Celebrate!!!!!

It's been a fun month of celebrations! Started off celebrating with college friends for Kristin's soon to be baby Charlie! 

 Then we had our Life Group (Small group from church) party....

 We had a little contest for who could make the most creative/tastiest and festive drink! Lot's of fun! The Goodman's did "The Grinch" drink which was super yummy!

 Lake making her little cherry shot drinks....another delicious one! 

The winner was a chocolate martini! 

 Cheers!!!!

Last night we celebrated my bday with some of our best friends....such a fun night!
Started off at Avo for yummy drinks and appetizers....

 Then headed to the amazing Highlands Bar and Grill......

 Star struck by my hero! Chef Frank Stitt!

It's beginning to look a lot like.....

Christmas!

 We've hosted several parties this year...as well as more family gatherings to come...so I was a little more motivated to decorate....but it was fun.... in fact I had to force myself to stop(:  Another thing I enjoyed about this year is actually remembering why I am doing it- (because I had a certain 3 yr old asking me about it! fun to explain to him that we are decorating for the best birthday party of the year!)

Ryder has a "fun tree" in his room....so I am the boring mom that does a dressy tree

Advent Calendar...Ryder (3 1/2) was the perfect age to start this. He LOVES it...such a fun thing to look forward to every morning and I love how it has helped me anticipate Christmas too. I saw the stick and twine idea in a magazine and I used these little mini envelopes from Hobby Lobby (filled with cards that have a verse and a question that I printed from my friend Rachels blog 

 Alabama  Power had to cut tons of trees down in our neighborhood because they were overtaking the power lines behind our house....so when I saw them cutting down one of our magnolias I gave strict orders to save all the branches for me(: Which led to 7 magnolia wreaths and magnolia trimmings all over our house (what's that saying..."too much of a good thing....." I think I know where that comes from now. oops)

Dinner Party/Baby Shower with college friends

 Party favors (makes your house smell wonderful!)

 What's the trick to getting your stockings to all hang the same way? Mine need help!

Happy 1st Birthday Jackson!

Jackson turned the big ONE yesterday! Can't believe a whole year has flown by! We are so very thankful for our little "Jack-Jack"....he is all smiles, loves to wrestle with his big brother, can say mama, dada, RyRy, Baaa (ball), and loves to sign "all done"!, hates to be changed or have his nose wiped, loves his "ba ba" (milk in a bottle), can crawl faster than most kids run, has taken about 10 steps and is sure to be off in no time, likes to play any form of hide and seek or peek a boo, likes to bite my shoulder when I'm rocking him to sleep and thinks it's hilarious when I say "ouch!", loves to be outside, and loves to be held! Loved celebrating his precious life today!

Milk and Cookies Party

 (how did we think of parties to have before Pinterest??)

Pics by the month banner.....fun idea from you know where! 

I went a little overboard on the cookie variety...but it was a fun excuse to try a bunch of new recipes...

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip from the Smitten Kitchen 

These little guys are on my pinterest board under "Sweet Tooth" 

 Triple Chocolate Cookies

 White Chocolate Cranberry 

 Meltaways (pinterest)

 Oatmeal Raisin (Smitten Kitchen)

 Toffee Blondies (Pinterest)

 Happy Birthday To You!!!!!

 He LOVED the balloons!!!!!

 Big Brother had a big time opening all the birthday boys gifts...not sure how this will go over in a few years...