleb just DEVOURS books (hee, hee!)

We had our 2nd Annual Heritage Academy (the name or our home school) Christmas Recital a couple of days before Christmas. My parents were in town to celebrate Christmas with us. Tony's parents and brother came from Killeen. And, Jessica's parents were able to come, too! Her parents and mine are still in a weekly small group together and live down the road from each other, just like their girls do! Jessica and I had fun putting on the recital and the kids did a GREAT job!

Here's the cover of the program:

Here's the piano teacher with her students. The kids each played 5 songs and did a nice job!

The kids and I played Christmas duets...

Jessica led us in some Christmas carols on her guitar and Tony and Drew took turns reading the Christmas Story from Luke 2 interspersed throughout the recital...

Jessica and I played a rockin' duet on Jingle Bells. FUN!

Here's Drew holding Caleb. He is such a natural with kiddos. Drew, you WILL change one of Caleb's poopy diapers, though, before too long!!! MARK OUR WORDS!!!!

Ally Beth wanted me to put a picture of her favorite Salado boutique, The Pink Pony. It has been fun to live in Salado with all the great little shops!

Caleb's First Christmas! Here we are about to eat "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" cake after our Christmas dinner.
Ally Beth opens her new camera!
Ally Beth gave Blane a Lego kit. Here's a great picture my dad captured. Blane got his first set of pocket knives! What a priceless expression! We had a precious few days with my parents and a wonderful Christmas celebration with them. I am so thankful they came!

Caleb loved digging in his stocking!

The kids got to "play" a lot with Grammy and Big Daddy (my parents). Ally Beth practiced a little archery and Blane and Big Daddy shot BB guns. Daddy enjoyed some shooting and knife throwing, too!

THE END!

Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday, Big Daddy!

Hope you had a great day, Daddy! I sure love you.
Love,
your favorite daughter!