Christmas Concert

Just so you don't think I have totally forgotten that it is Advent and we are preparing for Christmas, I thought I'd post proof that we have been celebrating. Ann Bennett was old enough to be in the Christmas concert, play, cantata, whatever, for the first time this year. She surprised me and tried out for a speaking part. She had a part, and we had a lot of rehearsals! This is the video of the dress rehearsal. We were proud of her for learning her lines. All of the narrator angels had cards with their lines just in case, but she never needed it.

I don't really know if Ann Bennett is up for many of these plays though. She was pretty tired and scattered by the end of the 2 hour rehearsals! The next video is of Ann Bennett (and Bryant's I think) favorite song. It's just part of it, because, really, do you want to see the whole thing? Saturday night during the performance, the boy in the back on the left really got rockin' and had everyone laughing. His parents weren't amused and talked to him about it, so it was missing Sunday morning. But, the Sassers felt Thomas's dance moves enhanced the show.

Bryant did not participate in the play or in choir for that matter. I hate it, but it's just not his thing. Plus, he had baseball and other conflicts. However, he did make it to a lot of the rehearsals shuttling AB back and forth. He knew most of the lines in the play and all of the songs. I wish I could have convinced him, but it was certainly NOT a battle I was willing to fight.

Ann Bennett's friend from school and church, Preston. Believe it or not, they are both 1st graders. I think AB had on her clogs that morning which give her some extra height, but st

We hope you are having a fabulous Christmas, and in the words of the Christmas play, I hope that the child has found ways to rock your world. (Jesus, in case that isn't clear ;0)

American Girl Doll Cafe

Ann Bennett has been into American Girl Dolls for a couple of years now. Last year they opened a store and cafe in Atlanta. My mom saw a show on the dolls and how they represent historical periods, so she too fell in love with the idea. She bought AB Molly last year. Molly is from the year Mom was born. We also went to the store after Christmas last year. But, let me just say, stay away from the place around Christmas! It was a mad house, and by the time we left the store, there was a line to even be allowed in the store. We could not get near the cafe. But while we were there last year, Mom told Ann Bennett that when she came back to GA we would plan in advance to have lunch at the cafe. A few days later, Mom was in the wreck, and we have certainly not been able to go to AGD for lunch. But, this time, we were able to go. Mom, Sandy, Macie, Ann Bennett and I had a girls' lunch at the cafe. Oh yeah, Felicity went with us too. Felicity was the only doll with a tea dress, so she was the only one who could go.

Ann Bennett and Felicity (in her own high chair, notice) reading the menu.

Macie and the doll they loaned her for lunch -- they are very prepared there!

Ann Bennett was very impressed by the food.

Macie was very impressed with her milk shake.

As was Ann Bennett.

It was a really nice treat. And somehow we managed to leave the store only purchasing a paperback book. I guess preparing before we enter the store helps. I think it also helps that the store is such a treat just to visit. It is such a girlie place. I'm so thankful Mom was able to take Ann Bennett. I hope Sandy has a picture with Mom in it. Amazing the things we forget to do!

Catch Up - Sue Sue's birthday weekend

OK, I seem to have lost a whole month of updates! By lost, I mean that I never did them, not that they are lost in computer land somewhere. I'm mostly doing this for my long term memory. Anyway, we have been busy. We went to GA to celebrate Mom's birthday 11-8. It was obviously a big deal since it feels like the birthday that she almost did not have. In fact, all of the approaching holidays feel a little like we are living on borrowed time.

Sandy, me, Macie, Ann Bennett, Mom at her birthday dinner. It's not the best picture, but it was the best one I had. I love Macie's hand.

I love this picture for some reason. AB and Mom both look so happy.

As is typical when we go to GA, Uncle Jeff gets to (or has to) play a lot of football. Carson and Ann Bennett join them on occasion, but Bryant is very persistent about getting Jeff to play! I think throwing to B is a lot easier on the knees than tackling, defending or whatever they do when they run around in the yard!

I thought this was a great picture of the guys. Bryant was lucky enough to be the first grandchild, so he had a lot of time to develop a great relationship with Jeff and Sandy before they had children of their own. He is always happy to go visit.

One of the things that amazes me about Ann Bennett and Macie is that they just do their thing regardless of what is going on around them. Notice they are playing ring around the roses in the middle of the football field. I think only the younger siblings of boys have this trait. Ann Bennett has such fun with both Carson and Macie. However, for some reason I only have pictures of her with Macie. Next time I'm going to have to be intentional about pics with Carson!

Hope your birthday was happy Mom, and I hope we didn't wear you out! Love ya.

So She IS Listening!

Ann Bennett came home from school today not wearing the new headband she had on this morning. When I asked her where it was, she said it was in her backpack. AB let a little girl next to her "look" at it. Well, she put it on and then passed it to another little girl who also put it on her head. Ann Bennett remembered that people can "have bugs in their hair" and they can spread to your hair, so she didn't put it back on all day. I explained to her that she made a good choice, and she could always just tell the girls that she didn't like to share her hair "stuff." I also told her that if someone in her class had lice that the school would have to tell us, so L and D did not have "bugs in their hair" and her headband was safe.

(Last year she would find barrettes or other hair clips on the playground at school. I told her about lice, but she just didn't get it. We finally looked up what lice look like online and read about them. This was after the first of the year. To be honest, life got too crazy for me to even notice whether she was coming home with other people's hair clips. But, apparently it must have made an impression because she was all freaked out today.)

Anyway, tonight at dinner, I was asking the kids to tell us something that happened that was good about their day. Ann Bennett said, "oh, oh, L and D don't have bugs in their hair." Amazing what we can be thankful for if we open our eyes!