Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas with love!  

"For unto us a child is born, for unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6 

My birthday in the Big Easy!

This year my birthday fell on a Sunday, so as soon as church was over David hurried us home and told us to change quickly because he had a surprise!  We frantically changed out of our church clothes and got ready for our adventure of the day.  It was not too far down the road that we realized we were headed to New Orleans for the day! What fun! Our first stop once we arrived in the Big Easy was at District Donuts on Magazine Street.  David and I tried to eat there once before when we celebrated an anniversary in New Orleans, but it had been closed.  Sunday was our day!

We enjoyed a delicious lunch of sliders and shared a couple of donuts before we hit the road to the French Quarter.  New Orleans is such a special place to David and me, and  I love that our children are growing up knowing what a special place it is to our family. 

Sadly, Jackson Square was closed, so we couldn't walk through, but we did see the gorgeous St. Louis Cathedral and have our annual picture taken by the Christmas tree overlooking the mighty Mississippi.  We even saw a huge cruise ship coming in to port. 

The Saints game had ended just as we were getting into the quarter, so it was really crowded.  We hurried over to Cafe du Monde in hopes of beating the crowd and getting some yummy beignets.  And enjoy them, we did!  There was powdered sugar everywhere!

We left the Quarter after we got beignets, as it was starting to get dark.  We headed over to St. Charles Avenue to catch a trolley, so we could look at all the pretty Christmas lights.  They were gorgeous! After that, it was time to head home.  We were barely across Lake Pontchartrain before all four little loves were sound asleep on the back seats.  Such a fun day with my favorite people.  Here's to hoping this next year will be the best one yet!

My souvenir and birthday present from my day in the Big Easy with my family.  Thank you, David, for making this birthday so very special! 

The Polar Express and Christmas Party

Story's last day for the semester was on Wednesday, so this week was full of fun activities.  On Monday, we were able to share a treat with her class in honor of Story being Star Student. 

Tuesday, Story got to wear her Christmas pajamas to school and watch the Polar Express with her friends.  She was so excited!

Her sweet teacher, Miss Lisa, sent me this picture of Story getting ready to board the Polar Express.  Being in preschool is the most fun!

Wednesday was Story's last day of school, so her class enjoyed a Christmas party with the help of some sweet mommas.  After school, David and I took Story to lunch, just the three of us, as we have done so many times this year while the big three have been in school all day.  We sure are going to be lost when this little one is in Kindergarten next year!

Story is Star Student!

The weekend before last, Story shared with us that she had been chosen to be the star student for the following week at school.  That weekend, she picked out the pictures that she wanted to be on her poster to share with her class.  Sunday night, Story, Tilly and I put the pictures on Story's star student board.  There are so many sweet memories on this board. 

Story with her poster Monday morning.  I love that she is so proud and doesn't have a care that her momma cannot draw bubble letters to save her life, ha! Monday after school, Tilly and Story did not feel well at all.  Carter and Summer were already sick, so were pretty sure the lovely flu was just being passed to all of our little loves.  Sure enough Tuesday morning, Tilly and Story were diagnosed with the flu (type A).  Poor thing did not return to school until Friday.  I asked her teacher if we could wait to complete the rest of her star student duties the next week.  Fast forward to Monday of this week. . .

David and I took Snowman and Sprinkled doughnuts from Krispy Kreme to Story's class for her star student treat. 

Can you tell she was just a little excited to have us in her class?  Sweet thing!

Story and Momma. 

Story and Daddy.  While the children were enjoying their sugary treats, David read a Christmas book to the children.  It was a story about a bear who stays up during Christmas, so he can celebrate with his friends.  So sweet!

Story and one of her very favorite friends, Olly. 

David and I loved spending the morning with our little star student and her friends. 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas Party

Last Friday, all of the first graders at PCS enjoyed their annual 'Twas the Night Before Christmas party at school.  They got to spend the day wearing their pajamas and doing all kinds of neat Christmas activities with their classmates. 

Summer all dressed in her pajamas for her Night Before Christmas party!

I was able to pop in throughout the morning to check on my girl and see the different activities.  She had so much fun!

One of the last things they did was for all of the first graders to gather in the library while Mrs.  Greer read to them a Christmas story.  What a special day!

And almost as soon as Summer's partying was over, I got to attend a play at William Carey with this handsome fella and the rest of the second graders at PCS.  We saw Aesop's Fables, and it was quite good!

On the very same day after school, Summer and I took Carter and Tilly home and then hurried to the first grade ornament exchange, another fun PCS tradition. 

Here are all the first grade girls who participated in the festivities.  It was such a fun and crazy busy day.  As you can tell, we are fully embracing the Christmas season at our house!

It's almost Christmastime.

I just love this time of year, don't you? We have been busy preparing for the Christmas season at our house, which apparently this year, means having the flu.  All four children have had it and seem to have survived, whew!  Before the flu struck, Tilly's class went on a field trip to ride the Christmas train in Columbia.  Tilly asked for her daddy to go with her on this field trip, and he happily complied.  He even sent me pictures throughout the day chronicling their adventures.  He's a keeper!  

Tilly and her sweet friends on the Christmas train. 

Sweet girls again once they got off the train to participate in some Christmas activities.  Tilly told me she had the best day!

This picture Tilly told David to take and send to me.  Love this girl!

