December in Little Rock

With weather into the sixties, we took every chance to enjoy the parks in Little Rock this December, playing at Pinnacle, Alsopp Park, the Rivermarket, & Two Rivers. The natural beauty of the Ozarks had us certainly thinking twice about the place we've chosen to call "home" for now.

We had three things to celebrate this December. First was Jimmy's engagement to EA, whom we all love. With her family we visited the Garvan Gardens Christmas lights.

Second was Jesus' birthday, which we celebrated with songs, fellowship, food &wine, gifts for each other, and gifts for people around the world via Compassion and World Vision. The gift for the whole family that was a hit was the board game Dominion. Rosie's favorites were binoculars and a magnifying glass (she is pictured here wearing every article from her entire dress-up box).

Third, of course, we celebrated Katie's 27th birthday with dinner at home one night and at YaYa's the next night.

It was a lovely trip, and as Rosie says, "I already miss my uncles - Uncle GDaddy, Uncle Mimi, John, David, and...John?" (Sorry, Jim, we're working on it.)

the great smokies

Yesterday we returned home after a long weekend at the Peterson family reunion in the Smoky Mountains. Roughly thirty Petersons shared a big cabin, lots of delicious meals, a moving time of Sunday morning worship, evenings in the hot tubs on the back porch, and intense competition (Jack came in second in the billiards bracket, and first in the air hockey bracket).


Wearing our matching tees, we hiked in the Smoky Mountain National Park (and I saw a bear cub!). By the way, if you need a new challenge in your hiking life, try it carrying a thirty pound toddler on the way up and a 15 pound infant on the way down.



We walked the strip in Gatlinburg and had an old-days photograph made (oh my).

Rosie loved her cousin time.