Happy Birthday Dad!!

Today is my Dad’s 60th birthday! We have been so blessed to have him in our lives, and we hope that he has the best birthday ever!

Happy 60th Birthday Dad!!! We love you!!!

It’s Not Christmas Without An Elf Video!

Just For Kellyn!

Back by special request of my favorite sister! Hope you enjoy!

Weekly Confessions

• I got an early Christmas present from an Alabama State Trooper this week; my very first speeding ticket. I was so bummed! He clocked me going 68 in a 55 on a back road in the middle of one of the most rural counties I travel through. I didn’t even know I was speeding. It was a pretty day and I was just scooting along! He was really nice and right as he handed me the ticket he said, “I wish we didn’t have to meet this way.” You and me both, buddy! I guess I need to go revise my "Things I Have Never Done” post!
• I have gotten hooked watching the Turtleman on Call of the Wild. Typing that last sentence out makes me feel almost like I’ve just admitted to being a Trekkie, but the show is like watching a train wreck. I can’t wait to see what he’s going to get into next.
• I’m thisclose to being done with my Christmas shopping, and that includes 9 teacher gifts! We have 6 for daycare, 2 for kindergarten and 1 for Sunday School. My wallet will be thankful for January to roll around, except for that darn speeding ticket!
• It’s been 75 degrees here this week. Gotta love Christmas in Dixie!
• Jackson is going to be spending next week in Mississippi with his Papa and Gigi. It will be the perfect time to do the “some assembly required” gift for Anderson that is sitting up in the attic. Having 2 kids has required some adjustments in the Santa department!

That’s it for today. I hope y’all have a great weekend!

A Decade In The Making

Ten years ago today I married my best friend, and I thank God everyday for Jeremy and our kids and what they mean to me. They truly complete my life, and I’m a better person because of them.

Happy Anniversary Jeremy! I love you with all my heart!!!

Wordless Wednesday

I Give Him Bonus Points For Creativity

At the very last minute I decided to take Jackson to Primed last night. He had been complaining of a sore throat for a few days, especially when he swallowed, and I didn’t want to let it get out of hand. He hadn’t been acting like himself all afternoon, complaining that he felt like he was going to throw up, then trying to go to the bathroom, and then saying he was all better when absolutely nothing had changed.

We were at church when I decided to take him on in because he still was complaining. When Jackson caught wind that he was heading to the doctor he was miraculously healed and became particularly clever:

“I was wrong, Mama, my throat decided that it’s all better now.”

And then on the way to the doctor: “Please, Mama, I promise that I was just making it up. I’m not sick!”

And then in the waiting room: “I really don’t need to see the doctor. You can just check me out of the waiting room.”

And then 30 seconds later: “I don’t want a shot. Please don’t let them give me a shot. I’m not sick anymore.”

And then 15 seconds later: “I’ll buy you a Hello Kitty cell phone if you just let me get out of here.”

And then in the exam room: “How about this for an idea; we just leave here and pretend we didn’t ever come.”

And then with the nurse: “I’m not sick and I’m really ready to go home.”

And with the doctor: “I can’t get a shot because its past my bedtime.”

Luckily for my creative kiddo, the strep test was negative and he just has a red throat and slightly red ear canal. He’s being treated with amoxicillin just in case, but no real cause for concern.

Too bad I won’t be getting that Hello Kitty cell phone.

The Cutest Joseph That Ever Was

Jackson was part of his children’s choir Christmas special last Sunday night. I was really nervous about this because Jackson has had some problems with stage fright in the past. Imagine my shock (and fear) when I found out that Jackson had been cast as the role of Joseph for the manger scene. He had been doing well in practice for the most part, but when it came time for the dress rehearsal last Saturday he decided that he wasn’t going to do it anymore. It took me promising that he could go to Dollar Tree and spend $5 on whatever he wanted to get him through the practice. I made an even more expensive deal to get him through the Sunday performance. He had to sing the songs, smile and do the part of Joseph and he would get an additional $10 to spend at Dollar Tree. I know it’s bad to start bribing him on stuff, but it was money well spent when he cooperated as well as  he did on stage. I did get a little nervous when it was time for the kids to come down the aisle for the manger scene. For a second there I couldn’t see Jackson and I was afraid that Mary (Jackson’s friend Gracie) was going to be unescorted on her trip to Bethlehem! But Jackson did great! He sang, smiled and did such a wonderful job. I was so proud of him for doing something outside his comfort zone, and he was proud of himself for doing such a good job. I wish I had gotten some better pictures, but Jackson had some major red eye going on. Enjoy the pics!

