Well now that it's the Monday after Thanksgiving, we can officially start talking about and celebrating Christmas! I did a really bad thing last week, before Thanksgiving... since we were working on Britt's closet, and the attic space is through the ceiling in there I had Gary get down the tree and all the Christmas stuff. Then because it was just sitting in my floor getting in my way, I thought I needed to clear out a spot for it and go ahead and put it up. But I thought we wouldn't decorate it till Friday after Thanksgiving... but then it looked so lonely and wrong, so we just had to decorate it.

Britt helped out a little, and since then surprisingly enough, he hasn't terrorized it. He just sits and looks at the one little ornament that hangs so low, and flips it back and forth. No pulling up on or pulling over the tree, and no pulling off, rolling around, or eating ornaments. So far I've been really surprised. So enjoy the Christmas season with us...

There isn't much new to report on the prayer list.

Bro. Charles has been moved to a nursing home/rehabilation center. He continues to have several good days, and then bad days again. Please keep him in your prayers at this time.

As for our job situation, there seems to be very little to apply for right now. However, there is a job opening (same thing one in Walchula and one in Bartow) that seem to be a very good fit, which Gary has applied for. They will begin setting up interviews this week, and we really hope that they will call Gary back. Please keep us in your prayers.

Ok, so I don't normally do these sorts of things. But take a look at this a moment won't you?
Over here, they are doing a contest in which they are going to be giving away a $30 gift certificate for the Brass Hussy. I thought it was a little bit different, and very cool. I don't wear alot of jewelry, but this is definately something I might like, so go and take a look.

Today for Thanksgiving we went over to Grandmaw Bea and Poppa J's house. We had a really good lunch and then while the kiddos played together (14 mons, 10 mons, and 6 mons), us big kids played several rounds of Scattagories. We had a load of fun, then several of us sat around and talked about Church, politics, and raising families. We vented frustrations and solved all the problems just hashing them out around that big round table. We all had a wonderful time.

Hope you and yours had just as good of time gathered with family and friends. And most of all I hope you all remember to thank our Heavenly Father from whom all good and perfect gifts come. We have so much to be thankful for, even in these difficult times.

Britt,

It's so hard to believe how much you have grown and how fast this year has been passing. I can't imagine how we made it without you.

You have always been a personable little man, but you have really decided what it is that you like and that you don't in the last month. You don't like veggies of any sort now, unless they we are eatting them and then you'll eat all the green beans I'll feed you. Daddy wants to hold off on table food till Christmas time, but I got news for him... you aren't going to wait that long. We've had to double your cereal in the morning because you are still hungry when we are done. On that note, my adventuresome eater has decided to boycott all cereal except oatmeal with real bananas or rice with apple flavoring. You are a real pro with your cup these days. You lounge off to the side and hold it with one hand so that you can see what I'm doing off to the other side.

I'm not sure that there is anything that you don't like to play with. Balls and my coasters are at the top of your list of favorites, and you are always dragging around either your prayer bear or the little on that Grandmother gave you. You had a real ball at Sis. Andy's the other day playing with an old barbie car and the tractor that came on Kelsey's b'day cake. I think for your b'day we are just going to ask for clothes since you have no 12 month clothes, and tell them that you like cars and tractors.

You are all but walking, I'm sure you'll be following Lilli around by Christmas. Just yesterday morning while you were standing at the tv, I called you and you took a step without holding on with anything, kept your balance, and then realized you weren't touching anything, promptly sat down and crawled to me. Rotten child. We are going to need to move things around some more soon! You love crawling on the boxes that I have to keep you from going out the front door, you lay on the shortest on your stomache and crane that neck to see Mara when she's on the far end of the porch. Anytime she walks by you grab her fur and pat her (entirely too hard in my opinion). She lets you do that a time or two, before heading off for some peace and quiet. Then you look around to see if I'm watching and pull those knees up on that box to climb out. I tell you "No, Britt" and you look around and grin and get off - at least till you think I'm not watching again. You are going to ask Santa for a screen door for Christmas.

Speaking of things you aren't suppose to be doing. You love to go over to the boxes that I have blocking you from the kitchen and dinning room, and pull out all my yarn. Every day this week I go and wash dishes for about 15 to 20 mins, and come back to yarn strung out all over the house, rolled under all the beds, wrapped around chair legs, and you sitting there with the biggest grin on your face. Rotten, I tell you.

I had a dream a few nights ago that you grinned at me, got up, and ran in the other direction, and looked all grown up. I woke up, and went to check on you, just to be sure that I hadn't been asleep for 10 years. So, when you trash my very neat house, I try very hard to remember that you will only be little so long. And laugh with you instead of beating you to death. But seriously little dude, you are going to have to start learning to pick up your messes soon. Do I look like your servant?

