Saturday

Yesterday morning I finally relented and agreed to put up the Christmas tree. I was curious to see it, as I bought it last year at a great price the day AFTER Christmas. But, I said they had to do most of the work!

(From this angle, you can now see the room is green, the other side is yet to be painted and is still yellow)

I was so pleased that the tree only came in 4 pieces that snap and plug together!

 

15 minutes later, we were done! I think I am in love with this pre lit tree! So easy!

Yes, it is in our foyer. Nobody ever uses the front door so we thought it would be a good place. There isn't any furniture in the big den, plus with it being only half painted, it looked really weird.

After we were done with the tree, we loaded up and dropped Collin off out in the country for a paint ball birthday party with a new friend. Sam was gone all weekend as this was his first weekend on duty in the Guard.

Then we proceeded to go 40 minutes away to the Weiands house. This was the family we bought our home from. Susan and I became friends on the phone we talked so much before the move. So not only did God bless us with a great house, he gave us some new great friends too! They have 8 children, and a perfect match for all four of mine.They had us all over for dinner a few weekends ago and it was so much fun. They also home school and we have mutual friends as well. We are so excited they didn't go any farther away and we can spend time together.

The reason we were there was to do family pictures. We got there early and I was enjoying sitting out in the sunshine by the lake. I caught this candid of Kaebrie that I like.

They had a lot of races around the trees!

Rolling down the hill was a lot of fun!

The reason we came: The Weiand Family!

Just the kids:

That was a lot of fun and the highlight of my day! Their oldest, Jonathon, graciously drove to Wal Mart so I could follow him. Granted, we once did live in Clinton, but that was 8 years ago and I do not remember how to get anywhere! We did a HUGE shopping run. When the nearest Wal Mart is 40 minutes away, it makes sense to make a list and plan out meals and buy bulk when you can! As this was an unfamiliar Wal Mart, it was time consuming trying to find everything on my list. The kids were getting hungry and I had a 45 minute drive back to Yazoo to pick up Collin from the party. At 6:00, we paid and headed out to the van. I had one cart with Christopher helping push, and Kaitlynn had the other cart with Kaebrie riding in it. They were right behind me.

Then I hear this blood-curling scream and I turn around, and the cart had fallen off the sidewalk into the street. Kaebrie is screaming, groceries are rolling, and people are staring. I run over to her, not sure if she is hurt. No blood, no bones facing in the wrong direction, she is OK. It just scared her. I try and lift the cart back up. It is so heavy and lopsided because half the bags are still in it. I pull and twist and finally get that thing upright. Then I start piling in groceries and torn bags and loose items, while Kaebrie is still screaming.

People are just walking by. Nobody helped. I was so angry. Not angry that it happened (frustrated and a bit unbelieving, yes) but angry that people could walk by and do nothing. ugh. Maybe I expect to much.

Anyway, we made it back to the van, threw everything in, and headed back for Collin. We had to stop at the Sonic and get slushies to calm everyone's nerves, because a Sonic can never be passed by without a slushy stop (or at least after you spend 3 years in Idaho with the nearest Sonic and hour away it can't).

Made it to the party on time, got Collin, got home, everyone unloaded all the stuff, then everyone needed showers, then we all went to bed.

And to think Sam was gone and missed all that fun!

:)

.

I don't know what she was looking at, I like to think it was the view! But she sure enjoyed it for awhile.

Small Town Fun

What a busy week this has been. Time is flying by faster every day and Christmas will be here before I know it!

In coming to Yazoo City, a small town, we knew what we were getting into. We loved Louisville, Mountain Home was like a small town, so some of the events of this week were exactly what we wanted and exactly what we enjoyed.

Last night was the town Christmas Parade, and it was COLD out! I mentioned that I was cold (I do NOT like to be cold) and several people laughed and said that coming from Idaho I wasn't allowed to say that. But it WAS cold!

85% of the town, or so it seemed, had gathered on Main Street. The other 15% of the population were IN the parade. Clowns on small motorbikes throwing candy, Little Miss Catfish 2008 - throwing candy, the Mayor - throwing candy, fire trucks, police cars, floats, all with people throwing candy. My kids are always happy when people throw candy at them. The school bands marched by, girl scouts, church groups, civic groups, and horses.

