Christmas Eve at Mom's

We had our traditional Christmas Eve at Mom's house.  The only thing missing was Dad.  Mom made her great Chicken Chowder and we ate quickly so the kids could open their presents.  I remember how exciting that was.  It seemed like the parents took forever to eat!!!!

Bryson and Mom had a special gift to open together....they (and me) are going to see Beauty and the Beast and Mamma Mia the Musical when it comes to Savannah!  It will be a fun girls night out.  Bryson and Momma were so surprised when they opened it!!

Brett got a bike to keep at Grandmomma's house so that he can ride around her block.

Bryson's new outfit.  I think she looks like Punky Brewster!!

 Blake's favorite of the night...Camo Crocs!!

 And the traditional gift from Grandmomma and Grandaddy...Guiness 2011 and Ripley's 2011

Brett;s favorite gift of Christmas...a real Pow Pow...the pop gun from Bass Pro Shop.  He has shot this gun no less than 400 times (seriously) AND sleeps with it!!

 Bryson got new monogrammed luggage and a book light from Grandmomma and Grandaddy!

 From Brant: Monkey Butt Powder....Blake loves it!

As soon as we got home, Brett got a bath and Pow Powed some more.

We put the cookies and milk out for Santa....

and the reindeer food out for the reindeers!!!!  Now it's off to bed to wait for Santa and TRY to sleep!



Forever Friends

I "borrowed" this post from Cathy's blog.  They have been so generous to check on Dad and visit.  After their visit on Saturday, Cathy posted this.  Thank you so much for your kind words and your friendship.  It means so much to all of us.

Bubba and I have been friends

with Robert and Sandra Rushing

since we were teenagers.

We were in each others weddings.

Sandy and I were pregnant with

Brant and Amanda at the same time.

Before the kids came,

we would sit up into the early hours of the morning

playing cards and laughing our heads off.

Today we were reminiscing about

a trip we took to the mountains in the dead of winter.

We were in Robert's dads small station wagon

and we had to stop and put on snow chains

because it was snowing so hard.



Robert has Alzheimer's disease.

He is living in a care facility.

We are all very sad.

God is in control of all of this,

but it is still a hard course to walk down.



God tonight I pray for

Your grace and mercy and kindness to Robert &Sandy,

Kellie & Rick, Brant, and Blake, Bryson, and Brett.

May they feel Your comfort and love in this season and the days to come.



We love all of you,

bubba & cathy

Christmas at the Carters

Yesterday we had Christmas at Jeanne and Dick's house.  All of us were there except for Lee, Kevin, Ava and Carter.  We missed you!  The children were very impatient and ready to open gifts.  I remember that feeling oh so well!!!!  I still think the parents ate extra slow that night so that we had to wait longer to open our girfts!

It was a whirlwind and I think that I have finjally figured out who gave what.  Hopefully my children spoke to everyone and told them thank you,  We will be enjoying the last week of the Christmas season this week off of work.  Lots of cleaning and fun to do.  Next stop will be MaMa's Christmas party on Tuesday!