ROLL CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, it's bin a long, long time. I NEED everybody to check in! How was your Christmas? What was your favorite thing about it? My Christmas was WONDERFUL! Both kids, hubby, and sissie were here. The kids started on Jesus' birthday cake the day before.....I asked Em if she sang before she cut it, and she said, "yep, silently." Later when Jon got a piece, I asked if he sang and he put his hand over his heart and said, "in my heart I did." My kids are nutz! Only bad part of Christmas was Jim was sick most of the day. We all got great gifts - i got my vadilia onion chopper from Em!!!!! woohoo!!!! and alot of other good loot! My favorite thing was getting up at 4 am to put the ham in and finding Jon, up (yes he had been to bed, but woke up shortly before 3 about to croak with anticipation!) and wanting to know when Christmas started and where was Aunt Barbara! By 5 oclock, he had Jim and Em up and was threatening Aunt B's life and her share of the ham AND her Christmas presents! Jon swore that when she finally got here, he knew the fireman's carry and would run out swoop her up and fireman carry her in! She got her at 6 am and Jon was out the door before she got the truck in park!!!. She declined the fireman's carry, tho! We had a blast. CHECK IN GANG!!!! smoochies Arlies

Well I must have been an angel this year, cuz I racked up on christmas morning!! I was sooo tired, we couldn't get my stepdaughter, kristine to go to bed on chrismas eve, she was really excited about santa coming and finally she gave it up around 12:45 a.M. Then finally we get to take care of 'santa' and then my daugther sarah woke up around 3:30am, and got the whole house up...So I drug myself out of bed, and they opened presents for what seemed like an eternity, (I would have been a better sport had I gotten a little more sleep!) but then I openend my presents from santa and I got a new dell computer, complete with a photo printer/copier and new digital 8 megapixel camera !! I got some good smelling jlo live luxe perfume from my daughter sarah, and got lots of nice clothes and my step daughter got me a pretty pair of earrings, and I got a stocking full of sf chocolate, mixed nuts and fruit. We had a nice christmas dinner with ham, dressing and all the good food!! We had so much we will be eating leftovers for a while! I am disapointed with myself, ive put on 5-7 pounds. Im nipping that in the bud this week, im getting back on track and losing it plus more I hope! Well happy new year yall! Crystal

We had our family celebration on Christmas Eve. My son, his wife, and their 17-month-old daughter, and my husband's daughter, her husband, and their 2-1/2-year-old son joined us. Much missed were my daughter and her family in Seattle and my husband's son and his wife, who were visiting her mother in Kentucky. Having the babies with us and watching them open gifts was really special. The tough part was that Jim and I were both tired from the night before. If you've read any of my posts before then you may already know that we have a karaoke business as a sideline. We didn't get home until after two o'clock. Our show was supposed to be from 8 to 12, but folks filled the tip jar to entice us to stay a little longer. We finally quit at 1:30 and then Jim still had to break down the equipment and load the truck. I didn't think we'd be able to, but we were both up by eight and getting the ham in the oven. You do what'cha gotta do! Christmas Day we just relaxed and played with our new toys. I got Jim flight simulator software and a wireless joystick, and I got a webcam so that I can talk to AND SEE my daughter and grandchildren. Since they're moving to Alaska in June, this will really get used a lot. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! pAM

My Christmas was great. I got some good loot from the guys at work. My son will be down in Jan with the granddaughter. I haven't seen her for a year. She was 6 weeks old the last time I saw her. So I am excited to see her. I am working 2 jobs now and I worked the 23 and 24 stocking at Dollar General so I was pretty tired Christmas. I read a book and relaxed with the babies (my animals). I ate Dinner at my girlfriends house and had a glass of wine. I am such a cheap date these days. It was wonderful. We didn't get each other gifts---- just the gift of love. It was the best gift. Steph

Christmas was great! My children stayed up all night to catch Santa but they fell asleep at 4:30 and he came sometime between 4:30 and 5:00 because they woke up and he had already left the presents and ashy footprints from the fireplace all over the floor. I got lots of clothes and some sexy perfume (Heavenly-by Victoria Secrets). My hubby was super sweet! I got him a hunting trip and the gear needed to go on the trip. Sonya

