Christmas Vacation 2009

The week before Christmas we went with my mom and stepdad, brother and girlfriend, step brother and wife and son to a cabin in Pigeon Forge.  We had a long weekend of rest, shopping, eating way too much, more rest and enough family bonding to last until at least next year (just kidding, momma, maybe...)

Since the main interstate has been closed for a while due to a rock slide, we found another route going.  It was a pretty short drive through the curvy roads of Madison County, but I am glad we were driving at night or I am sure I would have had to puke every few miles.

It rained most of the day on Friday

until...

turning into snow later that day!

See the snow on my shirt!

Ben could have stayed in here all weekend.  Funny how one bubble turns into a million

Because of the snow, we had to take the longer DOT route through Johnson City.  Through that area, they had gotten about 2 feet of snow on Friday and it was still there as we came through on Sunday.  The sides of the roads were still covered in snow, there were hundreds of stranded cars and it was still sleeting and very cold.  We had to drive slow, but we finally made it home with a mental note not to go this way during the winter again.

The roads towards Bristol.

The side of the road and the mountains.

Daddy concentrating on the road.

Ben's Christmas Program 2009

Ben had his Christmas Program on December 12.  In the past, he has been a little ham on stage.  This year was a little disappointing because his 3 year old class performed with the 4 year old class and so Ben's age did not have as big of a part as in the past.  I know that the 4s are the oldest, but I think the presentation should have been divided so that Ben's age had a big part.  Oh well, we will get that next year (oh my he will be 4 soon). The pictures are not great because that was the first time I had used my new camera (got it the night before) so was not really sure about things.

THOUGHTS by Ben Lineberry

Ben never ceases to amaze me.  He is so smart and has such a great sense of humor.  His personality has really developed and he is totally loveable by all.  Here are some recent conversations with him.

I truly believe that my Papa Eddie is Ben's guardian angel.  He died a year ago and Ben still vividly remembers him and talks about him daily.  The other day we were coming down the road and Ben was looking at the clouds.  He said " I see Papa Eddie"
I said "Well, kinda, he is in the sky with Jesus."
"No", Ben said, "He is looking at me from that cloud, see right there"
I said, "Well, he is also in your heart"
I, of course, could not see since it was on the other side of the car and I was driving, but I believe that Ben saw what he saw.

A few nights later, Ben and I were laying on the bed watching a movie
Ben rolled over and said "I do not want Big B to die" and started to cry
It caught me way off guard and I said "What did you say"
He repeated himself.
I said "Why do you think Big B will die, baby"
Ben said, "Because he is old."
By this time, he was really crying and I was too (call it hormones or whatever, but I am really weepy lately)
Me:  Everyone gets older, but that does not mean we will die (was not ready to discuss dying with my 3 year old at this point)
Ben:  I do not want Big B in my heart and I do not want to die either