Peace on Earth...especially on Christmas Day

Christmas Day begin quietly for us. Lincoln actually let us sleep until 7am. We had to wake up Maggie, but she didn't have much trouble. We always take their picture on the steps before we let them come down and see what 'Santa brought them'...So here they are with their new pajamas they got the night before... Don't you love Maggie's hat? My Dad picked it out for her and she loves it.



We had a good time opening gifts from each other. Mom, Dad, Brennan, Pam, Missy and Kevin came over for the day. We had so much fun!!!! We had breakfast - Dad gave us some fresh country sausage and it was so tasty. then we spent the rest of the morning and afternoon relaxing, playing games, reading the paper and playing with the Wii. Then we came together and read the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20. I was quite impressed and surprised to find that the Tennessean had printed an entire section with the Christmas story quoted word for word from the KJV of the Bible. Maybe our country hasn't gone completely crazy.

What a blessed time we had spending the most important day of the year with family. We don't know how much we're blessed with sometimes. It's not the material things that count but special loved ones and family. And the peace that we can enjoy just by knowing our Savior.

We hope that you and your family had a blessed Christmas season. May God's richest blessings be upon you in the coming year.




Opening the big gifts...a stereo for Maggie and an Imaginext Firehall for Lincoln


Eddie, Lincoln and Dolly playing with the Nintendo DS


Playing with 2 more favorite gifts...Portable DVD player and Batcave, both from Nana & Papa



Mag and her new 'deck shoes', we call them boats, remember those?


Getting up to speed on her new phone (from Uncle Brennan & Aunt Pam)


Playing a new game on her old DS

Christmas Eve memories

Another Christmas has come and gone. I can't believe that in a few days it will be 2009. Where has the time gone? Our kids are busy playing with all their new 'toys'. Our family got a Wii this year and I have to say it has kept the children quite busy. Lincoln needs to learn a lesson in good sportsmanship. He gets upset whenever he doesn't win. But this is something that we're working on.

Christmas Eve was great in that we spent it with family, but sad because a dear friend went on to be with Jesus. I'm sure he's not sad because of where he is, but we are. I send condolences and my sincerest sympathy to his family at this time of year. Good-bye, Bro. Jimmy Nicolson.

We spent the morning with the Stephens' side of the family. This is my Mom's Mother and her 2 brothers and their families. We had Christmas in my Granny's small apartment which is in the basement of my Mom & Dad's house.

Granny getting her first gift - a family picture of my Uncle JD and all his family


I'm not sure what these three are waiting on, but they sure do look anxious. My Aunt Jean is getting ready to pass out her gifts. And she always gives good stuff.


Afterwards, Eddie, Maggie and myself came back to Murfreesboro to the funeral. Then we returned to Mom & Dad's to have Christmas with them and Brennan & Pam. We had Christmas dinner and opened way too many packages. But the most important thing was we spent time together.

Mom & Dad's tree before Maggie and Lincoln got to it.


Mom & Dad with Oreo


Brennan & Pam with KoKo

Sloan Family Christmas - December 20

The Curtis Christmas was Saturday morning and the Sloan one was Saturday afternoon at our house. Everyone was here except Mike, Deb and the Girls and Aaron. We missed you guys, but we'll get to see you next week.

I have to brag a little on my kids. Every year at the Sloan Christmas, Joyce (my Mother-in-law) has someone read the Christmas story from the Bible. This year she asked Maggie to read it and she did a great job. Then after we read the story, we pass around a candle and tell something that we're thankful for. Lincoln actually helped his younger cousin, Marley hold the candle and tried to give her an idea of what to be thankful for. You'll see from the pictures how cute they were. Anyway, he went into this long speech about Christmas and this was the best one, etc...and then when we all prayed at the end. Lincoln lead us in prayer and prayed the whole time the adults did. I'm proud of my children, just wanted you to know.


They're such good buds


The baby, Ember Kay Sloan (Chris & Sarah's)

Marley Reagan Sloan (Ember's sister)

The boys, Steven and Lincoln...don't they look alike?

And of course, the girls, Lauren, Maggie and Anna


I think this gets me caught up through this past weekend. We have 2 more family Christmases tomorrow, so I'm sure I'll be blogging about those too.
Merry Christmas Eve Eve

Curtis' Christmas - December 20

The Curtis side of the family met on Saturday at Nathan & Ashlee Foor's house. Nathan is my cousin and Ashlee is Eddie's niece. Yes, they are married. No, they were not related before they got married. Yes, it's a long story. I'll tell you about it sometime.

Anyway, this is my Dad's side of the family. This is the second Christmas without my Grandfather and we still miss him and my Grandmother.
Here are just a few pictures of the day...

Lincoln's favorite gift of the day


Maggie in her toboggan


The 4 Great Grandchildren: Maggie, Alayna, Mallory & Lincoln

Belle Aire Preschool (BAP)

Belle Aire preschool is where I have been employed off and on for the past four and one half years. This year I worked as a lead teacher in the Ladybug class (young 2's). My co-teacher, Nicole Jennings and I had a great working relationship and a wonderful class full of children.

The reason I keep referring to BAP in the past tense is because as of December 18th, I am no longer employed there. Not because I had a bad experience, but because God has blessed me with a new job at Northfield Elementary School as a mid-day assistant in the Kindergarten classes. I begin January 6th when Lincoln goes back to school. For those of you who don't know this is the school that Lincoln goes to.

My hours are 8-2, Monday through Friday. I only have to work on the days that the kids are at school. That means no in-service days, etc... If you know anything about me, you know that I love children and once upon a time I wanted to be a Kindergarten teacher, but just never followed through on the commitment to finish school. So this is the next best thing, considering my schedule at church.

I am so excited to be beginning a new phase in my life. It will be a difficult change for our family, but a good one I think. However, I am sad to leave my ladybug babies at BAP. Here are a few pictures of our Christmas program and party. Enjoy...

Christmas Music Workshop and Play

Every Christmas brings an event in my life that is hectic yet very rewarding. It is our annual Christmas Music Workshop and Play. This year we performed Mystery of the Manger . We had a total of 59 children in the play and about 30 staff of which I could not do without. The children did an incredible job on the play. We broke our all-time attendance record with 544 people in attendance.

Below I have included a link on our church website where you can go and look at the pictures from the 3 workshop days. Warning: there are approx. 600 pictures on these links. I have also included some pictures of the actual play. Enjoy...

Here's the link: Workshop photos



Lincoln played Joseph in this nativity scene

Thanksgiving Lunch at Northfield - November 14th

Northfield Elementary is the school where my son goes. You will be hearing alot about this place in the next several months. They had their Thanksgiving lunch a little early, November 14th. Maggie just happened to be at home that day, not feeling very well and Eddie came from work and we had a nice lunch. Of course, Lincoln didn't eat any of it, I brought his lunch from home.
Here are a few shots of lunch and friends...

Lincoln, Dad & Maggie

Ms. Zabriskie and the boys, Everett, Josh, Lincoln, Brady A & Brady H

Me and my buddy

Another picture of the boys

Happy Christmas Eve Eve Eve

No this is not a typo. It is the 2 days before the day before Christmas. I have been working diligently for the past several hours trying to change the background on my blog and in the process lost all the 'stuff' on the right side of the page. So I had to spend more time adding that back.

Now I am finally ready to start posting again. But that may have to wait until tomorrow because I'm tired of being on this computer today. I have a lot of ground to cover since my last posting, so tomorrow or maybe even tonight I will begin to get caught up before the new year begins. I do have a lot of info to post...

Until next time.