more....

The kids have to sit on the stairs while we get all of our cameras and stuff together near the tree on Christmas morning. This year Aaron was standing there playing Simon Says with them. Can you tell who is the southpaw in our family? Oh...funny story. Aaron and I were in bed Christmas morning and Parker runs in..."Mommy, Daddy! Wake UP! Santa has been here!" Oh no, we thought, he has been downstairs already without all of us. "Parker, did you go downstairs?" He didn't answer...he was just laying in bed with us and then we hear a little voice, "Someone is getting some babydolls." He had been down there and saw Susie's bitty baby twins...but he didn't tell Sus. Sweet little brother.

Uncle Cliff was helping Parker and his new race car track. Parker decided this christmas that he wanted Hot Wheels and Buzz Lightyear stuff. What a year to be a 3 Year old!


Now that Susie can read, she got "MY VERY OWN BIG KID BIBLE!" She was so excited to have a "real bible that DOESN'T have pictures" I love it that she was so excited about this gift. She and Grace both have such a love for God's word and what we learn from reading our bibles. What a blessing. She is sitting with her cousin Jesse...they are best buddies and don't really like to be apart when we are at Nana's house. They are pretty cute together.

Aaron got a Tennessee lamp for his office desk here at home. Actually, I use the desk most of the time, but this whole office is so covered in Tennessee Orange you can hardly see the walls...okay, not really, but it feels like it sometimes! :)

You asked for it, family....

I know...we've been back from Christmas break travels for a while, I have not an excuse left in the book, so I'll blog. We had a wonderful break. We stayed in Searcy with Nana and Papa until the 26th...hence all the Christmas pics. So, this post will be all about Christmas...
Parker is watching Sesame Street so we will see how much time I get to type and all more posts today. When the show is over, we are off the the mall. It's rainy out here in Houston and I need to return some jeans for the member of our family that is growing so fast that I can't keep her in clothes. Literally. Grace must get all her growing genes from Aaron's side of the family because poor Susie hasn't grown much at all this year...my side! And so it goes with our growing children. I'm waiting for the day (and it's coming soon) when people will start to ask if Susie and Parker are twins. He is about to catch her in height and they look sooo very much alike! Okay...off to the pictures!

See, I told you....little twins! Susie got the little bitty twins (blonde headed ones) for Christmas from Santa and they look so much like she and Parker when they will toddlers....so cute!

Nana and the kids are making their cookies for Santa. The Santa in Searcy, whom we love so very much...told them that he likes 2% milk. Now everytime we go to the store, Parker says, "Remember, he likes the blue milk, Mom!" You know, because 2% milk has the blue cap!

Papa reading "The Night Before Christmas" to the kids.

The tree at Nana's house right before the kids came downstairs....

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas??

We arrived here at Nana and Papa's on Monday night...we met them in Little Rock for dinner and then Aaron and Dad drove back to Searcy while Mom and I stayed in LR to do some Christmas shopping. It has been raining for 2 days....I'm wondering when it is going to let up! I think I should have asked for rain boots for Christmas this year. We've already made it 2 mornings in a row to Bobby's for breakfast. Love it. This afternoon Aaron needed some wood glue to finish a project he is working on for his Dad's christmas present so Mom and I had to go to Wal-Mart. Hated it. Every stinkin' minute. What in the world were we thinking? I mean, really, going to Wal-Mart, 2 days before Christmas, in the rain, in Arkansas.? UGGH! And remember, I really do love Wal-Mart, the other 364 days of the year...just not this week. I came back to mom and dad's and took a long nap on the couch. It was wonderful.

Aaron always waits until we get here in town to buy my Christmas presents. He let me sleep in yesterday morning and took the kids to Wal-Mart and to some other places in town. His favorite place to shop is Tara's. It's a jewelry store here in town that we bought our wedding rings from all those years ago and has since bought all of my nice pieces of jewelry there, too. I knew he was there on Tuesday morning, but didn't say anything. The kids ran in after being gone about 3 hours..."MOM!! We went shopping with Dad for you!" They were so excited and the girls kept their mouths shut. They only told me that they went to Wal-Mart and some other places. Well....Parker, remember now he is 3 years old, runs in and says, "MOMMY! WE GOT YOU A RING!!!" He was so excited. And of course, now am I because I am getting a new ring for Christmas...can't wait to open it up!!!:) Gotta love Christmas surprises with a 3 year old in the house.

Hope ya'll are enjoying your Christmas time with family and friends as much as we are here in Arkansas with the James side. We'll drive on the 26th down to Crestview, Florida to be with Aaron's side of the family. Keep Aaron's sister, Carrie in your prayers, too. We found out this week that she will have their baby c-section on the 28th! So, the kids will have a new baby cousin right after Christmas and I'll have a niece to buy cute little things!!

