The weekend

Billy got home Friday night from California. Yeah! Saturday, while Billy took all the kids for William's basketball pictures and to watch Walker's first basketball game, I took Vivian to Chick-fil-a for a friend's birthday party.


Here's my brave girl about to give a "high five" to the cow. She was trembling the entire time the cow was present.


After a beautiful Lord's Day service, we headed to Grandma's house for a belated Phillips Christmas.




Here's 2nd cousin Devin in the middle of William and Henry. (He's 6 months older than the boys.)


Macy with Aunt Susan and Uncle Mark

A good day

The kids had a snow day yesterday, although it didn't snow that much, and Alabama won the National Championship! Billy and his dad have been in sunny and warm southern California since Tuesday for the game, while we've been here in the deep freeze!

Ballerinas

Granddaddy Bill gave the girls new dance costumes for Christmas. Here they are before their dance classes this week! Rebecca's class is on Monday afternoons and Vivian's is on Tuesdays. Vivian loves it so much that she used to be mad at Rebecca because Rebecca's class is the day before hers. She now says she's happy for Rebecca, but she cannot wait until her turn! She was so funny yesterday as we were driving there, just squealing with excitement. "We're almost there, Mommy! We're almost there!"

William's glasses

Even though you might have noticed in the holiday photos, I forgot to mention that William now wears glasses. A couple of months ago, there was an eye screening at school, and William brought home a form stating that he had significant hyperopia. We were very surprised as we had no idea that he had any problem at all; he certainly had no signs or symptoms that we were aware of. So, I made him an appointment with an optometrist and soon discovered that his eyesight was pretty bad. The doctor does not think that he will "outgrow" his condition due to the severity, and said that he also had some amblyopia and was glad that we were able to determine that there was a problem and get him in before it got worse. William does great with his new glasses; he is very conscientious about wearing them. I guess that goes along with his OCD personality. He was a little self-conscious at first; it took a while for him to let me take his picture. I think he looks very handsome, don't you?

Now that's what I call Christmas!

The family get-togethers began on the 22nd at our house...the Brand Christmas.

Posing all the kids before the gift-opening begins.

Rebecca got an easel. She loves it!


Anna and Vivian tearing into their gifts.


Ellen loves her new pet playset.


A Wii game?!


A basketball for William


MawMaw and Granddaddy start opening their gifts.


Not sure what this is all about.


In their matching ballerina gowns


Christmas Eve--The Woodall Christmas


Vivian and Rebecca both love these gifts from Granddaddy Bill.


Checking out the stockings...Rebecca and the recorder! Ellen shows her new sippy cup.



Home again and getting ready for Santa. Daddy reads 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.


Christmas morning: The first 3 were up at 5:45 to see what Santa brought!


Our stockings!


Ya think Henry might be a little excited?


Opening gifts


Wow!


Rebecca arrives downstairs fully dressed. She spots her pink MP3 player and her Hello Kitty camera and she is a happy girl!


Candy--my next favorite thing!


Off to Mema & Granddaddy's for a late breakfast.

Anna and Rebecca in their matching T-shirts that Beth decorated!


PawPaw and Ellen


Mema and Vivian


William, Walker, and Henry


Granddaddy


Now to Nannie & PawPaw's for a late lunch/early dinner

Nannie and PawPaw pose with their 11 grandchildren, ages 8 and under


Henry's excited again.


Anna and Vivian


I just can't believe I got an Elmo car!

Billy's birthday

Billy's dad took us all out for pizza for Billy's 39th birthday on Dec. 17th. (Got to get planning that 40th celebration next year!) I carried his traditional homemade red velvet birthday cake to the restaurant, in case you see a little of it on some toothy grins below.

Christmas parties

Whew, now that Christmas is OVER, I can sit back and reflect on all the fun we had! It was busy, busy, especially with all the activities at school. I am seriously thinking of having the boys in the same class next year. I know, I know, I vowed to have them separated for their own "identities," but this Mom is frazzled!
2009 was a good year for us, overall. It brought many changes and challenges, but I believe that each one has made us wiser, stronger, and more humble. God has blessed us in so many ways.

Throwing snowballs


Enjoying yummy food