Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Miracle!

I received a call last night around 6:15 from my dad that he and my mom had been in an accident at the entrance to my neighborhood. A girl ran a red light and hit on the passenger side of my dad's truck. I raced to get to them and this is what I saw.

My parents were both transported to the hospital by ambulance, but they are both fine! My mom was on the passenger side of the truck and does not have a scratch on her! My dad was kept over night and was released this morning. He is in a lot of pain and will be reevaluated after Christmas.

But they are both ALIVE. If anyone doubt's that there is a God, just look at the picture of that truck and explain how both of my parents are fine considering. My mom does not even have a scratch on her. Where did all the glass go? How was she not crushed? Their truck spun around several times before landing in the median...just a few feet from a huge power pole that they could have hit. No other cars were involved, or hit as they spun out of control. A true miracle and a true blessing. THANK YOU GOD for holding my parents in your hands and protecting them.

Are You Ready For Some Football!

We are a house divided!

Don is Auburn, and I am 100% Roll Tide!

But we are both pretty good sports about it.

We watched the Iron Bowl this year at our house with my sister and her family

and our neighbors across the street!

It was a lot of fun - even though my team lost :(

Well since Auburn won they were headed to the SEC championship game in Atlanta

and Don really wanted to go... so me being the good wife that I am, we headed to Atlanta!

We met some friends there and had a blast!

Me and Amber at the pregame exhibits!

This a shot from the pregame! There were people everywhere!

Me and Don

There was one shout out for Alabama during the game!

After the game we went downtown to eat and walk around!

This a picture of all the girls from our group!

We made the guys take a group picture too!

Better Late Than Never!

Well, it is almost Christmas, and I am just posting Thanksgiving pictures!

Oh well, like the title says...better late than never. Right?

We had a great Thanksgiving with lots of fun, food, and family!

Unfortunately, we were so busy eating and visiting

I barely took any pictures, but here are a few from our day.

First, Thanksgiving Day was also Jake's 7th birthday this year

so we started out with a little birthday celebration for him.

He already had his party and opened his gifts,

but I couldn't let the day go by without opening a little present!

Next, we headed to Don's parents house for a wonderful Thanksgiving Day lunch!

Enjoying some yummy food!

Jake, Connor, and Cole

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This year Don's mom (aka Nanny) had a wonderful idea

and rented an inflatable for Thanksgiving Day.

The kids had a blast and were well entertained

which meant the adults got to eat and visit in peace!

Family Picture!

(Not the greatest, but we are all in it, and that makes it perfect to me!)

After Don's parents we went home to relax, clean, and cook because I was hosting Thanksgiving with my family at my house this year!

While we were waiting for my sister Julie, her family, and my parents to arrive, the kids enjoyed playing in the leaves outside. It looked like a lot of fun!

Jake was busy raking and was getting so mad

at Avery (neighbor), Scout, and Cole because they kept throwing the leaves everywhere.

My family finally arrived, and I have only one picture of the night...

Scout and her cousin, Audrey, had worn the same outfit that my mom had made them earlier this fall. They even had the same hair ribbon in their hair! Too Cute!

We had a great time visiting and eating (again)!

We were all tired at the end of the night and ready for bed.

Cole couldn't quite make it to his bed. While I was getting everyone ready for bed, Cole had wondered into the dining room, and this is how I found him. :)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Four!

We actually celebrated Cole's birthday on his actual birthday! LOL!

Cole was so patient as we celebrated Scout and Jake's birthdays.

He turned four on December 8th, and we celebrated with a small

family party at our house! It was perfect!

(And cold - we actually had a few snow flurries on his birthday!)

Cole had a Toy Story party!

The cake!

Making a Wish!

Presents!
Cole got a new tool bench, a train,
two movies, a Christmas shirt, and a remote control car!
He was so happy!

All four cousins celebrated birthdays during the last two weeks!

Bailey 3, Scout 5, Cole 4, and Jake 7!

Happy Birthday CoCo! We love you!

Scout's 5th Birthday!

Scout turned 5 on November 29th!

We celebrated her birthday a few days earlier

on the 27th with a Barbie party at SEAGA Gymnastics.

It was a lot of fun!

Scout's pink cake!

Blowing out the candles!

Opening presents!

Tumbling and being silly with Avery and Anna Ryan!

All the kids - minus a few who wouldn't get in the picture!

Scout's new Barbie bike with no training wheels!

Scout and her cousin Audrey releasing

their number 5 balloons.

Both girls turned 5 during the same week -

Scout on Monday 11-29 and Audrey on Thursday 12-2!

Happy 5th Birthday Scout!

We LOVE you SOOOOOO Much!

An Indian, a Pilgrim, and a Mouse!

What a title!

An Indian, a Pilgrim, and a Mouse... Oh My!

Last week brought all of the above, plus a bunch of cuteness,

lots of thankfulness, and tons of fun!