Our 3rd annual Hattiesburg Christmas parade.  I'm pretty sure at this point Carter was beginning to feel pretty badly.  He doesn't look too thrilled, ha!



That night after the parade, we had our annual staff Christmas party at Hardy Street Baptist Church.  Story looks like she's done something she shouldn't have.  Summer and Tilly look so sweet and pretty in the middle.  Carter looks like he's about to fall over, and David is hugging the tree.  And that my friends, is my party of six, ha! More Christmas fun coming your way!





Thanksgiving in Arkansas.

This year for Thanksgiving, we spent the week with our family in Arkansas.  Sunday after church, we hit the road and made it to Papa and Gigi's just in time for supper! The children were sooo excited!

From the time we leave our house until the moment when we see this beautiful sight, the children are asking, "Have we seen the bridge yet?"

And we always, always take our picture with the big Arkansas sign.  I don't even have to tell the children what to do anymore.  They just run to the sign and get in order, ha!  Love them! About two hours later, we arrived at Papa and Gigi's house to find supper on the table.  Sigh.  That's the making of what's sure to be a great week. 

David and his mom share the same birthday, so cool!  And at our house, we always have doughnuts for the birthday boy or girl on their special day.  Gigi got to have her birthday doughnut before she went to work that day. 

David got to enjoy his doughnuts with a few spectators.  Another birthday tradition is for the birthday boy or girl to choose where we eat supper or lunch.  The birthday boy picked Moe's for his birthday lunch.  Papa got to go with us, but Gigi had to work.  We celebrated David and Gigi the next night when the Calhouns made it to town to help us celebrate.  Sadly, I did not get any more pictures.  Shameful!

I did take one of this girl because on Thanksgiving Day, she lost her very first tooth.  Summer pulled it! David replayed the conversation for me.  Summer:  Tilly, honey, let me look at it.  Honey, it's ready to pull.  Tilly:  okay, Summer.  And big sister pulled it right out!

Friday, we called the hogs in hopes that they would help our dawgs get to the SEC title game by beating Missouri.  Sadly, it was not meant to be.  Saturday, we stayed to watch the good ole fashioned hate game between Georgia and Georgia Tech, and that game didn't end so well either.  Sigh.  It just wasn't the year for our dawgs.  After the Georgia game, we headed back home to Mississippi.  We had a wonderful time in Arkansas for Thanksgiving and were so sad for the week to end. 

It didn't take us long to get back into the swing of things at our house though, ha!  Carter and David hit the deer woods and took out a couple of does.  Both of which are already processed, bagged, labeled and in our freezer. 

And while the boys are away. . . Well, the girls just gotta play! 



PCS Thanksgiving

I love the holidays, especially Thanksgiving.  The school where our children attend does such a great job of making the holidays so special and meaningful for the children, too!  Tilly's class made Indian costumes and wore them to the school cafeteria for the Thanksgiving dinner at school.  Lucky for me, I get a firsthand look at all the fun our big three are having during the day, so fun!

Our very own Princess Shining Brook aka Tilly Brooke!

Me and my Tilly girl.  Love.  Her.  Big. 



Tilly with some of her sweet friends at school. 

Meanwhile, over at the preschool, Story and her little classmates were getting ready for their Thanksgiving program.  This is one of the sweetest little programs, and we could not wait to see our little Indian sing her heart out. 



Our little Indian.  Summer and Tilly wore these same Indian "costumes" when they were in PreK.  You'll notice that Princess Shining Brook allowed her little sister to borrow her headdress for the program, melt my heart. 

The full effect, so cute!

I absolutely adore this picture.  Story is smiling at her sweet friend, Olly during the program.  These two sweet girls sang their little hearts out, and I was thrilled when Olly's momma sent me this precious picture.  Love. 

Story with Miss Gin, her PreK teacher.  This precious lady also taught Summer and Tilly, and we could not be more thankful for her!

I could not be more thankful for this girl if I tried. 

The three of us have spent a lot of time together these last three years while the big 3 have been in school.  I am so very thankful for this time.  I will not know what to do when this sweet thing starts Kindergarten next year! Story, you did a wonderful job in your Thanksgiving program.  Daddy and I are so very proud of you!

Summer's baptism.

On Sunday, November 16, Summer was baptized at Hardy Street Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  Saturday before her big day, David's parents traveled from Arkansas for the big even, and I was diagnosed with strep, so sad!



Still contagious and with fever, but with my doctor's permission, I snuck into the church just before the big event.  There was no way I was missing this special moment!  Love this girl so very much and could not be more thankful or proud if I tried of her!



I love this picture.  David is sharing with the church about Summer's profession of faith.  He also asked for Summer's family and Sunday School class to stand up.  Love the look on her sweet face!

But this picture.  Wow, just wow.  It may be one of my most favorite I've ever taken.  Look at how she is looking up at her daddy.  With complete trust and love and adoration.  Love.  We had this one enlarged and  framed for David's birthday just a few weeks ago. 

Love this one, too!  She was so proud and so excited! 

The fab four with Papa and Gigi after church just before the headed home in hopes of beating the bad weather headed their way.  Thankfully, they made it safe and sound. 

One more with Daddy, too!  Happy baptism day, Summer!  We are so very proud of you and thankful for this most important decision you have made.  We trust and know that God is going to use you in big ways for His kingdom!