We all love you so much, me and Daddy, your whole family, and our Church family. The girls can't get enough of your laugh, and we hope you will always be able to find such joy and peace in life even when things are difficult.

Love,
Momma

So guess what me, Daddy, and Momma did yesterday! We went over to Cape Canaveral to see the Shuttle launch. It was a surprise for Momma since Daddy knew she has always wanted to see a shuttle launch. We didn't realize how busy it would be silly Momma and Daddy, and since it was last minute, you had to have a ticket to get into the view station at the Kennedy Space Center. We couldn't go see all the stuff over there, Momma said maybe another time. Instead we sat next to the water in Titusville, and got to watch it take off across from us. There was so much to see there, lots of trees and waves splashing, and stuff. Before Atlantis took off, I had to eat lunch, and I really didn't want to since there was so much to see. When it got ready to take off it glowed really bright red, and then off it went. It took us nearly 40 secs to hear it, so it must have been about 14 miles away from us. Momma really liked and was amazed, but I liked the water best, it's so fascinating. It was over so fast and then I had my cup of milk and we loaded back up. It took just under 2 hours to get there, but 4 to get back, there were so many people there. It took one hour just to go 7 miles to get out of Titusville. Then we hit Orlando at rush hour and lost another hour, and I really wanted out of my carseat, I yelled but no one listened to me. Momma was really excited, and said maybe we can go again next year and take Grumps with us, cause he would really like that, and he would be fun to go with, cause he could tell me all about all the space stuff. Well it's supper time, so I have to go, but watch our movie.

You must forgive me for abandoning you all this month, but in my defense it has been rather crazy as of late. There was the fair, and then I sold some scarves, and then there was Church clean up day on Saturday before our meeting, and then I sold some toboggans, and then I temped for a few days at this little shipping business, and then I sold some slippers, and then there was our big weekend meeting. My time, when I've been home has been filled with trying to get this house clean, laundry done, chicken coop built, talk Gary into letting me have some sheep (I know it's not going to happen), and oh yeah we do have a nine month old. Wheew! Tiring just thinking about it. Well, lunch is going off in the microwave, and Britt is insisting that it isn't fair to not let him blog again this week, and I really need to finish mopping. So I will bid you adiou and promise you a blog from Britt this week.

Little Man went as a turtle for Halloween today. Let's just say he was a big hit...

I've been having alot of fun in Alabama with all the family, but we are getting ready to head back home tomorrow evening, Momma says. So here is a little video with some of the highlights from the last week.

Everyone I meet is so funny. Grumps lays in the floor with me, and reads to me, and makes funny noises with me. Ahna holds me and feeds me. Grandmother taught me to play "Patty Cake." Granddaddy tells me that I'm his little buddy and lets me climb all over the place and play with his pens. I got to see A. Maghen and A. Melanie, and U. Matthew, U. Nicholas, and U. Benji. We've had lots of fun.

I can't wait to see everyone at Christmas and to play with all of Grandmother's sparkly things.

Ann Tucker is at home and doing well. She had a doctor's appointment yesterday and everything came back clear. Aunt Joanna is back home, and I'm sure the boys and U. Quintin is happy.

Bro. Charles Carlton has just had the trek removed. He is gaining strength.

Sis. Gayle Smith has been having some trouble with her new chemo. They had decided to try a new experimental type of chemo, so it may be rough for a while before it gets better.

Sis. Kerry and the baby are doing very well. They have made it past the scare zone, and will be released from the specialist to her regular OB very soon. Keep them in prayer that baby and momma will be healthy.

Nathan Ferrel has seen great improvements since getting on O2. They went to Houston to meet with a Mito specialist to manage Nate's case and that gave them alot of direction and alot of help. They have even decided that he doesn't have to be on the O2 all the time. Happily he is still growing and doing very well these days.

Sis. Melissa is doing very well. She is starting back subbing this week.

Finally, Jim and Gary are still job hunting continue to remember all of us in prayers.

