5 MORE DAYS!

Yesterday we went to Opryland Hotel. It is so beautiful! My Mom wants to go there when she comes down to visit. I look forward to going back. The kids really loved it, but Ashley got a little tired of walking. So it was a bit difficult at times. I think it will be much better going when there is someone to look after each child. The kids wanted to go in all directions. It was very hard to keep up with them. Although...

We did meet some friends there. And Sarah (around 9 years old) helped out a great deal. Ross on the otherhand, taught my children a few things I'd rather him had not taught. His Mom just had another baby and she said he had regressed a lot. He just turned 6 and he was running in all directions, jumping over streams and climbing rocks and splashing water. Just a few things that made me very nervous. I didn't mind so much until my kids tried them and I had to get on to them. They didn't quite understand why someone else could do it and they couldn't. But they had a lot of fun anyway. And I enjoyed spending time with Lisa and her family.

I love this picture of Austin. I have one very similar to it when he was a baby. (Same expression and everything.)

Merry Christmas! ONLY 5 MORE DAYS 'til Christmas! Are you ready?

Monday Picnic

Monday- We had a picnic at Centennial Park. Greg was able to join us to eat but he had to rush back for a meeting.

I want so much to take pictures with my new camera, but it is so hard to get the kids in the same vicinity. I got lucky with this shot.

We didn't have any bread this time to feed the ducks. But Mason saved his crust of his sandwich to feed to them. We also found out that ducks don't like peanut butter and jelly peices.

The last 2 days the kids have been really asking to go out to eat. And I told them we don't have any money left to go out. It was hard for them to understand. Ashley said, "Well just go to the bank". So I explained it, saying we bought lots of wonderful Christmas presents this month and now we don't have any money left to go to a resteraunt until January. I said if you want me to take back some of your presents then we can go out. They decided to keep the presents. Although at one point Ashley said, "OK you can take back one of mine so we can go to a resteraunt." But I convinced her she would really like her gifts.

We have a little Bible story book for the kids. Ashley's favorite story is about Jairus and his daughter. It shows cartoony pictures in the book. But Ashley looks at those pictures and has told me that she wants to have hair as long as Jairus' daughter. Ashley is convinced she is NOT beautiful with her short hair now. We continue to tell her otherwise, but she is very determined to grow her hair long. I'm fine with her growing her hair, but oh boy she needs those bangs cut.

Sunday

Good morning! I have been getting so tired at night that I haven't been posting. I have some fun pictures to share. Sunday we went to Evergreen (Chinese resteraunt). Guess what they had there? Yep! Octopus! I brought one back to the table to show the kids as a learning experience and Mason said, "Can I try it?" BLECH! I didn't think they would want to eat it. But Greg and Mason both tried a tenticle. Greg said it wasn't too bad, but spicy. Mason said, "MMMM and then said oh I don't like that." The rest of us wouldn't dare try it. Ashley smelled it and said it smelled gross.



Then we came back to the house to find 2 big presents at our door. Yes- Dana and I agreed to let our kids go to the $1 store and have them pick out presents for each other. That's what I did. That is NOT what she did. She justifies it by saying one was a hand-me-down and the other she got at a spectacular price.



The kids just love LOVE LOVE their presents. Everytime we would go over to Dana's house Ashley would always say she wanted a pony like they have. Well when she saw that pony she took ownership of it so fast the boys didn't even know that it was for them too. She hugged it and called it Lily. Then after awhile she started talking to me. She said, "Do you think Braxton and Dalton already had a name for this pony?" I said, "I don't know but you can call it what you want to now." She said, "I like Lily, do you like Lily?" I said, "Yes, Lily is a pretty name." It is as big as her and she carries it everywhere.




All of them wanted to sit on Lily to eat their dinner, but we had to put a stop to that.


But even though she lays claim to the pony, she didn't hesitate to say the Thomas track was partly hers too. This track is amazing! It takes up our whole Family room floor. The kids are really having a great time playing with it. Austin is back to telling me all the trains that he doesn't have and wants. Of course I got NONE of them for Christmas. (eyeroll).


Well the kids are now demanding my attention. Hopefully, Ill post later today about what we did yesterday. And today, I'm hoping to get some good pictures too. I'm taking them to Opryland Hotel to look at the lights.

Have a great day!

What in the world?

Ashley, WHAT are you doing?

I'm pretending to go swimming.

Oh....Ok.

The Unknown

There seems to be a lot of sadness in my inner circle of friends. There is a lot going on, sickness, money, death, loss of jobs, holiday stress and the unknown.

