Christmas 2013

The festivities began on Monday, December 23.  First the Johnson's arrived and then shortly thereafter Mim and Mike arrived.  The Pitts left Fayetteville this day as well, but their first stop was Sheridan and they arrived in Arkadelphia on Tuesday around noon.  The past several years we have had our big meal on Christmas Eve, which has worked out well because we can eat more at our Christmas morning breakfast.  I'm not sure which one the kids like better....maybe the breakfast because by now most everybody is a little tired of Turkey and Dressing.

We had an early dinner so that we would have time to work in all the Christmas Eve rituals...open Christmas PJs, read stories, leave cookies for Santa and treats for his reindeer...and all of these events being captured on photos.

Miranda took these photos on Christmas Eve as I was reading the traditional stories - I want you to know that I am in hog-heaven - surrounded by all of my grandchildren ;)

Just messing around with the family:

 Christmas Eve Dinner:

 Opening the Christmas PJs:

 Trying to get a group photo...I wish I was better with

Photo Shop...everybody looks good in one picture or the

other :)

Leaving treats for Santa's reindeer

 IT IS CHRISTMAS!!!!!

New York! New York!

We headed out for New York on Friday, December 6th in the middle of a snowstorm.  Thank goodness for 4-wheel drive vehicles!

Our flight was non-stop which was great since we had Avery with us this year.  The following account of our trip is so that we can remember the details....

Arrived at the Roosevelt Hotel around 4 on Friday. Dropped our bags and went to eat at a cute little cafe off Madison. Food was very good. 

Then off for some shopping.  We went to Saks and had an Avery parade...seriously...we felt like we were in a parade. Avery was smiling and waving at everybody :)  People would stop and talk to her and one lady got her husband to "come look at this cute baby."   It started raining when we were over by Rockefeller plaza this evening and we were all getting tired, so we headed back to the hotel to rest up for tomorrow.

Saturday. Early start and busy day shopping. Ate breakfast at Grand Central Station - and I love this place more every time that I see it.  Headed straight for Macys and the mall nearby.  Ate a late lunch at the pub in the Empire State Building and then shopped our way back towards the hotel.

Miranda and Avery went back to the room around 6 and Mel and I went to GCS and picked up cheesecake for dinner from Juniors. Even though we saw it this morning, it was even more beautiful in the main entry after dark.  Melissa and I stopped at J. Crew before going back to room.  Avery had a little time to stretch her legs after being cooped up in a stroller all day and was in a great mood - plus, we had cheesecake for dinner :)  Miranda has not found a food that Avery doesn't like, so it was no surprise that she likes cheesecake too.  Avery quickly found out that when her Mommy says "No" she only needs to look to Aunt Sissy or Cici to get what she wants .... in this case more cheesecake :)

Sunday. Up early and Avery and I hung out in the Lobby so that Miranda and Melissa could get dressed.  Sometimes it is the little things that you know you will remember and this is one of them...just me and Avery in this big lobby and me enjoying my morning coffee with my little sweetie...

Ready for our day!

We caught the subway at Grand Central Station over to Century 21 which is a place that Miranda found on one of her trips to NYC without us. Pretty cold this morning. Then we took subway to the Chelsea area and had lunch at a little Italian restaurant. Went to the Chelsea Market which is where food network is housed and shopped at Anthropology. Afterwards shopped at Lohmans and Urban Outfitters.  Took subway to 56th street to shop at Club Monoco. It was snowing when we got off the subway...looked very Christmassy but it was pretty wet and cold.  Stopped at a Japanese store that was pretty cool and took our pic in front of the Rockefeller Christmas tree. 

It was very crowded in this area.  We headed towards the hotel and stopped and ate dinner at Maggie's - we have eaten here on previous trips and we like the food and atmosphere. Mel had bangers and mash which was really good and Mir had a beef and mushroom pie which she liked. 

Monday is crunch day! Remember the rules...if the girls have any of their money left at the end of the trip they have to give it back to me.  Up early to get our bags packed and checked with the bell hop and then down to H&M to buy! After that we went straight to J Crew to get some things, then back to the hotel to pick up bags and a cab.  Success!  Not a penny was left on the table :)

The stewardess gave Miranda some cookies for Avery.

Avery is a great little flyer and we had an uneventful flight back.  However, we arrived to a winter wonderland.  Thank goodness our men were able to get through to the airport and give us a ride home. :)  It was a wonderful trip with my girls!

Thanksgiving 2013

Melissa and the boys came up on November 26th so we got to celebrate Melissa's 39th birthday with her.  I decided that she should have something special after all that she's been through lately.  Mim was here because Phillip and I picked her up on Sunday so that she could stay the week with us.  She helped me make a tutu for Melissa and I made her a cake.  I think she was surprised :)

The Pitts family left on Wednesday to party with other family.  Phillip, Mim and I didn't do a lot on Thursday and Friday....just some cooking and getting ready for Turkey day.  The Johnson crew  and Mike arrived on Friday afternoon and the Pitts crew came back a little later in the day.  We were all together to give thanks on Saturday at noon.

Although the Johnson crew had not planned to head back on Saturday they did so that Adam could drive Kerry's truck home.  Kerry drove Melissa's car home and Miranda drove Melissa home - this week was a little too much partying for Melissa!  Before everybody scattered, we did get a group picture:

Halloween Party and the AFTERMATH!

This is the third year that Miranda has had a Halloween party for the family and I look forward to it every year!  We all dress up which makes it so much more fun.  As always, we are busy the entire time that we are in NWA.  We attended football games before the party.  This one was Jayden's last pee-wee football game....

Miranda and Adam had the house all decorated, which I enjoyed, but didn't get a single picture!
Miranda, Avery and I were all witches this year...

We had not been there long when things starting going bad....first Adam mentioned that Avery felt warm.  Sure enough, she had fever.  Then Jayden's side starting hurting - bad.  Kerry called his football team doc who said he could take a look at Jayden at their house.  So Kerry and Jayden headed home. I noticed that Melissa was a little on the quiet side, but chalked it up to fatigue.  After all keeping up with 3 little boys during football season is enough to wear anyone out.  Shortly after Jayden and Kerry left, she decided to head home.  Phillip and I stayed a little longer then headed out ourselves since we were driving all the way to Arkadelphia.  Or at least that was the plan.  The next thing we knew we were at the hospital with Melissa and scary stuff was happening to our baby.  All I know is that the Lord was watching over Melissa because a series of event played out in just the right way to get her where she needed to be and with the doctor that she needed in a short time.  Over the next several days, Kerry stayed with Melissa at the hospital at night while I stayed with the boys and then got them off to school.  I could then stay with Melissa during the day.  The boys were SO GOOD during this time.  They told me everything that I needed to do, how to maneuver the morning traffic, when to pick them up, etc.  Melissa and Kerry have some fantastic friends in this little community.  They stepped up and covered for Kerry with the football stuff AND started bringing meals.  In fact they continued bringing meals over the next two weeks.  They even made sure that everything was safe for Kyler!  I was impressed!

A few pictures from the week:

Melissa had just gotten out of the hospital, but both boys were scheduled to acolyte at church on Sunday, so we all went to church.  My heart was full!  My baby is fine and my boys make me so proud :)