Christmas 2012

Words to describe this Christmas: Busy, FULL, special, fun-filled, memorable, yummy, tiring,and worth every second of preparation, planning, and loss of sleep!! We had Mary Blake's Christmas program, everybody's school parties, a trip to Jackson to see JJ and Pops, 3 day visit in Tupelo with Andy, lunch a Granma's, James' first birthday party, Christmas brunch in Batesville, and a 4 day stay in Batesville eating, laughing, and worrying about NOTHING. As much as I loved it all, it felt great to come home and put away Christmas decor....now I am knee-deep in changing everything...you know how it is, nothing looks right after you take away the decor, so you end up changing everything!

November Part 2

Love this smile

Thanksgiving Feast at Calvary

Wren at the feast. Doesn't he look happy to be there?

This is not a pilgrim hat. It is a cowboy hat. He was quite insistent about this. Also, the bandaid was just there for fun. We go through some band-aids at our house.

Wren finally got to join in on the action.

Sweet Granma. I really didn't think she was gonna feel well enough to cook her dressing this year. BUT she did, AND it was fabulous!!!

THE BEST DRESSING EVER!!!

After Granma's we headed to the Lakehouse. Wonderful weather, lots of laughs, no sleep, and tons of fun!

I was trying hard to get collins not to do a posed smile

The annual Gingerbread house!

Grum and Andy

Grum with the family - minus Griffin.

Sweet Ellison sleeping on Andy!

November Part 1

aaaahhhh, christmas card pics. Every mama cringes a little when you say that. deciding what to wear, who will take them, will you and the hubs be in it or not, etc..... This year I have been without my camera for 4 months. Which is a long time. When my best friend (the ups man) brought my repaired camera to me around 6pm Friday, I got all fired up to get this picture done. Brad was working that morning - he totally owes me for not putting him through the torture of getting 4 kiddos dressed and in good moods. At one put I yelled, "nobody gets to yell but me!" fine mama moment right there. After one session - not to painful - I realized had had nothing. Nada. Not ONE of all 4 of them. Soooooo, after an absurd amount of bribery, everyone got back dressed and we headed out for photo shoot #2. Photographers are amazing people. They are worth every penny......While I missed my Ceresa Caudill pics this year, I think I ended up ok...Lots of great outtakes!

This is my fav. Big kids showing the little kids the airplane.

Are you feeling the excitement here?

AND we're done and headed to get a happy meal!

October

Griffin sporting PawPaw's hat. He had a big time sneaking into PawPaw's chair and stealing his cap off his head.

James and Granma. We had a quick trip to visit Granma. Thankfully my boys were rather tame.

Griffin was so teased. He actually buried his head in the couch and fell asleep. That has NEVER happened. I love this picture. Granma was having a big time getting him to smile.

At Mazzio's in Brandon. Griffin enjoyed the grated cheese!

You turn your head one minute......

Mary Blake joined 4H this year. Last week they had a fun night at Tellinis. They went in the kitchen and got to make their own pizzas.

Sometimes it works to your advantage being the little brother. Collins had to tag along and he got to join in the fun.

Tada! I'm pretty sure they raked off some of the cheese before they cooked it.

Wren followed Snoopy (our kitty) into the edge of the woods. When I said, "where's Wren Wren?" he did this.  Love this age.