Do you have a Clue?

We all got great things for Christmas. I got a new camera. I don't have to ask Bert or Jacqulin to borrow theirs anymore. So now I have snapshot fever! Displayed here are some of my favorite Christmas presents: Brad Paisley tickets -Woo! Hoo!
My favorite boy under 40 years of age! Not a Christmas present but still a favorite
Clue - It was done in the kitchen by Mrs. Peacock with a wrench - or was she the one who got the wrench?

Christmas Aftermath

We didn't pay attention to a candle. It happens so fast. Before we knew it there were flames 2 feet tall on my kitchen table. Thankfully, Bert pounded it out with a wet towel. We have one less Christmas table cloth and a nice reminder on the kitchen table. Thank goodness for placemats.







Bert has worked and worked and worked. Luke has watched a lot of TV and made a lot of videos. Jacqulin has played Webkinz and tried to not say she's bored. You have to pay me a $1 if you say that.

To Believe or Not?!!

Jacqulin had a difficult year this year. Several girls at school had really questioned if Santa is real. There was a lot of waffling at our house this year. So, on Christmas eve, beside the cookies, Jacqulin wrote a note and asked Santa if he could take a picture of his reindeer for her. She even left her camera for him. It is hard to believe that he had time to grab this quick shot considering how busy he was that night. So, what do you think?

Luke reading Luke.

We were very blessed this year to have Luke read the Christmas story from Luke in the Bible. This was very appropriate considering he was named after this physician and follower of Jesus. It is mind blowing that Luke is old enough to read this story fluently without any stumbling over the big words.

Christmas Eve at our house.

We started the evening with a beautiful candlelight service at our church. It's my favorite service with lots of Christmas Carols. Papa joined us this year which made it extra special. They talked about how Nazareth was thought of as an undesireable place to be from and that shepherds were dirty, smelly and unsociable. Yet God chose a girl from Nazareth to carry His son. God also chose to tell the lowliest people about Jesus first. Wow! Makes you think how blessed we are to know Him (Jesus).



We always start with a bite to eat. For some reason several years ago we had soup (taco soup) I think it was because it was extremely cold. Well, now Luke and Jacqulin associate Christmas Eve with soup. So, Taco Soup, White Chicken Chili and Chicken Cheesy Vegetable soup were the main courses. Lots of goodies provided by everyone was also served.



Let the ENTERTAINMENT begin!! Luke and Jacqulin danced 'Solja Boy' for everyone!















DIRTY SANTA?!!?
For the first time the Sumner family decided to play dirty Santa. It turns out that Papa was the sneakiest Santa we had. There was a $35 limit on the gift. Papa had a huge beautifully wrapped box. Bert went first and chose the gift Papa brought - a $100 bill!!! But there were instructions: if you opened the gift first you had to give it to the 5th person to your left! WHAT?!! Beverly was glad that she sat 5 people away from Bert!

Christmas at Aunt Charlotte's house.

Uncle Mike is GLAD this isn't a week long fiesta.





We went to Charlotte's house in Huntsville, AL to celebrate Saturday, December 22, 2007. It was good that all of us could be together. Charlotte even had a birthday cake for baby Jesus. The kids read the story about Mary and Joseph and God's gift to us, Jesus, his son.It explains that is why we give gifts today. We've read this same book for as many years as I can remember. I think this tradition was started with Mom's first grandchild, Garrett, who is now 22 and expecting his first baby girl in February. Wow how time flies.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK.....

I think we can all think of a teacher who made a difference in our life. Fortunately, Luke and Jacqulin have both had a teacher who has made an unbelievable impact on their lives. Shannon Carlisle is a phenomenal 4th grade teacher and both my children have been blessed to have her. She is the most creative teacher - not just artistic - but creative in teaching relevant material.She did more for Luke's self esteem in one year than we thought possible. Jacqulin has her this year and we couldn't be more pleased. Thursday was the last day of school before Christmas break. The fourth grade wore pajama's and had a great party. We had to get a picture with Luke because Mrs. Carlisle is a teacher you don't want to forget. Thank you Mrs. Carlisle for caring about what you do!

