2013 In Review

St. Thomas with Jeremy…

Walt Disney World with the boys and my parents…

An Iron Bowl win...

A SEC Championship for Auburn...

A trip to the BCS game for Auburn...

A seven year old…

A profession of faith in Jesus and baptism...

A two year old…

A new niece…

A new job…

A new air conditioner…

A new blog…

The year has been amazing, and I can’t wait to see what 2014 brings for us. Best wishes for you and your family!

Happy Birthday Dad!

I want to wish my Dad a very Happy Birthday today. He's an amazing dad and wonderful grandfather, and he's blessed us beyond words. We love you, and hope you have a fantastic birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!!!

I Stand With Phil

 

Last time I checked, we still have the right of free speech in this country, and I can assure you that Phil Robertson and his family need A&E a lot less than A&E needs Phil Robertson and his family. God will continue to bless the Robertson family, even if their show is never seen again. 

I Stand With Phil!

A Little Christmas Fun

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
I’ve never even tried egg nog, so I’m definitely going to have to go with hot chocolate on this one.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa puts the Christmas gifts out under the tree, or depending on size, on the couch for the boys.

Colored lights on tree/house or white?
We have both this year. I prefer white lights, but the kids like the colored lights, so I’m all about compromise on this one. The small tree in the boys room has colored lights on it.

Do you hang mistletoe?

Nope.

When do you put your decorations up?
After December 1^st.

What is your favorite holiday dish?
I love traditional holiday foods, but my favorite dessert around Christmas is my moms fudge or peppermint almond bark. Love it!

Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
I loved piling into the car on Christmas Eve and driving around looking at Christmas lights.My sister and I also slept in the same bed on Christmas Eve up until the year that I got married. We would sneak downstairs around 2:00 in the morning and see what Santa brought us.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I was probably 9 or 10 years old. It was Christmas Eve, and all of a sudden I got to thinking about everything and was like, “Hey….wait a minute.”

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
The boys will start a new tradition this year of opening up 1 gift of pajamas, a Christmas movie, and popcorn.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Jeremy sets the tree up, I put the lights on, and let the boys have at it with putting the ornaments on the tree. I’m not particular at all.

Snow! Love it or Dread it?
It’s Alabama. We rarely see snow, so when we do, I love it!

Can you ice skate?
Yes. Not well, but I can stay up.

What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Celebrating the reason for the season with family and friends.

What is your favourite Holiday Dessert?
Fudge, red velvet cake and peppermint almond bark candy.

What tops your tree?
An angel that Jeremy and I got when we first got married.

Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
I love to watch  the boys open up their presents. Kids really do make Christmas so much fun!

What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Mary Did You Know? by Mark Lowery, or Oh Holy Night. Beautiful songs with beautiful words.

Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?
Yum!

Favorite Christmas Show?
Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, A Christmas Story and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (not the Jim Carrey version!)

Merry Christmas y’all!

Our New Version of Christmas

Our boys, being 7 and 2, really don't need anything for Christmas. Our house as it is is overflowing with toys, games and books, and yet every year when Christmas rolls around we are bringing more stuff into the house like we have no limits. Well, this year we are starting a new game plan for the kids. Santa will come as usual, probably bringing with him tablets, headphones, and footballs for the boys, maybe a few other very small things, but the big difference will be in what Jeremy and I give the boys. I had a friend tell me about this plan, and I loved it so much. We are getting the boys 4 gifts: something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. They will also be getting a Christmas Eve gift to open with new pajamas, popcorn and a Christmas movie. Trying to scale back on spending money just to spend money isn't easy, but I think now is the time to do it, while the boys are still very young and impressionable.

We will see how it goes, but I'm excited for our new traditions. What do you do in your family?

Weekly Confessions

• It's 80 degrees today with 85% humidity. Feels NOTHING like Christmas, and my hair is huge. Gotta love life in the south!
• I have only bought 5 Christmas presents. I have miles to go, and even though it is only the 6th of December, I feel like I'm running out of time.
• We haven't gotten our Christmas tree yet, and with the rain, it looks like we won't be getting it this weekend. I hate that.
• Our elf, Buzz, has been incredibly lazy this year. Half the time we barely remember to move him. Maybe this weekend he can get into some mischief.
•  I'm still loving my job, but man oh man, I have been BUSY. Makes the day go by very fast, but when I can't cross anything off my 'to-do' list, it drives me bonkers.

Anything y'all need to confess?!?

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy, happy, happy birthday to my sweet Mama. I love you to the moon and back!

War Eagle Always!

An amazing Thanksgiving holiday was capped off with the most perfect Auburn win ever! I'm so proud to be an Auburn alum, and I will always love my Tigers. After a horrible season last year, we are heading back to the SEC Championship game this coming weekend. Win, lose, or draw, I couldn't be more proud of my Tigers. War Eagle, Baby!!!!!

Tales From The Mom Side

·         I found a sippy cup of congealed milk yesterday.  I gagged profusely emptying it out, and would have much rather found the cup in a state of solid milk than the sloshy substance that I unearthed. It looked like milk jello. I should have just thrown the cup away, but I hate to waste a $5 cup.

 

·         No one in the house, from the kids, to the husband, to the dog, need me until the moment the bathroom door shuts. 

·         I have a laundry pile that could rival Mt. Everest in my bed room right. If you need clean clothes, I have them buried somewhere in the laundry basket. If you need something folded, you are out of luck right now my friend.

·         I had cheese puffs for supper last night. Cheese is dairy, so at least I covered a basic food group.

·         Jeremy was out of town last night, so I let Jackson and Anderson sleep in my room with me. Big mistake. Big huge mistake. (Done in my best Pretty Woman voice). Jackson slept sideways in the middle of the bed, Anderson slept next to him having very active dreams all night, and I hugged an edge. I’m whooped. 

·         Today marks 1 month at my new job. Best decision ever!

Any tales you want to share?

Cousin Time!

The boys and I drove up to Oak Mountain State Park this past Saturday to meet Amy, Adam and Cameron for the morning. They had driven over from Starkville to see Adam's grandparents and they invited us to join them for some cousin time on Saturday. We had such a good time! The weather was cool, but so enjoyable, and the cousins had such a good time playing with each other. It's hard to get a great shot with 2 two year olds and a squirrely 7 year old, but I did my best. After playing all morning we enjoyed lunch together at Ruby Tuesday's before heading our separate ways to try to get two boys down for their naps. It was such a good day, and I can't wait to do it again!

Enjoy the pics!

Check out Cameron's baby blues!

10 Things About Me

1. I fiercely love my family and would do anything for them.
2. I’m a sinner, saved by Grace.
3. I shared a bed with my sister on Christmas Eve up until the year I got married. We would wake up at the crack of dawn and sneak downstairs together. And by “dawn” I mean 2:00 in the morning.
4. I hate pickles and mustard with a passion.
5. I hate Alabama and LSU football. Loyal Auburn fan forever!
6. I graduated from HS in 1998.
7. I have lived within a 1 hour radius my entire life.
8. Next month Jeremy and I will celebrate 12 years of marriage.
9. I have a Jesus fish tattoo on my foot.
10. I’ve been to 14 states, 3 US territories and 1 foreign country.