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Awwww....

Family Night Interrupted

We didn't get to have our family night this week due to a VERY busy week. BUT, on our actual Thursday night when we usually have it, we took time off to go help my girlfriend re-do her bathroom. So Alison, Belle and I headed over to Chris'. Tiff was there, but...

So we still had fun!

...with Family.


Our Helper!


She took this photo


Only partially done

It's good to have a family night with other family sometimes

His Grace Is...

So we are riding to church last night, just me and Belle, holding hands and listening to the radio. After an in-depth discussion about music and why some people sing about things other than God, "Your Grace is Enough" comes on.

Song over.

Belle: They got it wrong.

Me: Huh?

Belle: His grace is MORE than enough!

Amen.

Just a weekend...

We had a fun/relaxing/hot weekend. My in-laws came in Friday night. I took my m-i-l with me to go with a friend who is having a c-section on Wednesday and was ready for a drastic haircut.

And you know me...I'm all about drastic things!

Anyway, then we got up the next morning and met my parents to go peach picking. It's an annual trip for us.


He thinks he is the man!


Biting with Papa


mmmm....


What peach? I don't see a peach...


My Daddy got caught!


Monkey see....


Heading back with the loot


After we got home from a very hot day, the kiddos snuggled down with Grammie for a movie


And then...what does my family do on a hot weekend when lounging around? They practice their casting and tugging. They cast and try to catch the fish..."aka Grandpa"


1 hour later...

I'm telling you...times like these...best!

He Holds Us Together

This is old news. Some of you have seen it before, but I stumbled across it again and poured my heart out to God again over it. David and I first heard this a Chris Tomlin/Matt Redman/Louie Giglio worship time in Little Rock over a year and a half ago.

It BLEW my socks off!

I tried to retell it, but couldn't do it justice. So here it is from Louie himself.

Be prepared to WORSHIP God...

Family Night Edition #6

Subtitle: "And there were 3 wise men who brought the baby Jesus gifts of gold, myrrh and frankenstein." --Belle during the Nativity story

I know I say this all the time, but tonight TOPPED all family nights so far. We had Christmas in July!

I got the idea, of course from Heather when she did "Halfway to Christmas". I just threw a little spin on the end of the night.

It started after the kiddos went to bed Wednesday night. I got a few of the decorations out and put them up. David said the kiddos were THRILLED when they woke up this morning.

Getting ready to cook "Christmas Dinner" on Wednesday night. We had roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, Rhodes rolls and pumpkin pie!


Our stockings were hung by...the table with care...


The Nativity


Our tree

When I picked up the kids from school Belle was signing (very loudly) "Christmas, Christmas Time is here..." by Alvin

...and the chipmunks.

We came home and got in our PJs (what else would you do on Christmas morning?


Merry Christmas!

Then, we got to making peanut butter cookies and wrapping plates to put the cookies on. Nana and Uncle John came to help out and celebrate Christmas with us.



Finger lickin' good!




Then, it was time for the traditional reading of our "First Christmas", only Daddy was still at school, so Momma had to do it. He walked in just as we finished it.


This would be where Belle told us about the "gold, myrrh and frankenstein"


Mmmm...some of our yummy Christmas Dinner!



Our cookie gifts we made for later

Time to eat! After dinner they got to unwrap their gifts that were under the tree. I found these magniying glasses at WalMart for $2 each and movie that they both like for $7. That's the most I spent on this night. They loved getting to unwrap gifts when it was least expected!






Then...we were off to go...CHRISTMAS CAROLING! You heard me right. We took our gifts and we went to see Jim and Sherri first. Then off to see our friend Chris and then on over to Mary and Steve's house. We ended the night at Robbie and Tammy's and...well...you'll see my kids and their new found PawPaw Robbie. He is officially the COOLEST.





Thank you to all who particpated in this night. You were a blessing to us and we hope we were to you. It was nice to celebrte the birth of our Lord during a normal ol' month that was hot as blue blazes with you.

Merry Christmas!

She Takes Her Role Seriously

Her role as the Big Sister, that is.

She does. Just ask anyone who knows her. She holds this responsibility in the highest regard.

Even when Luke doesn't.

But sometimes...many times...he is looking to her for help. And while it's hard for me sometimes to not jump in and try to do things for him, I know he has to do things on his own.

And sometimes, he knows how to do things, but may need a little polishing. And that would be what I stumbled upon a few nights ago when I sent Belle in to brush her teeth.







No better teacher in my book for some fundamentals.

No better teacher in his either, really...

I just love moments like these!

Who IS that Stunning Woman with my Man?

...baby mama...

Happy Birthday!

To the best mom ever! Mom, while some people may think of you as my step-mom, I don't and never really will again. You have been more of a mom to me than my own mother was, and now you have been the best "Mimi" that my kiddos could ever ask for. I'm so very proud to call you my mom and my best friend. I love you! Happy Birthday!

Family Night Edition #5

Arrrrrgh, Mate!

I know...I'm terribly scary.

This week we had to postpone a day so we could make a trip to see all of our kiddos at youth camp, but we were back in full swing last night. Luckily one of my best friends already had a lot of this stuff, so we just had us a little pirate night. And since it was pirates, we invited a little boy from our church and his family because we knew they would LOVE IT! And they did and we were glad to have them!

Family means family, ya know.

Anyway, on to the festivities!


First we have out Mates Galley


Of course...Pirates only!


Tattoo time!


Can't be pirates without a good sword fight


Lukey and his sword!


One seedy looking pirate gang


Can someone say, "Arrrggghh!"


Pirate Connor


Pirate Belle


...and another sword fight...


Our Ginger"ale" with "blood" cubes (koolaid cubes)


Our ship suppers surrounded by sharks (hotpockets and goldfish)


...and he goes after his mom


Fishing for sailors knots (straw and cup hooks for pretzels...I can't remember where I got this idea, it was so cool!)


Time for a good ol' treasure hunt!


On the lookout


Connor found the treasure! "X" marked the spot of the treasure chest with cannonballs in it (whoppers)


Pirates can't stay dry all day...and what else can you do with water guns




Check out the photo finish

After drying off we ate seawater (blue and green Popsicles) and watched the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything sing-a-long!

Arrrrrggghhh! I just love saying that. And so did JT!

Can't WAIT for next week's night. I'm working very hard to keep this one a secret from the kids. It's one that Heather has already done before and we are just adding a little something extra. Pray we don't melt!

Enjoyed visiting with y'all again!