Christmas Day

On Christmas Day, my Mother stayed around until about 11:30. At 2 (more like 2:15 - we were late as usual) we went to my Dad's house for lunch. My favorite parts of Christmas this year were 1. The season was extra-long with the early Thanksgiving 2. Doing advent devotions, even though we only did them a couple nights a week (since we were out a lot)... esp. singing Christmas hymns together - I think that we have weirded out my poor sister, Amy every year. 3. Spending time with family.

Christmas Eve

This year, my mother spent the Christmas Eve night with us. It was a lot of fun. I decided to surprise her with our Katzenmeyer traditional Christmas dinner - served on Mimi Katzenmeyer's table, both my grandfather and mother grew up eating this same Christmas meal at this same antique table.


Here we are with the Standing Rib Roast(prime rib), mashed potatoes, rutabegas and peas, yorkshire pudding (kind of pop-overs) and salad.

Christmas in South Carolina

We went to SC the week before Christmas to Stimart Station for an early Christmas celebration. Hannah and I were treated to manicures and pedicures, we all went out to see lights, and the kids got to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. On the way home, we took a minor detour to go to the American Girl Store in Alpharetta (outside of Atlanta)

Cousin Christmas

In our family, the 7 cousins exchange names and buy gifts for each other. We celebrated on the 17th, but missed Antarctica, Benjamin, Bradley Bear and Unc. Kevin!
This was the first present that EmmaKate ever opened!

The tree cutting

We revived one our past Christmas traditions and went down to Ringgold to chose our tree. This year, we got a Leyland Cyprus and even a month later, it is still green! We can keep this one up til Epiphany!

Hannah was a bit grumpy, until she saw the animals. Joseph found a cute "Charlie Brown" tree, we ended up going with Jack's pick, because it was our favorite, too.

Jack's Birthday

Hannah hi-jacked Jack's birthday. Actually, she didn't have a choice in the matter, but she was pleased, none-the-less. Her piano recital was scheduled for Dec. 7th, and Jack was not pleased.

Hannah played a duet with her Grandma - "Trepak" from the Nutcracker (dance of the Russians), and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". The recital felt like a church event in the wrong sanctuary; several kids from our church performed.


Jack had been planning a Basketball Birthday since the end of last Basketball season (in years past, he dreamed of having his birthday at the Yeary's house, like Harrison did years ago) He wanted to rent the Bethel gym. Instead we rented the small gym at the Y (only $30 per hour). It was an experience in chaos. The party attendance was actually quite small compared to years past, but even a small group of 8-year-old boys in a small gym with NO sound absorption, could drive a mother in sane.... his grandparents sure were good sports for hanging around so long. But he had the party he wanted and had a good time. I plan to take a year off from party planning.

Oh, and for those of you that haven't had a child reach 8 yet. At least in boys, 8 is "still a baby : )"

An idea

I came up with a new tradition for our family: A Family Yearbook.

You can upload pictures to Snapfish, Shutterfly, Wolf, Walgreens, etc. to make a bound book at a very reasonable price.

I never made it very far with scrapbooking, and like that this is neater and more uniform.

Now we need to turn our dining room closets into bookshelves to display our yearbooks. I think that I can go back and do as far back as 2003, and possibly make special books for big events like special vacations.

Thought I'd share - as it may be an idea that would interest you!

Living the Dream

A funny Jack Story:

Our kids do not like to be constricted by clothing. Hannah has always had clothing issues. Joey hates to wear underwear. Many times as we are helping him zip his pants/shorts, we find that he does not have any on. Both boys do not like to wear pants; only shorts.

On cold days, we insist that the boys wear pants to school. They complain mercilessly about this. As soon as we get home, they break free from the tyranny of pants and change into shorts.

Last week, after school, Jack walked into the house, stripping from his pants, on his way to the bathroom. Experiencing the freedom of his boxers.

After about a half hour, a friend knocked on the door, inviting Jack out to play. He ran in red faced after a few minutes when his friend's Mom asked him why he wasn't wearing pants. - He had gone out in a sweatshirt and boxers!

