City Life

Last summer our family made the move from our quaint little town on the banks of the White River to The Big City. When I googled the term town there were several definitions, but the most fitting for my purpose is "a compactly settled area usually larger than a village but smaller than a city." The definition for city, however, is "an inhabited place of greater size, population, or importance than a town or village."

Now that we've cleared that up, the town from which we moved has roughly 9,500 people in it. It is the largest town within several counties, but still small enough that I could cash a check without ID or even (gasp) pick up some things from the small store down the hill from my house and pay for them later because I left home without any checks in my wallet. The city we moved to has about 35,000 people in it, seven of which I know by first name. Let's just say that I don't forget checks in my wallet when I leave home.

I've lived in that small town my whole life. Well... I did go to college a couple of hours away, but I went home just about every weekend during that four years so I don't really count that as having lived away from home. So the move to The Big City was sort of exciting... but mostly scary. Not just for me, but for the family I left behind.

How would I find my way around, we all wondered (I've been known to be somewhat directionally challenged)? What if I needed help with one of my rowdy boys (the small one is a bit accident-prone)? Who would fill me in on the happenings in The Big City (I've never been one to read a newspaper)?

Well, today my friends, I want to put all your fears to rest. Because today I found out that living in The Big City isn't all that different than living in... well, in a pasture!

Scenes from Christmas Break

First of all, you must meet Maggie. Maggie is the newest addition to our family - I finally have a baby girl! Isn't she precious? How about adorable? Sweet? Yep, she's all that and then some. It didn't take long for her to take over our entire existence!

Now, what did we do over Christmas break? Let's see...we decorated a gingerbread house.

Then we took turns eating the leftover icing!

We took a few naps...

Hunter and I helped Clint paint a beautiful puppy picture, which now hangs in his room.

Umm...another nap.

We shared some wonderful time with some of our family from Nebraska - Jim, Sally and Tyler, we are so glad you came for a visit. We loved having you here! And it was good to have Matt home that weekend, too.

We also spent Christmas in Batesville with Granna and Poppy Tom, and all our family there. After 41 years, I finally know what it is like to "go home" for Christmas! I enjoyed it so much, I think we'll just do it every year. Okay, Mom?

And now, the rowdy boys are back in school and Maggie and I are settling into a routine. It goes something like this: I cater to her every whim!