Two Christmas Programs

Over the holidays, we got to enjoy two wonderful Christmas programs. The first was at First Baptist Church in Carthage where my mom sings in the choir.
The music was just great...
and Anne Parks sat still and was so sweet through the entire show.
Her being "nice" and not "naughty" during the program could have had something to do with the fact that she thought Santa Claus was there. Can you spot him? Anne Parks sure did!
Marie and Ella with Tizzie and Anne Parks
Anne Parks and Smith
Our next big program was at Anne Parks' school. Her class sang three songs. She did the motions, but was so excited about seeing us in the audience that I don't think she sang one word. She certainly was cute, though!

Happy New Year!

Is it 2009 already?! Boy, time flies! I haven't posted much over the holidays, so I have a lot of catching up to do. Honestly, I couldn't bring myself to open my computer much over the last few weeks. It's been nice to have a break, and my school schedule will definitely take me a while to get used to again.
I'll start by sharing my Christmas projects with you. I mentioned in an earlier post that I made most of my gifts this year. I had so much fun doing it and even more fun watching them be opened. Some of my friends have asked me to share what I made, so here they are. I got a lot of my ideas and/or patterns from my favorite craft blogs. They are some great blogs with cute ideas. You'll find the links next to each project.

For Cousin Maggie: a doll, some diapers for her babies (Skip To My Lou), a skirt (Oliver +S), and two shirts (Darby Stickler)







For Cousin Smith: a growth chart (ohdeedoh), two shirts, and a tackle dummy starring his dad





For Tizzie: a t-shirt

For Jason: a quilt (how-to)



Pillows for Ganne and Mimi (starring Anne Parks and Smith)...
and for Jennifer and Susan (starring Maggie and Anne Parks)
**I got the idea for these pillows from a blog, but I can't seem to find the link. I'll post it as soon as I can find it.

I also canned some apple butter, but failed to take any pictures of the finished product. It was a hit! It was my first experience with canning, and it was surprising easy (thanks again to Darby Stickler).

Anne Parks and Her Dancin' Cousins

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Dads

I came across this video on a blog I like to read, Working Moms Against Guilt, and I thought it was just too cute not to share. There's nothing better than a daddy with his little girl!

Grandma Howell's Hair-Braiding Chair

When I was small, my mother would take me by my great-grandmother's house for her to braid my hair (or plat it, as Grandma would say). I would sit on the same chair each time. This summer, I mentioned the chair to my uncle, saying I wish that someone had saved it. He told me he thought it was in my great-grandpa's old barn. I went to check, and there it was! I cleaned it up, and my dad helped me recover it. I regret that I didn't take a "before" picture. I did take one after we'd started. I'm so proud of it, and I know Grandma would have loved it. I hope to be braiding Anne Parks hair soon (if I can get her to sit still).

The back and the seat were in pretty bad shape.

The final product:

Grandma, Grandpa, and me after my high school graduation. I believe it's the last picture I have of the three of us. They were two of the sweetest people I've ever known.

Christmas Party

Jason's friends from high school have a great tradition. They, and their families, have gotten together for a Christmas party each year since graduation. This year, there were kids everywhere, and we decided that we'd outgrown the traditional location. We had a great time. Anne Parks, especially, had fun playing with her friends.

Emily, Henry, Quinn, and John Vaughan
Uncle Aaron, Maggie, and Aunt Jen
Maggie, Jennifer, and Anne Parks

I Give Thanks for Friends!

Not only did I get to spend time with my family over the holiday; I also had the privilege of seeing some dear, Starkville friends. On Saturday, we gathered for a shower for Susan and her babies-to-be (That's no typo; she's having two!) We were also introduced to Laura's newest addition, Elizabeth. It was so wonderful to be with my friends. It was a rare treat since we live so far apart, and I treasure our time together.
Laura and Baby Elizabeth; Susan + 2 boys, me and AP, and Jessi

me and my sweet girl

Anne Parks helped by taking to gifts to Susan as she was opening them. She had a ball!

I Give Thanks for Family!

Anne Parks and I spent several days last week with Rambo Reed, Mommasissy, and Smith in Starkville. We had a great time and had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day when the rest of the family joined us. I've added a few new photo albums of our holiday on the left.

Emily and Smith

Sweet Boy

Anne Parks dancing along with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Rambo Reed joining Anne Parks' dance routine

Anne Parks and her baby taking a break

Uncle Drew and Reed watching "Scarlet Take a Tumble" (This was a hilarious YouTube video. I hope you've seen it. I was going to link here, but I found that it had been removed. So sad.)

Interesting?

My sister tagged me with the "Kreativ Blogger Award," and here's what she's insisting I do:
List 6 interesting things about myself and tag 6 others to do the same.

I'm not sure how interesting these things are, but here it goes:

1. Kreativ spellings get on my nerves. It's not just this "award," but anytime someone changes a "C" to a "K", an "S" to "Z", etc. just to look klever or kwik-wit'd, it bugz me!

2. This is probably the reason behind #1. I love words. I like learning new words, playing word games, and working crossword puzzles. Oftentimes, I'll remember where I was when I heard a word for the first time. Is that weird? Never mind, don't answer that!

3. Before my 29th birthday, I had lived in 29 different places (counting the dorm, sorority house, and college apartments). This lifestyle caused me, like my sister, to become bored with one place. I used to move furniture around too, but with a two year-old, who has the time or the energy?

4. I love murder mysteries. Sherlock Holmes is my all-time favorite detective, but I also love Sue Grafton's heroine, Kenzie Millhone. Most of my favorite tv shows are murder mysteries: Monk, Psych, Pushing Daisies, The Closer, CSI, Law & Order, Criminal Minds, and (my guilty pleasure) Murder, She Wrote.

5. I'm claustophobic.

6. I'm hand-making just about all of my Christmas gifts this year. It's been a lot of work, but I had so much fun planning what I wanted to do specifically for each person on my list. Having put more time and thought into each present this year is going to make the giving so much more gratifying. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!

Now, I tag Alli, Bonnie, Emily V., Erika, Katie, and Kristi.

Anne Parks' Pumpkin

Anne Parks is very excited!
Our newest little pumpkin is due to arrive on the 4th of July!