It's sometimes easy to pray for the things we know, but it is the unknown that worrys us THE MOST.

How do you pray when we don't know what to pray about?

We are worried.

We hurt for each other.

We hurt for ourselves.

We feel lost and afraid.

And yet we love each other so much that we are willing to be there for each other as best we can EVEN through the unknown.

~~Please pray for my circle of friends during this time of the unknown.~~

It's HERE!

Want to know something funny? I was reading one of those chain letters that said by the time you finish reading this letter you will receive a call. Well the door bell rang as soon as I finished reading it and I got my new camera!

Love it! LOVE IT! Love it! This is me on the phone asking Greg if I can open it up and check it out. But of course his reply was just too slow...so I'm taking my picture with it.

The card that it came with is REALLY small! It only held 12 pictures. But my old camera's card fits this camera too. I'm so tickled...Can you tell?

Gingerbread house

This is what we made today.

The kids loved making the Gingerbread house. Mason especially really got into it. All three had their own bag of candy. Austin and Ashley put on their candy just as soon as I put the icing on. Mason waited patiently to put his on. He carefully put the "fence" around the house. Then when we were all out of candy that the kit came with, we pulled out some more. Mason had fun filling all the empty spots. When Austin and Ashley were finished they went on to play or watch Monster Inc. games. I tried to get a picture of all 3 of them with the house, but Austin said if I took a picture of him he would be MAD in the picture. (Which of course made me mad).

Anyway I think they did a great job for three 4 year olds.

Oh by the way...What counteracts SUGAR? This whole week is one party after another with lots and lots of sugar. Today has been insane!

Have you been good?

One last post tonight then I'm off to bed.

Today as we were waiting in the lobby for Daddy to come and pick us up a lady approached us. I don't know the exact words but she said something like this to the kids, "Have you all been good for Santa?" And my kids were shy today, but they all nodded their heads yes. Then just as the lady walked out of site, Austin turns to me and matter of factly says, "Ashley's getting coal in her stocking."

Rolling on the Floor Laughing!!!! She has been quite naughty.

The Children's Christmas Program

After we went to A Walk thru Bethlehem (previous post), we went to Carrabas. We won a gift certificate in a "Dirty Santa" game last night. And with Mason's spaghetti, came a BIG meatball. I wish I could have really captured his face when he saw it and picked it up. His eyes were as big as his fists. And that little fellow ate the whole thing and then started on Ashley's.

After lunch we went home for 40 minutes and then had to turn back around and come to church again for the Children's Christmas program. On the way, I asked my kids to sing really pretty for me and I was informed that they were NOT going to sing. And that they would only sing if it was just the three of them. Little boogers!!! Anyway we got there and I did my part just fine. I read a story with a Lion puppet to the kids. Then it was time for my kids to come up. Ashley and Mason went on stage, but Austin did not.

Unfortunately, they were WAY on the LEFT side sitting down behind people, so I couldn't really see them. After the first song, I guess Austin decided he did want to be up there, so Greg snuck him up there. But he just sat with his back facing the audience and watched the little older kids sing. It was still cute to hear all of them and see them. They sang Amy Grant's, A Night Before Christmas.

After they sang the 3rd thru 6th graders got up on the stage and sang. It was so SO beautiful that I cried! I don't know the songs they sang, but 4 of them played the violin. It was just so moving! I was impressed to hear harmony with the instruments. And the rest of them performed sign language with the song. It was orchestrated so nicely and the kids rotated without being a distraction so everyone had a chance to be in the front. It was truly amazing. I wish you could have been there.

But then Greg came and got me and told me Ashley was sick. So I had to leave early and miss the rest of the program. But what I did hear was so wonderful, it just didn't matter that I had to go.

A Walk Thru Bethlehem

What a BUSY day!

After church today we went to Woodmont Christian church where they hold A Walk thru Bethlehem one day free to the public every year. Last year Austin was afraid because it is dark inside where all the shops are set up. This year he didn't like the smell of the wood chips on the floor. So Daddy took Austin and Ashley out and waited for Mason and I to go through the building. Mason enjoyed looking at the things that he saw. He even got to make a tiny bowl from clay. When we got outside and met up with the others, Ashley said she wanted what Mason had. And Mason gave it to her.

Then I took Ashley over to see Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. This is a picture of Ashley giving the bowl to baby Jesus as a present.

The kids loved the animals the best. This is Eli the donkey. He was just a baby so he still needed to learn some manners. Austin petted him and tried to feed him, but the "shepherd" was afraid he might nibble his fingers.

