Back in Illinois!!

We made it home from PA at 6:00 a.m. today. Bob and I took turns driving while the other would sleep, left PA at 9p.m. so Allyssa could sleep the entire trip! That made for a more peaceful trip for all concerned! The weather going was fine, but on the way home the wind was terrible, and in Ohio we ran into lots of wind and rain, very hard rain! Right after driving through sheets of rain, and Bob was going maybe 30 mph the wind almost impossible to stay on the road, I looked out my passenger window back at what we had just driven through and I was like "Bob if this cloud is really big on top and goes down... completely down... to the ground and gets smaller as it goes... well is that... could that... possibly be a tornado! Well, I'm not a hundred percent sure, but that would explain what we had just driven through. That was the worst of our drive the rest was mild, just had to be careful cause of the wind!
Seeing the kids was so nice, just wish it could have been for longer.... they are growing up!!! Rachel looks even older than she is. Chris is 18 now and has taken full advantage, he showed up with earrings and a lip ring, but he did go get his hair cut before seeing us, since he knows we don't care for long hair.... well maybe long hair isn't so bad compared to piercings!!! Allyssa so enjoyed seeing them, and kept Rachel busy the entire visit!
So now maybe a week of some down time for Allyssa and Me... but Bob will be on the road AGAIN, in the morning, back to P.Bluff for work, then back to Ramsey on New Yrs. Eve after work! I hate when it comes to us being in different locations, but so Allyssa can enjoy her break with her cousins and family, this is how it has to be for now. We all got a good start on the down time today, after climbing into bed at 6:30 a.m. and sleeping for a few hrs. we've made it out of bed, but are still in pj's and lounging on couches! What a Relaxing Day!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS.....On the road AGAIN!

Merry Christmas to each of you! We've had another Wonderful Christmas. Santa did manage to get everything together and delivered on time, yet another year... Why doubt, everything always works out! But let me tell ya, some years I wonder!!! This Christmas was so bittersweet for me. Because of Not being sure if this will be the last Christmas we have in this Home, and watching Allyssa struggle with excitement and then excitement/anxiety. Some days she seemed to just be excited and the normal "I can't WAIT!" that kids say over and over again the whole month of December, and that was fun watching her be happy and excited, but then there were days that the excitement was just about too much for her and would cause her lots of anxiety, and she was NOT Happy, and of course that was extremely difficult to experience! You know, you expect negetive reactions to bad things, but when something is suppose to be fun and it's a good thing, it's very difficult for me to watch Allyssa having to struggle with those. But with her condition too much of a Good thing is usually BAD! For example, she had waited for weeks for her school Christmas party, and was really looking forward to it, but when the time came and the kids were all excited and the noise level was up, and games were being played, and prizes being won, and her schedule at school was completely out of the norm, Allyssa spent her entire party next to me and crying. She just couldn't process all of the commotion, too much! That's rough! I wanted for us to just leave and do something fun at home, but Allyssa wanted so much to have fun there, she just couldn't get it together enough to. But, we have to take the good times with the bad, and we are So Very Thankful that we have Lots of Good Times! It sure does make you appreciate the Good Days! Christmas Eve at Mom and Dad's I was concerned it was going to be too much, but she had Moments, and was extremely anxious, but the Good Lord got us through and she was able to enjoy playing and visiting with her family, ALOT! Which was Wonderful for me to see her enjoying the day!
This a.m. Allyssa got up around 8 a.m. and was ready to see if Santa came! She wasn't overly anxious today! She opened her presents and we played and played and played all day. It was nice to just be home and let her enjoy. Mom and Dad came over late afternoon and had supper with us. Then it was time for Allyssa to do her own playing and Mommy and Daddy to get to work... packing again... this time we are going to Pennsylvania to see Chris, Rachel, Mary (Bob's Mom), and Larry (Bob's stepdad). I am excited to see all of them, but dread the packing and the drive. We'll leave around 3 a.m. so Allyssa can sleep for maybe half the trip. We all get tired of all the driving we've been doing, back and forth from Poplar Bluff to Ramsey, and now this trip. But, when I look at the big picture I am just Very Thankful that Bob found a job, Thankful that we have Family we are able to come back and see and Thankful that we are able to make the trip to PA to see the kids and Bob's Mom! I have to stop and put things in perspective ALOT here lately. We have So much to Thank God for! He never said it was suppose to be Easy!!!

SCHOOL'S OUT AGAIN!!!

Allyssa didn't have school today because of icy roads and I just received a text message saying they've cancelled it AGAIN for tomorrow! I was feeling guilty because today went by so fast and I hadn't really played with Allyssa, she did so good entertaining herself, and we did watch a little t.v. together. So now tomorrow I can make it an official play day.... just her and Me. Should be fun!

MOM'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Grandma and Grandpa are in the picture somewhere... in the midst of all their grandkids...well not even all of them, Taba, Chris and Rachel were not able to be there. What a neat present Scott and Jennifer and family got Mom. The H-U-N-T letters that Allyssa, Hannah, Carter and Jacob are holding out. And Rodney and Shawna and family got her a Grandmother's Bible, what a keepsake! And Heather and Bob and family got her an Angel necklace!
On Sun. Dec. 14th (the day after Mom's birthday) we celebrated at our home in Ramsey. After church Rodney and his family, Scott and his family, and Dad and Mom came over for lunch and cake and ice cream. It's one small way to recognize Mom, and maybe give back a small bit of all she does for us!! What a Wonderful Mom/Grandma she is!!! It was so nice having everyone together at our house as it may be one of the last gatherings we are able to host, depending on when our house sells.... and if I'm able to get the men to drive 4 hrs. for a get together sometime!!!!

