My Birthday!

Yesterday I turned 33!  I had a great day.  We started the day in Savannah where we had been for the weekend to celebrate Christmas-will post on that next!  The kids had made ornaments for me and Nonna and Da gave me a Coach purse that I love!  I bought a new phone last month that was my gift from Kev.
  We headed home after lunch and had dinner with Megs, Bubba, A, Mimi, and Boo Boo at On the Border.  It was yummy!  We then went to Mimi and Boo Boo's so the kids could decorate the cake my dad had made.  It was a birthday cake for me AND Jesus.  Neat person to share a cake with:)
  The kids had drawn several pictures and put them in a bag for me along with a dollar and a plastic ring-they were so proud and make birthdays around here so much more fun!!  I also gotta Vera Bradley diaper bag and a new highchair.  So excited to be getting ready for baby #3!!!
  I had a great day, am so thankful for our family, and am now ready to celebrate the birth if Jesus!!

Merry Monday!!

Monday was a crazy busy day!!!  Turner had his preschool Christmas program that morning, while Maddie had her school Christmas party that afternoon.  Then Monday evening we met Mary, Treybug, and Garner at Bass Pro for pictures with Santa, crafts, and game time.  Mimi and Boo Boo came and watched Turner's program then kept Turner and Aubry for me so I could go to Maddie's party.  It was a fun day and we are officially on Christmas break!  Daddy wasn't able to come because he was giving finals Monday:(  The only downside to him being a teacher is he ends up missing Christmas and end of year programs.  But since he is able to make everything else, we forgive him:)
  Turner did great in his program and I just loved watching him.  He took it very seriously and you could tell he was singing his little heart out.  Aubry LOVED watching him and kicked and smiled the whole time:)  She is such a GOOD baby!!  After the program, we were able to pick him up and he is out of school for 2 weeks.  He has adjusted so well to school and we are so very proud of him.  He just loves being able to do things that he knows his sister does.  He looks up to her so much and I pray that they always have a close relationship.
  This was Maddie's first school party and those kids were bouncing off the walls!  They had cupcakes, cookies, and capri suns for treats and made a wreath ornament to take home.  We also played Christmas Bingo and they really enjoyed it.  There were several parents that came to help and Maddie always loves it when I am there.  It makes me sad to even think that one day she might not want me to be as involved--which is why I am loving every second that I am able to spend with them now!!!  Maddie is having a great year and we are really enjoying her teacher.  The kids all received a stocking filled with goodies to take home.  She had to go to school half a day yesterday and then her official Christmas break began!  We are excited!!
  Finally, Monday night we met the Gaines at Bass Pro.  This is another tradition that we have done together the past 3 or 4 years.  I sure do love our traditions!!  Turner had his magazines with him that we have been saving for a month so that he could show Santa.  If Santa doesn't bring him a "Jake pirate ship" and a new "dinosaur thingy", we are going to have one sad Turner.  He has been nothing but consistent, easy child!!  Maddie, on the other hand, has a million requests and seems to add more daily:)  I think Turner is sounding a lot like his daddy and Maddie might take after me!  Poor little Garner didn't care too much about sitting with Santa, but we sure did get a lot of laughs out of it.  After picture taking, Maddie made a cute ornament, and all the kids played a few games.
  This month has flown by and I am glad we have been able to squeeze in so many different kiddos!  Tomorrow the kids are making gingerbread cookies with Mimi and after gymnastics we are heading to Savannah for a few days to celebrate Christmas there.  More posts soon!

Another Four Years for Boo Boo!!

This past Sunday Boo Boo was sworn in at City Hall and there was a reception after.  It was such a blessing that he was unopposed again and has the privilege or serving our city for the next four years.  Several of my parents friends from church came and Uncle Warren to support him.  It was not one of Turner's better days....poor guy spent a lot of time out in the van with daddy and finally we just left.  But we are super proud of Boo Boo and were glad to be there for him on Sunday.

Cookie Playdate!

We have done some serious cookie decorating this year!  This morning we headed to some dear friends house to decorate some more.  Vicky had the cutest aprons and gift baskets for the kids to take home with them.  Other than Turner slamming little Bobby's hand in the door, it was a great morning!

Olympic Day 2012!!

Today was Olympic Day at River City.  They stage it like a real meet and it gives the gymnasts a chance to show off what they learned throughout the year.  Maddie was excited but very nervous.  She did great and we are so proud of her!!  She did a floor routine, vault, beam, and bar.  She wasn't quite as steady as she normally is in practice, you could tell she was nervous.  She had a bunch of fans!!  Mimi, Boo Boo, Nonna, Brittany, Michael, his mother, and of course Daddy, Turner, and I were all in attendance!  At the end everyone received a shirt and medal.  I didn't get very many pictures but we videotaped and Maddie has enjoyed watching it this afternoon.  It is exciting to watch her and know how far she has come in the past year!!