On Saturday, Ahna and Grumps took me and Momma to Auburn to see Uncle Benji and Uncle Nicholas and to all watch the Auburn game together. We got down there early that afternoon and checked into the hotel, and ate some lunch. I spent alot of lunch talking to the 3 year old boy at the table next to me. He kept waving and I laughed at him alot, when we got ready to leave he yelled, "Bye Baby!" and I squealed back. Then we met up with U. Benji and U. Nicholas, but before we could head to the stadium, they made me put on a bunch of clothes. I had to take off my pretty orange Auburn shirt and navy pants, and put an Auburn sleeper over my socks, and then an Auburn sweatsuit, and an orange toboggan, and my tennis shoes. I looked very handsome, and I know so cause all these people kept telling me so as we walked to the stadium. Then we were at the Tiger walk. There was so much going on that I wasn't sure where to look. People kept saying this was the biggest one that they had seen in a while. It went way down the road and across a couple of little roads, and we got to see Gene Chizik and all the players. The band was playing and the cheerleaders where hollering, and there were some really pretty trees. Anyway after that we were trying to get to the stadium, and the cheerleaders walked by and several of them grabbed my hand and said War Eagle. I waved my hand in circles just like Momma does for kick off.
So we got to the stadium and Grumps found four tickets together just where he wanted them, for just the price he wanted. So we got there a little more than an hour before the game started. It was really exciting watching the student section and listening to the music. It was spitting snow and rain for a few minutes, but it went away. Thank goodness cause Ahna said she had no interest sitting in the rain. About 20 mins before game time all the fun started. I really liked watching the band come in the stadium and they went all the way around playing the Fight Song and Glory to Ol' Auburn. Their horns were so shiney. Then the eagle flew, but she didn't stay up very long cause it was cold. I could even see my breath. Then the players ran out on the field and everyone cheered and it was really, really loud.

Sorry folks, I don't have any pictures today. Silly momma packed the camera in the luggage when we were on the plane. I like to fly there are all sorts of interesting people that you meet.

I didn't like everyone that we met. See we were in a hurry, cause Momma left my food at the house and Daddy had to turn around and go after it. Anyway, so we got through security, but they wanted to look at my food closer. I don't know why, it's my food, and I don't share my yummy food. Anyway, they were looking at some one else's bag first so, we had to stand in line.
This whole time Momma was juggling me and two bags, and trying to get her shoes and belt back on. So, finally this mean, old man looks at my food. They originally told Momma that they only had to look at food in jars bigger than 3 ozs. But not this man. He scanned my cereal in the box and cereal in the bowl, and my fruit and my veggies, and my formula and my water for it. Then he started asking Momma all sorts of questions: where are you going, why do you need so much, why is some of it store bought and some cooked? Then they called over the speaker, "Cunningham to gate C30 to Birmingham." Momma told the man, that's us, but he just kept going slow as he could. Finally he gave Momma my food, and then she had to get it all packed back up. Then she ran through the airport carrying me, two bags, a bunch of papers, and two water bottles. We got to the gate, and then she just dropped all the papers on the desk and the nice man talked to me and sorted things out.

So we got on the plane, and there was this really nice lady, and she offered to hold me so Momma could put everything away. I sat with her most of the flight. She had this black shawl with fringe all the way around, and this pretty gold cross necklace, that I really wanted to play with, and she was very nice. I liked her alot. Then there was this funny guy who worked on the plane, who kept stopping to talk to me. I would talk back to him, but I don't think he understood me because Daddy says I speak Monkey and no one else speaks monkey.

Anyway, we finally landed 10 mins early, and before long Ahna was there, and when we got out to the car Granddaddy and Grandmother were there. Then we ate breakfast at Waffle House, and I had my oatmeal, and some gravy, and hashbrowns. I didn't like hashbrowns, but Momma kept putting them in my mouth. Then I went to sleep and I woke up at Grandmother's house. I played in the floor awhile, and then I took a nap while Ahna rocked me, and now I'm playing again. It's been an exciting day so far. I can't wait till Grumps gets home from work.

I'll talk to you all later. I love you Daddy! Bye-bye.

Today Southside, the local vet and farm supply store, had their Fall Extravaganza. They gave away 5 free chicks to the first 40 customers. So Gary, Britt, and I went up there this morning and came home with 5 chicks. They are currently living in a Pampers box on the front porch/in the yard. Britt wasn't quiet sure what to make of them. He wanted to chase them but not touch them. He did finally touch one while I was holding it, with just one finger for just a second. We plan to go back a little later to eat free BBQ, and enter the free drawings.

I saw an ad on Facebook this morning for Pantene ProV that said, "When the times get tough, the tough get gorgeous." I had to laugh, I mean come on, buying Pantene and washing your hair might make you feel a smidgen better, and I mean a smidgen folks, but it does not help the tough times. Hahahaha, who comes up with this sort of marketing?

So, I'm at a bit of a loss with Britt. He refuses to eat finger foods. I'm sure that some of this has to do with the fact that we've had to wait so long to introduce them. He is happy for you to feed him with a spoon, and for you to pick food up with your fingers and feed him, he's happy for me to hold a banana and him eat on it. But the boy, pitches a fit if you sit the food down in front of him and expect him to eat it. I mean he gets mad if I try to feed him these cheerio like things. The one exception to this is bananas, which he has decided is the best thing ever to smash. He actually occasionally likes to pick them up and laughs when they jump out of his hands.