Merry Christmas, friends. We are so very thankful for all of your friendships all of these years...you are are family, too!!

Yes, I'm still behind...

I know, I know...I'm still about 3 weeks behind on blogging, but I'm going to catch up this week...
Okay, maybe not because of this weeks crazy schedule and all, but we will see. Aaron is having knee surgery on Wednesday...he has a torn ACL and meniscus. He thinks that he will be well enough for us to drive to Arkansas on Friday afternoon. I disagree and think that we will not be making the journey to the Land of Opportunity until at least Monday, but we will see. If anything, say a prayer on Wednesday morning for everything to go well. Aaron's mom will fly in late Wednesday night to pick up her car from our house and then drive to Florida to be with his sister Carrie. Carrie and her hubby, Dale, are expecting their first baby in the next few weeks and we are sooo excited. After spending a little while in Searcy, we are driving down south to be with the Green side of the family and hopefully we will get to love on the newest member of the family while we are there!!

Okay, back to the updates from November....after we got back from Mexico we decided to get out the Christmas tree. Yes, I know, it was before Thanksgiving, but with going out of town for most of the holidays, we decided that we actually wanted to enjoy it this year. So, we got the tree up and the house all decorated and it was time for us to go to Kennett, Missouri to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving. My Grandma is 99 years old and she is amazing. She still drives, teaches ladies bible class and works in the benevolence center at her church. We joke around that Grandma is going to outlive all of us....she is a wonderful example for me and I'm so thankful that she is my Grandma. There were 29 of us packed in her house on Thanksgiving. The kids had a blast with their cousins...they played in the backyard, sang us songs with dances and made some interesting concoctions from all of the stuff in Grandmas' bathroom...Grace and Courtney!! It was a fun weekend and I'm so thankful that we made the LONG trip there to be with all of the family.

When we got home from the Thanksgiving trip it got so cold down here in Houston that it SNOWED! The kids were so very excited and to tell the truth....so were we! I mean, really, who doesn't love snow?? It warmed up the very next day, but we had snow for one day and it was perfect! The girls got out of school early and we had a fun time playing in the snow and just being together as a family. Parker ran inside and grabbed the ice cream scoop, "MOM! I'm going to make some snowballs with this and throw them at Susie and Grace!" Oh...he is a fun little guy. So...enjoy the pics. As usual...the pictures loaded backwards on blogger...you would think they would have that fixed by now! Or do they and I just don't know how to use it after 5 years of blogging?? Oh well...

Susie loved the snow...you can tell we live in Houston. She has on a dress and tights from school that day! She stayed outside for a long time...I came in much quicker than them and I was bundled up!

The kids had a snowball fight with the neighbors across fence...it was so funny and they loved it!

They last day of school before Thanksgiving break was Susie's Thanksgiving feast! The kids put on a little song and dance show for us and then the kids ate so much food.

This was the middle of the dance...she was mid-spin!

Stephanie wanted pictures of our house decorated for Christmas....so I got Parker to pose by telling him, "Don't you get in my pictures!" Why do they always do what you tell them NOT to do? Oh well...it worked!

Next year, I will have a foyer tree....I only say that because Aaron bought the kids a new TV for the playroom with my new tree money....Okay, I guess the tree can wait until the after Christmas sales. I want it to be right behind where Parker is standing...just dreaming.

The trip!

Mexico...oh Mexico. You had warm sunshine and beautiful swimming pools. When can I come back?? We had a blast in Mexico last month with some of our dear friends from Ft. Worth. We all met a Secrets Capri Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico for 5 days of fun, sun and eating! I love friendships that feel like we haven't been apart at all. We just pick up where we left off a few months ago and I'm so very thankful for them all.

If you haven't been to an all- inclusive resort, I suggest that you save your pennies (we did) and try one out! It was such a fun time to be with friends and to have no worries for a few days. The food at this place was great...the staff knew our names by the 3rd day. "Good morning, Mrs. Green. Will it just be the 2 of you for breakfast?" Oh...it was great. I also loved not having to worry about money. EVERYTHING was included. Even tips. Totally cool. Of course, we paid for the trip months ago when we booked it, but it was so nice! We didn't do much...we just sat around the pool, relaxed by the ocean, and enjoyed the company and some times a good book. At night, we would dress up and go eat in one of the restaurants that they had on site. After dinner, we would go and play pool, games or just enjoy the excellent conversation.

Did I mention that we were at an Adults Only Resort? Our kids were well taken care of back here in Houston by Aaron's mom while we had a wonderful time with our friends. The kids were so excited to have their DD here for a fun visit of scavenger hunts, fun walks and lots of lovin' from DD! We always feel at ease when she comes to take care of the kids. And even more...we just feel so blessed that she would come and love on them while we are gone. Our family is such a blessing....

