Christmas

It's Wednesday night and I have almost recovered from Christmas! Overall we had a wonderful time. I personally have had a rough couple of weeks, Christmas day was exactly 6 months since my Dad passed away. All in all though I had a nice holiday.
Here's the kids on Christmas Eve with their elves. The kids' choir groups sang at the 4:00 church service. James was also the acolyte. It's funny how they love their elves and talk about missing them when they go back with Santa, but they never mention them on Christmas morning!

After church the kids went outside and spreaded (is that right?) their reindeer food on the lawn. It was very cold and rainy so their did it quickly. After changing into their jammies and getting a quick bite to eat we did our annual videos. Ever since the kids were little they sit in front of the tree and I video tape them talking about theirselves and whatever they want to share. We have loved watching these from years past! Around 8:15 they were begging to go to bed! Wish that happened more often.

James started stirring around 5:00 Christmas morning. I held him off until around 6:30. As usual they got more than they needed. Here's James with his radio/ipod dock Santa left him. Santa left Annamarye one too. They are really nice - I wish he had left me one!
Annamarye got a digital camera and a really neat digital picture frame. The frame has a touch screen and plays videos and music! I might want one of those too!

More barbies!! A girl this age can never have too many barbies! At least that's what Annamarye says.

Santa also left James a DSi. Not sure why since he has a gameboy and a DS, but that's what he wanted.

We love to play games here! So we got the kids the electronic Guess Who game. It is really fun, easy and short.

After opening presents at home we went on to Christmas number 2 at my sister's house. Here's my kids, my niece Lanie, my niece Melissa and her husband Jorden. After opening presents we had our traditional lunch there.

On to Christmas number 3 at my in laws house. Johnny's sister Beth and her husband Miles and their girls were there. It is always lots of fun with all the kids!

That's my father in law above and my mother in law below. They are very sweet and have always been great in laws, especially these past 6 months.

All the grandkids! James (9), Grace (10), Annamarye(7) Sophie (6), Claire (6). It could be Claire and then Sophie, I'm not sure.

Merry Christmas!!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Our Elves

One December, about 4 years ago, we had two little elves show up at our house! They came with a letter from Santa and some magic snowflakes. James' elf is called Jameson (they came with names we didn't name them) and Annamarye's elf is called Clarissa. Here they are:
This year the elves arrived about 3 weeks ago. They stay until Christmas Eve and return with Santa to the North Pole. Each elf came with a sleeping bag that we put them in at night. Then sprinkle the magic snowflakes on top. While we sleep, they play and get into all kinds of things. It is always fun to wake and see what they did during the night. One day we had to follow lots of clues to find them. They had us searching all over the house! Another morning we found them in the car and they had brought us some antlers and a red nose for our car! And one morning we woke to find 2 little baby elves!!! It is crazy, but we really have fun with them!

Gingerbread Houses

We have had a wonderful day! Today was "pajama day"! A much needed day at home doing nothing much. We started our day on a scavenger hunt thanks to our elves! I'll share more about them in a later post. After we found the elves we went through the drive through at Daylight Donuts - in our pajamas! I did take a shower when we got home, but put on sweat pants and a t-shirt. The kids played a little wii, we made homemade sourdough bread, and took some to the neighbors on both sides of us. We also had movie time and watched old home movies - mostly of the kids. It was really fun to watch the old videos of past Christmases. They loved it! The kids did finally put on their clothes to go to the neighbors and we played outside for a while.

The kids also decorated their gingerbread houses today. We put them together on Sunday. This is what they looked liked:

The elves left the kids chef hats and coats to use while decorating their houses and for future cooking. Doesn't James look cute? He had been asking me for a new boyish apron. I'm glad the elves sent these! Annamarye wore her hat but didn't want to wear the jacket.



This is the finished product! I think they turned out great!

