Where have we been?

If you haven't noticed I took a break from the computer! I've kept up a little with my phone and checked email as I needed to, but for the most part I have been computer-free most of the break. Sorry if you've missed me! But I am definitely baaaaacckkkk! Today is my first day back at the office, classes start on Thursday, and tomorrow I celebrate the "Big 34"

Here are a few pictures of our White Christmas.

Before

After

Christmas Eve in Pittsburg, KS

It was the season of hats. Braden got a black fedora, which he has seen in some of the Michael Jackson videos. Mason got a cowboy hat.

And Blake got this ASU hat. I try to make at least one trip to Wal-Mart while we're in Forrest City. All WM's in Missouri and Arkansas are good about carrying Cardinal stuff, which is unheard of in Kansas. But this was a major score in Forrest City, they had some ASU items.

Blake modeling Mason's hat, and Braden with Blake's hat. Mom didn't get a hat, but that's ok.

Braden sprinkling his Reindeer food outside on Christmas eve. Like the rain boots?

Cookies and milk for Santa. We were in Starbucks that morning and a "local" Santa came walking in while Braden and 3 other kiddo's around his age were there. One asked him if his favorite was sugar cookies with icing and he said "of course" fortunately we had just a few left from our Cookie marathon in Mountain Home.

Christmas morning. Mason on his rocking Mickey Mouse.

Then with Braden's Batman cave.

The note Daddy Santa left for the boys.

Christmas morning.

Hat hair

We had a play-date with our friend Ethan. In between playing Super Heroes, they took time out for a an art project.

Our standing New Year's Eve tradition has been to have dinner with our dear friends across the street, the Arbuckle's, alternating houses. This year, we were going to have dinner at their house, and dessert and gifts at ours, so we could get Mason to bed on time. Braden was not feeling well, so we cut the evening short. Thanks to rest and Tylenol, Braden was better so we had the Arbuckle's over on New Year's for a dinner of black-eye peas, fried okra and of course salad. I got these polar bear cookies for the boys and we had cream cheese chocolate chip bars for dessert.
Both the big boys exchanged Thomas the Train toys, and Mason made out with some great new cars.

What was left of the okra and salad. . . .

A candid shot of me and the boys, after bath, before bed, watching some of Mason's Baby Einstein video.