Friday night

Friday evening we went to my grandparents home to celebrate Christmas with the Duncan's. Aunt Teresa began a tradition with the kids, that as soon as they arrive, they can open one present. Keira got this cool interactive dollhouse and loved it. Brock got a huge Tonka bulldozer. Brock was more interested in the dollhouse. HA!!

Brock being silly and with one of his toys. We had such a good time. The adults play the dirty santa game and poor Brandon got 2 items taken from him, one by his own father-in-law. LOL

Early Christmas

This past Sunday the kids and I surprised my mom by going to her church to hear her sing in the choirs performance. She did an excellent job singing her solo. Too bad I inherited no musical ability from her. We then went to her house for lunch and to open gifts since my step-dad would be in TN. Long story about that - my mom splits her time between here and Georgia, they have 2 homes now. Anyways.......

Brock opening one of his cars up. He also got the big car mat, which he loves.

Keira (and her serious face) with Dora , Brock also loved this gift. He thought it should be his. He is still in love with Dora.

She had asked for a scooter awhile back since all the neighborhood kids have them. Grammie and Papaw Gary came through with a Princess scooter. I better get the band-aids ready. We told her she has to wear a helmet, which I am sure will be a battle. Keira can't wait for Christmas Eve and Day with all our families. She asks every night " When I get up, will it be Christmas?" I remind her everday why we celebrate. JESUS!!!!!! On a sad note : I had set the camcorder on the beginning of Keira's school "play" to show my mom and forgot I did that, I gave the camera to Brandon to tape the kids opening gifts and yep we taped over it. I was so sick at my stomach, I could have cried. The parts of them singing is still on the tape but it completely covered the performance. I hope another mother at the school will be kind enought make me a copy of their footage. I won't see them until after school starts back up. It still makes me almost cry to think about what I did.

more gift opening

Grammie opening the ornament Brock made at the Fantasy of Trees. Uncle Jared with the art tile Brock did. I let Keira go through every thing they made at the Fantasy of Trees and let her decide who got what. She loved giving these gifts.

Papaw Gary receiving his art tile. Daddy just being daddy! I am still learning on my new camera and was practicing trying to figure out which setting I should use.

Bulletin Board at school

The board as soon as you walk in the front doors. The sign says - If I could bring one present for Jesus, it would be.......

Keira's answer above - seeds. Don't know anything about that. I guess she had a plan of some sort with the seeds. I tried to ask but got no answers from her.

Keira's First Play

Her little class of 7 (6 girls and 1 boy) put on a little program today. They sang "Away in a Manger" and "The Savior Came down" It was so cute. I recorded the entire production and Keira sang so loud, she at times could have been doing a solo. Mamaw Sherry and I were so proud!! Brock was a good boy and sat the entire time and watched.

Singing a lullaby about Baby Jesus

My pics of the "play" didn't turn out well as I was recording in one hand and trying to snap pics in the other. Keira originally was going to play "Mary" but changed her mind. She then became a shepherd with her buddy Amanda and Jessica. ~She realy likes Amanda so I assume this is why she changed. They all did an awesome job and the teachers are wonderful. I am so glad we made the decision to send her to Morrison Hill, she is hearing about God and the Bible every time she goes. I couldn't ask for any better.

Shirts

Mamaw made these shirts for the kids. They are so cute!

Sleep

This is how Brock sleeps now. He didn't mess with the brown bear until after "baby" was gone. I have always put the brown bear in his crib, but now he likes both bears. As long as he sleeps on his own, I don't care what he wants to sleep with. Keira told me last night on the way to the game that she was going to sleep by herself starting last night, well that never happened. She is attached to me at night like glue.

Tree

I think I can reach it...............

I got it....................

What's next? If our tree survives the next 3 weeks, it will be incredible. Brock thinks the ornaments are balls and likes to try and kick them or better yet, swat them off the tree and just laugh. Thank goodness we purchased shatterproof ones this yr. However, a few ornaments have been broken completely or are missing a limb. He has also started pulling the beads out of place and pulling on the ribbons.

