Our Cabin!

When there are 12 in the family, sometimes it is hard to find a place big enough for everyone. We all enjoyed the cabin this year.

Just me and my GIRLS!

I LOVE being with my GRANDbabies!

CHRISTMAS breakfast looking alittle Queezed!

Trying to get everyone up and going at the same time was a challenge. This is some of the family early Christmas morning.

A VERY Special Gift!!!!

Brooklynn has been such a special gift to our family this year. How thankful we are for each of our precious grandaughters.

PRINCESS of Everthing!

No words really needed. The picture says it ALL!

PaPa and PLAY-DOH!

One morning early Anna Kate wanted Papa to play Play-Doh with her. Well, the other little ones were awake so they wanted to see what was going on. They had the best of fun with Papa......

PUZZLE TIME!

In the past years we have had a puzzle to try and complete over Christmas. This year it was a very challenging 3-D puzzle! Almost everyone got involved. Micah and Tim stayed up very late and surprised us Christmas morning. It was FINISHED!

BACK TO Christmas!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS! One tradition we have done since Anna Kate was born is to bake a birthday cake for Jesus. It is HIS birthday! This year was more fun than ever with two more little sets of hands to help. Wanted to share a picture of it with you.

A Day With The Lincoln's!

Gary and I finally made it to Springfield to see the new Lincoln Museum and Library. It has not been open long and before it opened to the public President and Laura Bush toured it. It was very well done and a very enjoyable day. I have always been a big fan of Abraham Lincoln, but learned so much more about him and his life. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

The WISE MEN'S Camels!

It was really pretty weather in Tennessee and we visited a petting zoo one day. Anna Kate got to pet a camel.

Baby Lauren All Decked out for Christmas!

We call Lauren the "Gerber Baby". She is really photogenic. Smiles for the camera if you take her "passie" out. She is such a doll!

My SWEET and LOVING Son-in-Law!

If only everyone could be BLESSED with such a sweet and loving son-in-law!

Cutter CHRISTmas 2005!

We just returned from a wonderful holiday in the Smokie Mountains with our family, 12 in all. It was so exciting, especially with three little GRANDbabies. I just have to share one Christmas morning picture. I'll be sharing many more in the days to come.

A GOD Week!

The past week has been a very hard week in many ways. Mom had some real health issues surface and she need medical help and decisions made quickly. We began each day in prayer telling the Lord that we COULDN'T handle all that needed to be done and asking HIM to do what ONLY He could do. HE IS FAITHFUL! Mom has been moved to Florida to one of the most BEAUTIFUL assisted living facilities available. Please pray with us that Mom will adjust and enjoy the beauty around her. Patty her daughter, along with her grandson Ryan and his family are only 5 minutes from mom. Never easy to make changes at any age, but especially hard when you are older.

A GOD Week!

Sharing our week.

FINALLY Home for the Holiday!

Sara had quite a trip home for her Christmas break. She started out yesterday but got stranded in Charlotte. Finally got home tonight....... It's a long story. So thankful to have her home. Thanks for your prayers.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK ALOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!

We enjoyed Rich, Joy, and Brooklynn's visit so much. One thing we had to do was go to Von Maur and take their picture in front of the Christmas tree there.

What a BIG little girl!

Brooklynn amazes us at times at how quickly she is growing up. When we looked at the pictures we took on her recent visit, she looked so grown-up.

What BIG Eyes you Have, Brooklynn!

Everywhere Brooklynn goes she hears, "You sure look like your daddy". We think it is the big eyes that really makes them look so much alike. Believe it or not she has even learned to use them to FLIRT.

MISSING BROOKLYNN!

Brooklynn flew home to Greenville, South Carolina yesterday. I had an extra hour at the airport with her due to flight changes..... I was HAPPY! She seemed to really know and connect with both Mimi and Papa. We miss her so!

Brooklynn's 1st Museum Trip!

Today Brooklynn had another 1st. We took her to the Children's Discovery Museum here in Normal. She loved it! It was so much FUN watching her explore.

Brooklynn's 1st Tea Party!

Friday at 1 o'clock we had Brooklynn's 1st Tea Party. Brooklynn was a perfect little "Guest of Honor". Special friends came to meet Brooklynn and share her Tea. What FUN we all had.

Brooklynn's HERE!

I could hardly sleep last night thinking about Brooklynn coming to visit us today. SHE'S HERE!!! We met them at the airport this morning. It had snowed overnight and everything was covered with white. Brooklynn had just fallen asleep 5 minutes before they landed. She was dead asleep in Joy's arms when they got off the plane. We had taken balloons for her. She woke up and unbelievably reached out and wanted to come to Mimi..... I has so HAPPY! She didn't know about the CRAZY balloons though. We are looking forward to some FUN days ahead.