Happy New Year!

How blessed we are to have our three sons!

I hope for each of you and wonderful New Year.  I have tried to post since we got back from our trip and oddly, haven't had much to say.  I took down Christmas decorations yesterday.  It seems a bit bare, but normal and nice too.  We had a great trip to Birmingham Christmas morning and then on to Missouri.  We enjoyed snow and time with our dear family.  

Thank you for being a wonderful part of my year.  I am thankful for the many ways God has blessed us with friends and family!

Driving

Luke's Program Night

Luke made us gifts at school.  He gave them to us after his program.

Today, I was corrected on my fine driving skills.  By my 6 year old.  May I repeat.  I was corrected on MY driving from my 6 year old.

I was trying to call one of you people on the telephone and was reprimanded.

I should have my hands on the wheel came a command from the back seat genius.

On a different note, Luke asked if Santa delivered gifts to Jesus when He was born.

Great.  

I could snow ski down my laundry.

Maybe I should try.

I know some good orthopedic doctors should something go amiss.

We lit the advent candle Sunday.  I tried to get pictures before we left for church for you few folks that lovingly read this blog.  Guess what.  David screamed and cried.  Shocking I know.  After seeing my post tummy-twirl.html  I guess you are really surprised.  Here is what I got.  Merry Christmas!  We are going to be busy packing tomorrow.  We are heading to see snow on Friday.

Benjamin is scared I will lose it if he doesn't smile.  David is puffy eyed from screaming about a picture taking session.  Luke has a classic grin and bear it look.

Note To Self: The Reason Why We Celebrate!

Come on in Y'all! So good to see you.

Here is where I blog!

Playroom tree.

I have always wanted to decorate my kitchen light...this year, I did it.

Some treats that we have shared.  Thanks to Darby at The Sticklers!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  Come on in and chat!  Here are some pictures of our home at Christmas!

I love my new mat, a gift from a dear student!

My mom gave me this nativity long before I was ever married.  I am so glad to have it back out this year.

Here is our Christmas tree.  We added a new angel at the top.

As you come in, you can see a new nativity that Sharri and Amanda gave me.  I love it so much.  So uniquely made of stone.

I am burning this bad boy all day long!  Another student gave me this delightful candle.  It is truly the candle of the Season!

Dad

Happy Birthday Dad!

You are a wonderful man.

You are always content to point success at another, when in fact, you often are the mind behind achievement.

You think before you speak, which leaves you room to make a fair and wise decision.

You are a humble servant of the Lord.  Not proud or full of what you "do" to make others see you are a Christian.

You are my tutor in many ways.

It began as a little girl.  

I danced on your feet to oldies in the kitchen.

It continued through the white boards and negative and positive numbers.  You remember, seventh and eighth grade math.  You were my true teacher, often after a long day you would spend hours teaching me.

You spurred me on during track events and encouraged me during distance runs.

You pushed me to run against your speed, which left me humbly second, but desiring to run harder.

You loved perfect attendance and taught me my work ethic.

You are disciplined and frugal.

I didn't like that so much growing up, but admire it greatly now.

You are generous, quietly, which makes it all the more admirable.

You laughed with me at my silly mistakes and prayed for me through stupid ones.

You listened when I called after struggling through a test and reminded me to be well-rounded.

You have parented me well.  You have befriended me now as an adult.  You are a wise, wise man Daddy and I love you very much.  

this is it, maybe

Yesterday, I had a migraine. 

It hurt, horribly.

I saw spots and thought someone had put two pieces of wood on either side and began to push.

I have never had one before.

I hope I never have one again.

So, that leads me to this point. 

I am a bit behind.  I didn't realize it, but I am not done doing the following:

Baking Candy Cane cookies to share.  

STILL getting out some more Christmas cards.

Cleaning the house.

Planning and getting dad's gift ready for his 60th birthday Friday.

Wrapping.

Enrolling my child for school next year.  I have to do some reading and paperwork and that can't happen while I am teaching.

Getting ready for a small dinner party-no frills, just fun.

On a lighter note, Benjamin has informed me he likes rap.  I might have told you that. Don't stress-we're not jammin to LL Cool Jay or FiftyCents.  Whatever his version of rap is comes on HisRadio.

He is also interested in going to "Goldies" to work out over the Christmas holidays.  

He said he would do it all of Christmas so his muscles would be really big when he went back to school.

I have a  6 year old rap lovin' Gold gym groupie on my hands.

This could be dangerous.

Oh What Fun~

Ben surprised me big time!

We went to Birmingham.

On Saturday, I was told that we were heading to the Renaissance at Ross Bridge.

Of course I was sent to relax with a caramel machiatto in hand.  :)

He had made me reservations at the SPA!!!!!!

It doesn't stop there.

Ben had planned a FABULOUS dinner at Brocks.  I had beef tenderloin that was truly the best I have ever put in my mouth.  

Our entertainment afterwards: The Radio City Rocketts!

He knew I have wanted to see them!  It was the BEST birthday EVER~

Thank you Ben!  I had a BLAST!

Yes. Well, I used to like cleaning.

Those of you that have been with me since the beginning of my blog life, know that I like to clean.

Then, came December.

I haven't cleaned since Thanksgiving.

I am really not kidding.

I have clothes on the floor.

In bizarre places, like the kitchen.

The playroom is the cleanest place in the house.

Does that tell you anything?

This afternoon, I am devoting time to the effort of cleaning.

Where is my fairy when I need her?

Okay, random thing that has nothing to do with this post.

Somebody just called and told me I won a $1000.00 online shopping spree.  

No fee except shipping and I pay using a gift certificate.  Something that has to do with Publishers and Mastercard.  Well, I am so thinking this is a hoax.  

