Christmas Eve 2013

As we do every year, this Christmas Eve we attended the family friendly service at our church where the children are invited to participate in the Christmas Story.  Preston was Joseph, and Bennett was  Mary.  Following the service, we took communion and went over to Steve's parent's for our family celebration.  After everyone arrived and got changed into their pajamas, the kids began begging to open presents, so we got started.  Though there was a mountain of loot under the tree, it quickly dissipated...and we were left with several bags of wrapping paper and individual piles of gifts. 

Bennett and Maria snuggling

Pres and Sara snuggling

Bennett all smiles after opening AG doll, Saige

One of Preston's favorite gifts...a darth vader mask

The kids with Mimi and Papa

All of the cousins in their PJ's

Uncle Dan with his nieces and nephews

After all of the excitement calmed down, the kids began playing with a few of their gifts.  My parents even made it over for a cocktail after their Flemings dinner with Brian's family and the Murphys.  We did a photo with the kids and BOTH grandparents, and then headed home to put out the reindeer food and cookies for Santa.

It was about 10:30 before the kids hit the sack, and they were exhausted and ready.  Steve and I brought up the family's gifts, and after we went to sleep....Santa came!

Christmas is Almost Here!

As Christmas rapidly approaches, we have been keeping busy.  Check out the photos to see how busy we have been:

Bennett decoupaging a candle

Kids with our homemade advent candle

Annual Photo with Santa

Sweet pic of Bennett praying during Christmas choir show

Pres performing during his choir concert

Bennett singing

The kids with Papa and Mimi

Danny's xmas party (37.5 wks)

Steve and Danny at his xmas party

Pres as Joseph in school xmas play

Mimi and Papa had a busy week at Trinity

Bennett watching her video from Santa

Pres watching his video from Santa

Bennett with Ms Werner at class xmas party

Luke, Pres, Luke, Tyler and Walker at class xmas pj party

1st Annual Nutcracker with Nene

Hoping our new tradition becomes a favorite

Baking Christmas Cookies with Mimi and Papa

Pres even decorated a tray or two

More Christmas Celebrations

Lately it has been rainy, but since the clouds parted for the night - we decided to take the kids to the lighting of the Homewood star.  We thought it would be a rather quick thing, but the middle school choir sang Christmas carols to kick off the night.  Though it was meant to get us in the spirit, it went a little (too) long, and Preston was the only one who really enjoyed it.  In fact, he kept inching his way (by himself), closer and closer to the choir for prime viewing, until he was just a few feet away.

Daddy's girl always

Following some brief announcements from our mayor, the star was finally lit, and then they started blowing "snow" over downtown Homewood.  It was certainly a cute idea.  Meanwhile kids were lined up for hot chocolate and Christmas cookies.  After enjoying their snack, we spotted Santa walking around so we approached him for a quick picture.

It was a spontaneous night, but it was something that we hadn't done before, so I'm glad we did it.

Not a starry night, but "snow"

Kicking off the Christmas Season!

With the long Thanksgiving weekend, we packed it in!  Steve came home early on Wednesday, and had Friday off, so we had Daddy around for 4.5 days, and we got spoiled!  We kicked off the long weekend meeting Steve for lunch on Wednesday.  The kids always love Mexican food, so we met at La Paz in Hoover, which was something different for them.  That night, we cuddled in our bed and watched TV.

Thanksgiving morning we got up and went to the Beloved Community Church to help make sack lunches for area folks who had to work on Thanksgiving, then headed to his parent's house for our feast.  We hung out all day so we could see Louis and Michelle and the kids, so the kids were worn out. 

On Friday, we were lazy initially, but decided to hit Lowes to buy our Christmas trees.  We elected to go with a real tree this year since the kids are older, and we love the smell they put off.  However, once we got it home and up, Preston started sneezing.  Since we'll have the baby next year who will just be starting to walk, we'll be forced to go back to the artificial one...which will probably be a good thing for my

My favorite ornament

little man anyway.  Later that morning, I had a massage, and when I came home our outside tree was up and lit and the indoor tree was up.  We ate a quick lunch, and then went to see "Frozen" at the theater with the kids (cute movie).  Afterward, Steve worked on getting all 2000 lights on our monster!  It took him awhile, but he did a great job!  Then Bennett and I hung all of the ornaments that night.  We think the finished product looks beautiful!

