The Ball Team

09 January 2010

Great Odds

You never know what you might find in a WalMart parking lot, but look at this - Josephine's middle name on a license plate! Lisette is a French form of Elizabeth; it's just not a name you hear everyday. Plus, what are the odds that someone would have the name, put it on their license plate, live in Arkansas AND park in the same row we did on the same night? It's amazing to me that these "presents" are put in our path. Maybe just our Father in Heaven's way of saying - "I know you; I am with you."

Kidbits - 9 January 2010

I've decided to start a new "column" here at the Ball Team blog - it'll be Kidbits. The idea is to use those pictures that are cute and qualify as something the grandfolks might want to see, but, don't really have enough for a post just themselves. So, anyone looking for thought-provoking or deep philosophical commentary might want to breeze right over these. I'm just showing what we're up to and how great I think my ladies and little prince are....

It's been COLD lately. Our part of Arkansas doesn't see much snow, but, man, it's been COLD. This fountain is in the center of town, and ironically we were out paying the water bill when we found that the fountain had to pay an ice bill... Plus, I love the angle Rachel used in this shot of Samantha. Don't you?

Also on the cold note, the dogs have been staying inside at night, because while Cody (the Great Pyrenees) could handle weather down to -4, Sheila (the Catahoula) is much more delicate, so they both get to come in enjoy the warm house overnights. Since Jay is allergic to dogs, they go out at first light and they can only sleep on the tile. So far, they have been great houseguests - no accidents in the mornings, and no barking. Just lots of wags!

Since the ladies have been out of school on Christmas break, we've been able to spend some time doing the fun stuff - like staying up to the wee hours of the morning playing Monopoly! We put Jay to bed, let the little ladies join sides for as long as their interest or their eyelids will allow, and then the competition begins. We made hot chocolate, ate all our Christmas goodies and enjoyed nothing more than time together. Then we slept in the next day...gotta love Monopoly!

Don't you love Josephine and Jay's newest workout? Bunkbeds have been one of the best toys we have at home. I was getting their bed ready for the night, and they were more interested in playing. It's great to be a kid! Work those abs....

04 January 2010

Charlotte is Seven

Charlotte Lareine Ball was born on December 27, 2002 in Newport News, Virginia. She was the largest baby of the family, then or since, weighing in at 9 pounds, 14 ounces. When I was six months pregnant, the doctors told me that Charlotte had Downs Syndrome and asked if we wanted to terminate our pregnancy. Turns out they were mistaken; Charlotte was born perfect and healthy as a horse. She is the third of our five kids, which makes her the middle child. She is the only child in the family with blue eyes. She is the only child in the family that has broken a bone.

For Charlotte's birthday she wanted to go swimming. We waited for a day that I had no babysitting kids AND Daddy was off work to go with us, so, wouldn't you know that the day we were supposed to swim was New Year's Eve. The pool closed early and we were out of luck. No problem, says Charlotte, let's go bowling. And so we did.

I interviewed her for this post, because at seven she sure knows her own mind. Here's what I learned:

M: What's your favorite thing to do?

C: Swim.

M: What's your favorite class at school?

C: Gym

M: What's your favorite food?

C: That's a hard one - sticky macaroni (Ball speak for homemade mac & cheese) and watermelon. But not together, that would be disgusting.

M: Where would you go if you could go anywhere?

C: New York; I saw a picture of the city lights and I want to see that; it was beautiful.

M: What should people know about you?

C: I'm the snuggliest person in my family.

M: What do you want to be when you grow up?

C: A swimming teacher.

M: Tell me a secret.

C: Nobody knows that I have a boyfriend at school, Josh. When we get married we are going to have lots of kids and live on a farm with horses.

Happy Birthday, Charlotte!

01 January 2010

Are Those Bicycles?

We live in a rural town in central Arkansas. The people here are genuine, friendly and honest. This one, though is bizarre. Anyone want to guess why our town strung bicycles up on all the light poles? All the poles in the municipal area have two bikes a piece and some have lights in the wheels. What's this all about? I don't know the answer; I'm just wondering if anyone else does....

29 December 2009

Star-Struck...

Look who popped in James' store today:

He texted me that the Duggars had stopped in his store (no camera crew, just JimBob and Michelle, with daughter Jessa - 16 years old) and I was furiously texting back for him to get a picture. James reports that they are genuinely nice people and he was happy to have made their acquaintance. Cool, huh?

24 December 2009

Secret Santa

We had a knock on our door earlier this week. We opened it to find a big black garbage bag, full of gifts. Two for each of the kids. The sign on the bag reads Merry Christmas and the sign on the inside of the bag reads, Do Not Open Until Christmas. Secret Santa, we do not know who you are, but, THANK YOU!