Around the World at Christmastime

Tanner's 1st grade play was held in December and was titled, "Around the World at Christmastime". Bridget Hawkins, the music teacher at Parkway, always does an excellent job with the kids in these plays. Each class told about different Christmas traditions from around the world. Tanner's class was the first class to 'perform' and part of their performance was to say "Merry Christmas" in different languages. Tanner had a speaking part where he said "Merry Christmas" in French. He then had a longer speaking part about different family traditions. He did a great job and didn't seem nervous at all. There are MANY first grade classes at Parkway this year. Mrs. Hawkins had so many extra students to work with that they had to add on to the stage! It was festive, informative and very entertaining! Tanner did a great job saying his speaking part clearly and singing all the songs throughout the play! His class is a precious group of kids and it looked like they all had fun performing for their audience.

Way to go Tanner!

Tanner saying his speaking part

Tanner's entire class

Encore!

Tanner and his buddy Tegan chillin' after their play

Fast Runner

A few months into the school year, the kids at Parkway do the first part of a Fitnessgram in their PE class. A fitnessgram is a program where the PE teacher has the kids do some fitness activities that he measures to document their "fitness" level. It includes their height and weight, along with strength, stretching, and endurance activities. Part of that program includes running a mile in which the kids are timed. Last year, when Tanner was in Kindergarten, he ran the fastest mile of all Kindergarten boys! He was so excited! This year, when they ran the mile, Tanner was the 2nd fastest boy in the 1st grade and the 2nd fastest boy at Parkway. He got his name put on a bulletin board for all the students to see!

Great job Tanner!!

Sleep Over

One weekend in early December, Terry went to Memphis to run the St. Jude half-marathon. While he was gone, me and the kids had some fun eating out and messing around at the mall and new Barnes and Noble bookstore. We stayed 'out on the town' until after 10:00, then came home to hit the sack. Tanner gets bummed sometimes that he doesn't share a room with anyone, so every now and then I move his mattress into the girls' room for him to camp out with them. He loves it and the girls do too!

A Time to Serve

The 6th Grade GA's (Girls in Action) at church were asked to help serve at a Widow/Widower's Banquet the Deacons were having. It is a special time to honor these special people in our church. Since I am one of the 6th grade GA teachers, Avery, Tanner and I headed to the church to help out. Tanner really wanted to go help out, so he tagged along. We had 4 GA's come help and they did a really great job! Avery, Beth, Taylor and Kaitlyn took coffee around on carts and served those who wanted some. Tanner's job was to hand out sugar and sweet and low. After the banquet was over, Avery, Beth and Tanner even helped clear many of the tables. What a great way to literally serve others.

Avey and Beth Brinkley

Tanner and Frank Brinkley

Avery, Beth, Taylor, Kaitlyn, Tanner and Frank

Helping clear tables

Avery working hard

Can Art

At Lawndale Elementary School, the kids in Challenge (the gifted program) held an art show to show off the things they had made out of cans. They used cans of all sizes: soup cans, drink cans, big cans. To enter the art show, the admission price was - you guessed it - a CAN of food! They were using the art show to collect cans for the Salvation Army. To "purchase" a piece of art, the cost was - a can of food! Pretty cool! The art was AWESOME! I had no idea what to expect when we got there, and it was really great!! Anna, along with 3 other girls, made a Hulacan (hula girl). It was so cute! She made a Santa ornament, along with some other ornaments that she forgot to show me. I was so impressed with what all the kids made that I took many pictures. It was a great idea with a great turnout! They collected over 500 cans!

Ana Acosta, Gracie Hand and Anna made the Hulacan girl on the left

Anna's Santacan ornament

One of the cool can arts on display

Eli and Peyton CANning

Our favorite, Dexter McCluster

On Ole Miss ornament!

Advent

Our church held an Advent Wreath Fellowship for families to come and make a new advent wreath to use during this Christmas season. The girls didn't want to go for some reason, but Tanner did, so he and I set out to make a new wreath. I had fun with my sweet little boy making our wreath together and listening to Mrs. Shelley, our children's minister, tell a story about what Jesus wants for Christmas is YOU! We had a few snacks, heard some hand bell music, and made a wreath to bring home to use with the devotionals each week leading up to Christmas Day. We loved doing this last year! It helped us stayed focused on the true meaning of Christmas and I think it will mean just as much this year.

Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving is a busy day for us. One of fun and family and lots of food! For lunch, we head to Ingomar to see the Ashley side of my family. We had a much smaller gathering this year, but it was special nonetheless. We always have a good time with the Ashley group and there is never a dull moment. I wouldn't have it any other way! We are very blessed with the family we have! We taught the kids how to play 'hotbox' between the two big trees in Mama Bert's front yard. When I was a kid, that was one of the funnest games ever - played with all my fun cousins (Annie Over was a close second!).

Playing 'HotBox'

Terry trying to throw someone out

Tanner hugging the base!

Avery got my camera and had a little photo shoot of her own. She took some GREAT pictures. All of the following pictures are the ones she took.

This is one she took of Anna on Mama Bert's front porch.

Here's one of our cousin, Kate

Sweet Ava wanting to join the big kids!

Silly Sam!

Avery's favorite picture! Sam behind the ball.

This is a great one of Sam and Anna

Lucy holding Ava. She was tuckered out from all the activity!

For supper, we head to Amory to see the Williams side of the family. We still go to the Community Center because there are so many of us. Even though it's not as 'personal' as being at a house, I'm thankful for my BIG family that I love seeing so much!

Our third round of Thanksgiving was two days after Thanksgiving Day at Mama Jane's house. Tina and John were home and we all got to have a great visit with some great food!

We have so many things to be thankful for! So many! God has blessed my family and extended family in too many ways to count and I try to be thankful every day, not just at Thanksgiving. It's special to me, and hopefully the rest of my family, to see all of our relatives. It truly makes the season for me. It seems we're one of the few families, these days, where everyone still gets together. I love that we do. It's been this way all of my life and I hope it will always be this way. Our tradition - and a great one!

Panda Pride

Tanner was chosen for the Panda Pride award in his first grade class for the month of November! Panda Pride is given to a boy and girl in each class who show good citizenship and on the last Friday of each month they have a celebration to recognize these children. Tanner went on stage to receive his certificate and even got his picture put in the Tupelo newspaper!

Great job, Tanner!!

7 years old

Tanner and Gran