Mom with her staining birthday cake! In helping me clean up Mom got the red icing all over her sweatshirt and slacks.... If it doesn't come out, I guess it will be a reminder of her birthday forever! Sorry, MOM!

SANTA CLAUS CAME TO TOWN!!!!!

On Sat. Dec. 13th Santa came to Ramsey, and we went to see him at the Little Red Caboose. Allyssa got a little confused when talking with Mamaw the night before... Mamaw told her Santa was coming tomorrow... and Allyssa got excited and concerned because she didn't have her milk and cookies ready yet! She thought Santa was coming to bring presents... not yet... and good thing cause Santa's not ready YET! If ya know what I mean! Anyway.. after clearing up the little misunderstanding, Allyssa was excited to go see Santa, she was a little nervous so was twirling her ponytail the entire time she talked with Santa.









Allyssa and Hannah enjoyed the treats after seeing Santa, and then going to Mamaw and Pawpaw's for the rest of the day!

WACKY TACKY NIGHT

No I normally don't send Allyssa out in public dressed like this....but that was Wacky Tacky Night at AWANA at our church in The Bluff. She got 5oo points to go towards AWANA Bucks, for dressing the craziest she could come up with. The purple hat is one of her purchases from the AWANA store. Allyssa really enjoys AWANA and has already finished her first SPARKS book of memorizing scripture. I pray that she continues growing in the Lord, and Keeps God First in her life Always!

WEEKEND IN POPLAR BLUFF

We had alot going on this weekend in P. Bluff... it actually started with Thursday evening Jingle Jog at Allyssa's school. We donated items to be sent in care packages overseas to the soldiers and we packed them, Allyssa got to make lots of neat christmas crafts there also. It was alot of fun. On Sat. Morning we went to Skateland for Bob's work Christmas party. I got to meet some of the people Bob works with, so that was nice.... and Thankfully I didn't fall on my bum in front of any of them. Allyssa and I skated, this was only the 2nd time Allyssa has ever skated. Poplar Bluff did provide Allyssa with one new experience.... Skating.!!! The first time ever was just a couple of months ago at Skateland for a church outing. I just found that amusing... we had to move 4 hours away for Allyssa to get the opportunity to skate... it's not like there aren't any skating rinks around Ramsey... go figure! ANYWAY, Santa was even there to get your picture taken with. Sat. evening we drove through the Festival of Lights at Redmann Creek campground, and THE REAL Santa was there.. Allyssa was pretty excited! And the lights were beautiful, lots of them! Sunday was filled with Church and going to the P. Bluff museum to vote for Allyssa's class Christmas tree. They made ornaments to decorate their tree and it was on display at the museum.. pretty neat. Haven't heard which tree won, yet! We really missed being in Ramsey with the family for deer camp, but we did have a nice Family weekend here.

ONE TREE UP...ONE TO GO!!!

Heather and Allyssa looking at train after putting up Christmas Tree and Decorations.

Allyssa 7 years old in front of our Christmas Tree in Ramsey. Now we just have to get our tree up in Poplar Bluff and we'll be set!

VETERANS MEMORIAL AT ALLYSSA'S SCHOOL

Allyssa was really into the Veteran's Memorial service that her school put on for Veteran's Day. We made this star in rememberance of her Great Grandpa Leroy Moreland, who served in World War II. Allyssa also borrowed a hat that was Great Grandpa Leroy's and took it to school to show her classmates. She wore it around our house for about a week and then we returned it to Grandma Peggy for safe keeping!
God Bless Our Soldiers and Their Families! We are so Thankful for their sacrifices.

BEDTIME!! FOR THE LITTLE ONES

I had to include this picture on my blog... Arlie was so funny trying to go to sleep.. First he had to have a sleeping bag like Hannah and Allyssa, so we got that, then he wanted to sleep with Bob and Larry stuffed cucumber and tomato and his cow, well needless to say that's alot to hold on to with only two little hands. He would roll over and there Bob or Larry would go behind his back and he would have to search for them and get everything all situated again... At last everything in it's place and all comfy and fast asleep for Arlie BIG BOY Hunt!

SLEEPOVER FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Friday, November 28th, the day after Thanksgiving, we had all of our nieces and nephews (except for Taba) over to our house in Ramsey for a sleepover. Jenna, Carter, Jacob, Hannah, and even Arlie (he's getting old enough now to join in on the FUN!) arrived at our house around 1:30 p.m. Before their mom's even got left Arlie was ready to play "I spy with My yittle eye" ... we had spent alot of time Thanksgiving day playing that at Gpa and Gma's, and he was ready to continue the game! So we did.
Jenna played most of the time on the laptop... a fish game that finally drew Hannah and Allyssa's attention away from their nintendo DS games. Uncle Bob, Jacob, and Carter spent their time between Nintendo DS battling each other on Call of Duty game, and Play Station II war games. Uncle Bob I think was the winner! Arlie just seemed to enjoy running around seeing what everyone was doing and playing in Allyssa's room or watching movies! They were all so well behaved, I enjoyed having them all together, wish Taba, Chris, and Rach could of joined us...
At bedtime Arlie, Hannah, and Allyssa slept in sleeping bags in Allyssa's room. And the big Kids were ready for Farmopoly! Usually monopoly games with my nieces and nephews get pretty intense and go on forever!! :) It's 10:30 p.m by this time so let's get this FUN started... We had fun, and poor Carter went broke first, there was lots of trading and buying and selling going on and the later it got the more confused I became. I went broke and everyone decided it was time to quit.....after all it was 1:00 a.m.! Time for bed, The kids say they were asleep shortly after 2:00 a.m. All went well the next day and everyone went to their homes around noon on Saturday. I so enjoy spending time with my family, and watching them all interact, So Much FUN! I love them all to pieces!!