It’s ready to go!

 

Yay!!! Leigh was able to find her Advent calendar from last year,and she let me have it. It is sooo nice to have friends that are crafty:) The kids were getting excited when they saw me,and Corey hanging it up today. I have all the activities stuffed in each envelope ,but already made one slight change. Tomorrow we were going to to shopping for new Christmas PJ’s. Well, I forgot we have cheer,and wrestling which means we won’t be home until 8:00. So no PJ’s tomorrow,but I did replace it with something else.

Advent Calendar

  This year I am going to TRY to pull off an Advent calendar with activities. I started with a blank calendar,and added things that are already in our normal routine.  Stuff like church events, band concerts, cheer,and wrestling practice. Well the calendar was pretty full before I started adding the fun stuff. Do you know how hard it is to come up with 25 things to do? Well it wasn’t the easiest thing I have ever done. As you all know I do not have a crafty bone in my body so I went to the store looking for an Advent calendar with pockets or those pull out drawers. I needed something to stick pieces of paper in. I found one at Target, it’s ok and was a lot cheaper than the one at Christian Supply. I ended up getting it,but I hope my crafty friend, Leigh, can pull something off for me:) I will gladly pay someone to be crafty for me! So here is a rough draft of the things my family will try to do. It may change a little depending on other Christmas get togethers.

• new Christmas PJ’s
• Barnes and Noble to get a new Christmas book
• Miracle Hill to serve breakfast
• family game night
• watch Polar Express with hot cocoa/peppermint sticks
• Lake Bowen Christmas Light
• Camp out under Christmas tree
• make white chocolate pretzels
• homemade ice cream for Zoe’s birthday dinner
• Boiling Springs parade December 10th at 10am ( Kain is marching in it)
• carriage ride in Fountain Inn ( $7 for ages 10 and up, $ 5 for kids)
• Woodruff parade December 11 @ 3:00
• make a fire and roast marshmallows
• make/decorate Gingerbread house
• movie night- ELF with popcorn
• Roper Mountain Christmas Lights
• Lunch with mom
• Kidzmas  at Spartanburg library ( December 17 5:00-8:00 FREE)
• movie night- Miracle on 34th Street
• make chex mix recipe I got from Leigh
• Ice on Main ( $10 for adults, $8 for kids)
• bake Christmas cookies and deliver them to great grandparents
• swim center ( Friday or Saturday 3:30-5:30  $2.00 each)
• read Christmas Story
• bake Happy Birthday Jesus cake
• Mobile Meals ( waiting to see if we can deliver meals one day while the kids are out) 

Wow, that looks like a lot doesn’t it? Hopefully we will be able to do all of them. It’s just hard when wrestling practice is twice a week,and it isn’t over until 8pm. Plus throw in a few more days of photo sessions,3 birthdays,and our anniversary! With all of that stuff we sometimes forget to enjoy the season. I am hoping this will make us slow down,and enjoy family time. If anyone has any other suggestions for ways we can serve please share them with me. I did not come up with all of this on my own. I borrowed a couple from Summer M, and Leigh:)

To Christmas card or Not…

 

That is the question. I really would love to have a card, but that would require a photo of all 3 of my children. Which would also require some what matching clothing. Not sure it is worth it. I guess we will have to wait and see.

Clemson vs. Carolina

We have a house divided.

 

 

Noah is not alone because his dad pulls for Carolina too.

 

Final score Carolina 34 – Clemson 13.

 

Guess Noah, and Corey win again this year!

Turkey Bowl 2011

 

  Our youth group, yes it is still hard for me to believe my baby is old enough, has a yearly tradition of having a Turkey Bowl.It’s a great way to get the youth group together for some good ole football! Everyone comes the day after Thanksgiving ready to play,and afterwards they get their grub on with left overs. This is Kain’s first year,and he BEGGED us to take him. I would have liked to stay home,but we caved. I am glad we went after all. It was a great way to see how they all interact. I pray that this group becomes Kain’s second family,and that he grows closer to God through them. Kain was the shortest out there. He was matched up against a giant with a beard or at least that is what Noah said ;)

  These pictures are from a distance because how embarrassing it is for 1. your mom to be the ONLY mom at the game, and 2. she brought a camera!

