Christmas activities

We've been in full swing for the month of December. We captured this sweet tree that wasn't for sale. I think the nice owner of the tree farm thought we truly were the Griswalds. The kids enjoyed picking it out. Above, Ben is trying to escape Lillee's hold. This is just a preface to the holiday season. We're still trying to catch up with him.

Thanksgiving weekend was filled with excitement as Lillee performed in her 4th Nutcracker. She and Ellee were so excited to be soldiers and polichinelles. They were awesome and total troopers as they performed in 6 shows. Bethany was a beauty as always, gorgeous and graceful.
The season was celebrated with many parties with great friends.

Parties with school friends

My mom helped me make these fun bags. We had so much fun. I think Pinterest has sparked my creativity. We ordered pizzas for friends, I bagged up salad and M & Ms and off we went on our Christmas deliveries. It was so great seeing families open their doors, accept their pizzas and wave Merry Christmas! Just as I had envisioned. It really helped that the children were able to be a part of it and feel the spirit of giving.
Our elf, Carlo, had a few tricks up his sleeve as he made a barricade outside of Baxter's room. He picked a night that Lillee slept on the top bunk so they could both wake up to his shenanigans.
This "Ho Ho" was $4.99 at CVS and worth every penny. On one of our weekly trips to purchase AVENT 0-6 month pacifiers Ben chose this Santa to come home with us. He barely made it through the season.
Lillee, Baxter and Scott received sleeping bags from Santa. I think that was Santa's way of saying mommy and Ben will stay home while those three take off on a camping expedition. Scott and Baxter would've loved to have these bags in north Georgia in November!
Claire Ann took the kiddos to Atlanta Motor Speedway to look at lights in December while we had people here. It was so nice to have dinner at home with friends instead of going out. We were really able to talk and hang out and I think the food was much more delicious than a restaurant! The kiddos had a blast and were pooped by the time they got home.
Scott and I attempted to take them looking at lights. I think they definitely had more fun with Claire Ann. Piper was not amused at the blow ups!
Ben's sweet hat from Nana.
This December weather has been AMAZING!
I was feeling a little ambitious and tried this craft with Lillee's class. Wow. I'll think twice before attempting this. Pinterest seemed to have some more simple crafts.
They did turn out super cute though.

Santa 2010 - Ben didn't like the big guy a year ago!

or 2011

We took a trip to Callaway Gardens to spend the night and see the lights. It was lots of fun, especially because our favorite 16 year old was with us!
Someone got a new lens from Santa!



Our annual Christmas Eve Happy Birthday to Jesus party. We had a wonderful service at FBC Griffin then headed home to have cake with the Long family. My parents were also here so it made it extra special for everyone to gather together and remember the reason we have Christmas and reflect upon the season. It's always a special time we share with them and are so grateful to count them as our family.

Baxter was full of love for Gray.
After cake and REAL Cokes, Ben made a bee-line to NORAD Santa. I think he was in South America at this point. Ben, please go to bed!
Ben's Christmas party at FBC preschool and his only day attending in December.
The 2011 Christmas season was truly enjoyable and low stress. We checked out a book from the library at church called Looking Forward to the Nativity. We used it last year as well. As a big surprise, we received one in the mail from my mother so that we could return ours to the church and others could enjoy it. It is an awesome book. It has a devotion, a passage from the Bible and a family activity. Four stars.

Merry Christmas 2011

This is what Ben thinks of the big guy in 2011! We're having a fun season but there's little time to blog about it. Planning for the holidays, gathering with friends and planning new adventures.

Tis the Season

We had our annual Advent by Candlelight at church last night. Such a wonderful blessing to hear Godly women give their testimonies and share their lives with us. It was an inspiration and a great kick off to the Advent season and anticipation of our Savior's birth. We decorated two tables and my sweet friends were so gracious to come. Everyone has such busy schedules right now and it is a big commitment to give up a few hours on a school night. I am so blessed to have these women in my life. I give thanks for them daily.

The two tables couldn't have been more different. I had a fun time putting them together and thank goodness for Farrah and my mom for being awesome helpers.

I am hoping this Advent season will bring each of us a renewed sense of hope, joy, peace and love. There couldn't be a merrier time for our family than right now. Blessed and thankful beyond measure.

Thank you mother for helping with the crocheting.

Farrah made banana fosters cake with nuts and rum. Delicious! Need that recipe.

Sweet friends Lindsay, Shannon, Blair, Tamara and Beth

Sandra, April and Chan Chan

Kendall Boggs Fine Arts and Crafts: It's A Christmas GIVEAWAY!!!

Kendall Boggs Fine Arts and Crafts: It's A Christmas GIVEAWAY!!!: Guess what y'all! It's Christmastime and that means its TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY!!! This is named "Serenity" It is 16 x 20 and retails at 375.00 ...

I've followed this sweet lady's blog for a while now. She's an amazing artist, wife, mother, cook and inspiration. I always like these blogs that you feel like you're part of the family! Ha!

I'm "BACK"

Here's what life has looked like at our house recently. Nana was here for a little over a week and was such a big help. What would we do without her. Ben's world has been turned upside down! In a good way!
No, I did not cut up Scott and put him in the food processor. This was my attempt at this yummy cranberry sauce mold recipe. I think my plastic has failed me.

There's been a slight lull in the blog. Since my last post I've had a little procedure on my back. Ok, maybe it was back surgery called a discectomy but I've bounced right back and am feeling great. I'll have to say the surgery itself was EXTREMELY scary! However, I made it through and am vertical again and feeling better. I haven't been able to drive so that's been stinky and I haven't been able to pick up Ben so that's been more than stinky. He's been a good sport though because Nana has been here. He is Nana's best friend. He wakes up screaming for her, leaves perfectly to go somewhere with her (waves his hand up and yells "BYE" to us) and doesn't ever like to be too far from her leg. It's a sweet relationship but I'm ready to get back to normal. Whatever that is.

There has been so much food in this house. Our friends were bringing different YUMMY dishes every night. We are so very blessed. There was lots of Mill Towne, lasagna, apple pie, spinach ravioli, sloppy joes, turkey/cheese biscuit sandwiches, chicken tortilla soup, pizza, spaghetti bake, a turkey, too many to name. And I've gathered you don't have to birth a child in order to get yummy goodness. KIDDING! All of that was great but I'd still go with NO SURGERY over the food. I'm especially grateful for those people this Thanksgiving that have prayed, cooked, ordered, visited, kept my kiddos and sent notes and cards. It means so much. Publix could've made their Thanksgiving commercial here with all of the love that's been in and out of this house.

Beautiful flowers from Scott and some from my sweet friend.

Now we're gearing up for a short trip down to Brunswick and we'll return just in time for Lills to be back in action for Nutcracker. It is an extremely short trip but I have to get out of these four walls. I'll just be a passenger. Rehearsals rehearsals! They've been long but fun!

Do you:

1. Have on a hat?

2. Have on gloves?

3. Have on black shoes?

4. Have on a smile?

A preview of some yumminess in their Christmas pi's.