Favorite Christmas CD's

Christmas music filled my house growing up. We always started on Thanksgiving Day and had a wonderful time singing together the whole Holiday season. My Grandad had the best tradition that effects me to this day. He tape recorded his favorite songs then told stories of his childhood in between each song. He passed away two years ago this Winter and this will probably be the first year I bring those tapes out again. He lived 93 amazing years and we treasure the traditions he passed down. In that same spirit I bring you my top favorite Cd's of the Christmas season.

Ray Coniff Christmas
Family Classic

Michael W Smith- Christmastime
I saw him in concert when this CD came out and it was a beautiful story of how he wrote the new Christmas classic, Christmastime.

Celine Dion- These are the Special Times
I was dreaming of falling in love when this came out and I love that i wasn't dating anyone at the time that I would always connect this CD with. It is absolutely beautiful and I love snuggling with my man and looking at the Christmas tree while listening to this CD.

Bing Crosby-White Christmas
How can you live without it!!!

Manheim Steamroller
We always listened to these Cd's(actually cassettes) while driving around and looking at Christmas lights when I was a kid. Our favorite was stopping at Arby's for Jamocha milkshakes and getting their special Christmas mugs!!

This is such a wonderful time of year for me and I hope that I establish these wonderful traditions for my kids as well.
As we speak she is repeating over and over "Tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy"

Happy Thanksgiving

I am sitting here at my parents house and we are enjoying a day together with crafts, food, and lots of laughs. The kids are watching Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and my hubby just said that when he was a kid he would cry when it was over on TV, he had to wait a whole year to watch it again.
Hope you all are remembering the many ways you have been blessed this year! We have SOO much to be thankful for, most of all, the Love of the Father of us all.

Crafts

I have never thought of myself as really crafty or creative. I have really enjoyed scrapbooking over the years and can do step by step crafts but to just throw something together never quite pans out. My daughter on the other hand LOVES to be creative and everything turns into some work of art.
I have been trying lately to do at least a craft with them a week and last week I did my own "Big Girl" craft with my friend Becca.

I found the idea in the Parenting magazine. Picked out my fabric and shirts. Washed and dried all fabric and headed over to her house. My mom stayed with all three of my kids and I was so giddy I forgot where I was going...twice! I stopped at Starbuck's on the way and Here are my very fun results.










As soon as I get them back from my mom, she trimmed it with the sewing machine, I will take pics of the kids!!

New Background

I LOVE cutest blog on the block!
I had so much fun trying on all the beautiful backgrounds. It was like going shopping for clothes, which I despise right now because i have so much baby weight left to work off. Let me know what you think of the Christmas look!

Emotional

It is one of those few days when I am so emotional that even little commercials make me cry. I have yelled, growled, slept, cried, and apologized more times then I can count the last two days and I better be visited by Ms. flow or I am going to hurt something.

On a much more wonderful note, our friends the Deaton's had their beautiful baby girl and I have just had tears running down my face as I look at their pictures. It is such a wonderful thing to become a first time parent! It changes everything! Your outlook, your heart, your love, your tenderness, your relationships-EVERYTHING. It makes me go back to four years ago and visit all of the wonderful things that have happened because of our baby girl. I have experienced more depth of emotion then I ever thought possible. The thing that hits me with each birth though is the amount of love that increases for my man. He is amazing and has sacrificed so much to have these three children. He is so faithful to the Lord and to us.

My little baby is now waking from his nap and I must go snuggle and smell his sweet little head and savor every moment!

Pap's-Pacifiers

All three kids are in their own beds asleep. This a particular achievement today because Evan doesn't have a pap (pacifier) anymore and Sean is not being given a pap anymore. Why you might ask. Because it has been tearing this mom's heart out to watch Evan give up his pap. He has moaned and cried and snuggled enough for me to go out and buy more. But I can't! He chewed his pap to pieces while getting his two year molars and I(we) feel like this is a good time to get rid of it. Last night as Larry was at a business meeting I rocked both boys, sang and then nursed the baby in the room so that Evan wouldn't have to fall asleep by himself without pap. As I sat there I figured that Sean is young enough that he won't remember life before pap and have now decided to rid both boys at the same time. Sean cried but went to sleep within five minutes and Evan was asleep a little after that. Today we have laid down both boys without paps and it took 35 minutes to get them both to sleep. Crying, snuggling, storytelling, nursing, all of these things happened to help make the sleep happen faster. It was successful and now I have at least an hour to myself before they start to stir to look for the beloved pap, that will not be found.

