Six kids, four adults and a partridge in a pear tree?

This skinny mini is my youngest niece, Bobbi. We had the pleasure of spending Christmas surrounded by family, and especially kids! Braden 6, Hannah 5, Emmery 3, Mason 2, Albert 18 months, and Bobbi 6 months, my youngest sister Sarah, and Granny (aka our Mom)

Emmery proud of her growing pile of gifts on Christmas Eve

Braden impressed with his pile. His pile was a little smaller than the rest, but he had no idea what he was getting!

Sarah and Albert (he is the only other boy, besides our two; that's 3 boys to six girls)


Braden was thrilled with his skull snow had and skull PJ's....still hadn't opened the "Big One"


There it is! Thank goodness he can read! He didn't ask for this, but Blake and I decided it was a perfect gift for the boys.




Mom had no idea she had a "Big one" in her pile, either! I got a new "fancy" camera! My main goal is to be able to take quick shots of the boys playing sports, and this one will do the trick...and then some!

Mason checking to see what's in the box he has opened. They were dragon claw how shoes, and he was a little hesitant to stick his hand in the box.


Dad opened gifts last, after all the filming and a lot of trash pick-up! He was giving Braden a fist bump for his new water bottle.


Headed out to sprinkle the reindeer food on the lawn

Christmas Morning

Mason was soooooo excited to get a scooter and a helmet! He wouldn't take it off all day!

Braden got exactly what was on his list, Karate Kid, a remote control airplane and a little extra he didn't ask for, a Michael Jackson Wii game. You couldn't tell it, but Braden woke up at 3 a.m. with a stomach bug. Poor kid!

Ronnie Milsap

As soon as Blake saw that Ronnie Milsap was coming to town for a Christmas show, he thought it would be a great opportunity to take Braden! We got a sitter, went "out to eat" peacefully, and enjoyed a very entertaining show! Braden was amazed that Ronnie Milsap was blind and could play the piano!

Forrest City Christmas

All I can say about this is POOR PAPA! Amazingly Rick was still able to walk after this, but he did several sets of push-ups with both of these monkeys on his back, and Taco watching!

As we were sitting peacefully in the living room, Rick's ears perked up at the sound of a gun shot. He dashed out to investigate. Nana was quick to explain, it meant someone was poaching on their land (aka hunting where they shouldn't be) he returned about 20 minutes later and had found a wounded deer. He asked if the boys wanted to watch him skin it, and they did, so Blake took them.

Cameron (18 months) and Mason (2 1/2) relaxing in the massage chair

Don't they look like the picture of relaxation as the parents of an 18 month old!

Mason was so proud of his Spiderman hat and mittens!

Dancing with Cam on top of Cameron's new basketball goal.

"Who you gonna call?"

It's after we get home that I realize, we didn't get any posed family shots or many with grandparents! I'm not sure we got but one picture of Blake!

Chamber Christmas Party

Starting our first year in Pittsburg, it has been our pleasure to host the Chamber staff for a Christmas Party in our home.

Mason helping me make dessert for the Chamber Party

Chocolate Chip cheesecake bars

Blake's excellent grilled pork tenderloin for sandwiches, sweet potatoe fries, oriental slaw, grape salad, and five bean bake

We had a total of eleven adults and six kids, ages 6 to 18 months. Fun was had by ALL!

In Loving Memory of Dee Dee

November 1, 1951 - December 6, 2010

There is not enough space to say all that I could about the remarkable woman I knew as my aunt Dee. She was always in my life, regardless of how near or far she lived from me. I truly belive God sent her to live with me as I was moving to Jonesboro to attend ASU. I don't know that I would have had the courage to go or stay, had she not been my roommate. I will be forever thankful that I had those years with her to strengthen our bond. Since that time many things have changed and we have moved many places, but she was very happy in her apartment that Blake helped her find in Rogers. Not a day went by that I didn't chat with her on the phone, if even just for a few minutes while stuck in traffic. When Braden wanted to talk on the phone as a toddler, we always called Dee. She would listen and talk with him no matter what time it was.

To be such a quiet and unassuming woman, she had a way of stealing the hearts of all who knew her. I miss her every day.

http://deeacton.wordpress.com/

Graduate 2007 Pittsburg State University

June 3, 2008 Newborn Mason

July 20, 2010 Rogers, AR

September 2010 Clint's visit to Rogers

Dinner for 8 turned into 3

At the last minute our Dinner for 8 hosts came down with a "bug" and had to cancel, so we stepped up and decided to go ahead and host it at our house. After a previous engagement, a newborn baby, and one sick spouse, we held Dinner for 3 adults and 4 kids, which is almost 8. Regardless it was a fun night!

Especially once Mason decided the Hayslip kids were worthy of his Gator Golf!

Early Christmas

The boys were excited to get to open some early presents from our Mountain Home family. Our annual trip was cancelled this year, as we spent time with Dee during her final days. Ann was able to bring the gifts and we exchanged at the hospital. It was so funny, because Braden's first statement was "Hey, I wanted this!"