Making Christmas Memories

We spent this weekend decorating the house for Christmas. The kids were so excited to get the tree up and couldn't wait to start putting on the ornaments. As soon as we got their trees out of the attic, they took them to their rooms and started decorating. The problem was that they forgot to pull down all the branches! So...we started over and the trees looked much better.

Walker decorating his room. (We'll see how long it lasts!)

Anna Grace decorating her room.

After the small trees were decorated, we went on to the big tree. Walker and Anna Grace had a great time finding all of the "special" ornaments. Of course, Walker determined that every ornaments was a "special" ornament! After all the ornaments were in place, the kids helped me wrap a few gifts. Bless Walker's heart...he seemed to think that Christmas is the day after the tree goes up! I had to burst his bubble and explain that we had about 25 more days until Christmas. I think his bottom lip drug the ground for about 30 minutes!
Walker and his new soccer ornament.

AG and her new Hannah Montana ornament.

This afternoon, our church had a special children's fellowship. We make Advent Wreaths for our families to use to celebrate the weeks until Christmas. At one point, I attended a Methodist church, and the Advent Wreath was a special part of the Christmas season. I am so glad that our new Children's Minister decided to use it as a way to explain the different parts of the Christmas story. She will be using it in the children's sermon each Sunday. Anna Grace and I had a wonderful time putting together our very own Advent wreath. I am looking forward to starting this new Christmas tradition with my family.

Thanksgiving

With Christmas just around the corner it is so easy for Thanksgiving to be overlooked. Our family has had a wonderful week just being together--I think we all needed a break. In fact, every morning last week Walker asked, "How many more mornings until we get a break?" Even my very active 5 year old needed a break from our day-to-day routine.

Wednesday we headed to Brandon to spend Thanksgiving with my family. My kids were so excited to see my sister's kids. Anna Grace kept up with and entertained Lily while Walker and Reid ran their little legs off! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal and enjoyed spending time with my brother and his wife, Breisch and Angie. I do wish that we all lived closer.

God has blessed us so richly and to Him we give all our thanks.

SCORE!!!

Last night, we met Josh and Miley (Scott's brother and his wife) for dinner. They had not given Walker a birthday gift and wanted to take him to Toys R Us for him to pick out his gift. Walker was so excited and insisted that Anna Grace come with him (what a sweet brother.) I think we spent about an hour in the toy store. Walker loves everything in there! He finally decided on a basketball game - just like at "Chucky Cheese!" I think Scott may have been more excited about it than Walker! After we put it all together, Scott, Anna Grace and Walker had the best time shooting hoops! It even keeps up with your score and has sound effects when you make a basket! Thanks Josh and Miley for such a great birthday gift for Walker!

Our Little Pilgrim

Walker's Thanksgiving program was this past Friday. There were turkeys, indians and pilgrims singing their little hearts out. I can't believe this is Walker's last Thanksgiving program at day school. It seems like yesterday he was a 2 year old little indian singing in his first program.

Anna Grace's Thanksgiving Feast

Anna Grace and Elizabeth Cameron, Anna Grace & Adrienne Cameron & Anna Grace have become best friends.
Anna Grace's class had their Thanksgiving Feast today. She was excited that Scott came to eat lunch with her. Scott had a great time meeting her new classmates and eating a really good Thanksgiving meal.

It's finally here!!

Since Anna Grace started taking piano lessons in August, we've been trying to work out a time for my parents to bring the piano. This is the same piano my daddy, sister and I all played growing up. Well, my parents were finally able to bring it to us this weekend. Anna Grace was so excited! She has been using a keyboard but was having trouble because the keys were smaller than those on a piano. She enjoyed showing Nana and PopPop all she had learned. PopPop even gave her a few lessons! Walker even liked the piano and informed us that he wanted to take lessons too. We'll see how long his interest lasts!

No More Training Wheels!!!

While my parents were here this weekend, Anna Grace asked to take her training wheels off her bike. Of course, Walker piped up that he wanted his off, too. So they both helped PopPop remove the training wheels and gave it a try. I was very surprised by how quickly they got the hang of it. Of course, it was the coldest day of the year, and we were all freezing! But they wanted to practice all afternoon. When Scott got home, he worked with them on "take offs." By the end of the afternoon they had a few crashes, but were able to take off and keep riding without any help. Maybe learning to drive will be as easy!!!

Batman Turkey?!!

This is one of the cutest art projects! Mrs. Nicole sent home a turkey that each child was supposed to disguise so that he wouldn't be caught for Thanksgiving Day dinner. Walker and I had the best time disguising Tom the Turkey as Batman. Pretty convincing, if I do say so myself.

Operation Christmas Child

Tonight was Operation Christmas Child at our church. This is always a big celebration that is usually lead by the children of our church, and tonight all the children's choirs sang. Everyone puts together shoeboxes filled with goodies for children in other countries who do not have much. A copy of the New Testement in the child's language is also included in the box. We love putting our boxes together and even include letters in hopes that the children who receive our boxes may send us a letter back. This is such a wonderful opportunity to share the message of Jesus and to teach our children about missions and giving to others.

Gone Fishin'

Walker has been begging to go fishing at the pond in the back of the neighborhood with his friend Charlie. Charlie's dad takes him fishing on the weekends and often asks Walker to go along. Today was the first time Walker was able to go.

At first the plan was to just feed the catfish, but eventually the boys talked Mr. Stephen into going back home to get the fishing poles. About the time he got back with the poles, Walker & Charlie's good friend Weston came up to fish, too. Stephen was so patient with the boys, explaining about the hook and how to cast. They ended up catching a couple of really big catfish. Walker's "hooked" - he can't wait to go fishin' again next weekend!

The Ups and Downs of MSU football

Well...we all know what the "downs" of MSU football are - the football game! We were all hopeful that we had a chance to win against Kentucky, but those dreams were dashed with the missed field goal and extra point.

So, the "ups" of the game were definitely the tailgating. The kids had a ball playing football and just hanging out together. It was such a beautiful day - we just tried not to let the lose get us down!

All the cousins: John David, Lexie, Walker, Anna Grace, Charlotte, Liza & Sam