Christmas Thanks

121. Christmas Candles
122. making cookies with my boys
123. flour on faces and hands and clothes
124. sprinkles
125. Pecan Crescent Cookies
126. Carmel Brownies
127. husband who takes the kids out while I'm sick
128. My Dad reading to the boys
129. Challenging sermons
130. hugs form kids at church
131. handprint art
132. handmade ornaments
133. the smell of cookies
134. the smell of the Christmas tree
135. Betty Crocker cookie icing
136. classic Christmas movies
137. quite evenings for wrapping
138. Scotch tape
139. warm pjs
140. hearing my son say, "it's Jesus' birthday"

Merry Christmas

MAY GOD BLESS YOU THIS YEAR WITH PEACE AND JOY!

THE REAGANS

sights around our house

This past week a stomach/flu virus visited our house.  We are all better and have had some fun on the days we've felt better.  Here are just some sites that went on around our house this past week.

Carl the Elf

Our reindeer cookies.  So EASY to make!  If anyone is interested I can post a tutorial.

Did someone call a plumber?

gifts

81. Serious faces

82. Seeing the world through my child's eyes

83. Rediscovering the joy in small things.

84. Seeing amazement in my child's eyes

85. Seeing their excitement over God's creation.

86. Prayers on my kids

87. The love the boys have for their Day

88.  Giggles of excitement when Andrew comes home from work

89.  The sound of feet running to the door to see Daddy

90.  kisses from Nolan

91. boat rides with kids from church

92. watching kids worship God

93. shell hunting

94. singing goofy songs

95. road trips

96. caffeine

97. Amelia Rose

98. Maggie

99. Hatty

100. My bed!!

House Work

I have been a slight slacker lately about blogging.  To get ready for Ty's party we had been busy working on some projects around the house.  I had some curtains to sew for the dinning room and a few shelves to install.  I've always wanted an eggplant colored dinning room.

I haven't decided yet if we're getting new chairs or just refinishing the ones we have.

I've also been working on refinishing a table and chairs for the kitchen and making curtains.

All it needs now is a new light fixture.  I'm thinking this...

Thanks to my Dad and brother my mantle also got a make over.  They added the trim detail and I did the paint and finish.  Thanks to Ashley for the technique.

Captn Ty's birthday party, aarg

We had a small party for Ty's fourth birthday today.  He wanted a pirate party this year so we had a normal kid's birthday party.  Usually we skip the big party and go do a special family outing.

This wasn't your normal boy's 4 year old party.  We told him he could invite a few friends.  His list included one of the boys in his class and then some friends from church.  They were all girls ranging from a 4 year old to two fifth graders.  I guess he likes the older women just like his father and grandfather.  We all had a great time.

Ty was also extremely excited because this morning we woke up to snow on the ground.  He looked out the window and said, "I can't beweave it."

Ok, so it's not much snow.  But, how often to we get some in Alabama?

I found instructions for this cake on the internet is was actually very easy to make.

Ty and some of the "gwerls"

gifts

80.  B-day meals out with friends
81.  Girls' Night Out
82.  finishing a project
83.  cleaned out garage
84.  little toes in a stream
85.  piles of leaves
86.  laughing boys in leaves
87.  cabinet doors
88.  closet doors
89.  spray paint
90.  Curious George
91.  The Man with the Yellow hat
92.  candy on sale
93.  chocolate mint truffle creamer
94. pumpkin muffins
95. pumpkin cake
96. pumpkin candles
97. pumpkin bread
98. hot chocolate
99. gas logs
100.  carmel dip

Ty's four year pics

We went this past week to have Ty's four year pictures taken.  His birthday is still a month away but I wanted to get pictures done while it was still nice outside.  I also thought it would be a great time to get some updated family pictures.

Pictures were taken by Kristin. She also makes jewelry and does some cool artwork (she's been featured on HGTV).  If you'd like to see more go to the Reagan Family Pics link.

Pumpkin Patch and Trunk or Treat

Last week we took the boys to our local Pumpkin Patch.  It is only 5 minutes from our house and though it is small it's close!!

I can't believe how fast our guys are going up.  Nolan will be 18 months on Monday and next week we go for Ty's 4 year pictures.

Trying to find the perfect pumkins

After we got a pumpkin for Nana, one for Me and one for each of the boys there wasn't much room left in the wagon

I tried to get a picture of both the boys together but this was about as good as it got.

Though this one may become a classic.

We also had Trunk or Treat Sunday at church.  I never get many pictures because I'm always running if 4 different directions.  I'm so glad I only have to plan one of these every year!  The boys went as Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat.  They had a great time.

a blessed life....

61. April and Mark
62. Times of praise and worship
63. being challenged in my spiritual walk
64. gifted speakers
65. gifted speakers who proclaim God's truth
66. 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep
67. quiet drives with Andrew
68. discovering new things about Andrew after 6 years
69. 6 years of being married
70.  In-laws who watch our boys
71. a second night of 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep
72. four generations of family in one room
73. fresh flowers
74. hugs from Ty
75. hugs from Nolan
76. Nolan saying "mama"
77. Ty saying "i missed you"
78. Ty saying "i love you"
79.  seeing my Memaw
80.  Boudreaux's butt paste

Marriage according to Ty...

