Picture a Christmas...

Literally.. I'll share our Christmas with you through pictures!!

We kicked off our festivities with a Christmas play put on by Riellys preschool. She was an angel OF COURSE!! It seriously was sooooo cute!!!!

Doesn't she look the part?

So this makes me an angelic mommy right?

Christmas this yr we spent it with my brother Jeremy and his family in Tennessee outside of Memphis. It rained and rained and RAINED so finally when the sun came out on Christmas Eve, we were alllll over that!!!

Jeremy had a party with his friends on Christmas Eve... here we are hanging out. Reese was off flirting with some little gal he met.

And there's nothing like a new pair of PJ's on Christmas eve!!!

It was real nice to also spend Christmas with my mom who flew in to Tennessee!

Reese got some new PJ's as well (Riellys were pictured in her bday post). His robe lights up!

The kids kept up with Santa watch.. I think at this point he was over Canada. But I can't remember.

And there's nothing like a good game of foosball Christmas morning. See how daddy towers over these kids?!!? Yeah he's kinda tall

Santa came!! Merry Christmas!!

And he brought scooters!!!

Oh Santa was good to me this yr!!! For those that know me, know my crazy obsession with Coach bags. I've been wanting one for many a yr!! This was a happy day!

Oh yes.. it's real and even the box is beautiful!!!

Band of Brothers series for Jon.. do you think he'll watch it???

Here it is again. Can't get too many pictures of this beautiful piece of work!

Hulk hands.. what were we thinking?!?!?!

It was a long and tiring morning.. we were exhausted!!

Riellys birthday falls after Christmas so the next day, we had a little party with grammy and the cousins for her bday!! Here is Rielly and her cousin Emma

Patton working on lighting those big 4 candles!!

Blowing out the candles! Seriously these were the biggest cupcakes EVER!!

To continue with the birthday festivities, before we headed back to GA, we made a stop at Chuck-E-Cheese with Jeremys family and grammy.

Rielly finally warmed up to the big ol rat!

Poor Rielly got a fat lip the day before from falling (that's nothing new with this little girl!). Here she is with gramma eating pizza!

Yeah you can't tell at all that these crazy boys are cousins can you?!?!? Here's Reese and Marshall!

And here starts the self portraits... me and Jon! say CHEEEESSSEEE

Yeah we must be related.. me and my big brother Jeremy.

And me and my mama.

And this was taken just before we had to say goodbye and head back home! Reese, Rielly, Grammy, me and the yummy baby Madelyn!!

Hope you enjoyed our little Picture a Christmas! Happy New Yrs everyone!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Rielly!!!

Well the day has come. My little girl is 4yrs old today! And every day she gets a little closer to being a teenager! 4yrs of Rielly.. how did I get so lucky? Seriously! This girl is a trip. She's moody and tough and so lovable and every bit as fiesty as I could imagine a girl to be! She's like her mama!!! She's turning into a beautiful little girl with long ringlets and bright blue eyes. We are very lucky to have her in our family (although I may not admit that everyday).

I still remember the day she was born. She was a scheduled c-section so there really was nothing eventful about her delivery other than when they took her out, they couldn't put my uterus back in! That was a little nutty!!! And because it wasn't an emergency, it took a long time for the surgery unlike her brother who was like 2 minutes and he was out. But she was worth the wait for sure!

Rielly ended up very moody at a very early age! She was a bit colic and the only thing that could soothe her was daddy. Which didn't make for a very happy mommy during the day that's for sure! And she was lactose intolerant-- again not a happy cheeseless momma! But we survived!! And we will continue to survive!!

Happy Birthday our little Riellykins, Rooder Roo, Pumpkin Head, Shirley Temple...

Monday

So this morning I awoke to my eye stuck together. Yup.. PINK EYE!!! Adults get pink eye? gross! And then last night my filling fell out that just got put in 3weeks ago. And Jons car wouldn't start so I'm carless today because he has my van. Man oh Man my friends- it's going to be one of those days!!!

How did this happen???

My BABY turns 4 next week. 4yrs old!!! Where did time go?? And am I really old enough to have kids?!?!? I am just having issues right now- I always just assumed I would have another little one by this time. And yet here we are and my teeny little girl isn't so teeny anymore.

Not the greatest pics but these are kinda fun

I decided to stay simple for teachers gifts this yr. I made clipboards but decided to use those as teacher appreciation and made these for Christmas instead. The pictures aren't great cuz they're with my camera phone but I am excited how these turned out. I got some cup holders at QT, covered them in stampin up designer paper and used my cricut for the letters. It's a Smores kit! I stamped the bags for the marshmellow, put a tag around the graham crackers and dressed up the candy bar. Super easy and I hope it's well received!

Sad Day

I found out early this morning that my Grandpa Les Harper passed away last night around 11:45pm. He's been sick for awhile and has beat all the odds.. until now.
He would have turned 91 on Dec 24th. It's bitter/sweet. Bitter because it's my grandpa- we grew up living so close to them and they were a large part of my childhood.
Sweet because he's not sick anymore and he's hanging out with my dad.
Bitter because it's almost Christmas and his birthday.
Sweet because well... he had no quality of life there at end.
I will miss him.

Dear Santa...

Wish lists for Christmas are about things that we would LIKE to have... but not that we are guaranteed to get right? I'm afraid the things on my list aren't in Santas big red bag.

I wish.....(and these aren't in the order of priority)

for the motivation to keep a nice and neat house
for the urge to get to the gym and get some much needed exercize
for the knowledge and motivation to eat better and get healthy and get rid of some excess unnecessary weight (because I really do hate being overweight!)
for the energy to go out and run around with my kids outside
to be able to look in the mirror and say "I'm beautiful"
to be a better friend and be able to see everyone the way the Lord sees them
to be stronger in the gospel
to be able to be more frugal with what little money we have

I guess what I'm saying is that I wish to change myself to become a better person. But most importantly I wish I knew how to do it!!! I wish Santa did exist and could fill my stocking with the desires of my heart.