We had a lot of fun watching and visiting. We met on the lawn at the church manse along with a lot of other church families and talked while keeping an eye on our kids, who were chasing candy being thrown at them.

Not a great setting for pictures, so here are a few crazy exposured ones.

 

For two weeks now we have been watching a house in the neighborhood put up their decorations. The picture below only shows about a third of the lights and things. We have wondered if they do this every year. Kaebrie LOVES it. Yesterday when we drove home after the parade, we noticed a new sign in the yard, dedicating the decorations in memory to someone. That is kind of sweet. I can just imagine someone who loved Christmas decoration so much, that in their honor, every last decoration you ever owned was put out at the same time to honor them. I like it.

Tonight, we just got back from the Kids Christmas Caroling Hay Ride. That was a lot of fun too. We all met at the church, loaded up a bunch of kids, and off we went! Tiffer had the best and most comfortable seat. Do you see him?

We went to the home of several elderly shut-ins. The smiles on their faces brought tears to my eyes. I don't think any of the kids or youth there could really grasp what it meant to these ladies. I don't even know if I can grasp it all.

It got chillier as the night went on, but thankfully it was nowhere near as cold as it was last night.

Here is Collin with a few of his new buddies, Andrew and Reed.

And Livie and Kaitlynn

Then it was back to the church for hot digs, chili, chips and brownies. A great way to end an evening!

I did have a few moments of homesickness. I was remembering caroling last year with some families from the chapel. It was cold, but clear and crisp out, and no wind, which was a rarity. What I remember was our boots crunching through the snow as we walked. The sound and the feel of it made it feel like Christmas.

I missed the snow tonight.

Tomorrow night I am going out with the WIC (Women in the church). They have adopted a family and are going to go and decorate this families first Christmas tree and bring presents and a meal. That will be a touching night. Friday night we are having our first dinner guests. This weekend is Sam's first guard duty. It is official. As of yesterday he was released from active duty and he was sworn in at his new unit in Jackson.

I guess that is about it for tonight! More later when more happens! Nite Nite!

Thanksgiving

It really was wonderful spending Thanksgiving with family for the first time in 4 years. I know there are a lot of pictures in this post, but since I am on a scrapbooking hiatus for the foreseeable future, and I am having the blog turned into a book instead, long posts like this one are more for my book documentation than your reading pleasure. But feel free to read and look, or skim and skimp!  :)

We arrived in town early Wednesday evening, going straight to my sister's house. How peaceful, playing checkers by the fire with Uncle B.

Kaebrie did eat all of her supper, but was mostly interested in the chocolate cake. I caught her here licking the cake server.

That girl can love her some chocolate!   :)

I was TRYING to get a picture of the 5 grand kids on my side of the family, but Sam kept throwing the ball into the picture. They enjoyed his antics way more than posing though!

Got one!

(I was so hoping for a red head, but my sister scored on her only one, isn't he adorable?)

Kaitlynn and her HaHa, in their blue stripes.

The boys are both 6 years old and had so much fun playing together! It is so great we are so much closer to home and now they can grow up knowing each other better.

The grands and their Bumps.

My girlies!

And the brothers!

My almost 2 year old nephew on Sam's side, Noah.

Playing corn-hole, a favorite outdoor Smith game.

Sam's brother Phil, on the other team with Tiffer.

Every year in the past, we take a family Smith photo on the front porch. We have years and years of these pictures. It is fun to see the new babies added and everyone growing up. This is a picture of a picture of when we were there last, not great quality, but good enough to see. That is 2 month Kaebrie screaming on JuJu's lap. It was 2004.

And here is 2008~

Sam was in charge of the turkey, here he is peeling off the cheesecloth it cooked in. This year the turkeys name was Turtle. Long story.

I have so many pictures of the kids on this swing. They love it.

Turtle's first cut.

JuJu had several cute signs out as decoration.

And lift we did, over and over and over.

Noah trying out his first sour lemon.

Sam took this one. My mom and my daughter. I like it.

Kaebrie with her HaHa.

What memories, falling asleep being rubbed and rocked.

Playing checkers with Poppa.

Daddy with a kumquat up his nose. No, I am not telling why.

Friday morning, the girls wanted to go out and see the horses.

Shasta is now over 30 years old!

I didn't take any more pictures after that, even though we were really busy still having a good time.

I am thankful for our families, and thankful we got to celebrate together this year.