2008 IN REVIEW

My mother and two of her sisters died.

The Es moved to Alaska.

Lainey and Charlie learned to walk.

Joe had a building named after him.

I got into size 10 jeans.

(I know these things aren’t equal in importance.)

Lainey's Christmas

I can draw on the Doodle Pro Grammy gave me, but I'd rather chew on the pencil part.

Flirting with Papaw at the Chinese Restaurant in Cabot.

My Great-Granny Hickey came with us.

Here I am with Daddy and Mommy.

I love pushing my babies in the stroller Papaw got me.

I got lots of new toys, but I isn't this paper cool?

A Post-Christmas Visit Is Ahead...

...and I'm counting the days until they get here!

Giggling

I giggle when Daddy plays with me on the floor!

Happy Faces

We were all smiling here!

"Giving Sugars"

Mommy has taught me how to pucker up and give kisses!

My New Red Camry

Joe took this picture as we were leaving to go to a Christmas dinner at Bob Freeman's. As you can see, Christmas has already come to my house!

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

I'm glad Lisa is thriving in Alaska, and I'm glad Mark sent this picture from her birthday breakfast at McDonalds, but I sure would like to give her a birthday hug today.

Oh, well, for that we have heaven.

More Pictures of Sweet Lainey

Isn't this sweet?

Merry Christmas

Three of my greatest blessings in life!

Charlie's News

Here I am having fun at the mall Saturday. I got my picture made with Santa and my brothers. Grammy can't wait to get the Christmas card I'm on!

I JINGLED ALL THE WAY!!

Here are some pictures taken at Ginger's before we left for the Jingle Bell 5K. I ran it faster than I ran either of my last two races OR my fastest training 5K! It was the most colorful race I’ve ever run! There were 1,300 runners/walkers plus some dogs, and many of them had on Santa hats. Some (including one dog) had full Santa suits, and many others wore reindeer antlers. I think everyone wore jingle bells on their shoes, so we jingled all the way through historic downtown Little Rock and up to the state capitol and back. I’ll post more pictures later.

A Christmas Outing!

Stephanie and I shared a chocolate torte after we ate chicken salad sandwiches at Stoby's today. Chocolate overload!! Merry Christmas!

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She helped me pick out a pair of silver earrings, because I cut my hair all off and it doesn't cover my ears anymore. I look like a boy, so I thought some earrings might help.

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I got a couple of things at Hobby Lobby and she got some cute stuff there. I love that store, especially at Christmas!

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I won't be able to attend the Creative Arts party at her house because that's Ginger's husband's office party and Lainey will be spending the night with us, so I'm calling our trip to Russellville today our Christmas celebration together.

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I had a nice visit with Julie on Monday, too. I hope to get in a visit with all my young women friends this month, but it'll be hard because they're so busy. I'm off to a good start, though, and "With God, all things are possible!"

Samantha's birthday

Yesterday was Samantha's birthday. I know Mark and Lisa work real hard at teaching their girls that everything's NOT all about them, but I just HAD to send her this journal, because yesterday it really WAS all about her! She said she was going to write about her Alaska experiences in it. Isn't that a mature thing to say? She's growing up fast, but she still plays with her American Girl dolls, and that's good.

It's Not Just Me!!

Sooooooooo the doll IS evil!

FOX and the Associated Press (and YouTube, of course) have all exposed the evil doll!! Here's one of the many comments on the web about it--

We actually bought this doll at Target and is positively does say very clearly “ISLAM IS THE LIGHT” and there can be no argument about it, as it can be recorded and played to anyone. It is dispicable to use subliminal brainwashing techniques on children or anyone else to promote any kind of religion. The doll should be recalled and this conduct should not go unchallenged.

I'm not sure if my particular doll says that or not. I'm afraid to go in there.

An Evil Doll

So I continue my search for the perfect Christmas doll for Lainey, and I find this one at K-Mart. She's adorable! I bring her home and put her under the tree.

Unfortunately, she babbles and coos every time the heat kicks on.

So I take her in the kitchen and put her pacifier in her mouth. This is supposed to comfort her and shut her up. Nope. She's still cooing.

She's going in the trunk of the car next. I want my money back.