I am here. Last Christmas my hubby Tommy was in the hosp so we were thankful to just be together this year. My crew got together on Friday night before Christmas. I got an Omega chain from Tommy, an iron and bolw dryer that I desperately needed and asked for, and Jennifer my oldest made me and Tommy little scrapbooks for each of us. They were so special. Jamie my 19 yr old got me and Tommy a gas grill. I love it and use it almost every day. I don't remember what all I got. Just loved the holiday and the birthday of Jesus. Me and Tommy are going to Jackson overnight for part of our Christmas to each other. We can use the time away that is for sure. Sat. we chilled but Sunday we went all day. Services and Christmas with my parents in Seminary. Monday Christmas with Jennifer and Jamie's grandparents. After that we went to Jennifer's and visited. I always love being with my daughter and her husband. It just doesn't happen enough. We live 30 minutes away but we stay so busy. We attend the same church so we see each other on Sun and during the week too. That is a treat. We are still working on that grandbaby. Keep praying for Jennifer that she won't get discouraged. Hope to see some of you on the 13th. Chow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jane

Hi Ya'll, Like everyone else, life has been hectic and I haven't had time to check in. Goodness, it seems as if every year gets busier than the previous year. Christmas was wonderful and chaotic at the same time but I'm not complaining. A house full of loved ones is the way it should be. Unfortunately, we no longer have any little ones in the immediate family but I always strive to be "the coolest Aunt" to my 13 year old niece and once again I have succeeded. I now know more about IPod's and the accessories than I ever wished to know!! It's pitiful wearing bi-focals trying to figure out what electronic accessories to buy. Thankfully, a little teeny-bopper sales clerk at Best Buy saw my distress and came to my rescue. Praise God for motivated teens who have part time jobs!! I managed to lose 2 lbs during the Christmas holidays and I owe a thank you to my doctor for that. He is definitely a sweet heart to put up with me! A tiny fill topped my Christmas wish list and Santa came early. So even though we had a seafood feast fit for a king, I managed to lose weight in spite of it. With the New Year fast approaching I have decided upon 1 resolution only.... to get more rest! I average 5 hours sleep a night (if I'm lucky) and I have got to do better than that. It might help if I sign off now to get a jump start for the New Year. Anyway, Happy New Year's to all. Vivian S.

I'M HERE I'M HERE!!!!! Christmas was busy and hectic , like it always is at my house with 4 kids! Glad its over , thats my favorite part! LOL MY LEAST Favorite part is these 8 lovely lbs i managed to gain! LOL Good thing i know how to get it off!! Oh yhea i slammed my finger in a door crushed the bones and dang near cut it off the friday before Christmas, SO i haven't been able to do much in the way of exercise, starting back in the a.m. finger or no finger, i cant stand not working out!! DAWN~~

I am here... Just got home this afternoon. Brandon and I have been gone since December 15 when he got out of school. We had Christmas with my parents and my two sisters and their families on the weekend of the 15th. Brandon and I stayed the week between the 15th and Christmas with my parents and my sister in GA, Julian had to come back to work. He returned to GA on the 23rd and we spent Christmas Eve with my parents. On Christmas day we drove up to Atlanta to spend it with Julian's mom and sister. Then we left on Wednesday the 27th and flew to Rochester for four days. We were able to spend time with Julian's youngest son Zachary and do Christmas with him. It snowed while we were there, so we really enjoyed it. We flew back to Atlanta on Saturday and then left Sunday to go to Birmingham AL to spend New Years with some friends of ours. Finally after over two weeks away, I get to spend the night in my own bed tonight. Wooooooo...... Anyway, we had great holidays but much like everyone else, I am glad it is over! I start back to class on Friday the 5th, and will be taking five classes, fulltime during the day. It should be interesting but I will be very busy! I wish I could see you on the 13th, but Brandon and I will be in Alabama at a friends 40th Bday party. Love ya and miss ya! Rhonda