The two Hatties and Princess traveler

Here is another wonderful picture from Saturday's celebration. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get it from my phone to this blog. Jill's family and Jimmy's family brought sweet, thoughtful gifts for Grandma. Jenny, who was very rushed as she was trying to get her family ready to fly to Colorado early the next morning, was lamenting the fact that she had not been as generous and thoughtful. Stephen pointed to Baby Hattie in Grandma Hattie's lap and said, "But you brought Hattie - none of us can ever top that." It is true, of course, that no gift can compare to the gift of a namesake for Hattie Belote Johnson. She is so proud, even though she tries to downplay it. "All those pretty names in the world and they go and name that baby Hattie" - or words to that effect!

Jenny posted this picture of Lucy on facebook. The caption, "She is SO excited! She doesn't even care we're leaving 70 degree temperatures for single digits." After several comments by facebook friends, including me, Peaches added: "Oh, it was one of her cutest..., walking with a purpose. Escalators, moving sidewalks, security shoe removal - she conquered them all" Not sure how big a fan of skiing Lucy is going to turn out to be though. Jenny reported tonight that her favorite thing so far was reading a book to her stuffed animal and her least favorite: "Probably skiing"!

Saturday, January 29

I will be posting more pictures taken last Saturday soon - after I compare the ones I took to the ones Jill and Jenny got. I don't want to display a bunch of mine and then discover that theirs are way better. I absolutely love this one though and am going to go ahead and show it to you!

Kate loves to help and she took such pride in assisting Papa as he pushed Grandma Johnson back to her room. It was so sweet!

P.S. Jimmy's family (minus Hannah), Jill's family, Jenny's family, Tom and I all met at the nursing home for an early celebration of Grandma's 1ooth birthday on Saturday. Julie's family will be there tomorrow with us at the official nursing home birthday party.

Julia Child

Maddy was Julia Child in the Hugh Goodwin History Parade today. She had fun and did a very good job! The audience could understand every word she said. I am the moderator, which means I sit between the two judges to help them sort out contestants and to key the line-minder when to send the next performer to the stage. I was very proud of myself because I gave absolutely no hint when it was my grandchild about to compete! (I've had a lot of practice at that because Hannah is an old history parader from way back!) Maddy qualified for the Showcase tomorrow to be held at the South Arkansas Arts Center! Way to go, Maddy!

Hannah is at Henderson State University participating in a drama competition this week. It pleases me very much to have her be so active in the drama community at EHS! Break a leg, Banana!

Hattie's first Christmas

Thought I should document Hattie's first Christmas. What a cutie!

Christmas morning 2010

I cannot believe I have been so slow to download my own pictures from our family's Christmas. I really did not expect to have much to share because my girls were so busy with their cameras and I kind of left it up to them. When it is FINALLY time to open presents, the kids come down the stairs in order from youngest to oldest. What is hard to believe is that they have all been waiting patiently upstairs for the turkey to be started, for the monkey bread to be made, and this year, for the senior Fussells to arrive! The senior Pauls were supposed to be with us too but the stomach bug had other plans for them. Jimmy's family and Julie's family have to sneak upstairs without looking at the tree when they get to our house.

HERE THEY COME:

Then everyone has to find just the exact right spot to open presents!

Kate is ready to act as one of Santa's elves. Hannah does the majority of the distribution. Each person has a wrapping paper designated for them by the legend two elves create on Christmas Eve. I wish I had thought to get a picture of the most recent legend. I know I have photos of some older ones that I can add in another entry so you can get the idea.

The family, Christmas 2010!!!!

As I have been posting photos to earlier blog entries, it became very obvious that some people were hiding from the photographers. There was no escape, though, when Nannah demanded a picture of EVERYONE!!!

The photo shoot went well. I guess everyone, including Hattie, knew that this was something that must be endured so they were agreeable and we got this picture in record time. Three cheers for digital cameras!!!!

Family Christmas - 2010 continued

I want to share a few more pictures from our holiday.

Tommy has adjusted to retirement very quickly. I am happy he never really realized how much fun he was missing out on while he was at the clinic in past years. He certainly made the most of every minute the family was around this Christmas!

Lanie got her ears pierced the day she had her last soccer game of the season. That meant this this was a big earring Christmas for her! The sparkly peace signs worn above certainly seemed to please her.

Kate Kate made sure that the LOVE on her new shirt was visible!!

Here is Jimmy with his PBA, "perfect beautiful angel"!

Family Christmas - 2010

It was so wonderful to have everyone here for Christmas; no one left on Christmas day either! Usually one family, or more, has to leave soon after we eat Christmas dinner. Not much I need to say about these first three pictures - precious people!

This one needs a little explanation! The Fussells Christmas card for 2010 shows Lanie and Kate posed back to back. Jill and Stephen are trying to recreate the scene in the picture below. More precious people - but slightly insane!

Christmas, 2010 - borrowed photos

These four pictures were taken on Christmas Eve, after the Pauls arrived. Lanie, DanMan, Kate, Maddy, and I were outside waiting for them to get here. All of us ran up to the car on the passenger's side so we could sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY as Peaches climbed out!

Here are pictures of Maddy with the cousin one down from her in age, Lucy, and the cousin one up from her, Kate!

Lucy had just been sure that there would be snow for Christmas; it is supposed to be automatic! She had even packed her white blanket "for it to match with the snow". Tom decided that a HUGE leaf pile would be the perfect distraction. He and DanMan raked and raked. The pile has seen some pretty rough use by the time the Pauls arrived and the photography began so it doesn't seem so huge in this picture but it was still lots of fun!

Hannah opted out of leaf jumping to snuggle with Hattie!