my new toy.

I got a new "toy" for Christmas from my lovely husband. At first I was intimidated, but now I am in love.

And what is this new "toy" you ask. Well, it's a Nikon D3000 camera:

It is AMAZING!!! These were the first 3 pictures that I took. The quality is superb and Hayden actually smiled for the picture. I guess he likes it too!Thanks Randy!!!

My Christmases.

We celebrated 5 Christmases this year.

• @ Randy's mom's Christmas Eve in Fayetteville
• @ Our home Christmas Morning in Fayetteville
• @ My mimi's Home in Little Rock Christmas afternoon/evening
• @ The Jacksonville Home the morning of December 26th
• @ My Grandma's Home in Jacksonville the afternoon/evening of December 26th

I don't even know if Christmases is a word. It probably isn't, but I am making it one. And if you count the trip to Randy's grandma's in Oklahoma, it's actually 6.

Anywho. Following are 5 blog posts featuring the separate Christmases that we celebrated. Enjoy!

Randy's Mom's.

On Christmas Eve, we went over to Randy's mom's to celebrate Christmas. We had a great time. The food was yummy, the company was great, and the presents were super!

 I think we all had a wonderful time.

Our Home.

Christmas morning you would think that Hayden would be excited and eager to get up and see what Santa got him. In reality, we could not get him out of bed.Eventually we coaxed him up and once he saw the loot, he was a happy little man.
And here is a picture of him in the snow. We actually had a "white Christmas" (which for us is VERY rare). Hayden honestly didn't care for it but oh well. It was pretty.

Mimi's.

Travelling down to Little Rock was not easy, but we made it: the roads were a little treacherous from the snow and ice.

We got to my Mimi's (which is my mom's mom) at about 2:30pm and had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas with that side of my family. Again, the food was amazing, the company was delightful, and the presents were great!

Jacksonville House.

On December 25th we stayed the night at the Jacksonville House. Formerly my parents' home, now my sister and Clark's home.

Santa came that night (I know... a little unconventional, but it works for us). So, the 26th we woke up to find more Santa offerings!

Again, you might think Hayden would wake up early: eager to see what Santa had brought. You would be incorrect in your assumption though. Hayden was a sleepy little bear.

While he slept, I took the opportunity to get some pictures of the "adults".

me and Randy.

Alfie enjoyed hanging out under the tree.

my parents.

Clark and Mary.

once Hayden woke up, he was very pleased with the presents Santa had brought.

My Grandma's.

Saturday afternoon (December 26th), we went over to my Grandma's home to do Christmas over there (Grandma is my dad's mom).

We had a wonderful time there too! The food was again delicious, the company was lovely, and the presents were great. It was a very merry Christmas indeed!

christmas preview.

Tomorrow I will post about "My Christmases". Today, I will provide you with a happy picture of Hayden on our way to Central Arkansas to celebrate Christmas. Enjoy.

fun with friends...

The following posts feature various events and occasions that have occurred during the past week with our friends… Enjoy!

P.S. On a side note, I would like to wish my beautiful friend Katrice Happy Birthday... HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATRICE!!!

willy wonka & the chocolate factory. fun at the Uark.

Last Friday (December 18th), Randy and I headed to the Uark Ballroom for ‘Dinner and a Movie’. The featured flick was the 1971 “classic” Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. It was hilarious. It had a been a long time since I had seen it and man is that movie amusing! The food was beyond yummy! I ate some pork chops, fancy macaroni and cheese, and some sweet potato mash. SO GOOD!!!

Unfortunately, not too many people came to the event besides us.

Our two good friends Dave and Courtney came.And then we were there.And aside from the four of us, there were four other people. That’s it. We had the place set up for about 70 people but obviously those seats weren’t used – which is very discouraging, to say the least.

My family owns the Uark. It is part of my husband’s job to “manage” it and he works hard. Very hard. Too hard. People in town talk about how much they like it - how supportive they are of the Uark and the events it holds. But do they actually come? No.