  Nonna spent most of the afternoon with us and it was great visiting with her.  We went to Moe's for lunch and then hung out at the house.  Good Day!!

Turner's Christmas Party!

Turner had his school Christmas party and he had a great time.  The night before we dipped oreos in melted chocolate and the kids decorated them with sprinkles.  We took those as a treat for the kids and Turner took both of his teachers a gift.  The whole way to school he was making sure he knew which gift went to which teacher.  I kept telling him they were labeled in case he forgot and they were the same exact thing anyway:)
Before the class party started, the whole school was having a Happy Birthday Jesus celebration and Turner and all the kids were wearing a crown. 
  We had a ton of food for them to eat, they played a few games, and made two crafts.  I say this when I post about any of the kids school activities, but I am going to say it again.  I am so THANKFUL for this time that I have at home to be able to be involved in everything at their schools!  It means the world to me, their faces always light up when they see me, and I know before I know it they will be big and not want me around as much as they do now!  Trying to take advantage of the precious moments while I have the chance!!  At the moment, I am also thankful for Mimi and Boo Boo who are always willing to help with Aubry so that I can do all these things.  It was a fun morning!!

  Monday Turner has his school program in the morning and then he is out for Christmas Break.  I am so excited about having everyone home for two weeks and hopefully getting lots of rest!!  This has been a crazy busy year, and I am looking forward to some downtime.

Rice Krispy Houses with the Gaines!!

Last Monday was our annual decorating night with the Gaines.  This was the first time Garner joined us and he loved it for about 2 minutes:)  Trey, Maddie, and Turner decorated their own Rice Krispy House and they turned out pretty cute.  So far we have been able to do a different craft each year.  The Rice Krispy house was a nice change from the gingerbread things we have done in the past.  Like always, I loved visiting with Mary and the kids loved being with each other.  We ended the night with Maddie and Trey battling it out to Just Dance for Kids on the WII.  We got a few laughs in at our kids expense:)  So thankful for my friendships that I have kept from high school!!

Quality Time!!

With everything that has happened today-police officer shot and killed, school shooting in Connecticut-spending some quality time tonight with the kiddos was key.  We made homemade sugar cookies and decorated them with sprinkles, icing, marshmallows, and chocolate chips.
  Really, really messy, but definitely worth the smile it brought to their face!  I have lots else to post about and home to get caught up this weekend!

Maddie's School Program!

Monday was Maddie's Christmas program at school.  It began at 8:30 and I can drop Turner off at school at 8:20.  It was a hectic morning!!  Luckily Mimi and Boo Boo were able to get there early and get us seats.
  The kids sang 6 songs.  It was short and sweet.  In the mad rush I forgot to grab my camera, but did manage to take a few pictures on my phone.  Maddie was her usual shy self on stage:)
  We are really having a good year at Oak and feel blessed to be zoned there!!  I have been reading to Maddie's class most Wednesdays and love her teacher!  Daddy also took off work last Friday to go to the Menagerie Farm for their field trip.  I will be going to her class Christmas party on Monday and will get lots of pictures then! 
  Turner has his party Friday and program on Monday, so we will have lots of posts to share!  2012 will be ending with a bang.  I can't imagine what it will be like once we have three in school!!  Busy but oh so blessed!!

White Christmas 2012!

 
I am a week behind but last Sunday was our EBC's White Christmas.  We all bring gifts for the poor wrapped in white and go down with our Sunday School classes to put them under the tree.  We love watching all the kids and all us moms always run up to the front to snap some pictures:)  I love this tradition our church has and hope that the kids are learning the importance of giving to others.  I also want them to realize and appreciate how much they have!!  This is the first year we also adopted an angel and it has been fun shopping for him!!  It is a three year old boy and we bought him 2 new outfits, a bike, a basketball, and a soccer ball.  Hoping that these small gifts will bless this little boy and his family.

That night the kids had their Christmas choir program.  This was Turner's first performance and we were so proud of him!!!  He did exactly what he was supposed to do and looked cute as a button!  Maddie always gets shy up on stage and we used to joke that when Turner got up there, he was going to be a huge ham.  Well, I think he gets a little shy too:)  He didn't sing a whole lot and looked a little nervous.  I think Maddie does a little better every time.  We loved watching them and all their friends!!