Happy New Year

The decorations are gone

All the twinkly lights are down
and now we begin a new year!

3 verses that I hope will guide me throughout the year...

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18

As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
1 Thessalonians 2: 6-8

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Acts 20:24

Happy New Year!!!!!

Highlights

Merry CHRISTmas! I hope you and your family had a magical, memorable, and meaningful Christmas - I know we did.

SO much has gone on since I last posted, so I'll just hit the highlights...

Henderson looks something like a railroad engineer in that hat!

Emma Claire is a goofball!!!!

We went Christmas caroling on a trailer around the neighborhood. I only took pictures while we were still in the driveway, b/c I was too busy holding on to Henderson to make sure he didn't fall out of the trailer!

Her mommy is a goofball too!

We made red velvet cakeballs

I had a little help!

Katie and I had a bit of fun dressing up the cakeball snowman!



Emma Claire helped make the dressing

This was Wilson's "hit" toy!

Will's underwear was a "hit" too - so many laughs!!!!

Emma Claire got a Nintendo DSi and this is all we have seen for the last 3 days!!!!

She wasn't the only one - all 5 of the oldest cousins on both sides got them and they played and played and played!!!!

Christmas is quickly coming down, the children are still in Birmingham with my parents until Wednesday while I go back to work. Will and I enjoyed a nice dinner out tonight (with free babysitting) and I plan to get the last tree down tomorrow and clean and organize on Tuesday before they all get back on Wednesday. I miss them already, but I'm trying to make the most of my time! We've had a lot of great family time the last few days!!!

I hope you and yours did too!

A Beautiful Christmas Wedding

We have had the honor of being a part of one of the most wonderful, Christ-centered wedding weekends ever. Emma Claire was the flower girl in Crystal and Brett's wedding. It was in Greenville, AL so a 2-night hotel stay was in order, much to the children's delight! One of Will's best friends was getting married on the same night, as well as my cousin, so he stayed behind in Tuscaloosa with Henderson and I took Wilson and Emma Claire with me. It has been a wonderful weekend. My children do very well in hotels - Wilson napped when we got here yesterday while EC and I did workbooks and played on the computer in the hallway - and they both napped today - while I worked on the computer and had a much-needed quiet time of bible study in the empty hallway!! Normally nap times are spent going 100 mph getting any and everything done in the house. It was a very nice change to just "be" during nap time and not feel like I had to "do" so much!

Our weekend started off with a "bang" when Wilson and a table got in a fight and the table won!

Actually, he was only trying to get up on the tall, comfy beds and misjudged how high they were and fell backwards and hit the corner of the nightstand - I saw the whole thing happen and was powerless to stop it! We didn't make a trip to the emergency room, but we might should have, it finally stopped bleeding after about 5 hours!!!!

On to the rehearsal we went!



These next 2 pictures would be the bridesmaids lunch, but for some reason I cannot drag the photos around, so they are a little out of order!

They have had a great time in the hotel with another friend, Mary Helen, who was also in the wedding.

Isn't he a cutie?

The reception was perfect! The children had a BLAST!!!!!

My children are not afraid to break it down!!!!

This alone made the trip worth it -seeing them have a great time together!!!!

And whose hand would that be on Mary Helen's back?????

Wilson's!!!!!! I guess he has a thing for older women!!!!

And now.....just let these next 3 pictures tell you a story of a little brother watching out for his big sister! ***Note that arm on the right side of the picture*****

BAM!!!!! took them out (on purpose I might add!)!

The STUNNING bride!!!!

Whew...enough excitement for one weekend!!!!!

This was how they left!!!!

Congratulations Crystal and Brett - we love you!

Merry Christmas

Thanks Rachel! ****edited to add: Rachel designed this card for me - and even had them printed for me too! she's awesome and she does blog designs too - visit her and be sure to tell her how wonderful she is!!!!****

I've gotten SO many compliments on the card this year!

Merry CHRISTmas!

So Proud!

I am one proud momma! Emma Claire got on stage in front of 500 some odd people this weekend on 2 different nights and sang All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth By.Her.Self and did fabulous! It was at our church's annual adult Christmas program - it was during a section of modern day "fun" songs!! She didn't miss a beat! The 2 teeth in the background were added at the last minute and I really think they helped loosen her up alot!!!!

A little "KICK" at the finale!

Mary Alice and Sarah Davis were there the first night to hear her! As well as my parents.

The second night, Will's parents came and his sister, Ellen and Stan and Patton and Mills and also my sister, Katie and Matt.

I love you, my little Star!!!! Awesome job!