This past week

This week has flown by.   I didn't take many pics this week so no pics.   Ronnie had his treatment and has felt bad most of the week.  Keep praying for him as he has to turn around and go back to Vandy this Monday for another treatment.    Thursday morning, Brock had his first official haircut.  I had previously been cutting on it, but it was too long and I was afraid to cut a lot.  He sat in my lap as Kim cut and he was actually very good.   No pics since it was just the 2 of us and I was holding him and trying to keep him occupied.  He does look very handsome though with his big boy cut!!   We went to Jenna's basketball game the other night and Keira lined up with the cheerleaders as the boys team ran out.  We didn't make it on time for her to do this for the girls team.  She was thrilled.  Again, no pics.  But my wonderful husband did get me a DSLR camera for Christmas and gave it to me yesterday, so pics will be coming now that I can take better shots inside the gym.    I am so excited over my camera, I was not expecting this at all.    Anyways, on the walk to the car, Keira and I talked about her and the cheerleaders and she says matter of factly " I did a great job"   I just kinda laughed at my confident child.  I didn't have to agree with her or tell her anything, she already assumed she did an awesome job.   I plan on taking my camera tonight to the game and will get pics of her.  Go Jackets!!!! Other than those couple things, I have stayed home all week.  Is my Christmas shopping finished?  No - but I will get to it.  LOL

Prayer

Please lift Ronnie ( Brandon's dad) up in prayer today. They ( Brandon, Ronnie, and Sherry) are on the road to Vandy as I type this for Ronnie's first treatment. This will be a weekly trip. 1. Pray for this cancer to completely disappear with this treatment 2. Pray for Ronnie and the side effects 3. Pray for his doctors 4. Pray for safe traveling every week, to and from Vandy. 5. Pray for Ronnie to not catch any virus going around 6. Pray for Sherry 7. Pray for our family 8. Praise God for all His wondeful works and Give Thanks to our Mighty Physician Do this weekly if you can, prayer works!! We have already seen God perform miracles in Ronnie and I am positive about this time also. There has already been so many praises in this situation - to name a few 1. The cancer has not spread anywhere else in his body 2. The cancer appears to have been left over from the previous surgery and so it did not return on its own 3. He got into this study of only 10 patients and was #10 4. He did not catch the stomach virus when 10 out of 14 of us got it over Thanksgiving Thank you for reading this and your prayers. I will try and keep you all updated.

New Baby

Meet Brock's new "baby". I took him to Build-a-bear and this is what he picked. I tried and tried to get the shaggy dog, but he kept going back to this bear. He carried it the rest of the day and has been sleeping with bear. Hopefully this will pacify him, so far so good.

Goodbye "Baby"

As many as you know, Brock has slept with "baby" as he calls it, for 10 months. In case you don't know the story - I was sleeping with him when he began having ear infections last winter and then I decided that I was not doing this again, since I am still in the bed with Keira. Not making the samw mistake twice. Anyway, I had kept this hair extension that I had bought years ago. Both of my kids are hair twirlers when they sleep. I gave this to Brock and he took to it. Well, this past weekend when we had the stomach virus, "baby" got so much vomit and poopie on it, that finally we had had enough, we were over washing it and it was starting to fall apart somewhat. So, after he threw up at 2 am one morning I throwed it in the trash. I slept with him in Brandon's bed and he was asking for it. The next morning ( it was kinda pitiful) he was walking around the house searching for baby. He asked for it throughout the day and at bedtime. He was more attached than I realized. So, he has gone without 2 days now. He has woken up some during naps and I peek in and he was looking around his crib today and then finally laid back down. I may take him to build-a-bear and let him pick out a new "baby" Brandon doesn't want him to have another wig, so.............Goodbye Baby and Thank You for all your comfort

Beach Babes

The kids were in Keira's room playing while I cooked supper. Brandon came home and we are standing in the kitchen talking and Keira runs in with her bathing suit on, we think nothing of this, since she does this at times. She then says "Look" and here comes Brock around the corner. We both bust out laughing, it was so funny. She had dressed him and they were going to the beach. Poor Brock, the things he has to endure from an older sister. Last night he got mad at me b/c I would not let him put on her princess gown for bed. We are going to have to get boy dress-up clothes, I thought we would be safe for another yr at least.