Keeping it Real

Yeah, that's how we roll around here. This is our Christmas card that should have been . :)

DANCE

Last year I did the "ugly" cry. I had no idea how it would make me feel to see her dance. This year, with MANY performances under her belt, she didn't dissapoint. She loved every minute of it. The row of seats around me was packed with all eyes on this little girl. I love that she has so many people that love her. Thanks to all who came! She's my little dancer............oh how I adore her!

A proud Meme and Susu!!

Ella Claire and Kennedy....sweet friends! :)

It's pretty special to have your great-grandmother be there! K and Grandma :)

I loved every minute of that dance, my Kennedy!!

Home Sweet Home

Riley has had a tough week. :( She woke up one day not acting like herself at all. We took her to the vet where they thought it was a digestive issue. She had to stay overnight for fluids and meds. I have always loved this dog. She was there for me in times where no person really could be. I know it sounds ridiculous, but she really has stood by me through a lot. I get very annoyed with her when I shouldn't. Having kids, made her take a back burner around here. I think I needed a reminder about how important she is to us. The kids were beside themselves with worry. Whit wanted her HOME! Sweet, sweet, dog...........we are thankful you are better, Riles, and we promise to not take you for granted again! She is on bedrest for a few weeks. Wish me luck with that. The dog that jumps on everything needs to rest her back. This is not going to be easy!

SO PROUD!!

Whit had his very first school program. I was one proud mommy!! My little boy was not afraid at all. He loved that we came to watch him sing!! :)

Mrs. Gina's class.....such a sweet group of babies!!!

We are SO proud of you Whitty!

SANTA!

I adore Christmas time. It is so full of so many fun traditions! I was determined to be done shopping this year by December so I could enjoy it without the stress of shopping. I am almost done shopping and I think I can enjoy the few gifts I have left to buy. That makes me happy! Today was a day of visiting with Santa! Santa showed up at Whit's preschool this morning. Parents were invited to attend, but not necessarily to sit in Santa's lap. Well, our son, the brave firecracker that he is, did not want to participate in the sitting of this man's lap. I think this might be my favorite picture of all time. It just shows how good of a Daddy Greg is. He needed to show Whit that Santa was "ok". Funny fact is that this is actually a picture of Greg with his high school baseball coach. I bet they never thought they would have one snapped like this. :)

He was not so sure....

This is as close as we are going to get this year!! My boys with Santa. :)

This afternoon we headed over to GSU for the lighting of the Christmas tree at Sweetheart Circle. I love going to this every year! You get to spend as much time with Santa as you want and what is better than a GSU Santa?? Kennedy LOVED talking to him this year. She quickly told him that she really, really, wanted an American Girl Doll. I loved that all the GSU students in line for Santa were reminicing about their American Girl dolls as she went on and on about hers!

Again, Whitty did not want to get near Santa! After this picture he says, "Mommy, I need to tell Santa what I want!" I said "Do you want to sit in his lap?' He said, "NO! I just need to get a little close. " So, I leaned over that stage, far enough away for my baby to talk to him, and he yells, "Hey Santa! I want a digger truck! A big yellow digger truck!" Santa smiles and says he thinks he can handle that. :)

It's been a busy week, only to be a busier weekend. I had a semi breakdown about it this afternoon, but after a nice glass of wine, kids in bed early, and a moment to actually sit, I am once again thankful for even crazy days like this. It is just a reminder that I need to stop more. I got a letter in the mail from our preschool director. It said that she prays for each child in the program for one week during the year. This week she has prayed for Whit by name. Well, now that put me in my place. How amazing to have someone take that time to call on our Lord and pray for MY baby by name all week. I needed that today. Decemeber is a crazy busy month. I hope I take time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy December!

Merry Thanksgiving!!

We gathered together at MeMe and Pops' house for Thanksgiving this year. Last year was full of so much prayer and worry in our family. I am thankful for so much this year, and I think I have made that clear on this blog, but I think our all time extreme thankfulness is for Tonya's healing. Life's not easy or perfect. I have been told my facebook status is always too happy. I don't want to come across as a fake happy person. I guess I just try to focus on the good things in life. I am an extreme overreactor. I HATE when things don't go my way. I want everyone to always get along, but that's just not life. I have a tendency to get a big angry at times, but that's just me and if you love me then you can deal with that. So, instead of being sappy about my family and how thankful I am for everyone, I thought I would just post a few pics and say that I love you all. I am glad I have each and every one of you in my life. I am one very blessed girl. I am the only girl in between two brothers. My job has always been that of a "middle" child. One of the things that is MOST important to me is for us all to be together. So of course, I bossed everyone around and forced a family photo. It's memories that are so very important!!

With my brothers :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

THANKS

To my precious children,

This blog is written all for you. It's to give you a diary of your childhood. I have found myself so incredibly busy chasing the two of you, that I have not made time to blog! ;)

Here's what been going on.....

I got a phone call from the pre-school a few weeks ago, "You are going to need to come get Whit, now don't worry, but he had a little spill. He is probably going to need stitches." OMG! 3 hours in the er with an open wound in his head, we were home all glued back together. He's a tough kid.

Kennedy had her first field trip without me! She rode on a real school bus! She had a blast and I had a hard time realizing she is growing up too fast.

I went on Whit's fall field trip. Last year I went with K and it was fun to do the same thing with him this year.

K is busy practicing for 2 dance performances. She is having her winter recital in a few weeks and is also dancing with the "big" girls at FBC's christmas program. She is besided herself with excitement about it. I love how much she adores being on stage. It makes me proud.

Whit's indian name at school was "Running Deer." I found this hillarious because they know he is ALWAYS running! And the boy is obsessed with deer and tractors. I caught him hunting my reindeer in the house last night. ;)

I love these children. There are so many times that parenting is frustrating. It is tiring. Yet, it is the sweet precious moments that stay with you. You remember holding them that first time, or they look at you with such adoration and you realize that those moments are what matters. We have friends who are fighting for their daughter's life right now. She has Leukemia and is currently going through chemo. I can't help but think of her each night, as I tuck my kids into bed. We always pray for Anna Hays. I pray a million times a day for cancer to go away. I pray for it to leave Anna Hays and stay away from Tonya. I never knew I would be such a prayer warrior. I must have evolved somehow through the years. God is teaching me about THANKFULNESS. He has also taught me how to pray for healing in HIS name. So everyday I pray away cancer and I give THANKS for my life. I give THANKS for the mundane moments, the frustrations, the happiness, the sweet times.....I give THANKS for all of it. It's the life I have been given and I should enjoy every single moment of it. So,this year, as our time of Thanksgiving approaches again, I am going to enjoy time with family and be ever so thankful that we can be together. I am one blessed girl.

Happy Thanksgiving!