Making memories...

A couple of days before Christmas, I came across a box of old Christmas cards. I'm so sentimental that I can't seem to part with them. (I'm a perfect candidate for one of those HGTV shows where they make them throw stuff away) I recently told Dawn Easterling Barnett that I have every card she has sent me of her girls-even Katie's first Christmas and she's in college now. Every year, I display all of the cards I receive. It may look like clutter to some having them taped on the door facing in my kitchen, but it's only for a few weeks. In the past, we've had a New Year's party or some other gathering and people seem to enjoy looking at them. We will have a quiet New Year's this year, though. Mark's not comfortable being around alot of people right now. We are planning on being in Carthage at the "leake county chalet" I've named it. :)

We had a quiet, but wonderful Christmas being with our family. It started on Sunday night with our "Courtney Christmas" over at Mark's parents. I do believe it was the best ever! We had so much fun watching Caroline sing Hannah Montana songs. I found this stand up micophone for Caroline that she loved. I should have bought Leigh Ashley one too, because she loved it too. I just smile thinking about her "striking a pose" at the end of singing "You got the best of boat worlds...", then saying "Thank you everybody!" Mark corrected me saying that Caroline says "boat" instead of "both".

We had our friends and neighbors, the Bolands over Christmas Eve. We don't know how we got so lucky having them as our neighbors. They are just like family to us. We are so blessed with their friendship!

The Rayner family Christmas was at Marla's this year. My mom and Marla did all the cooking and it was so good. I have to say that I didn't miss that part of it at all! Marleigh put on a High School Musical concert with a Hannah Montana wig on! She and Leigh Ashley performed on the fireplace hearth for all of us. My daddy got both of them a pink 22 gun! I didn't know they made pink guns.

Mom came and spent the night with us. Daddy went to Carthage with Mark and Zachary for the first time. Daddy hates to be cold. Well, you should hear Zachary telling about their experience. Daddy said he froze to death and all Zachary could do was laugh! Mark said he's never seen anyone that cold natured. Not sure Daddy will be hanging out in Carthage much!

In my next post I'll have to tell you why I'll never take ambien again. Oh, it's a story.....