The Christmas Concert

after game interview

Happy Thanksgiving

The Turkey Bowl

Adam, his brothers and Dad have played in the turkey bowl for years. Usually Adam and Aaron vs Ben and Ray. The year that I was pregnant with Jack (Jack was born a week and a half after Thanksgiving) I remember Adam telling everyone that Jack would be playing in the Turkey Bowl soon... and this was the first year. In fact, Hannah did not want to be left out, so she played. Joey was the center for both teams. Jack was named MVP; he was actually quite good and the bottom picture is of him catching the winning goal.

The Birthday Party

Joey and Davis had a very fun time at their 5 year old birthday. We planned what we thought would be a small party, that turned out big and fun. Thank you to all of you who prayed that they would be healthy and able to attend. Hannah and Jack had been sick all week, and we were concerned that Joey or Davis might get sick, but the Lord protected them - Joey still has not gotten sick!

Meet Zack

For Joseph's birthday present, he wanted to go to Build-a-Bear. He made a turtle. He also picked out a Falcons uniform, including a helmet... he also chose a "church shirt".

Birthday fun at preschool

Today was Joey's best friend's 5th b-day. Joey's will be 5 on Sunday. Amy sent in cupcakes to celebrate!

Our Tornado Shelter

A sweet and very well-meaning neighbor called last night to ask if I had the TV on. I told her that I didn't. She told me to turn it on, because there was a warning that a tornado was heading our way. I, unfortunately, can be easily alarmed... and I heeded her advice to clear our our closet under the stairs. Hannah and Jack had a fever relapse, so they rested on the mattress of our roll-away, that I put in there. Joey practiced reading "Dick and Jane".... he is really able to sound out words and read a few pages to us correctly.

Special Jewelry

At the Women's Retreat, our speaker encouraged us to "give our children the blessing".

Well, Hannah and I have a lot of friction in our relationship. It seems like ever since she was born she has shown and told me "I don't need you". I try to show her that I care, and she pushes me away most of the time. We do have those moments of warmth and we do have some fun times together.... but they are quickly over and she doesn't remember them as she continually asks me, "Why are you always so mean?"

I can accept this though,because left to her own devices, she'd be in a world of trouble. For instance, last weekend I came home from taking Jack to a birthday party, to find her in the kitchen eating a lolly-pop and drinking sugar water, as Adam watched his football game. She has not developed enough self-control for me to not "be mean".

So, I said, "Hannah, if I could choose a daughter from all the little girls in the world, I'd choose you" She said, "what-ever"

I tried it again the next day. She did not respond, but she didn't shoot me down either. That night, she went to the mall with her friend. She had $5 from her grandparents and $2 from me (aren't I generous :) ?)

This is what she came home with, a gift for me:


Last evening, Hannah and Jack both came down with fevers. They had been outside playing since school and came in for dinner complaining of headaches. Today we stayed in. I was looking through our closet and found a bag of beads and partially made jewelry from the days of mine and Charla's jewelry business: Sentimental Strands. I decided to finish this necklace. It is the first thing I have made in 6 years!




PS- Hannah and Jack are laying around, but are feeling much better. They should be back to school tomorrow!

11 Years!

If you've never seen a boot*leg, (as everyone who did that latest email survey stated) watch above. During my senior year of college, I did an unpaid internship at channel9. A few of the people that I worked with donated their time, and only charged for studio rental. They did a full wedding video and edited this 3 or so minute package as a synopsis of the day. This was in the days of VHS, and in the styles of the 90's. Adam and I were only a few pounds apart! (that is nothing to brag about)

Happy Birthday to my Dad and Step-mother!

This is a week and a half of milestones! My mother's birthday was yesterday, step-mother's is TODAY, our 11 year anniversary is Friday, my dad's birthday is Monday, and Joey's 5th birthday will be on Sunday the 18th. Followed by Thanksgiving, then 2 weeks after that Jack's 8th, then Christmas (with some aunt and uncle b-days sprinkled in Gina and Ben)

Happy Birthday to my Mother!