Santa Claus at the Bass Pro Shop

About 2 weeks ago we took the kids to the Bass Pro shop to see Santa. It was wonderful! We have always gone to Brookwood Mall. I love the Santa there. My friend Tracey told me about the Bass Pro Shop so we thought we would give it a try. It was a Monday night around 7:00. There is a huge area decorated with lots for the kids to do. They have tables with color sheets and stationary. Annamarye wrote a letter to Santa and put it in his mailbox. The next day she got an email from Santa! We had to wait about 10 minutes to see Santa. Johnny and James waited in line while Annamarye wrote her letter. The Santa was great! And they give you a free picture!! Can't beat that. You can order more pictures online if you wish. After seeing Santa, we walked around and played some of the games they had set up and had hot chocolate and cookies. We will definitely go back next year!

Our Christmas Trees

I can't believe it is December 19th already! I am ready for Christmas - everything is bought and wrapped. I am an early shopper. I am not a last minute person anyway, but I like to be done early so I can enjoy the holiday parties and get togethers!

On our honeymoon Johnny and I started collecting ornaments from every trip we took. Once the kids were older, they started picking out their own ornaments too. We have several trees in our house. James and Annamarye have their own tree and love putting their ornaments on it! They have collected so many we may have to get them bigger trees! It doesn't help that they want to put them all on the front!
We also have a small tree in the family room that has been named "Lucy's tree". Lucy is our dog. On this tree we put all of the homemade ornaments - ornaments the kids made in Bible school, school etc.. There are a few that Johnny and I made as children as well.

Wordless Wednesday

Pasadena here we come!

The Alabama football team is headed to Pasadena, not me. I wish I was going though. Johnny and I went to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. All I can say is INCREDIBLE!!!

The next picture is from Monday while out running errands I saw this on a car and had to snap a picture!




Here's the finished reindeer food project Annamarye and I were working on while the boys were working on the basketball goal.

More from Thanksgiving Weekend!

Friday was the Iron Bowl! The Tuesday before Thanksgiving the kids got to wear their team colors to school. At the end of the day they had an Alabama - Auburn pep rally. The teachers competed in crazy games such as musical chairs, football throw and dressed the principal and assistant principal up as scarecrows. The teachers for Alabama won!!

Our friend Wes spent Thanksgiving at his parents house and came to our house Friday. We watched the game - without breathing I might add. It wasn't pretty, but Alabama won and that is all that counts. So we are headed to the SEC championship game to play Florida.

It seems whenever Wes visits we always put him to work. It is usually fixing some computer problem, but we have had him move furniture. This time it was digging a hole and pouring concrete! About a month ago my neighbor, who works for a sporting goods company, told me about some basketball goals on clearance. We needed a new one so we bought one. Got a great deal - a $400 goal for $50. Johnny said he could install it, but since this is a really busy time for us I called around to see about surprising him and having it done. Well, everyone I called wanted between $350 to $400 to install it. Which to me was outrageous! This great deal on a goal wasn't working out quite like we wanted.

So, Friday morning, Johnny and Wes started digging! They dug the hole and got the post set. Johnny will finish it up this weekend. Thanks so much Wes!

James watched and supervised from the back of Granddaddy's truck.

Annamarye and I worked on the reindeer food for their classrooms. I'll post a picture of the finished project later this week. They are really cute. We have made them for the kids' classes for years!

Lucy just relaxed in the back yard!

Thanksgiving Day

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent the day at my sister, Renee and brother in law's house in Clanton. My in laws were able to go with us this year. Renee and Doug live way out in the country off of a dirt road on 25 acres. We all love going there, but the kids especially love it! There are lots of bikes and scooters to ride as well as the golf cart. James is now old enough and tall enough (leaning forward he is!) to drive the golf cart.

Here's James driving with my brother in law Doug.

Renee and Doug's new toy is this go-cart! We all loved it! Doug and Renee have been working on a "safari" for the kids. They made a path to ride with lots of animals along the way to spot. There were chickens, deer, owl, lots of birds and I can't remember what else. When I was driving I was concentrating on my driving. When Johnny was driving, I was hanging on for dear life!! His driving is scary! My sister's driving isn't much better!

Renee and James headed out for a spin.Johnny and James

Johnny and Annamarye

A while back Doug and Renee had given my Dad a pellet gun. After he died they took it to their house and are saving it to pass it along to James when he is older. But, while we were there Doug gave James some lessons and let him practice shooting it. James did great!! He hit the target every time!