Christmas

My top 8 favorite moments of Christmas 2008

1. Going to my first Christmas Eve service and seeing all the people who come out to celebrate the birth of our Jesus.

2. Watching Tyler savor every single thing from his stocking to the his presents. He did really get alot but he still has not open everything.

3. Seeing Tyler's face as he open up his Gamecube

4. Seeing Ryan's face when he saw that Santa brought him his very own bass and case for it

5. Hearing the beating drums of Stephen playing Guitar Hero cause that means I don't have to get real drums yet.

6. Staying in my pj all day and laying around watching movies and now worrying about the house or the dishes or anything but relaxing and listening and watching my kids.

7. Keeping everything a secret and hide this year from the older 2. Can't snoop if it is in my car..lol

8. Tyler making Jesus a b'day cake and what he said... "I hope Jesus has his eyes close" and when I asked why "Cause I don't want him to see what I am doing until his cake is done..opps," me "what", Tyler "I hope he didn't hear me cause then it would not be surprise" Happy birthday Jesus, we love you!!!!!!

Christmas w/ the Darwins

The past couple of years our good friends Tim and Ginger Darwin have invited us to come and spend Christmas Eve with them. Her dad gets a country ham every year and he cooks that and along with her mom they cook eggs, bacon, grits, flat biscuit, red eye gravy it is all good and we are so happy they invite us. This year Ginger invited another lady from church Deanna and her 2 kids. The kids ate in one room, the men in another and us ladies got to eat in the fancy dining room cause we don't mess like the men and kids lol..... We have a great night of fellowship and we are thankful to have great friends like them...Afterwards we went by and saw the lights my friend Kim Hewitt talked about on her blog and they are great.. The only bad thing about this night is my boys "think" they are to grown up to come and spend the time w/ us so they went over to Billy's house to play Call of Duty and hang out... I miss them being little too and being w/ us but it is ok I have them ALL day Christmas day right now... Ryan and I did go to the Christmas Eve service he was playing so I had to sit along cause Stephen was asleep already and Tyler was not feeling good by now and Eric had to stay home w/ him and start getting ready for Christmas day... Maybe next year we will all get to go together.

Christmas Eve

Well, for the past week I have been working, trying to get all the presents bought and not had the great of luck at times. The night before Christmas Eve me and my friend Kim went to Greenville to see if they had Stephen's shoes at Dicks (yes, I know I could have called but I needed to go and meet my friend Amy anyway). Well, Dick's didn't have them, Target didn't have what I wanted so the night was a waste except spending some time w/ a good friend and we did get a few things but not all. So, Christmas Eve after I got the mac & cheese in the crockpot about 8:30 I took off to finish shopping esp for the lunch time gift giving.. I got the last gift right at 11:45 and we had to be at Eric's mom at 12 so I rush home help get everything out to the car and we went to his mom for the afternoon by the way, I do shop earlier but I was trying to find 1 gift esp and then also a decent enough 80's t-shirt and yes it did take that long. I really need to start shopping earlier next year, like now...

Hollywild

Last Sunday night after the Christmas concert we took off to Hollywild with Susan and her kids. We wait for about 30 to 45 mins to just get in and it was pretty much worth once we got in there and saw all the lights and got to feed some deer and a zebra. I have to say, that some people out there really disappointed me as fast and reckless as they were driving out where the deer were. We would be trying to be still and quit to get the deer to come up to us and then all the sudden here would come up a car and the deer would run away. We were polite enough when we saw somebody in front of us doing that we stayed back but all in all it was good fun and cold night. The hot chocolate was good, kids had a ball and just seeing them and their reactions to the lights and feeding the animals were priceless...

What a Proud Moment

Last Sunday at church our youth choir Day 6 put on their Christmas concert and our youth band Ready to Rise perform a couple of songs. Both of the boys sing and Ryan plays in the band too and I was so proud of him watching him run back and forth between singing and playing and proud of Stephen cause I think I actually heard him sign instead of moving his mouth. The band started out with Carol Of Bells and I have to say they did an awesome job, just as good as Trans Serbian Orchestra. You can tell all the kids in the band and the choir put in a lot of hard work and practice and that they are under great leadership of Sara Beth and Bucky...

Ryan and Jessie w/ Nate behind them playing Carol Of Bells


Day 6


Stephen singing


Mary Beth dancing to Still


Sarah Beth signing and Hannah lead singing Breath of Heaven... It was a moving song esp w/ SB facial expression she brought it to life so much...


Later that night our adult choir put on there Christmas musical and last performance in our church since we will be moving to the new one in a couple of months. Ryan plays in the adult orchestra too and he just loves it. I am so proud of him and the musician he has become...

You can barely see his head but that is him and Chris playing the bass.


Our adult choir


I didn't get early enough to get a good seat to get good pics and nor did I think to get pics afterwards of the boys.... Next time I will need to remember...

Christmas w/ my side

Last Saturday we went to my parents for Christmas and my dad's b'day. I have not spent Christmas with my side of the family in the past 6 yrs so this was a nervous but a thankful day. I got to see my sister's and there family which being around my nieces there is never a dull moment. I got to see my cousin Johnny which I think it was before Tyler was born since I have seen him and my cousin Al and his wonderful family which I hate that our kids did not grow up together cause they have so much in common and got along great, and of course my 2 beautiful aunts that I just love and adore Kathryn and Johnnie Ruth and my crazy uncle Hook and his wife Susan, I just wish his kids where there and my other cousin Rita and her kids. I miss them all but it was great to spend the day with everyone else.. We ate dinner, the grand kids all got together and played a non-friendly game of Catch Phrase and we had alot of talking going on.... I hope to spend more time with all. Here are a few pics of our day...

10 Things Thursday

Close to the end of the week I just want to stop and think of things I am thankful for...

1. I am thankful that I got to sit still last night at church for our One Voice and listen to all the wonderful singing and playing.

2. I am thankful that big stuff is gotten for Christmas.

3. I am thankful, maybe stressed but thankful that I can be stressed about spending Christmas with my family for the first time in 6 yrs this coming Saturday.

4. I am thankful for all my friends that gave me some great ideas on what to take.

5. I am thankful for what this season is all about... The birth of our Jesus

6. I am thankful that we FINALLY got our tree up and decorated and the stocking hungs

7. I am thankful for all my friends and the way each one has added so much to my life from laughter, advice, talks, to trips, encouragment for just being great friends.

8. I am thankful for the excitement that Tyler has about this Christmas and him being able to tell you what the real meaning of it is.

9. I am thankful that Eric has work while other people in the same line as him don't have anything else coming in right now.

10. I am thankful that things are a little calmer in my life and that last weeks list really help me out.