You were a good camera.

I'm downloading the accumulated pictures on our camera. BECAUSE because because! - My parents gave us a new one for Matthew's birthday! I'm a bit sad to part with this old Coolpix 3200, as it was my first digital camera, a good-bye gift from my beloved co-workers in the HR department at Biola. But it's time. The Coolpix was a workhorse for 4 1/2 years. Behold its last stand on this blog.

So here's a random assortment of what's been sitting on the camera for the past month.

Below, the boys with their stockings on Christmas morning:

Bethany and Peter have been here about a week now and we have them until Saturday (as well as Mama & Daddy). Peter's been quite the chef with steaks, salmon, his famous spaghetti. . . Here he's sporting my apron:

And retreating in time, Harry and his buddy Naomi being partners in crime, as usual, trying to hide in the fridge:

And this requires no explanation:

And finally, here's a video that totally cracks me up from beginning to end. Typical neighborhood interactions here. Notice little Gracie (red shirt) as she first notices the camera and then works her way to stardom: (video missing)

a better effort

Due to the flood of requests for yet more photos, mainly of me, I have actually spent some time figuring out how to upload them.




If you don't recognize someone in the picture, refer to the Hot Springs phonebook.

If you think I have already posted some of these, further proof that the whispers about me are true, send money.






This one was hard to get: Karen talking and Pat just sitting silently.

I just figured out the limit to how many pics I can post at one time: my brain. Send money. BB

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAFFWA!!!

Since I'm not sleeping, I might as well beat everyone else to the punch. Happy Birthday, Joshua! 32 -- Wow, a difficult year, but worth it en route to the maturity and insight you enjoy at 34. When you get a chance, ask me a tough question. I'm thinking of you today, birthday buddy.

Christmas in AR

We had the usual suspects for Christmas: J&E&B&W are here, plus John, Karen, Suz, and ME as well as Mom and Pat Parker (son of Mom's friend Mary Ruth Evry), with Chuck and Paula Schwartzman the neighborhood waives. The names must be memorized for reference as The Amazing BB is about to attempt posting pictures!

There may be more forthcoming after I see what I just did. BB

We didn't forget you, Dave!

While perusing the blog just now, I realized that no one posted on Dave's actual birthday! Travesty! Not that anyone forgot that you were born on the 20th, Dave. I'm sure you got lots of calls, and cards, and large cash gifts, but I just wanted to make it official for the generations yet to come who will certainly be carefully examining our archives, and I don't want to leave any of them wondering what happened to our recognition of Dave's birthday this year. So, here it is: Happy Birthday, Dave! We all love you! And Cody, Sophie and I can't wait to see you and Lynn in a few days and get to celebrate you in person!

Merry Christmas!

To our wonderful family spread across the country! We have had a marvelous day celebrating with my family, opening presents with snow softly falling all day long. We had apple pie for breakfast, See's candy next, then a delicious egg, grits, and orange cinnamon roll brunch. Cody made an adorable snow Mommy and took Sophie for a ride on her sled. Soon we'll eat our leftover prime rib supper from last night and finish with coconut birthday cake for Jesus, then spend the evening relaxing. It's been a wonderful time, but we love and miss you all. Hope you're having a great celebration of Jesus' birthday. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and goodwill to men! Alleluia, Jesus is born!

Happy 30th to my parents!

We celebrated my parents' 30th wedding anniversary over Thanksgiving weekend, but I thought I would honor them on their actual anniversary with this post.  I love you, Mom and Dad!