Children's Christmas Program

Tonight the kids at church performed their Christmas program. They sang two sweet songs and decorated the church tree while we sang Christmas songs.

 

 

 

 

 

Before church we FINALLY got our big tree up and decorated.

  And, actually, our big tree isn't so big this year. We downsized on

  Black Friday with a "skinny" tree, and it's really growing on me!!

 

Thanksgiving(s), Elmer & RTR

Thanksgiving snuck up on me this year! I didn't participate in the "Today I'm thankful for..." posts on Facebook, but it's not because I don't have a million and one things to be thankful for. I am blessed beyond words, and I thank God for all that He gives me and all that He shows me each day. 

Wednesday we did our annual cooking at Nana's to get ready for Thanksgiving lunch. This year Uncle Bruce, John, Carrie, Josh, and Brad were all here (in addition to the regular crew:), and it was so nice. I wish we could breathe the same air more often! ;) Apparently we were so busy visiting that I did not snap the first picture of all of us. Luckily, we will all be breathing the same air again in about a month when we fly to Houston for John and Carrie's wedding!! :) 

 

 

 

On Thanksgiving night Justin was kind enough to hang out with Luke so I could go hang out with the crazies at Walmart. Oh, how I love Black Friday:). On Friday morning Elmer showed back up. And let me just tell you that I am so thankful Elmer is not the kind of elf who likes to tear things up, make messes, or bring presents, because Heaven knows I don't need anything else to clean up after and we certainly don't need anymore junk. ;)

 

Saturday was gameday and Thanksgiving with the McCollums. The

  kids LOVE watching the train at MawMaw's!  Sweet memories...

 

 

That afternoon we went to Logan and Megan's to watch the Alabama/Auburn game...and I use the word game loosely. It was more like a demolition, and I actually felt sorry for them...sorry enough not to even post a good ole Rammer Jammer on Facebook. These divided friends didn't watch a snap, but they did try on and stomp around in every pair of Megan's high heels they could find. :)

 

Christmas Card 2012

I decided to get a head start on Christmas cards this year. Since I don't have my big tree up yet we went to the church to get pictures against the rock wall. I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. Of course, when you are taking pictures of kids there are bound to be some outtakes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alabama vs. Western Carolina

As parents, Justin and I love sharing new things with our babies. We love sharing with them the things we love...Jesus, family, cows, shopping, football (of course, Jesus and family first, but the others in no particular order;). E is very knowledgeable for her age where football is concerned, which I'm sure has absolutely nothing to do with the amount of airtime it gets on our TV. And of course, like any good southern belle, she bleeds crimson and white:). She recently told the mom of a little boy in her class that if she said Auburn in her house, she couldn't live there anymore (which she may or may not have been told by her mama;). 

Last year we decided she was ready to go to her first Alabama game. We headed back to Tuscaloosa yesterday for her second game. She had a blast, and we hope to continue this tradition (maybe even letting little brother tag along in the next year or two). 

We stopped and had a little chat with Nick before the game;). 

 Welcome to Bryant-Denny!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This girl cheered them onto a 49-0 win.

 

Our football Saturday didn't end there, though. After last week's loss to A&M, we were knocked back to #4 (behind KState, Oregon, and Notre Dame in case you've been living under a rock:). Y'all. My apologies to our neighbors for all the commotion coming from my house last night. You would have thought we were Baylor and Stanford's biggest fans. After their upsets, the new rankings should have us back at #2 and in line to play for our 3rd NC in 4 years if we win the SEC championship against UGA. Roll Tide!

A few of my favorite things...

 My babies:)

   

The fact that my baby girl asked to put her tree up and then

 decorated it all by herself while singing Joy to the World:)

 

 

 

Sweet girls playing...

 

 

 

 

Finally...A Day Off!!

We are out of school today in honor of Veteran's Day! I am so very thankful for all of the men and women, past and present, who have made it possible for my babies and me to live in a free country. I may not be happy with the way it's headed at this particular time, but I am forever grateful to live here in the United States of America.
 
Last night Justin and I went to the movies (for the first time in I can't remember when), and the kids and I are spending our day today listening to the rain hit the roof...in our pajamas...doing as little as possible. This is our first day off since Labor Day, and unless you have ever taught you cannot understand the need for the kids and teachers to have a break once and a while. The kids have been on overload, we have been on overload, and this day has been long-awaited and MUCH needed. 

Here's a little of what we've been up to lately...

Learning early;)

 

Daddy and the babes went to MawMaw's last

Friday while Ashley and I went to Christmas Village.

We went to Heritage Day last week. The kids had the best time at

  the fire station riding the horse and buggy and these pedal tractors.

 

E's favorite way to watch TV...

 

When I picked E up one day last week Mrs. Lolli said that Emma 

 had a super fabulous day...she was very obedient, did everything 

 she was told to do, and was extra helpful. I'm proud of my baby 

 every day (and she's never gotten a "bad report"), but we went out 

 for a sweet treat in celebration of her extra good report that day!

 

 E rested up before cheering on the Vols to their first playoff win!

 

Saturday we headed to GA for a baby shower for Casey and baby

  Cooper...we can't wait to meet the newest edition to the McCollum

  family! E and MawMaw took up with one another, and of course, 

 Emma and Ella Kate giggled and had a big time as usual!

 

 

 When we got home we headed to church to help with the dinner

  theater fund raiser...where Emma definitely earned her pay!

 

While we were there, I kept up with the Alabama game via ESPN College Football app. Of course, I was super disappointed in the outcome (especially since it seems as though we could have pulled off the win:/), but losing is a part of life. And I'm quite certain that A&M only pulled off the win because my Aunt Paulette had a hand in it...straight from Heaven! A wise man once said...

Veteran's Day Program

E's class sang a song at the Veteran's Day lunch at FACS today. I was able to go watch her song, and I'm so glad I was...the look on her face when she spotted me (after looking around the room for a minute or two) was priceless! The video isn't great because of where I was standing and it was taken from my phone, but I wanted to record the little voices singing!!