 

Kain is on the far right.

 

 

 

Kain is #11 ,but I am pretty sure you can pick him out:)

 

 

Hollywild Christmas

 

  Every year we go to Hollywild Animal Park to see the Christmas lights. I get soooo  frustrated with my camera when I use it at night because I don’t know how! So I was only able to take a couple of pictures that look half way decent!  It is beautiful there,and the kids LOVE going. There favorite park is hanging out all the windows including the sunroof to see the lights,and feed the animals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ended the evening with some hot cocoa, and nachos.

Thanksgiving Part 2

    Friday my family ( sister,brother,and their families) came over for Thanksgiving lunch. I cooked a turkey,ham, mac-n-cheese,green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, pumpkin pie, brownies, and rolls. Oh it was sooo good! So good that I forgot to take any pictures of the food I worked so hard on.

 

 

 

After lunch we headed to the park to let everyone play.

 

  I feel like such a bad aunt because the last time I saw this little girl she was 2 weeks old!

 

She is now 5 months old!

 

 

 

No nephews on this side of the family ;)

 

My nieces are only 3 months older than Noah. When they were little  people thought they were triplets.

 

 

We all look a HOT mess!

 

My sister, Melody, with her family.

 

 

My brother, Wesley,with his family.

 

( I added the names of my siblings so that my friend who’s name starts with a R can remember :) She is always getting everyone’s siblings confused.)

 

This is one BIG wishbone!

 

We survived another Thanksgiving with my family. Corey swears my sister got all of my moms traits…lol!  I just laugh the whole time we are together to keep from crying…lol!! Don’t worry I do love them,and love spreading time with them……….in small doses:)

Happy Thanksgiving

   This year we did things a little different at my in-laws. We decided to get together for breakfast,and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Everyone gathered at the in-laws around 8:30 with lots of yummy food. After everyone was stuffed we watched a little of the parade,and then headed outside. The weather was awesome today,and we took advantage of it. Corey raked a huge pile of leaves for the kids to jump in. The boys shot their bows,and we just had a nice time being together. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving round 2 when my family is coming to my house for lunch. I am cooking everything so hopefully it turns out well :)

 

 

I am so thankful for these 3 blessings.

 

 

I am thankful he let me take his picture,and for the young man he is growing to be.

 

 

I am thankful for his love of the outdoors,and his eagerness to learn.

 

 

I am thankful for her energy,and excitement for life.

 

 

I am thankful for fall,and the beautiful colors that it brings.

 

 

I am thankful for my nieces,nephews,and the fun times they have together.

 

 

I am thankful for my family. We are not the perfect family,but God has great plans for us.

I found the one whom my soul loves. ~ Songs of Solomon 3:4

Wrestling

 

Noah started wrestling this past Tuesday. He was super excited,and couldn’t wait to show me his moves when he got home. Corey took him,and took this picture with his phone. Glad he though to at least get a picture:)

Beautiful You Portrait Party

Remember me telling you about the fundraiser I went to on Saturday? Well Elaine posted last night,and I LOVE it!!! I have not really liked but one or two pictures I have ever taken,but I love this one. This defiantly isn’t my everyday mom look,but that’s what I like about it :)

Oh Christmas Tree…

I have wanted to put our tree up since the beginning of November,but we haven’t had the time. We finally found some time last night,and the kids were excited to get it up. Their favorite part is looking at all of the ornaments,and remembering when we got them. We have tried to get one on every vacation so its nice remembering those times. We turned the Christmas music on to get us in the mood. We started unpacking and decorating the house. Every year we let the kids take turns putting our angel on the tree. We have had the same angel for 13 years,and it’s just a little tradition we have. It was Noah’s year to top the tree ,and he still gets excited about it. Christmas is my FAVORITE time of the year. Yes, it can be stressful when you think about all the material things,but I try not to. We get to celebrate our anniversary, our kids birthdays, and celebrate Jesus’ birthday! We don’t really have many family traditions the rest of the year,but we have quite a few in December. I am looking forward to each one of them.

 

Corey,and Noah setting up our village.

 

 

The nativity I got while in Uganda.

 

 

Too bad the kids didn’t have decent clothes on or this would have been my Christmas card picture.

 

 

The kids favorite part is hanging the ornaments.

