Holiday Cowgirl

Here is our little cowgirl in her new duds.  Notice her serious look - cowgirls use the serious look, don't want anyone giving them any trouble, you know?

Christmas Cousins

This does not happen too often - a picture with the cousins together! When is the next time this will happen? Not sure, but it is never soon enough. They have a lot of fun playing and the time is always too short.  One of the best things about the holidays is definitely being with family!

NOT a PETA Member

 

Weren't expecting Ms. Crockett in front of our tree, were you?  She actually found a coon hidin' in that there tree, picked it off with one clean shot from her pistol, and made herself a hat just in time for the winter storm that's a comin'.  Or maybe Santa Claus brought it. 

In the Spirit

The hat on this girl's head is actually a baby hat - but she loves it! Ever since we unpacked it with the rest of the decorations, she has been slapping it on her head and dancing around the house as our little elf-in-residence.  Every house needs one.  Usually we have three at our house - our kids have no problem being in the Christmas spirit!

The Beautiful Baker

It is always a treat to be invited to school for a special activity.  Today ARM's class hosted us for their Gingerbread Reader's Theater.  They each had a few lines of a poem about baking Christmas cookies that they had memorized which they recited for everyone while dressed in aprons and their custom chef hats.  After that, their class went to the cafeteria and transformed small milk cartons into gingerbread houses with graham crackers and icing and then decorated them with candies.

Going Downhill

Today we managed to find a hill that still had enough snow to for sledding - yippee! And no one else was even there...not too surprising given all of the hills in this area.  This hill was not super steep but let us pick up a little speed and coast a while. ARM is helping her Mom, brother and little sister get moving with a push in this picture. ARM was more interested in pushing the sledders than riding down the hill herself, but she has never been the risk taker of the family and she was not about to start today!

Hot & Cold

Is there anything better than drinking hot cocoa on a really cold day? This face says it all!

Congratulations and Good Luck to the New Grads!

Over the weekend we were lucky that the roads from our direction were decent enough for us to travel down to witness two of our favorite people and a very big accomplishment! These two graduated from college - both with excellent grades, and my little brother is wearing that medal for high honors! Since he is a veteran, he also has the red, white, and blue cord with his gown.

Another thing that is rare about these two is that they did the last half of their college career married - so not at all the college experience that many people their age have.  They both worked during school and after the holidays they will be moving to a new state and starting a new life together.  Russ has a new job and Emily will soon!  We are so very proud of them and are happy we were there to celebrate their big day.

Big Kid, Little Kid

 Most aunts and uncles probably underestimate how much fun kids think they are.  Our kids just love that attention and always look forward to it and hope that they can "play" longer.  (By the way, talking is boring.  And this is where adults should listen to the kids and get up and play!)

Here EMM (the little kid) is goofing off with his uncle (the big kid) on his graduation day.  The kids knew that this was the last time the would see their aunt and uncle's little college apartment, which they had so enjoyed visiting, so it was bittersweet for them.  But on to new adventures, and a nicer place to live - this was not necessarily an apartment to miss!

The Vanishing Violet

Have no fear! The Vanishing Violet is here! She can rescue anyone from a bad mood with her purple mask, fuzzy bracelets, boa belt, and lilac dress.  Quick as a flash, she can dress a naked doll! Her beautiful songs can calm even the most violent tempers.   Will we ever discover her true identity?