So he moved on over to the goat and fed him. I wish I could have gotten a picture of the Scottish Highlander. It was a long haired red cow with big horns, it was pretty cool, but I just couldn't get at the right angle to take a picture.

And there was a camel there.

So after we walked thru, the kids really wanted to go back to the beginning to pet the sheep again.

But look at the picture of the camel again. See those people looking from way up there? By the time we started to go back to the beginning, mind you we are at the end, the line to get in was wrapped around and all the way back to where we come out. I'm so glad we got there when we did, we got there just in time to just stand in a short line. Anyway, we did end up walking around all those people to pet the sheep again. This was there favorite part! Mason even got his picture taken from a reporter for the Green Hills news, so he just might be in the newspaper in the next few days.

I was going to continue on with the rest of the day, but I think it deserves another post.

Worn out!

I am so worn out! I don't know what happened to my children. Someone switched them while I wasn't looking and gave me basket cases!

I went to MOPS (Mother of Pre Schoolers) today. When I dropped off the kids there was one child really upset in their class and was really crying and screaming. When my kids heard this they ALL started crying and ran down the hall in the opposite direction. Then they clung to me for dear life. They quieted down quickly after I left. But it sure made me feel bad. I had a really nice time there. The kids even came in and did a little program for us. Mason and Austin kept turning around and waving at me.

Then we went to JoAnns- I had to get 3 things. They didn't have 2 of the things I wanted. But the kids were horrible. I was so embarrased!

The whole day was like this...I had to wonder if I remembered to take my medicine last night or if it was really just a harder day than usual. Well I know I took it tonight! So I hope tomorrow is tons better.

Then tonight we went to the Agape Christmas party. Greg was asked to read stories to the children. So they invited the whole family to come. It was a really nice party. And of course I would have enjoyed it more if my kids wouldn't have been acting out. I felt like we were crashing the party. They were SO nice to us. We didn't know to bring presents for our kids so they had extras that our kids could have. They sat on Santas lap and got a polaroid made. Mason got Chutes and Ladders board game. Austin got Candy Land. He asked why we got this again. I told him that Santa probably knew that you kids just got it out and lost all the cards. And Ashley got a Barbie doll. She was in heaven!

They got to make crafts and get their face painted. Austin got Spiderman which surprise me. He has never had any interest in Spiderman, but he was so tickled with it. Mason didn't want his face painted. We sang Christmas carols. During this time Austin spilled his water everywhere, the boys wrestled all of the floor, they all got up and down and up and down and ran all over the place. Once I got one in line someone else was doing something. I was SO ready to go home.

So now I am home- I'm tired and I'm thinking about tomorrow. I want to take the kids to A Dickens Christmas in Franklin tomorrow. I have no idea if they will enjoy it or not. I really hope they like something about it. Then we are having a progressive dinner (is that what it's called when you go from house to house?) in the evening and all the kids will be staying at our house. So I need to clean up tomorrow! I better go to bed. I hope all is well with you!

Camera Update

So did you see Greg's reply? You didn't? Well let me just show you...


All right, Chelle, just so your friends will stop feeling sorry for you (and sorry for me for being so dumb that I need that much of a hint), let me just state right now that you will get the dad-blasted camera. So there. Can I please have my car keys back now?

Merry Christmas to me! Merry Christmas to me! He he he! Merry Christmas to me!

It's a cool little camera with 10MP and I can still fit it in my pocket.

Santa Cow

We went to the Chick last night. Santa Cow was there. OH boy the kids went nuts! They love Mr. Cow and this was even more special to see him dressed up. They were all over him giving him hugs and telling him they loved him.

Tonight we went to church. I don't usually take the kids on Wednesday nights because the timing is really bad. Getting them into the car that late--they fall asleep. And that is exactly what they did. I wanted them to be there because Sunday night they are going to be in a Christmas program and tonight was rehearsal. They were so funny. After rehearsal Mason and Austin told me they were scared and that is why they didn't sing. But all these kids were up there singing and doing hand motions and my boys were right up front not doing either of them. Mason just looked dazed and stared out into the audience (of a few parents). Half of the time Austin flirted with the girl next to him. He tried to hold her hand and she wouldn't do it. So then he tried to kick her footing (not sure how to say that). He didn't kick hard he was just playing with her. And she just giggled and had the biggest smile. Then the other half of the time he would bury his head into Mason's shoulder. It was really cute and funny. I'll have to take a video recorder on Sunday. Austin told me he would sing and not be scared if it was only the three of them on stage.

