Okay, here is a picture of the bags. For those of you not in Texas, I have found this great little outlet store that sells purses, bags, luggage and jewelry -- REALLY cheap. These "shopping bags" were $1.95 (one was $3.95--we splurged). We are using them as new church bags and the kids love them. Alyssa's is the blue whale one, Andrew's is the animal faces, the other two are mine (I'm going to use one as a bible class bag and one to bring to work--have to carry my action figures you know.) They have all different styles but when they are out, they're out. Anyone want to go shopping with me?? I take orders.

I do have one funny story to tell. If you didn't know, we have signed up Alyssa for cheerleading thru Sharla's church. They have a Christian-based basketball league and this year they added cheer for the girls. They have had two practices and she seems to like it a lot. We plan on getting some advise from Aunt Sharla this weekend. Anyway, last night the girls were learning a new cheer. Something about "Basket, Basket, We want two" or something to that effect. So the little girls are chanting and working on the arm and foot movements (funny all by itself) when one of the girls raises her hand and says, "I know the movements but I don't get it." Coach looks confused. Girl repeats statement. We finally figure out that she doesn't understand why they are saying "we want two". After the coach gives them a short "rules of basketball" lesson, about 4 of the little girls start nodding their heads and saying, "ohhhhhhh". Apparently basketball is not these girls forte. It was really cute.

Yea! It's almost Christmas! Since this is a busy time of year and I have lots to do (life if so hard with two weeks off of work), I think I'll just post pictures today from Andrew's Christmas party and our trip to see Santa with my children not wanting their picture taken. Can you find my little star? He's the fourth from the right -- looking glum because he couldn't find me in the audience.

Something Borrowed

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.
But giving the gift of love will endure.
---Author Unknown

I Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Welcome to my Monday

All right, in case there is any doubt in your mind that I live in a sit-com, let me give you the run down on my morning.

Blake managed to fix the garage door opener last weekend so now I don't have to raise the door by hand (yea!). I usually wait to open the door until Andrew is in the car so it won't scare him but today I was in a bit of a hurry and thought that he was past the garage door and about to get in the car so I pushed the button on my way into the garage. Oops. Andrew was NOT on his side of the car but instead was directly behind the car. Don't know how this happened but the garage door caught his backpack on the way up so there goes my son UP into the air dangling from his backpack. I drop everything, including my purse, my work bag, my lunch, my earrings, his coat, my coat...., and run to Andrew while screaming at Alyssa to stop the door. I grab Andrew by the legs to keep him from falling after I realize that he is not hurt and it's not his body that is caught. Alyssa is yelling that she doesn't know how to stop the door but finally manages to push the right button. Andrew is screaming bloody murder while dangling from his backpack that is dangling from the raised garage door. We finally managed to get the door down and my son detatched. I'm laughing hysterically, Andrew is crying, and Alyssa is shaking. Got everyone calmed down and loaded in the car. So now Andrew is telling everyone that he got to go for a ride on the garage door. You couldn't make this stuff up!!

Bethlehem

The town of Waxahachie puts on this neat thing called "Bethlehem Revisited" (or something like that). They have about a block that they turn into old Bethlehem where you have to enter the city gates, look at the different "stores", follow the wisemen past the inn and try to find baby Jesus in the manger. You can just wander around for a while and go where you want. We went last year and really liked it so we tried it again. Still really good but it was alot more crowded this year. But at least it wasn't too cold. The kids loved it! Everyone stays in character so even when you ask them a question, if it doesn't have to do with Bethlehem, they don't know what you're talking about. The soldiers were afraid it might rain since they kept seeing "lighting" flashes go off. It was really fun. I think we have an annual tradition.

Wow it's been a while since I posted. Time just slips by. So tell me, when did I get old enough to have a 9 year old? We celebrated her birthday over Thanksgiving since she wanted a sleep-over and no one was going out of town. Worked out pretty well except I forgot about her cake until the morning of her party. Poor thing.

As I'm sure you have heard by now, IT'S COLD HERE! Our school let out at noon on Wednesday and they cancelled school today. I had such great plans for the extra day off but ended up getting nothing really done. All I wanted to do was sit under a blanket and read. Was pretty enjoyable though. Blake didn't go in today either. He decided to work at home and not fight the ice. Roads were pretty clear down here by 10 a.m. Ally seemed upset when we mentioned that things were clearing up. She thought that if the weather got better than she would have to go to school for the day. That may not have been a bad idea. I think by noon everyone was bored silly but there was no way we were going out in 12 degree weather! So we just spent the day watching the dumb newspeople standing outside telling us how cold it was. Idiots.

So now you are all caught up with the Brannons. I know, I know. How do we live with all this excitement?!?