Early birthday present!

I got an early birthday present the other day!  Debs had my name in one of my stitching groups.  She is so *on the ball* and got it to me EARLY!!  We chatted back and forth a little bit and she was able to pick out my favorite things.  Pink, purple, hearts and breast cancer awareness!!  Just look!!

 

       

 

                                      

 

I just LOVE all of it!  Aren't those scissors the cutest!!  Her son made the beaded thread counter - how sweet is that??  Thanks again Debs!!  You totally spoiled me! 

 

The boys were out of school on Friday for a teacher in-service.  I had big plans of spending the day making candy and getting my hair cut and high lighted.  Unfortunately, my plans changed.  My great uncle died and the visitation and graveside services were Friday afternoon.  He was a very sweet man!!  He and my paternal grandmother were brother and sister.  I have very fond memories of Uncle Ray and Aunt Evelyn. 

Here's picture of Jonah and Uncle Ray.  Last year, Jonah's class made cards for the veterans at the VA home.  They passed out the cards and sang several patriotic songs.  Jonah got to give his to Uncle Ray.  One of the local TV stations were there filming and Jonah was on TV, along with his class. 

                                             

 

We did get some Christmas candy made before I had to go the the funeral home.  We made fudge and dipped pretzels.  Jonah and I made a gingerbread house. He had a lot of fun with it.  I was so impressed - he didn't want it to look just like the box picture. 

I didn't take a picture of the finished house!  I'll do that and share it later.  I'm planning on taking some pictures of some of my favorite Christmas things to show y'all!  Hopefully I'll get to that before Christmas is over!! 

All of my pictures lately have been of Jonah.  I do have 2 other boys!!  These pictures are of Josh.  This is what he was doing while Jo was decorating the house...

 

Jake was hiding from my camera that day.  But here's a picture of him from Thanksgiving in Little Rock.

                                  

Don't you love that old truck?? 

Christmas Meme

 

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate with marshmallows!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Sits them under the tree, though the thought of wrapping them has crossed Santa's mind since the boys LOVE to get up at 4AM....

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White lights on our big tree.  Usually red lights on our Coke tree (couldn't find them this year ugh!!)   Red lights on the garland on the front door.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, I never have.

5. When do you put your decorations up? The Friday after Thanksgiving

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Oyster dressing, my paternal grandmother made the best.  I miss her!

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child. On Christmas Eve, we always went to my paternal grandmothers.  I remember spending the late afternoon at her house just bouncing off the walls waiting for my parents to get off of work.  It took forever!!  She'd try to keep us busy but I know we drove her crazy!  Then when they finally got to her house, we had to EAT first before opening presents!  Didn't they know what was important?? 

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I was in 2nd grade and a girl that lived behind us told me.  I was truly heartbroken! 

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?  Now that my grandmother is not here with us, we go to my dad's.  We open presents there.  It's usually so late when we get back to our house, the boys go straight to bed.  We open our presents Christmas morning.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?  Our tree is full of memories!  Nothing matches and there is no rhyme or reason.  I'm just grateful now that the boys are taller and there are ornaments at the top of the tree and not just at the bottom!  We have Hallmark ornaments that Nannie started for the boys. Now my Aunt Pat does them.  I have a couple for my childhood.  And of course there's some the boys have made.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it!  Wish we would have some snow!

12. Can you ice skate? No.

13, Do you remember your favorite gift? When I was little, it was a lifesize ballerina doll that had a crown.  When you turned the crown, she would twirl!  As a grownup, probably my pink iPod!  But then there's my journey necklace, my slide bracelet.....

14. What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Remembering WHY we celebrate and making memories for the boys!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?  all of them......lol  Cherry cream cheese pie, chocolate pie, oreo pie...

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Going to my dad's on Christmas Eve, making fudge

17. What tops your tree? A bow this year, the angel that we've put on our tree for 21 years didn't survive.  Haven't found just the right thing to replace her.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? is it bad to say both??!!!

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Mary did you know?

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Yummy if it's a sweet peppermint

21. What do you want for Christmas? nothing really this year.  just to have fun with our families

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party? We went to one with some of Brad's co-workers, I think I was the only spouse there.  Not much fun!

23. Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJ’s? We don't dress up.  Getting teenagers to wear more than blue jeans is NOT worth the fight in my book!  We might stay in our PJ's this year since we won't be going anywhere on Christmas day this year!  Maybe I should go get us all new ones!!!!

24. Do you own a Santa hat? No, but maybe I should!

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with? Family

Happy Thanksgiving!

                                                  

 

Just wanted to wish everyone Happy Thanksgiving!!  We're going to my Mom's for lunch.  I called her the other night to find out what she wanted me to bring and she said NOTHING!!  So I made a pumpkin roll and red velvet cake balls.  Have you seen these cake balls??  I found them here: Bakerella  This is my new favorite site!!  I want to try everything she has put on her site. 

