Welcome, Jingle!!!

Sunday morning, our friendly little elf, Jingle came for his visit this Christmas season.  Grace asked if we had to read the Bible before she got out of bed.  I was a little confused.  I wish I could say that we read the Bible every morning, but we don't.  I realized that she thought it was Christmas morning.  Ha!  Thankfully, she wasn't disappointed that it wasn't.

Jingle brought a North Pole Breakfast with him...snow covered donuts, mini elf donuts...

...some cute stripey straws (I think he brought those for me.)...

...kisses from Santa and his reindeer, a note, and a treat for the kiddos!

Grace "reading" her note.  She was really just finding blends in the words.  That's pretty exciting though!  She is starting to read!!!

Carter was loving his milk or nilk as he calls it.  He drank 2 bottles!

Sporting their Christmas socks and playing with their wind-up snowmen.

Thanks, Jingle for a fun breakfast.  We are all glad to have you back with us!

Thanksgiving 2012

Here is our Thanksgiving in pics...

I want to live a life of thankfulness and contentment every day, but how difficult is that!?! I Timothy 6:6 says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."  A thankful heart is the key to contentment.  I am a sinner saved by grace.  I should be so thankful for that gift from my Savior every single second of every single day.  That is all that I need and all that I don't deserve.  And, He has given me so much more!  I want to live thanksgiving every day!

  

Movie Night

The night before Thanksgiving, we had our family movie night.  This year we watched (part of...kinda) "The Muppets."

Grace and Carter were so excited!  Carter had no idea what he was excited about, but he knew something was up and he was thrilled!  He kept moving furniture around and once he came walking into the living room with a step ladder...random and strange!

Once everyone got here, we ate some yummy pizza!

Then the kids were ready for their popcorn and CANDY!!!  So, we turned on the movie and they started shoving their faces with all the movie yummies!

Andrew and Grandpa kept their distance from the wild and loud crazies on the floor.

The guys can get so loud...I wish I could have captured the volume of the night to share with you.  It was flat out ridiculous at one point!  They were talking over the movie and the movie kept getting turned up then the guys would get louder...it was a vicious cycle.  Oh yeah, and there were 8 kids here too!

Mimi and Grandma were having nice, quiet conversations about not going shopping on Black Friday. (WhatevA, Mom!) Apparently, they would rather sleep.

This is kinda a rare moment...notice the kids?  Me either!  There isn't a single kid around for the entire 15 seconds it took for us to get a pic together.  Amazing!

The girls...so happy to be together!

We had fun just like we do every year!

Next year, for reals, we are all wearing our pjs!  Ok, Julie?

A Thanksgiving Program and Feast

Grace had her Thanksgiving program and feast at school on Wednesday and I got to go...woo-hoo!!!  She dressed as an indian again...a very cute indian!

Carter needed to get in on all the action!

The kids sang a couple of songs and recited Psalm 100...so sweet!

They prayed.

Then, they feasted.

I love this sweet girl and I'm so thankful I was able to spend this time with her!  She was pretty excited that I was there too; she kept hugging and kissing on me and she was a great helper all day long!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

{Psalm 100:1-5}

Christmas Craft Day

This Saturday, my mom, Beth, Steph, and I had  our "Christmas Craft Day."  Tripp and Grace worked on some ornaments.

We made pom-pom garland.

But...first we made the pom-poms out of wool roving and it took for.ev.er!

Here are my pom-poms after a couple of hours.

Beth was very tired, but proud of her garland!

Love it!!!  

Grace and Mimi working on a wooden nativity. 

Love this too!

I had a great time crafting and hanging out with the girls!  Hey y'all, we should do this more often!  Maybe in the spring?!?

another phone pic dump

I voted.

Waiting for water to boil would be so much more productive if the stove was actually on!

Grace had been looking forward to crazy hair night at Awana for months!  It was finally here!

Carter Man rocking the Christmas pjs early with a puppy on his head.

Mimi, Grace, and I went to the farm last weekend.  We got to see Lily cheer!  She did such a great job!  Goooo Lily!!!

We had Pizza Grocery for dinner.  Mmm!

Saturday, the girls went shopping...we saw some cute stuff!

lunch with the girls

Can you tell we are in the south?  Seriously, the biggest hair bow I have ever seen!

I have some wild little indian children!

We went shopping for Operation Christmas Child.

Do you watch this?  You should.  It is the best show ever!

Wednesday night at church, we filled up tons of shoeboxes!  So exciting!

We met Grandma and Grandpa's new puppy, Molly.

Tonight we had a pizza picnic and watched Princess Sophia.

Are you ready for this busy Thanksgiving week?  I think I am.