Well...if you want, you can scroll down and see some of the pics...I didn't post them all because we spent a great deal of time in our swimsuits by the pool and ocean. Sorry, blogger buddies, not going to post swimsuit pictures of me or my friends for the internet to visit!! :)

Rusty, Aaron, Ron and Chris...I'm so thankful that Aaron has such great friends!

Lorrie, Stephanie, Me and Lorie with Senior Frog...he was outside their retail store...too funny!

We shopped one day in Playa del Carmen and finally found a good "cheap" store to buy souvenirs for the kids. The guys were ready to get out of there...or just ready to get back to the pool!

Aaron and Chris were doing Sudoku puzzles...

Us together at the last night dinner!

Our beach was great...esp. considering that a hurricane was headed that direction the week before and then turned away. It churned up the water, but by the last day, the water was much better and we even got in...well, the girls did, anyway!

We were the first couple at the resort, but we couldn't check in until 3:oo...so I changed into my swimsuit and we took naps by the beach while we waited on our friends! Aaron was so out that he didn't even know I was snapping pictures.

Ron was attacking the big wheel of cheese on the first night...Italian!! Oh...the food was so yummy at all of the restaurants....oh and the desserts! We never get desserts...but at an all-inclusive resort...It's already paid for so you better it it, baby!! I'm going to be going to the gym for a year to make up for all the great food on this trip!

The boys played golf one day at this course, right on the ocean...beautiful! We girls had a spa day and it was so relaxing. I think having a spa day is a new must when we go on vacation from now on...It was a great massage with a pedicure afterwards. Not to forget the hydrotherapy complete with the plunge pool! Okay, the plunge pool I can totally live without next time!

Lorie, Me, Stephanie and Lorrie. What a blessing to have great girlfriends. We miss all of ya'll that couldn't come this year....I think we plan for St. Thomas next year. Who is in for June??

I'll try....

It is cold here today. I mean, for Houston, it is REALLY cold. It's hovering around freezing and the weather channel says it's going to get colder. The girls are both at school and Parker is on the couch playing Super Mario Brothers and watching Night at the Museum. I'm waiting for the call from the school saying that we have to go and pick the girls up because the roads will be bad once the snow starts...until then I guess I will type.

I don't know exactly why I haven't been blogging. I go to my blog and check all of my friends blogs and their updates. Yet, my blog stays on it's October post. Maybe it's facebook...I mean, really, it is so easy to get on and stay for a while doing nothing and then...oh...I need to clean and actually be a productive member of our family, and get off. It could be that we have just been busy. Since my last post we have made 2 trips to Arkansas, a trip to Mexico and had 2 holidays. Nope....Can't blame it on that. I can't figure it out exactly. I just haven't wanted to blog and talk about us. Maybe that is it. Well....time to get off my duff and update the old blog.

Hmmmm....where to start?

Halloween! We went to Searcy for Halloween weekend. Not because it was Halloween (that would just be silly) but because it was Harding's Homecoming. And because I think Aaron knew that I wanted, no strike that, NEEDED, to see some of my friends and family. It was such a fun weekend. We got to spend time with our great friends and family and see all of our sweet kids that are at Harding as students now. I just can't believe that Jenna, Bethany, Brant and Victoria are almost done with their first semester as college students. CRAZY! Victoria was one of my first students when I was teaching and was in our wedding as a flower girl....yes, I am officially old.
Our kids loved trick-or-treating on the HU campus with their buddies Kendall and Mason. And of course, we spend lots of time with Nana, Papa and Aunt Jess! I personally just missed my friend, Jenn Mallory, and I am so thankful that she made me stay up so late every night in the dorms with Jenna and Bethany! :) Night Owl...love you!

June and Gene came for Homecoming and Parker was excited to see Ms. June! We miss you!

Of course, Grace (she was Wendy from Peter Pan for Halloween) was soo happy to see one of her favorite Harding Students, Collin! We didn't get to hear him and the Good News Singers, but hopefully we'll get to at Spring Sing!

Our kids with the Mallory's kids...Parker (Peter Pan) was tired of taking pictures at this point and was ready to eat his candy.

The kids and Nana. Thanks for letting us come and visit!

We got home from Searcy....all 9 hours in the car....and it was time to get ready for MEXICO!!

Oh! The school just sent out an e-mail and text message and the girls are getting out of school at 1:40 today! YIPPPPEEE! The snow is on it's way....I better get off of here and get some stuff done so that we can play when the girls get home from school. I promise....I try to do better with the blogging....Mexico trip recap is next!!

NO WAY!

I just can't believe this....Grace is 8 years old and in the 3rd grade. She is a very tall 8 year old and I found out yesterday afternoon just how much she is growing. I went to find Grace some penny loafers for school on Friday and they didn't have any in the kids sizes. Then come to find out....a 4.5 in kids is almost a size 6 in women's shoes! NO WAY!! My 8 year old wears a size 6?? I wear a 7, 7.5 depending on the shoes. Grace is going to be wearing my shoes by the end of her 3rd grade year!! Well...at this rate, I won't have to share with her for long...she will pass me in the 4th grade, right?? Love that growing girl so very much!