Ty has recently announced that a little girl in his class is his wife.  I have even seen them holding hands in the hallway.  I told Drew about it today and this is the conversation that followed.

Drew: "Isabella is your wife?"
Ty: "Yep, cause I like her too much.  Sometimes I like her and sometimes I don't, but she's still my wife."
Drew (to me): "He has a better understanding of marriage then most adults."

Catalyst

Andrew and I went to the Catalyst Conference this past Thursday and Friday in Atlanta.  Catalyst is a conference for church leaders but open to all.  It was AWESOME!!  They did a great job putting it on and lining up the speakers.  The praise and worship was great too.  We got to hear Andy Stanley, Dave Ramsey, Charles Swindoll, Louie Giglio, and Rob Bell (Nooma) among many others.  They all are such gifted speakers.  It was such a challenging weekend.  Rob Bell really knocked it out of the park.  He challenged us to make sure we always remember that after God our families are the most important part of our ministry.  Whether you are a minister or not.  He also challenged everyone to make sure they remember to observe some type of Sabbath rest during the week.  Taking time to put aside all the things that need to be done and spending time just being... being in prayer, being with family, being quite, being thankful.

"Our children pick up on what really matters to us even if we don't say a word."- Rob Bell

gifts

41.  sharing tears with friends
42.  husbands who call to say they are coming home
43.  purring cat
44.  birds singing
45.  a husband who surprised me by rearranging the living room furniture like I wanted it
46.  an afternoon spent with some of the 5th and 6th grade girls at church
47.  watching those girls serve
48.  the smell of baking cookies
49.  snuggling on the couch as a fam and eating those cookies
50. Nolan "reading" a book
51. touch and feel books
52. clean kitchen counters
53. the approach of Fall
54. Ty singing "roll the Gospel CHERRY along"
55. Nolan "setting" the table while I cook
56. Brown eyes and long eyelashes
57. Blue eyes and long eyelashes
58. reading the same book over and over again
59. Froggie, Nolan's luvie
60. Staff Bible studies

fall and babies

With the arrival of Fall and the birth of a new baby to our friends Hal and Maghan Craig here is a gratitude list in honor of Fall and babies.

1.  tiny fingers
2.  tiny toes
3.  tiny fingernails
4.  baby hair
5.  baby noises
6.  sleeping faces
7.  smacking lips
8.  warm head
9.  tiny clothes
10. swaddled bundles of joy

11. cool mornings
12. open windows
13. white pumpkins
14. crunchy leaves
15. changing leaves
16. trips to the pumpkin patch
17. smell of wood burning
18. pumpkin bread
19. pumpkin pie
20. football!!!

Simplifying and projects.

I have been on a quest to simply, purge and complete some of the projects around our house.  I have made myself a cleaning schedule.  I tackle one thing per day.  I also don't stress if I don't get it done. Because I know I have a specific time to tackle it the next week and I make it a priority that week.  So far it's working well and although my house is not completely clean at one time it is ALOT cleaner and ALOT less stressful and time consuming.

I have taken a break to decorate for fall including making this wreath.  Which I later found some like this online on sale for about $60.  Thank you Hobby Lobby mine cost about $15!

I've started to tackle some of my sewing projects.  I've made a pair of pants for Nolan.  It's the best pic I could get and they really aren't as baggy as they look.  I've also made him a Trick or Treat bag.  Is is patterned after the one Ty has which was Drew's when he was little.

I've been purging closets, storage tubs, dressers and other stuffing places.  I've rearranged furniture and I am also close to getting my kitchen cabinet doors finally painted.  I still have a whole list of projects to tackle including the new kitchen table I found this past week, yippee!!  It's felt good and it's been fun working on most of these.  I also don't feel as much stress when I look around the house because it's clean and my "TO DO" list has things marked off.

The past month

It's been a long time since I've written about what is going on with the Reagan Fam.  We have been busy.  Most of it has to do with my current drive to simplify my life and finally tackle many of the projects that have been piling up.

A few weeks ago Andrew, Ty, Sue (Drew's cousin) and I went to a Birmingham Barons Play off game.  We had a great time.  Ty spent the whole evening asking about the fireworks.  Then when they started he decided he didn't like them because they were too loud.  He also won a free piece of pizza.  He ate all of it but the crust.  And we had already eaten dinner.

Nolan is really starting to grow up.  I am amazed at how much he understands and is soaking up on a daily basis.  His personality is really starting to explode.  He is very stubborn, hard-headed, strong willed, and all those other descriptives.  He is also loving, playful and very funny.  He has learned very quickly how to hold his own with Ty.  That usually includes some type of biting or pinching.  Everyday is an adventure!

Sometimes he gets very quiet.  I usually find him in his room sitting on the floor or in the chair "reading."  He also has starting helping set the table when I am cooking.  This night he gave himself three plates.  Which describes how much food this kids can put away at times.  I don't know how we are going to feed these boys when they are teenagers.

Julie is currently here spending a few days with us.  We are enjoying her company and the boys are having a blast with her.  We have an ice cream truck that frequents our neighborhood.  Yesterday she ran out with Ty to buy him his first ice cream from a truck.  He was so excited and I know from now on we'll be asked to take him when we hear the music.