It really upsets Randy. He came home talking about how we need to move out of Fayetteville and how Fayetteville has nothing for him - blah, blah, blah.

It was absolutely depressing to hear him talk like that. But I do understand. He works hard. We spend lots of money to have these events - money that is wasted when no one shows up. Food that is wasted. Time and energy that is wasted. It is ridiculous.

Well, that was my little vent. I will say that I am immensely grateful to Courtney and Dave for coming out. I don’t know if you realize how much that meant to me. Thank you.

fun at the condo with Don, Leslie, and Jack.

Last Saturday (December 19th) we hung out at my parents' condo with the Nix Family: Don, Leslie, and Jack.

The plan had been to see the Lights of the Square, but it was REALLY cold outside so we just hung out at the condo and we had a great time. We had pizza from Damgoode Pies and it was FABULOUS!

Here are some pictures documenting our evening.

Jack smiled SO good for this picture! It was amazing and he also shared some love with me by giving me BIG hugs. Apparently this is a rarity so I will consider myself very special! Thanks Jack!!!

I had to work to get this picture.

Jack sharing his hammer. Jack LOVES his hammer.

The boys decided that it really wasn't "that cold" outside and bundled up the kiddos for a little excursion (Leslie and I stayed inside where it was warm).

Upon their return, they reported that it really was cold outside. Silly boys!

dinner with the wetsells.

Last Sunday (December 20th), we had a great dinner with the Jamie, Ryan, and Parker Wetsell. We ate pizza from Tim's and it was yummy (well, I thought it was yummy)! Hayden was decked out in his pajamas. I guess he was feeling the need for a "pajama party."
Being the "master chef" that he is, Hayden cooked some food for Ryan and Randy. And then he actually smiled for the picture!

don's birthday dinner.

This past Wednesday (December 23rd) we went to Bordinos to celebrate Don Nix's birthday.

The company was wonderful and the food was delicious. I couldn't have asked for a better evening.
Pictures of the whole posse. From both sides:

And here we have Don blowing out his birthday candle.Don's "birthday cake".I have already marked my 2010 calendar for "Don's Birthday Dinner" (as this is an annual event). Yay for Don and his birthday!

merry christmas...

I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

After celebrating Christmas Eve/Christmas with Randy’s mom last night, we will be heading to Jacksonville/Little Rock, Arkansas later today to continue with the festivities.

We will be returning Monday the 28th… so although I have a compilation of blog pots scheduled to post the 28th, I may not really be “back in action” until at least the 30th (of December)…

I’ll leave you with our Christmas Card… Enjoy. And again, Merry Christmas!

"Christmas" in Oklahoma.

This past Monday we drove to Lawton, Oklahoma to visit Randy’s Grandma for Christmas. We only stayed one night, but we still had a good time.

I will let the pictures tell the story.

Getting a cookie from the cookie jar. Yummy!

Pretending Grandma's cane was a microphone. Lovely.

We put Hayden to work hauling fire wood to the house. Ha!

Watching tv. Just like his mommy.

Opening presents.

Happy Hayden. This picture is deceptive. Although you might think: Oh look, Hayden is smiling for the camera - that is simply not the case. In reality, I had to joke with him (by pushing him... he thinks it's funny to shove him a little... it just cracks him up!) in order to get him to smile and then take lots of pictures to try and "capture the moment." It did come out good though!

Hayden with Grandma looking at the tree.

Sleeping. It looks like Hayden is freezing, but he didn't want the blankets on him (and it wasn't cold - I swear). Interesting little boy. Oh, and mommy had forgotten his pajamas. Not cool. He told me that I needed to go back home and get them (a 5-hour drive). Fortunately he had received a t-shirt from Grandma that sufficed as pajamas.

Grandma, Randy, and Hayden. He actually smiled for this one (although he only did so because we threatened him with french fries - we told him that if he didn't smile that he wouldn't get to have any french fries from McDonald's and he REALLY wanted some fries).

Headed home. Going through the tunnel. He loves the tunnel!