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!

Goose bumps!

As you can well imagine, seeing this gave this mommy goose bumps! Tom and I watched Lucy yesterday because her school was closed for the holidays but THE LITTLE ROCK PEDIATRIC CLINIC was not. Jenny needed us to bring her some paperwork so we had an acceptable excuse to visit her clinic. (I had often been tempted to sneak in uninvited just because I was so curious but I had refrained!)

I took this picture on my phone. I have quite a few pictures of Christmas festivities still on my camera and bunches that I plan to beg, borrow, or steal from others' cameras to share with you as soon as I get a chance. Tommy and I will be going to the Sugar Bowl (this LSU fan will have to find something red to wear, I guess) so I will be away from my computer for a few days soon. When I get back I plan to knit and write - both blog entries AND Christmas (New Year's) cards! Guess I will be changing the photo that greets you when you log into THE JOHNSON JOURNAL soon! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Almost made me cry!

Hannah and a friend, Ashley Pratt, were taking pictures of each other on Monday afternoon. I found this special photo in an album Ashley shared on Facebook.

The manger on Sunny Brook Lane

The manger on Sunny Brook Lane has been completed. It is a beautiful reminder that Jesus is the reason for the season. Thank you Tommy, Jimmy, and DanMan.

I cannot wait for the Nolans, Fussells, and Pauls to see this, the beginning of our family's Nativity scene. MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and to all a GOOD NIGHT!

Building a manger

Tommy and I agreed last night that we wanted to be sure the real reason for the season was represented in our outdoor display. We decided that this year we would have a manger and, hopefully, by the next Christmas season, we will have a more fully developed Nativity.

My cute boys, Tom, Jimmy, and DanMan, spent the afternoon building the manger. Just to let you know how important this project was to them - BOTH DanMan's Colts and Jimmy's Raiders were playing while construction was going on!

Just in case I don't blog again before next Saturday: MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!

(It is highly possible that I will not be writing again before Christmas Day. I will be cooking and wrapping instead. Both Stephen's parents and Eric's parents will be joining us for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! We hope that JP's mom will feel well enough to come with Julie, JP, and Maddy too.)