I rolled out the cake balls last night and put them in the fridge overnight.  I dipped them this morning and they are just perfect!  I never really thought they would look good AND taste good!!  It will be lots of fun to experiment with different flavors!! 

Tomorrow morning we're going to Little Rock to watch the LSU Tigers and Arkansas Razorback with Brad's family.  I hope it's not going to rain!!

Hope y'all have a great day!!

We have a winner!!

 

 

 

Ashley!!!  I'll bring your prize to church Sunday!!  I'm in the bed babies during Sunday School then we go to late church.  I'll look for you in the hallway!

Thank you all for entering my little giveaway!!  It was fun to meet some new blog friends!!  I promise to do it again soon!

And thank you Jonah for being my helper!!

One year ago....

I was inspired by my bff Laura to start a blog!  I'm not the writer she is but I thought it would be fun to share pictures of my stitching and beading.  It's ended up being about my boys!!  Could it be because I'm always doing things with them??  What fun! 

 

Anyway to celebrate, I thought I'd do a little giveaway!  I have this little crystal tennis bracelet that I love to make.  I wore it to church one Sunday and Laura thought my sweet hubbie had bought me a big diamond bracelet!!  HA!! 

 

 

                                             

 

So, if you'd like to have a *fake* tennis bracelet, leave me a comment!!  The drawing will be Friday.  I know I don't have but maybe 3 people that read my blog, so your chances are really good!!

Homecoming pictures

We survived our first homecoming!  YEA!  It was a very nice night really.  Jake's friends came to take pictures around 5.  We barely caught the light.  I think they turned out pretty good! 

Then we went to her house to eat supper.  Poor Jake.  I thought he was just gonna die right there!  He's a lot like his mom and doesn't like crowds.  R's brother is a senior and he had a bunch of people there that we didn't know.  So I'm hiding in the kitchen and Jake was about to crawl under the recliner!!  We kept trying to find a way out!! 

We headed to the dance around 8ish.  The gym was so pretty!  It was a very typical dance where nobody danced!!  funny! 

Around 10, Jake called and said they were ready to come home.  So they came back here.  Ate and watched a movie.  We ran them off around midnight. 

Of course there was some drama that went along with the night but maybe we can forget about that part!! 

Here's some pictures. 

 

Lots of catching up!

Time is just going so fast!  I can't believe October is almost over and my Jake is about to be 15.  Where did it go?  Seems like just yesterday I was praying to have a baby, then we were decorating the nursery.  Now he's almost 15 and trying to take driver's ed.  I'm going to stop now because the tears are coming!

Let's see, in the past couple of weeks, we've had a soccer tournament (placed 2nd!), a couple of football games and just life!

This weekend is Jake's first homecoming!  The game was last night and they won!  Tonight is the dance.  We've gotten the clothes and he is going to be so handsome!  My sweet mother-in-law is going to make the corsage and boutonniere.  Jake's girlfriend's dress is black and silver, so we got red roses for the flowers.  The GF will come over here around 5 to take pictures.  I sweet talked them into doing to pictures here in front of the pond.  Then we'll go to her house for dinner.  I get to help serve!!  After they eat, we'll take them to the dance.  When they get tired of dancing, they'll come back here to hang out. 

Thursday was Josh's Cub Bowl.  At his school, there are two 7th grade teams, red and white.  At the Cub Bowl, they mix up the 2 teams and they play each other.  It's a lot of fun!  We were late for the game because the almost 15 y/o had to add a few songs to his iPod before we left!!  I wasn't really worried about because nothing exciting happens at the first of the game.  Well, I was wrong!  We get there and walk up to *our* spot and Jonah's best friend was saying something about captain.  Then his mom said something else about captain and don't worry that she got pictures.  I'm a little slow!  Josh was one of the team captains that night!!!  And I missed it! 

Josh has a girlfriend!!  She's a cheerleader at his school.  So for the Cub Bowl, she painted his number, 81, on her cheek.  Well, since they did a big switcheroo, Josh's number got changed to 82.  Poor K!!  I think she took a little ribbing about it.  Her mom and I tried desperately to get a picture of them together that night in their uniforms but it didn't happen.

Now let's talk about soccer!  Jake had a tournament two weekends ago.  I never thought he would get as much playing time as he does!  He does a really good job as a defender.  They placed second in the tournament!!  I've never seen so many smiles on teenage boys' faces as I did when they put the medal over the heads!  Jake is just beaming!! 

I have pictures of all this but my card reader is acting up.  I'll get my nerdman to work on it and post some pictures.  

There's more to catch you up on, but I have to go clean the house to get ready for tonight!