Has It Really Been Six Months?

Our sweet Anderson turns 6 months old today. I’m somewhat in shock that it’s already been six months since he was born. I remember when Jackson was a baby I was so overjoyed every time he reached another milestone. I would clap and cheer him on when he began to roll over, crawl and then walk. Now with Anderson I wish I could just freeze time. It’s not that I don’t want him to reach those milestones; it’s just that I know that with every milestone that he passes, he is getting further and further from this sweet stage in babyhood. Already he’s become a “hip baby” that gets toted around on my hip instead of being cradled in my arms. Soon he’ll be walking and time will go even faster. More than likely he’s going to be our last little baby, and I want to enjoy every second that I have with him, even if it means that he’s going to be spoiled rotten in the mean time! We could not have asked for a better baby; at 6 months old Anderson is on a perfect little schedule, so much so that you can set a clock by him. Granted, most mornings we’re still up with him at 4 a.m. but I know that this too shall pass. Anderson doesn’t cry or fuss, and he absolutely adores Jackson. Jeremy and I have been so blessed, and I can’t wait to see what the next 6 months will bring us.

Ask Amy Anything Answers

I’m sorry I’ve been so inattentive lately. Life has been crazy busy lately, and while it’s not an excuse, the combination of work, home, 2 kids, 1 husband and church has really done me in lately. Blogging hasn’t even been much of a thought lately, but I promise to do better!

So a few days ago I opened up another round of Ask Amy Anything and here are my Q and A’s.

Miranda asked:

“If you were stranded on a desert island and could ONLY take one person with you (it doesn't have to be a family member, so don't panic), who would it be and why? I have my own ideas about this answer and want to see if I'm right!” I’m not sure how I’m supposed to answer this without offending someone, so I'll just take the safe route and say that I would probably take Jeremy with me. Seeing as how he is my husband, he would probably be pretty peeved if I picked anyone else.

“What one Christmas tradition do you remember from your childhood that you want to make a tradition with your own children?” I remember taking long car rides on Christmas Eve looking at the Christmas lights, and then when we got home we got to open 1 present. It was always torture trying to decide which gift to open because you didn’t want to pick something like socks when you knew there were toys under the tree also. I’ve incorporated the Christmas lights and Christmas gift tradition into what we do with Jackson, and now Anderson gets to join the fun!

“What is your favorite snack/meal/goodie that you only eat during the Christmas season?” Peppermint almond bark and fudge. I love both of them, and only get them at Christmas.

“What are you getting me for Christmas? (just trying to sneak it in there HAHA!)” I thought we weren’t exchanging gifts. Hmm. In that case, how about the gift of knowing that you have the coolest best friend ever!

Jessica asked:

“What is your favorite book or who is your favorite author?” I absolutely adore anything by Mary Kay Andrews. She is a southern writer and all of her books are set in the south. She’s funny, charming and we would get along just swimmingly.

“When do you put up your Christmas tree?” We buy a real Christmas tree, so I have to balance when I want to put the tree up, and when I know that if I get the tree too soon that I’m going to end up cleaning up millions of pine needles by the time Christmas rolls around. As it is, I plan on putting up our tree sometime this week.

“What time do you go to bed at night and get up in the mornings?” In a perfect world I would go to bed between 10 and 10:30 and get up about 5:45 during the week. However, I don’t live in a perfect world and I usually end up going to bed around 11 and because of some ill timed insomnia issues of mine, I wake up around 4 in the morning. Its miserable being up that early, but I have a problem that when my eyes my brain kicks into overdrive and I can’t go back to sleep. By 10 or so in the morning I’m just about give out. If I want to sleep all night I have to take Tylenol PM.

Esther asked:

“What's the weirdest gift you've ever gotten?” I got a very girly, frillyish angel for a wedding gift. It was from a distant aunt, and it was one of those gifts that you appreciate the thought, but also think, “We’re in the world am I going to put this thing?” It ended up going on the back of a bookcase!

That’s it for today. I hope y’all have a great week!

Happy Birthday Mom!

I want to wish a Mom a very Happy Birthday today. She’s so special to us, and we love her so much. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!