Happy to be Giving Thanks!

Happy belated Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday.

I love the simplicity.

I love being with family and friends...

without stress of the perfect gift in hand.

I love, love, LOVE turkey and sweet potatoes, cranberry salad, and PIE.

Haha.

Thanksgiving is delicious.

 

This weekend, we were fortunate enough to visit my momma.

My Granny and Grandpa were there.

My sweet sister and her family were there.

My Momma's baby brother was there wtih his family, too.

We missed the "middle" brother and his family.

We ate waaay too much.

We made plans for our family Christmas.

We laughed and visited.

 

Friday I did NOT attempt to shop the Black Friday sales.

That's not my thing.

Courtney and I did go out Saturday morning.

We met a sweet friend for coffee and then headed to the mall.

Christmas shopping SCORE!  I did great there.

(without the early bird specials and running and fighting over merchandise!)

Yeah ME!

We even came home and wrapped them all up and stashed them under the tree.

#shoppingnearlyfinished!!!!

 

We fried a turkey on Sunday and took it to the home of my inlaws.

We took a lot of sides to go with it, too. 

Ahhh.

Sigh.

Stuffed belly.

Zzzzzz.

#TurkeyComa!

See?

Thanksgiving is deliciously the best.

(in my opinion)

 

I hope your Thanksgiving was delicious!

 

Now, if I could just figure out a good Christmas card picture for our family!!!!

Ideas?

Suggestions?

Still waiting on those.

Let me know if you have a silly idea you're willing to share, okay????

Thanks!!!



Silver Dollar City

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

 

I love going to SDC to see the lights at Christmas.

We have enjoyed the parade since the kids were tiny.

Last year was no exception.

This is what we saw while we were there...

 

 

This "toy solder" was marching along and saw this little girl looking at him. 

He silently knelt in front of her and shook her hand. 

It was a beautiful moment. 

That sweet little angel was giddy for the rest of the parade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is our family in front of the tree at the entrance.

 

 

 

 

This is our kids' favorite "non-roller coaster" ride!

I think it is beautiful at dusk.

 

 

 

 

 

Here comes Santa in the parade!

 

 

 

Again, these were shots from a few of our SCD trips last year,

but we are excited about the opportunity to go again soon!!

 

Where do you see your favorite Christmas lights?

Do you take pictures?

How often do you go?

 

These pictures have me ready for a cup of hot chocolate and a light show. 

Maybe we'll go to SDC tomorrow!  

 



Kids say the darndest things!

We have been studying Pilgrims, Native Americans, and the First Thanksgiving in 1st Grade.  We had our own little feast in class this afternoon.  We invited the parents to share in our celebration, too!  As things were winding down, one momma approached me to tell me a story about her son. 

This was just too cute not to share!

While out of town this weekend, they stopped at a Dairy Queen.  During their meal, a large group of Mennonites walked into the DQ.  My PRECIOUS little student got wide eyed, looked at his momma, and quietly whispered....."Look Mom!!!!  Pilgrims just walked in!"

Innocence is delicious!

Colorful

 

There it is.

Finished.

(I think)

 

It's certainly not perfect, but we like it anyway.

Now...I'm heading to the kitchen to start the decorating there. 

Have a delicious day friends!

 

 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The stockings are hung by the chimney WITH CARE...
only because they keep falling from there!

Grrrrr.

My stocking holders are not terrific with empty stockings. 
Maybe I should fill them for Santa so they will stay put through December.

Oh well.
The tree is decorated.
The mantle is partially decorated.
I still have a lot to do, but it is a start!

I'll post pictures soon.
(I hope)

Enjoy the week friends!
I cannot believe....
It is the week of Thanksgiving!
What a delicious time of the year.
(Thanksgiving is worthy of a post all it's own.)

Enjoy!

Fabulous Firsts

 

 

First grade is fabulous for yet another reason!

 

This precious baby let me pull her tooth. 

To the ordinary person, that is not a big deal.

I get it.

Let me explain.

 

I am so easily grossed out by all boo-boos, owies, blood,

and bodily fluids in general.....

I have NEVER pulled a tooth in my life.

Until Tuesday, November 13, 2012.

My own children did not trust me with their loose teeth.

Their daddy was allowed to torture them with tooth extraction.

The dentist was known to take 4 or 5 at a time.

I was not even allowed to wiggle them.

