El Nacho

Once Nascar season is over, the wooden blocks always seem to come back out.  This is El Nacho, Ben's Mexican restaurant, and it's been on our coffee table for at least a week.  I've been amazed that Annie hasn't knocked it over yet.  Mollie would have taken it down in five minutes when she was that age.

Christmas Decorations

On Saturday John put Christmas lights on our house and the playhouse and we decorated our tree.

 Mollie chose a pink princess ballerina for her ornament this year.

 Ben chose a Mississippi State Santa playing football.

 Since the Bulldogs had such a good year, we bought John a new MSU ornament too.

 It was hard to find just the right ornament for Annie.  Most baby ornaments say, "Baby's 1st Christmas" but it's her 2nd Christmas.  But she doesn't have any interests yet.  I finally found a Hallmark ornament with a teddy bear and a number 1.

 Ben is holding the Big Thunder Mountain ornament that we bought at Disney World in March.

The kids really loved what Ben called "the memory ornaments," all the special ornaments from each year as well as the ones they had made.

 This year was Ben's turn to put the star on the tree.

 It didn't fall off, but it required a little straightening from John.

Of course Annie discovered the tree and went straight for Elmo.  What is it about kids and Elmo?!!

White Gift Service

We began the Christmas season early with the White Gift service the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  This is always our family's favorite Christmas church service.  Both Ben and Mollie Grace participated in the children choirs.

 The 4-year-olds practicing before church started.

 

The Kindergarten and first graders sang together.  I couldn't get them all in one shot so this is just the first graders.

 After the children's choirs sing, we take our white gifts (bags of can food to stock the church's food pantry) to the front, get a candle from the youth group then return to our pew.  We sing Christmas carols and one row at a time goes to the front of the church.  The lights in the sanctuary are slowly dimmed until it is lit only by candles.

Canton Christmas

While Ben, MV, Annie, and I went to the hunting camp Friday evening, Fran and her mom took Janey and Mollie Grace to see the lights on the square in Canton.  They listened to a story read by Mrs. Claus, rode a train and a carousel.  They had a great time.

Hunting Camp

On Friday afternoon, Ben, MV, Annie and I went to the camp so that Ben and MV could hunt with John and Jim.  

Thanksgiving

We spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with the Elders.  Fran and the girls were with us while the men were at the hunting camp.

 On Wednesday we took the kids for our annual cousin picture.  The big thrill is always riding the escalator.

Getting a ride in the red car.

 All the kids still try to ride in the red car but only Annie really fits.

Trying on Grandaddy's Navy hat.

Before Thanksgiving

We got a Paula Deen My First Cookbook from the library.  Ben has enjoyed trying some recipes for breakfast.  

Ben is cutting the middle out of can biscuits for me to fry for donuts.

 Mollie made us all hot chocolate.

Laundry helpers.