HERE'S TO LUKE!!!

I love Luke!! He's my favorite boy. He has been quite disappointed that he hasn't been featured on our blog. Well, here's to Luke!! We took the camera to his basketball practice last night to get some "great shots." Yeah! well that didn't happen. Digital cameras are great but the action is just hard to capture. I will update with better pictures soon. Luke is doing great in school but I am most proud of his hard work on memorizing scripture. I take him to school every morning - school starts at 7:20. If he rides the bus he has to be at the bus stop at 6:25, if I drive him we leave at 6:55. That is the difference between daylight and dark - literally. We try to learn one new scripture every week. He is up to 12!!

The Gift

Remember that classic short story "The Gift of the Magi" written by O.Henry. A poor young couple attempts to buy the perfect gift for each other. She sells her long beautiful hair to buy a chain for his heirloom watch. He sells his watch to buy beautiful combs for her hair. Jacqulin and I had the opportunity to participate in a rendition of that lovely story. Two gentlemen in our church wrote music and lyrics for a wonderful production. Jacqulin and I were mainly crowd/shoppers in the ensamble if you will. I imagine this will be the only time we will have an opportunity to be in a production together. It was so much fun. What a great way to start the Christmas season by thinking of the perfect gift God gave us by sending Jesus to earth.

Amelia, I mean Minnie, I mean Ella!!

My sweet little angel niece was in her Kindergarten Christmas program last Thursday. So, because I am her favorite Aunt I drove the almost 2 hours in the pouring rain to see her beautiful smiling face!!! Because that's what favorite Aunts do. She sang so pretty and she knew every hand motion - which comes easy for the two of us because we talk with our hands. She also wore the best pajamas in the world. Her big brother, Alex, took this picture of me (Aunt Debbie), Amelia, Charlotte (her Mom) and Aunt Sonya. Thanks for inviting me to your great program. I loved it!!

FUN WITH STICKS!!

I stopped by Jacqulin's school for these pictures. She loves doing this. She danced through the sticks to Christmas music!

EXHAUSTION!!!

Jacqulin and I were in a Christmas musical at our church last weekend. We only did two shows but wow are we tired. It seems we have something every night - and that's our normal schedule. Tonight, Tuesday night, Jacqulin had voilin, we picked Luke up from a field trip in downtown Nashville, we stopped by a local chocolate shop in downtown Franklin to pay for goodies for teachers from the PTO, then went to our local Panerra Bread to pick up left overs. At 9:05 they allow me, on occasion, to get all left over bagels, breads and pastries to deliver to the teachers the next morning. I probably got 40 pounds of bagels!! Tomorrow we have Wed night church, I'm teaching Jacqulin's class. Thursday they both start Upword Basketball and Cheerleading. Whew!!

Christmas Tree and Card!!

This is our Christmas tree. We usually have 3 or 4. This year we are very thankful and we have this one up. I thought with Thanksgiving being so early we would have more time to decorate. NOT!!

WE OFFICIALLY HAVE A CARD!!!!! Now it just has to get printed and in the mail. Whew!

Christmas Cards

Historically Bert has designed our Christmas cards. They are always phenomenal. I have never felt like the plumbers wife whose house is always in need of plumbing or the cobblers wife whose children need shoes. Bert has always come through on great Christmas cards. Last year was my idea. I have to take credit when I can because it is so rare that I have an original thought. Last year Luke was holding his guitar and Jacqulin was holder her violin. The picture was taken in my living room that I think is gorgeous. The card was another spectacular one. However, this year we got nothing!! Nada! Zip! Really neither of us can even come up with a concept. So, we thought about just a collage of sorts. Activities the kids have been involved in all year. Wow!! We take a lot of pictures but I don't think any of them are Christmas card quality. I don't think the collage will happen so I decided to showcase some of the pictures I like. I don't care if they make the card because I have a blog!!

Christmas Cards