(I most likely would have passed out anyway.)

 

For YEARS I have asked the Kinder Kids if they would let me pull their teeth.

Every time someone's tooth got close to being pulled, I would get all excited.

Then...in our business of the day, I would have to say we could try to pull it "tomorrow."

I never wanted to hurt anyone if the tooth wasn't ready!!!

And every single time "tomorrow" came and the tooth had come out the night before,

I would moan and be so sad that I missed another opportunity to pull my first tooth.

(he he he)

 

So...on Monday evening, I received a text from a teacher friend/mommy.

Her baby's first tooth was ready to come out--

and Audrey wanted ME to pull it!

 

Holy Smokes!!!

The pressure!

 

We pulled that tooth out first thing on Tuesday morning.

My hands were shaking.

I was nearly ready to fall out of my chair.

She didn't flinch.

She was so brave!

She just smiled and smiled while I turned her little tooth until it rolled right out!

If you could have heard the cheers and celebrating!!!

(Maybe you did!)

 



 

That little tooth is IN MY HAND!

Oh my goodness.

I was STILL shaking here.

 

We were still hugging to celebrate our bravery in this one.

(The blurriness makes me think Mommy was shaking for this one.)

 

I'm so blessed to have my loving kids in class again this year.

First Graders are incredible.

 

This was a morning I will never forget!

Thank you Audrey (and Mommy and Daddy)

for letting me pull your very first tooth!

 

...and thank you to the Tooth Fairy!

She left ME a bag of chocolates for helping her.

What a deliciously sweet deal!

 

Happy day, friends!

Happy Day!

 

 

 

It begins!

The Christmas tree is up!

It has lights and deco mesh on it.

I will try to refrain from dragging out the rest of the decorations until next weekend.

I'll try!

I can't promise though. 



Meatloaf

It's what's for dinner!

 

I don't usually get all ahead of myself when it comes to cooking dinner.

It is usually a day by day thing.

Yesterday, however, I was looking at 3 pounds of ground beef...

just sitting in my refrigerator...

waiting...

waiting.......

waiting to be cooked.

I looked at the use by date and decided the time was NOW.

I baked a meatloaf for tonight's dinner.

I also browned a pound and a half for tomorrow's pot of soup.

Preparedness. 

That's the good news. 

The bad news???

THIS is what I'd rather have.

(Thanks for the temptation Ree!)

 

 

 

Or ...

maybe this.

 

 

What?

A girl can totally have cupcakes for dinner once in a while!

You know you've done it.

...and it was delicious!

Have a terrific dinner my friends--whatever is on your plate!

 



One Happy Girl!

Last weekend Sister had tryouts for Club Volleyball.  

Can you say nervous? 

I couldn't hardly think about anything else today. 

(one would have thought Courtney would have been nervous...

but nope...just me)

Okay...she might have been a little nervous, but I was the one eating Tums by the handful..  

We drove into town and prayed together for most of the drive.

She hung out at the gym with friends while I went to church. 

When I met up with her, she was doing great.

We went to the tryout, and she came out smiling.

She said she did great on her serves (her weak area).

She felt great!

But then......the WAIT!!!

It is so hard to watch the girls walk to the lists to see if they made the team.

As Courtney and her friend walked with their arms around each other,

I wonder what they said to each other.  I could have cried.

We knew that at least 3 young ladies would not make the team. 

Would one of them make it leaving the other one heart broken?  

They got to the door, turned around and walked back to us.  

Relief.

They both made it.

Again, I could have cried.
I'm so thankful that our girl made a goal for herself and worked to earn a spot on the team.
I'm also thankful that she turns to Jesus in times of need as well as thanksgiving.
I'm proud of her for being concerned about the girls will not join the team this year.
She is sad for their hurting hearts.
I'm so thankful for her kind heart.

As we drove out of the parking lot, I could feel her excitement.

She asked if she could call a few people to tell them the news.

(and give her sales pitch)

She is one happy volleyball player.

We celebrated with frozen custard, pork chops and macaroni and cheese for dinner.

tonight, all is right with her world.

I'm so thankful that she is a healthy, able young lady, who had the desire and drive to accomplish a goal for herself.  

Although it was full of stress and worry, the day was a delicious day for many reasons.

What have you celebrated this week?

I hope you took advantage to enjoy something delicious.

Have a fabulous week friends!