When they said Online Publishers.   I thought:  Great.  I am probably about to get busted for not siting someone's photography correctly.

So what to make of the shopping  spree?  Do you think it's legit?  Did anyone else out there "win" today?  I wasn't very appreciative to the person that called if it is.  I wasn't rude either, but not the Sweepstakes Winner excited that she might have been looking for.

Perhaps, my fairy just sprinkled her fairy dust all over.

Christmas Cards. Need I say more?

Last night I was solo.  Ben was out of town for the evening.

We went to Chic-Fil-A.

My kids are very used to eating in the car. 

I wish I was the mom that didn't do that, but I am not. 

Take me or leave me.

I can't always manage to control 3 boys 6 and under.

I can manage a classroom just fine.

Don't know the difference, but there is one.

Well, I had the house picked up and the Christmas lights lit.  Point is the mood WAS happy.

(Ben said we have A LOT.  I view it more as festive.)

We went to Walgreens to pick up the picture of choice for our Christmas cards.

I was really excited to pick out a new picture from the beach to smack on the front of them.

The beach pictures weren't the amazing shots I thought they would be.

One child was picking their nose.

Another child was eating what the other picked. You know, that kind of session.  (slightly exaggerated for story purpose.)

Before I sent them to Walgreens, I altered the photos on our computer that is supposed to work miracles.  It is known as a Mac.

I am going to blow that out of the water.  IT doesn't work miracles.  Bad pictures don't become amazingly worthy of Christmas card honor.

Who in their right mind started putting  pictures on the cards anyway?

Well, I spent about an hour trying to pick a bad picture last night.

I stopped two people I know and one that I didn't in hopes of getting a consensus.

They liked different pictures.  So, I had to pick one on my own.  I had the chosen one printed. Quantity-100.  I came back AGAIN to pick them up and they were TERRIBLE.  WAY TOO DARK.  Did I mention that I had the three boys with me?

I was willing to let that go.  I would start over.

I must have had something slipped to me in my Diet Coke.

I came home and bathed my munchkins.

I gave them their much anticipated Christmas pajamas.  It was fun at that point.  Christmas lights.  Clean little faces glowing with excitement.

But then-

We start our second round of Christmas card pictures.  (I re-track my advice Kelley on the portable DVD.  It simply did not work.)  I began to sweat.  I jumped up and down.  I held the DVD over my head so they would look at me.  I tried EVERYTHING.

David started to cry early on.  HE did NOT stop.  

It was seriously bad-from the beginning.  Why did I not stop?  I continued Session #2 for an HOUR and a HALF people.  That meant my children were up past 9:30 for me to take a Christmas card picture.

Out of Control.  I'll leave it at that. 

p.s.-I mailed the cards today.  I ended up with a beach picture.  The picture wouldn't work the direction I wanted.  That is okay.  Life goes on.  Next year,  I will seek professional help-not for me, but the pictures. Hahaha.

Luke said, " I don't ever want to get married."

I said," Why?"

He replied," You have to kiss girls."

Nice.

I'll remind you of that in about 11 years.

I'm Back

We had a GREAT time at the beach.  I will post about it later this week.  I am going to work on Christmas cards today and tomorrow I hope to get the dough ready for our candy cane Christmas cookies.....how are things at your house?  Happy Monday!

Whew!

I am feeling so much better.  I am still a bit like jell-o.  You know the feeling.  Your arms just hang by your side and your legs move more like an after thought.  But, alas I am well.  

Tomorrow, I am leaving for the beach with some dear friends and I just can't wait!  

I am almost done with my Christmas shopping.  Just have to get mom and my brother something. I am thinking I'll use an idea that I got from Dana M. about a running thing that tracks distance, etc. for my brother.  Perfect gift.  He's into fitness and all that.  I remember those days.  I hope to find mom some fun things down at the beach.

Well, David is asking for breakfast and pulling my jell-o type arm practically off my body.  Hope your Thursday is terrific!  

I will post about the trip Monday.  

"I love to be beside the seaside, by the beautiful sea...."

 

Home....What to do?

Home with a sore throat.

I've swept.

Called some sweet mamas.

Worked a little.

Put dishes away.

Called Daddy George.

He's Granny Hannie's husband.

He was off to play bridge.

How cute is that?

Well, I'm guessin' I should be restin'.

That is sooooo boring!  

I think I'll go restring the Christmas lights on the tree that burned out last week.

P.S.-Two trips coming up this month.

1.  Beach with 4 dear friends this weekend.

2.  A surprise Birthday Outing with my AWESOME husband.

P.P.S.-Thankful for antibiotics!  Thankful for a great doctor.

Amazing Grace

You can play Amazing Grace on my sidebar.

Just a little side note (hahah) I don't know why Brittney Spears comes up at the bottom of the music I select.  I get music from imeem and they must run a promotion for her.  FYI

Anyway, Sarah Brightman has a clear voice.  It reminds me of a bell.

That isn't what moves me about this song.

Grace.  It is amazing.

Sunday morning my 4 1/2 year old son awoke a sinner. 

He went to bed a sinning saint.

It is all about grace.

Grace that is amazingly free to us, undeserved by us, but oh so costly to Him.

Our grace, if you are a believer cost the very Son of God his life.

He didn't stop there.  He looked Satan square in the eye and defeated death.  He arose from the dead.  

My faith isn't about me and what I can do to earn heaven.  It is about what He did to give me heaven-His glory.

I serve a risen Savior, one that was born in a simple manger so long ago.  

One that was born to die.  For me.

For you too.  Fall on your knees dear one.

Amazing.  Grace.

Rejoice.