The girls are really excited about Halloween this year. Mainly because they get to dress up as 2 different characters this year. Friday at school is the book character parade and they get to dress as their favorite book character for the whole day. Grace is going as Nancy Drew and Susie is going as Fancy Nancy. They are so ready for Friday to be here! For Trunk or Treat on Wednesday night and for our small group Halloween party, we are all dressing up as characters from Peter Pan. I'll post pics on Thursday and you can decide if you like our costumes or not! One clue as to who is who...the littlest member of our Peter Pan crew has been wearing his little feathered hat everywhere. I just hope I can get his little pretend knife/sword hidden before church Wednesday night because they can't bring them to AWANA! :)

Rain, Rain...Go Away...

Come again another day...

It seems like our family has been singing this song all month! Softball season for the girls was to last from Oct. 1-Oct. 31. They would practice during the week and have 2 games each on Saturdays. Well....it rained for the first 3 Saturdays so now we are going to be playing during the week and the weekends. No big. Until today....

Today's rain (POURING!) will cancel our make-up games for tomorrow...so it looks like Sus and Grace will be playing softball until Thanksgiving. Turkey and Softball....gobble gobble!!

In need of a lazy day!

This past week was full of action packed activities...look out... many pictures are coming!

Grace and Susannah finally got to play their first softball games on Saturday...only 3 weeks after the season should have started! We were so thankful for the beautiful sunshine and cooler temperatures. We left the house at 7:30 AM and got home that afternnoon at 3:00 PM. It was a great day full of fun games! We were so thankful that we (meaning, me) forgot to put sunscreen on any of us. Because of the cooler temps, we were all covered up, except for our faces. So, on Sunday morning at church, we all had nice and sunburned faces!!! Oh well...we won't forget tomorrow to wear our sunscreen, for sure! :)

This is what Parker does during the games....he runs around in this field with 7 year old "big big boys" and plays tackle football. He loves it and thinks he is so big that they let him play with them. I'm just thankful that he hasn't broken his arm yet!

The softball sisters!

Susie Q was just glad to be done with her game and eating lunch!!

Trying to be serious...afterall...we are real softball players now!!

Grace played so great in her games. It's actually so much fun to watch their games and how it is finally clicking in their heads on how to play the game and where to throw the ball. I love it! They are having fun and I love that part, for sure!!

Aaron took the kids to school on Tuesday and I went and helped Susannah's teacher prepare for the first kindergarten field trip. It was great!! We went to the pumpkin patch and it was perfect pumpkin patch weather. They had such a fun time and I so enjoyed spending the day with just Susie Q!She loved this game...they would pump the water and it would move a rubber duckie down the shute...it was a contest and of course, she wanted to win!

Susie and 2 of her best buddies on the hayride!

This ride was the kids favorite...they would just hang on for dear life!! :)

She picked out her own pumpkin.

Me and my Susie Q on the fun trip together!!

Wednesday, Parker and I drove to the museum district in Houston and spent the day at the Children's Museum. It was great!! We met one of my friends from when I went to high school in Tallahassee. I haven't seen Tonya since the 11th grade when our family moved back to Arkansas. It was a fun Godby High Reunion and a great day for the kids at the museum. Her 2 little ones were great and Parker loved being with them. We can't wait for Tonya to bring them back in town again for a Zoo visit, next time!

Building a house!

Painting...opps....I think we left his painting there on the drying rack! Don't tell Parker!

They set their own table with food and then they were praying. Oh my word...they were so cute!

In the lab, making molecules...just like daddy!!

Parker and Opal riding the scooter!!

Yesterday was to be Grace's class' turn to visit the Pumpkin Patch. Unfortunately, it rained most of the day on Wednesday and Thursday morning, so they cancelled the field trip. We had one disappointed 3rd grader, for sure! Aaron had already planned to stay at home that day and work from home so that he could take Parker to school for me to attend the field trip with Grace. Lucky for me...he stayed home even though the trip was cancelled. We had a great day. I did a little halloween costume parts shopping (Michael's and Hobby Lobby) and Aaron did a little work. He took me out for a great lunch and then we went furniture shopping before we had to pick up Parker from school. We really do cherish our time together here...When we were in Ft. Worth, we had babysitters pretty much anytime we needed them. Here...not so much! So, the lunch date was perfect!

Today, I have decided to declare "LAZY DAY!!" for me and Parker. We are still in our P.J's and he is enjoying his Sesame Street and I am sitting with him while I'm on the laptop. It's perfect and we may just stay here!! The gym, the dishes and the laundry can wait. Today is a day with my little man. Happy Lazy Day from us!!