Happy Birthday Daddy

While Junior was at work today, the kids and I went to pick him out a birthday present, and we baked him a cake.  I'd planned on inviting his parents, my sister and Matt, and his buddy Kevin out for Birthday Dinner, but they rescheduled his family's Christmas party to Tonight because my mother in law was too sick Sunday.  We had a really nice time seeing everyone and of course, opening presents :)

Here's Olivia working on the cake, wearing the apron that she got for Christmas :)

And here's the kids' table at Christmas dinner :)

Family Fun: Sister Edition

My sister invited me to go to her company Christmas party with her.  We had a blast.  I've heard a lot about all of her colleagues, and apparently, they've heard about me too :).  Here are two of my favorite conversations from the evening:

Colleague: Lindsey, your sister is beautiful.
Lindsey: She's related to me, what did you expect?

Lindsey: Patrice, where's your boo?
Patrice: At home with the kids.
Lindsey: Where's the nanny?
Patrice: She's with me. Girls' night baby!

LOL awesome! Now, its not quite as funny as you read it as it was in real life, but if you'll just imagine the expressions and tone of voice that may go with statements like these (especially my sister's "she's related to me, what did you expect?"), I think you'll find the humor.

I've created a monster!!

For a while there, it seemed like every time I took Olivia to the Doctor, she had blood work, or got a shot, or something traumatic, so I would always get her a milkshake as a reward for being so brave.... well, now, she thinks she gets a milkshake after every visit.... Fine by me!

She was feeling under the weather yesterday, so I took her to the Dr. first thing this morning.  he thought it was just a 24 hr bug or something, and she was much better today other than being a little tired. So, after the apt, we went to McDonalds. Olivia's chioce: A hashbrown, and a milkshake! Comin' right up my love :).

We ate out in the play area, but after Olivia's hash brown, she was still hungry. The cashier saw me let her use my debit card to pay for breakfast, so I handed it to her and off she went :). There was another girl in the play area that smiled at me as she left, and asked if they'd let her use it.  I told her we'd find out. Olivia came back with a to go bag and handed me my card with no reciept. I asked her if she got a hash brown. She said "yeah, a bunch!" HA I got worried for a minute, and asked her again for the reciept, but she couldn't produce one. The other girl and I were cracking up. It turns out that she only had 2, and when I checked my account online on my phone, it had already posted the $1.07 that it cost for the hashbrowns. She ate both, for a total of 3, and then played for a couple of minutes. I was pretty proud of her for going to get her own breakfast :). As we were leaving, I thanked the cashier for letting her use the card, and she just smiled and said "she's a pro at it." Love my little independent pumpkin :)

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!!!!!

AND........... Here she is!!!! Our Beautiful Homemade, farm grown, tree!!

And if you're wondering why my curtain looks like its falling down... I'm going to credit that one to our designated tree plugger....

I know I previously posted about our ornament ideas, courtesy of pinterest.com, but we also did the ole faithful paper chain and of course spray painted pine cones :)

This picture is a testament to how long it took us to complete our project.  Our ornaments sort of set up camp on the kitchen table for a few days while they dried, we painted them, and the paint dried :)... Here's Olivia packing her lunch, surrounded by our craftiness...

Another idea from Pinterest: Flatten a toilet paper tube, cut into 5 strips, glue them together with all the corners meeting in the middle, dry, and spray paint, and voila! I had been calling them snowflakes, but the kids spray painted a couple of them red, and they sort of look like poinsettias... so now they're flower/snowflakes :).

I'm totally in love with our final product that has been several weeks in the making ;). It has been a lot of fun!

Free Family Fun

Last Wednesday, I decided to take the kids out driving around to check out all the Christmas lights.  There's a house we pass on our way home that has lights out that are set to music if you tune your car radio to a certain station.  Its right across from Poplar Springs Baptist Church, so we can park there, and catch the show.  I also got a tip from a facebook friend to go check out a subdivision off Martin Rd. There were tons of elaborate lights displays, but the best was another house with their lights set to music.  It was much more organized than the one across from the church, and beautiful!! We waited until right before bedtime to go, and the kids were so sweet and quiet just checking it all out (and trying not to go to sleep). They enjoyed it.  I think it was just as good or better, and much more relaxed than going to Callaway Gardens' Fantasy in Lights.  I know it sure was a lot cheaper and less trouble!! I love that so many people around here have gotten into the Christmas Spirit. We really enjoyed our family time checking it all out!

The Children were nestled all snug in ther beds...

Junior was still at the auction the other night after we came home and the kids got in bed, so we text messaged him some "I love you"'s

I love Gillsville :)

Last Saturday, our family spent the day in Gillsville, and the surrounding areas. It started with a hunting trip early in the morning, followed by breakfast at Mom and Dad's.  After that, a trip to the Christmas tree farm to cut down our first ever real tree!! On the way back to Mom and Dad's to ride four wheelers, Junior dropped Tyler and I off at Jeanne's shop to get Tyler a hair cut.  We had to wait for a little while because we were a last minute addition to her schedule, but we had plenty of kind folks to talk to while we waited, most of which have known me since I was younger than Tyler (gotta love a small town :)). After the nice cut and style, and an unbelievably reasonable price, Tyler and I walked the quarter of a mile back to Mom's house.  It was a beautiful day to be outside, and we stopped and talked to the neighbors (Cousins) who were out in their driveway for a little while on the way. It was great to see them, and a beautiful walk with my sweet baby!

When we got back, we all had lunch together, then the kids took a short nap before heading out to ride their four wheelers. What a WONDERFUL day!!!!