I better explain....

Thursday, Cole had his first party in 3P at his new school.

They did a little program in their classroom for Thanksgiving.

They dressed as Indians, sang some cute songs, and had a little Thanksgiving snack!

Cole's class singing (Cole is the second from the left)

My cute little Indian!

Cole and Me! (I made the blog!)

Cole's turkey... It says I am thankful for HORSES!

Who Knew??? I love the answers kids will come up with out of no where! :)

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Friday, Scout's class had their Thanksgiving Feast.

The K-4 classes dressed as Indians and Pilgrims, sang songs, and ate lunch.

Scout's class dressed as pilgrims.

Thursday, she came home as an Indian (Princess Blue Bell),

but she took off her costume before I could get a picture.

Daddy and Scout at the feast!

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Friday night, we celebrated Jake's 7th birthday at Chuck E Cheese!

His real birthday is on Thanksgiving Day this year so we celebrated a little early this year.

He had a sports theme party (Alabama and Auburn).

The boy absolutely LOVES football, and he really likes every team!

He got an Alabama football, an Auburn football, Alabama and Auburn shirts,

glow in the dark footballs, a flag football set, some cool toys,

lots of money, and so much more!
His favorite was his Cam Newton jersey Grandmama and Granddaddy bought him!

Eating pizza and cake!

Playing some games!

And Jake's favorite event of the night...

The ticket blaster!

He got to take one person in with him, and of course, he picked his cousin Connor!

They had so much fun in there! Jake got over three hundred tickets!

He had a great party.

It was a busy, crazy, wonderful week!

Just a Thought

I saw this quote yesterday on a local church marquis.

It was perfect, inspiring, and yet simply said.

Just wanted to share it with you.

The ONLY way to MAKE a DIFFERENCE

is to be DIFFERENT!

The Golden Rule

One thing I would like to teach my children is the Golden Rule.

Yes, the famous rule we all learned in kindergarten...

I know we all remember hearing it, saying it, and learning it.

Wait, did we really learn it?

I am not so sure that we did, or more importantly that I did. I like to think that I think of others, and that I treat them the way that I want to be treated. But a lot of times I am so focused on how someone treated me, or worrying did someone think of me, that I am pretty sure I am not thinking of others because I am in the way. Our society has become so ME focused, and I am just as guilty as the next person.

I worry that our children's generation will suffer even more. I try to teach my children to think of others, to give to others, and to consider others feelings on a daily basis. But do they get the message? Am I teaching the message? Am I living the message so that they can learn by example?

This really hit me yesterday as I helped my oldest son put together a shoe box for a needy child for Christmas for the Operation Christmas Child program that his school is participating in. We chose to do a box for a little boy Jake's age. One of the items I purchased for the box was a football. Jake LOVES football so I thought it would be a perfect gift for another little boy. Jake asked if he could have the football for himself. Jake already has a football EXACTLY like the one I bought for the little boy. His reply... well this one is new, he would just give his old one away.

Hmmmmm...Really?

Well, we did not switch the footballs out (of course), and I tried to explain to Jake that this child probably did not have a football and might not get anything else for Christmas. I think he understood, then he asked what about Santa Claus? Wouldn't HE bring the boy something for Christmas? I think I need to try a little harder. Does he see me giving to others? Not for birthdays, Christmas, or other special occasions, but giving daily to others...


But this is not just about giving gifts, it is about treating others the way we want to be treated. In a world full of email and texting, are we losing the ability to really connect with people? Is sending someone a text message asking how they are, really the same as calling them or asking them in person? I like to text as much as the next person. It is convenient and fast, but it is hardly the only way I communicate with others, or is it? It honestly never crossed my mind until yesterday.

I recently joined a community bible study (thanks to a sweet friend of mine that helped get me in after it started). Yesterday when I got home, I had a message on my home phone, which rarely happens, and I did not recognize the number on caller ID. The message was from my group leader from Bible study. Her voice was so sweet and friendly, and she wanted NOTHING but to say she was thinking about me, hoped I was having a great week, and hoped to see me Wednesday. WOW. I know it sounds unimportant, and even simple, but knowing that she took the time to call meant a lot. She could have text me or emailed me, but she called. That took time on her part. She spent some of her time on me, someone she barely knows. Her calling meant a lot to me even though we did not speak. It made me feel special. I know it sounds crazy, but it did.




It made me think about how often I call my friends to check on them, send them a card, or let them know I love them. Not by a text message or an IM on facebook. Life gets so busy that we forget the important things while dealing with the mundane. I actually bought several cards over two months ago to mail to friends for no reason, just thought they would like to get a card in the mail. I have never mailed them. I have been too busy. Really?


I want to be better and set a better example for my children and for others. People are important and worth our time. Let's put the golden rule into practice. Forgive those who have hurt us, connect with those who need us, and love each other the way God wanted us to love.