Saturday, of course, was the Iron Bowl.  We had a very lazy morning watching college game day and doing laundry, but then we finally showered and headed over to watch the game with Louis and Michelle and some other folks (after Bennett's big haircut).  As we all know...it was a nail biter of a game, where we lost in the very last second of the game, literally.  UGH!  It was a painful way to end the season for us, but Alabama didn't play well.  After the game ended, the kids and I went home.  Steve, however, decided to tie one on with his brother and talk football for another several hours.

Sadly on Sunday morning, we skipped church and elected to finish up some loose ends around the house.  I hit the grocery store, while Steve finished outside Christmas decorations.  He then ran to Lowes for more items we needed, while I mowed the lawn and the kids played in the backyard.  After a much needed shower, the kids and I went to church to make our advent candle.  We're not very creative, but I think it turned out well.  That night we had another quiet evening, eating dinner and snuggling in bed (the kid's new favorite thing to do...snuggling in OUR bed with all five of us).  Pres, Steve and Beckham were snoring within minutes, while Bennett and I watched some TV.

As it always turns out...all good things must come to an end.  So here's to making it through a crazy few weeks of weekly doctor appointments, school, work and Christmas parties before Christmas gets here in 23 days, with baby following 5 days later!!

She Did it Again!

So proud of Bennett, who donated 10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love again!  She did it the first time back in July 2011 (when she was only 3 years old).  This time she certainly understood it more, and though she agreed to do it, she has been a little wishy-washy about when that would occur.  She loves her long hair, but hates the work that goes into keeping it up (conditioning it, brushing it often because it gets tangled so easily, blow drying it, which takes a long time, and wearing it up most of the time since it is in her face.

After explaining that the sooner she cuts it, the sooner it grow back....she decided to go forth with it today. She does enjoy wearing it up sometimes, and I forecasted it would be long enough for pigtails by summer, maybe even by spring break!  She was a little grumpy during the process (only posing for pictures with a lot of begging from me), but she broke down when she got home.  Steve and Preston both told her how pretty she looked, but she didn't like all of the attention and compliments, and cried for a bit.  However, when we went over to Louis and Michelle's this afternoon and they didn't say a whole lot about it, except how cute it looked...she bounced back.

In fact, tonight she has been caught looking in the mirror at herself, and she told me she is excited about not having to condition her hair all of the time.  She is certainly getting used to it now, as I knew she would.  Her new sassy bob suits her perfectly!

Thanksgiving 2013!

At the beginning of the year, we had planned to revisit the beach this week.  However, our plans changed as my pregnancy progressed.  Since we are just five weeks out, and I am quite uncomfortable on a bike, we decided we needed to postpone our visit for next year.  So as the long weekend approached, Steve and I began making plans for our family.

We decided we would try and volunteer on Thanksgiving morning.  Unfortunately, many places prefer not to have young children.  However, we finally found an opportunity to serve...Beloved Community Church in Avondale was making sack lunches for local people that had to work on Thanksgiving.  We all went there and filed into an assembly line.  Steve was helping to make the sandwiches, I bagged them and a variety of desserts and our kids were "runners" that collected what we were making and stuffing them in the bags.  Along with a variety of other volunteers, we made about 150 lunches, and then went out and delivered them to the local businesses.  We hit a gas station, CVS and grocery store, and everyone was shocked and so appreciative.  It was such a nice way to spend a couple hours, and I think the kids really enjoyed it.

Following that we headed over to Mimi and Papa's house to stuff ourselves.  As always Myra provided a nice spread of food, and it was so nice not to cook.  Sadly this pregnancy has really zapped my lack of enthusiasm for cooking, leaving my family bored with the same simple items and leftovers.  I think we all welcomed the opportunity to enjoy a real meal that wasn't had at a restaurant.

Bennett suggested that we all take turns saying what we are thankful for this year, which was nice coming from our six year old (who is thankful for God by the way).  It was just us, Steve's parents and Dan, but after a few hours, Louis and Michelle and the kids came over.  Bennett and Preston love spending time with their cousins, so they had a blast.  In fact, we all enjoyed visiting for a couple of hours, but our kids began fading, so we took our cue and headed home.

What a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving (even though we weren't at the beach).