Pray for me because in May '09 my Katherine has decided that she will try to give up her thumb. She is turning 5!! This is a huge undertaking, I know because I was a thumb sucker myself.

Worship night!!

Siestas,
I am super excited. Found out two days ago that Travis is coming to ATL for a Worship concert to be recorded live at First Baptist Church Woodstock. I am beyond thrilled to be able to meet so many of you wonderful ladies. GratefulinGA is working on a mini siesta fiesta.
Save the date, January 25th, 2009 and get your prayers on because God is definitely going to show up and show out!!

Snug as a bug

Aunt Dawn and Uncle Tony bought us this great weatherproof cover for Sean's carseat. We have used it everyday since. It really helps us get out of the house faster because I don't have to worry as much about bundling Sean up.
This is what Sean likes to do all the time-SLEEP
In the swing
In the morning with Daddy
In Momma's arms
He can sleep anytime and anywhere-It is such a blessing!!

Reading

We love to read any time and anywhere-hehe
The library has been such a wonderful place for us to go. Not only does it have so many fun books to read but it has story time once a week and teaches the children how to be quiet. As a stay at home mom it is a great resource for videos, computer time and books about things the kids find in our backyard. Right now we have a book about praying mantis'.
In school Katherine is learning how to read and it has been so fullfilling to know that I have taught her that ability. We are doing a great book called "Teach your child to read in a 100 easy lessons" She is now reading four word sentences and four letter words.

Guitar buds

Evan's bud, Kyle, came over the other day and the boys had a great time playing. They played so well together and ate a ton of eggs for breakfast. So fun to see them interact and share their toys and tractors.

Baking

I found a recipe in a parenting magazine for Aut-yum leaves. They were pie crusts filled with mini-chocolate chips.

We searched all over Walmart to find these cookie cutters







Pumpkin Spice muffins-Weight watchers only 1point each

1 box spice cake mix
1 15oz can of Pumpkin
3/4 cup water
Walnuts for the top
350 for 17-22 minutes

I LOVE FALL. We have been doing all kinds of baking and it def. helps pass the time when Larry is at work all day.

At year end

Yesterday as I was reading some of my favorite blogs, one of the ladies mentioned that she wasn't sure that she would be able to effectively put together a contest that a company had asked her to do. She had to finish by November the 10th and she was only going to be getting home Friday. In my head I said"Oh you will have plenty of time do it girl!" Then I moved over to another blog where she was mentioning that by November 10th she needed to have a button ready for her annual Christmas fun and her five favorite things needed to be put together for christmas crafts. I again said to myself' " Why so stressed it is only October, you can do it. Christmas isn't that close."
As I clicked to another blog it hit me-It is November the 12th and it is really close to Christmas. I just started to laugh at myself and ran right out to tell my husband what the date was.
Ladies we are almost through with 2008 and where did the last 4 months go?? Unbelievable to think about all that has happened this year. I am sure all of us do this every year but now that I have had my third baby and we aren't planning on any more I guess I am looking back and treasuring a little more.
What are some of your highs and lows of this year? How did God show up and show out for you?

10 weeks old

Snugglin' with Nana- He is getting so big so fast. He is already sleeping through the night and feeding every 4 hours. He hates tummy time but I try and give it to him everyday. He loves to sleep on his side and he is now in his crib in the room with his brother.

Fall fun

Aunt Robin invited us to their neighborhood for a parade, costume contest and trick or treating. She made lots of fun goodies as well. Mummy toes, mummies, witches fingernails and, ghosts. This is the first time we have participated in Halloween festivites and i was very glad that it wasn't scary. It was actually a lot of fun

Our cousin was the One eyed, one horned, flyin, purple people eater!
Cousin Kylie was an elf

Aunt KT did Katherine's make-up for her Ariel costume
Sean was a bear
Getting lots of candy with his big cousin Kylie

A Box in the Mail

We got a box in the mail today from my Aunt and Uncle in Ohio. They made this blanket and sent gifts for the kids as well. It was wonderful. Thank you so much Aunt Tammy, Uncle John, Lindsey, Jessie, and Kristen!!!




The outfit in this box has a onesie with the saying- Little brother- on the front. Jeans that are fleece lined, and socks to match.