I've got a haircut appointment tomorrow and I don't want to go. That is not typical!!! I love to get my hair done, but I have so much sewing I need to do and not many days left that I can do it while the kids are in school. Actually only 3 days of school and then they are on break. I might just have to make it in front of them.

Well I better go and clean up and go to bed. Have a wonderful day!

What do I want for Christmas?

So what do I tell my hubby I want for Christmas? I can not think of anything! I don't want anymore scrapbooking stuff...because I like to pick that out and right now I feel like I have everything I possibly need.

I certainly don't want him picking out my clothes, even though I could possibly use some more. Even though I would like a massage or some kind of pampering, even that doesn't sound very appealing to me. I just have this big black mental block that I just can't seem to get around.

So what do I ask for for Christmas? Please help. If you can think of ANYTHING

maybe you could talk to my husband, because he is not very good with hints.

Leap Frog globe- I'm ecstatic!

I am SO SO SO very excited. Do you know how much these globes go for in the stores? They are between $80-$120. I found one today at Goodwill for $25. AHHHHH! What an awesome find!

And I have completed my Christmas shopping and I even got most everything wrapped last night. I have never been this 'together' ever, this early for Christmas.

I still have several outfits to make, but I'm still doing very well.

I'm smiling from ear to ear today- I hope your day is wonderful too.

Oh by the way... It's Dana's Birthday today. Happy Happy Birthday! Unfortunately she is stuck at home with 3 sick boys. Actually, I don't know if her husband is staying at home or is fighting it and working anyway.

I'm in the Christmas Spirit

This has been a WONDERFUL day! Greg surprised me the other day by offering to help with decorations. So we set up today as the day. I was giddy all day long. I put on the non-stop Christmas music and got to work. Ashley and Mason helped a lot!!! They brought me all the tree branches and helped me put them on.

They each had to put on the star, so they took turns. We never made a big deal about this before, so I'm not sure where they got it. But each one asked at different times if they could put the star on. I thought that was really precious!

Of course they had a big time getting into everything. I love this picture of Aussie blowing the horn and Mason listening on the other side. And many times today Ashley would pose and say take my picture Mama.

Earlier in the day- I got out to finish up my Christmas shopping (well almost). During that time Greg made an incredible rail system for Austin's doors. It is amazing but it takes up the entire Family room. Austin was so excited. He played with it all day long. He took a few breaks to put an ornament on the tree or play outside a bit.

And here is a picture of the Sock countdown we are

doing. Today I put in a note that said Day 2: D..D..D decorate! Only 23 more days until Christmas. I don't have time for any extra activities tomorrow, so I put stickers in the sock for them to play with.

This has been a great day!!!! I am in the Christmas Spirit!

Puppet Theatre

Ahh...Blogger finally MADE me switch to Beta. I've been avoiding it as long as I could. So hopefully things will be smoother this time.

I'm SO VERY excited! I am almost finished with one of the Christmas presents I'm making for my kids. I thought I was finished with it tonight until I put it up. Then I remembered I need to get yellow cord or ribbon to tie the curtains back. Also when I put it up, I noticed it was slightly too big in the doorway, so I will cut off an inch on the 2 middle wooden rods. Here is a picture of it. It's a puppet theatre if you can't tell. I also got them some puppets that arrived today in the mail. I haven't gotten to look at them yet. I just ordered cheap ones from Oriental Trading Company that I have to put together. I didn't want to give them nice puppets yet, when I know they won't take care of them.

Today I started a sock countdown to Christmas. What's a sock countdown you ask? I copied this idea from Kelli Crowe. Look at her November 22nd post. Mine doesn't look nearly as cute, but as soon as I decorate for Christmas I will post a picture. Anyway, today's sock had a message in it saying to eat their breakfast and get on their SOCKS because we are going to the Jumpy Place. And here is an action shot of Ashley jumping.

I'm not sure what I'm putting in tomorrow's sock...ahem I mean today's sock. Maybe DAY 2 Decorate the tree. or Decorate the playhouse. hmm...any suggestions? I might not get to them tomorrow but I have until Christmas. I don't have time to make cookies tomorrow, but that will be one on the list. I really don't have time for them to make a craft either tomorrow. Tomorrow is dedicated to cleaning and getting the Christmas stuff out of the garage and up in the house. It really needs to be something special for them.

I didn't realize just how late it is...I better get to bed! Have a wonderful day!