 

 

 

Kain looks a little angry. I think it was because I was snapping away..lol!

 

 

Noah putting the angel on the tree:)

 

 

 

One of my favorite things to do is lay on the couch with everything turned off but my tree. It is so relaxing to me.

Thanksgiving with Granny,and Pa Pa

We normally got to Corey’s grandparents on Thanksgiving,but with everyone scattered around we did it today. I love going to Granny,and Pa-Pa’s. I am closer to them than my own grandmother. I feel like I am going home when we visit which isn’t as often as it should be. When we all get together there are about 50-60 of us. I wasn’t able to stay but a few minutes because I had to go to work. Corey,and the kids stayed about all afternoon. The boys played football with their cousins, and Zoe hung out with the girls. Wish I could have stayed longer,but I am looking forward to Christmas down there. Of course they had the yummy traditional Thanksgiving food. My sweet husband made me a plate since I couldn’t eat before I left. My family never got together like Corey’s family so it is extra special to me.

Being in Front

Everyone knows that I am not a fan of getting my picture taken. But I am all up for helping someone out even if it means getting in front of the camera. I have NEVER had a portrait by myself taken by a professional . I have only had my portrait taken 3 times…when we got married ( no individual ones), when Kain was a baby,and after we had Noah. I always have someone to block,and cover me.

My friend Elaine is an AWESOME photographer,and she was having a fundraiser to help someone go to Haiti. It was a Beautiful You Portrait Party. It sounded fun, she can work miracles with a camera,and it was helping someone go spread the gospel. I just had to do it since Elaine, and many many others have supported my trips. I had thought about canceling today,and just sending money because I was dreading getting in front of the camera. Then I got a text from Elaine saying she couldn’t wait to see me. So now I had to go!

When I arrived someone did my make up, and straightened my hair.We were told to wear a long sleeve black shirt,and it would basically be from the chest up. Then it was time to head downstairs to get shot ( it might as well been a gun the way I was feeling). I have never understood why people get so nervous when I take their pictures. Well I figured it out tonight! I thought I was going to throw up! I ended up having a blast,and I know she got an awesome shot! Now I have to wait to see the final result.

I am going to give Corey one of the pictures for our anniversary. Hope he likes it :)

Midnight Madness

Yes, I was one of the crazy people at the theater last night to see Breaking Dawn Part 1.

I had to get up at 5:00 am this morning with only 2 hours of sleep.

Yes, it was worth it.

I am really really tired, and I am waiting for it to at least be 8:00 pm before I go to bed.

Yes, I will do it when the next one comes out.

Charlotte

My family sponsors a little girl in Uganda named Charlotte. She is about 5 years old. We aren’t sure her age because her parents left her outside,and never came back. A neighbor saw her outside,and they took her in. Before October she was just a picture on a piece of paper. After getting to meet her, yes in Uganda, she is really apart of our family now. I can not describe the feeling I had when I first saw her. It was like seeing one of my own kids. She was very quite,but she knew I belonged to her:) Her guardians kept calling her mama. So someone in Africa calls me mama they same way my kids do. I was able to visit her home,and she where she was abandoned. Charlotte's favorite thing that I gave her was a photo album of our family. She just kept looking at each picture,and rubbing the pictures. Each of the kids had written her a note,and drew her a picture. When other kids tried to hold my hand she would say, “My Mzungu “! Mzungu means white person in Ugandan. I pray God takes me back to visit her again,and my dream would be to take the kids to meet her. For now through we will continue to pray for her,and write her letters. It still amazes me that God has allowed me to have a “daughter” all the way in Africa.

I love this girl! It makes my heart smile to see this picture.

This picture was taken almost a year ago. You can see how much she has grown. This is also the first picture we ever had of Charlotte.

  

 

 

 

 

One day I hope to have a picture of all of us together:)

 

 

 

This was in her home,and at first I felt bad because it was very small. After seeing other homes in the bush it made me feel better about her home,and conditions.

 

 

This is the home Charlotte’s parents rented,and it is also where they left her.

 

 

One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was leave her. I know God has great plans for her, but it was just so hard. All I could think was how hard her life was,and how easy my kids have it. But I just kept thinking of Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I trust my God,and I know He always keeps his promises.