Daddy Daughter Day

For as long as I can remember, Andy tries to take the Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving off. Tomi Jean and Greg head to Chicago and we hang with the kids.  Andy use to take vacation because it was easier...the kids needed to be dropped off after I went to work, picked up before I got off, etc.  Now they pretty much take care of themselves (sadly) and we just need to be available for supervision.

So these vacation days have turned into Daddy/Daughter days for Caroline and Andy.  When she was at Calvary, she would stay home with him and it's typically when they would do their Christmas shopping for me.  This year, we didn't want Caroline to miss the entire day so he signed her out early.  It wasn't long before I started receiving texts like this from them.  They had lunch at the mall and then rode these animals.  They had a blast and her love tank was filled tremendously!

Turkey Trot

Several years ago our Wednesday night small group began volunteering for a Thanksgiving Day race called the Turkey Trot.  The money that we receive for helping is donated to a charity of our choice.  It's a fun and easy service project.  This year Andy had to work Thanksgiving morning so I had both girls with me.  Thankfully it was cool but not cold.  I was scheduled to work registration and wasn't sure how that would work with Maggie.  SO I asked Carline if she would watch Maggie for me and honestly prayed asking the Lord to help us through the hour and a half registration.  HE DID!  Caroline was a HUGE help as well as her friends.  Everyone LOVED Maggie and wanted to help "babysit."  Then as only the Lord would do, he sent Ruth and Helen!  They were signed up for the race but came early to hang out with the girls.  What a blessing!!!!!!

 Helen, Maggie and Caroline

 Our post on the race was mile marker 1

 The girls loved pushing Maggie along this driveway...we didn't know the folks who lived there but thankfully they never came out... :-)

Daniel and Claire's flood rebuiliding update

I sat through a bible study with Beth Moore once.  She said "Sometimes people go through the fire and come out smelling like smoke.  Other people go through the first and you would never know."  I  can honestly say that Daniel and Claire have been through the fire and honestly you wouldn't know it.  They are exhausted and overwhelmed but you never hear them complain about it being unfair...instead you hear them talking about HOW good our God is!  What an example they are to us.

This past week while I was at mom's we went down to see the house.  It honestly looks like they are building again.  I wasn't exactly sure what to expect but seeing it in person, I can't imagine all that hey have gone through.  However they are making progress and it looks great!

the garage

their bathroom

looking towards the kitchen sitting area

the den

the kitchen

Please keep them in your prayers...they are getting close!  They hope to get moved in by Christmas...what a sweet gift that would be!!

Earning Christmas Money

While most folks were out Black Friday shopping, the girls and I were hanging out at home.  I am pretty sure I am about a year behind on everything at home...laundry, deep cleaning, etc.  So I had hoped to use today to catch up.  Caroline threw out the idea "Mommy what if I help you and you pay me?  Then I could use the money that I earn to buy Christmas presents for Daddy and Maggie."  Music to my ears.  We sat down and created a list of things she could do and how much they were worth.  Y'all I LOVED watching this girl work.  She was so proud of herself and worked without complaining.  It was a great day for everyone.

Love this picture of the girls...Caroline insisted she wear my apron while Maggie wore hers.

One of her jobs, which paid a whopping $2.00 was to entertain her sister!  It was glorious!

her list...

She earned $15.00 and can NOT wait to go shopping!

Thanksgiving With Andy's Family

Tonight we celebrated Thanksgiving with Andy's family!  We had enough food to feed a large village.  It was fun to share Thanksgiving with not only family but friends..cause after all isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about?  Once again I didn't get too many pictures but oh well, at least we have lots of sweet memories.

Uncle Greg always decorates this tree first every year.  It's always ready by Thanksgiving.  This year, he introduced Maggie to the special tree.  I happened to catch this picture of the two of them outside lighting the tree.  So fun!  Love and look forward to this tradition every year.

These two sweet girls sitting at the kids table

Thanksgiving at Momma's

Tonight we celebrated Thanksgiving at Momma's.  The kids decorated mom's tree and had a wonderful time.  We enjoyed a delicious meal.  Sadly I didn't get too many pictures as Miss Maggie kept us pretty busy.  But I do love watching pictures of the kids working on the tree together.  The older kids were super sweet with Maggie and tried to help her decorate the tree.

Christmas Tradition is that Mom and Dad have always bought the boys Hess trucks.  My daddy started it with Jared 22 years ago.  We have an assortment of trucks throughout the years that stay at Momma's house.  Every time we gather there, the Hess trucks are a must.  Well the boys tried to teach Maggie how the trucks work...it was SO SWEET!

Thanksgiving Preparations

It was so much fun to be in the kitchen with this sweet girl this year!  She is now able to read recipes and actually measure things correctly!  We had a great day preparing for our Thanksgiving feasts.

Maggie enjoyed helping with the pumpkin pie.

Caroline was most excited to teach Maggie about licking the beaters.

Caroline was thrilled to learn how to use a can opener...

Fun with Courtney and the Kids

Our sweet friends are home for their state side Christmas.  We were so excited to host Courtney and the kids for dinner tonight.  It was a gorgeous afternoon and the kids enjoyed playing outside very much.  It gave Courtney and I a chance to catch up.  What a blessing to hear how the Lord is using them AND to enjoy the company of a dear friend right in your own living room!

Not too long after we took this picture, Courtney and I were inside chatting  Lincoln came to the door and said "I just threw up all over Jude."  Seriously...we looked at each other and started laughing...sure enough, they  had a little too much fun on the tire swing.  We pulled out some of C's clothes and all was well while we washed the boys clothes.

My heart is OH SO happy!!!!!!

Breakfast with Santa

Caroline got to enjoy a fun mornng with Nori and breakfast with Santa.  These two girls took their dads on a date with them.  Jill and John had an extra ticket to yesterday's event and asked Caroline to join them.  So sweet.  She had a wonderful time!!!  Thanks friends!!

Daddy Daughter Football Date

A sweet co worker of Andy's is a season ticket holder for USC.  She wasn't able to make today's game and asked Andy if he would be interested in two tickets.  He was thrilled and couldn't wait to ask Caroline to go with him.  She was so excited!!!!  These two had a wonderful time!  So thankful they were able to enjoy some one on one time together!

Maggie's Thanksgiving Celebration

Today I got to celebrate Thanksgiving with Maggie!  It was so fun to be in her classroom and interact with her and her friends.  I get sneak peaks of her day but try really hard not to interrupt her while she is in her classroom.  So today was a real treat!  Thankful for these sweet days with my girls!

This cracked me up...she was rather comfy sitting in her chair!!

Thanksgiving Brunch with Caroline

This morning I got to attend Caroline's Thanksgiving Brunch at school.  It was a sweet morning with just my girl!  She made a beautiful placement with many of the things she was thankful for.  We enjoyed a yummy treat AND got to know several of the families in her class.  It was POURING rain outside and I look like a wet mess (along with lots of other parents) but we still had so much fun!

When Mommy forgets...

Being a mommy keeps you humble for sure...being a director, in charge of a school, who is also a mommy will keep you VERY humble!!!!  We always ask parents to PLEASE keep an extra change of clothes at school or in their child's backpack...guess who needed a change of clothes today but didn't have them...yep, sweet Maggie!  However it was just her pants that needed changing so one of the teachers said "I have some pants that don't belong to anyone...I keep them in my closet just in case."  It was a great gesture so that I wouldn't have to run home.  However, when we put them on her, we decided she looked like a Pilgrim!!!!!  SO sweet and yet so FUNNY!  It's a good reminder that even good mommy's forget...