About Me

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Welcome to my blog. I'm a Mississippi country girl transplanted to Grapevine, TX. I have been blessed with a great husband, and my kiddos, Aleck and Ella. When I'm not eating bon bons on the couch, I am my kid's room mom, PTA member, Sunday School teacher, taxi driver, amateur photographer and personal chef. When I'm not doing those things, I'm running a small jewelry business, 2nd Amendment Jewelry (www.2ndamendmentjewelry.com), that I started with my twin sister, Glenda. It's a crazy and busy life, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in this world. I am so thankful for all the blessings in my life!

Monday, December 26, 2011

Playdate at McWane Center

We were headed from Nana’s house to Mom and Dad’s house today.  We stopped in Birmingham to have a playdate with my dear friend, Teena, and her kids, C and N.  We met at the McWane Center, Birmingham’s kid’s science museum.  The kids slid down a huge indoor slide, played in a snow room,  and touched a shark.  Aleck’s favorite was the huge marble run, while Ella absolutely loved the slide.  Tom loved the huge model train exhibit.  My favorite part was spending time with an old friend, while watching our children play together.  Teena’s kids know AJ as Aleck The Fox, because when they met him back in May, they thought he said Aleck The Fox when he said Aleck Brooks.  

The only dark spot on the day was when we lost the our car keys.  I have to tell you, I was a bit stressed.  It was nap time and all our luggage, christmas presents, and two laptops were in the car.  The car would have to be towed to the Honda dealership to be rekeyed.  Since the minivan was parked in the parking garage, Tom spent a long time on the phone finding a towing service that could get a minivan out of a parking garage.  The kids and I took a courtesy shuttle to the Honda dealership, while Tom waited for the towing company.  Thankfully, right before the tow truck arrived, the front desk called Tom’s cell to tell him the keys had been found in the Snow Room.  A tow truck and rekeying the car were not in the budget right after Christmas.  Since Tom never went into the snow room, we were puzzled about how the keys ended up in there.  I asked Ella if she took the keys out of Daddy’s pocket and took them in the snow room and she grinned and said, “yes”.  Later, I was looking at the pictures I took today and found a picture of the key poking out of Tom’s back pocket.  Mystery solved!  Of all the places to lose a key, the snow room would have to be the worst.  I was so thankful for answered prayers.  Note to self:  NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT A SECOND SET OF CAR KEYS ON MY PERSON!

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas Day

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Santa found us all the way in Oxford this year.  He brought the kids new bikes.  I have no idea why Aleck is sitting on his bike backwards in this picture.

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We were in Toys R Us one day and the kids spotted horns for their bikes.  When they saw their new bikes, Aleck said, “Where’s the horn?”  Ella was so excited to find her horn in her stocking.

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Aleck loved his Legos and his Nerf gun, but his favorite gift was the remote control car from Nana.  Later, he told her, “Nana, I used to have a remote control car, but I broke it.  Thank you for getting me this one.”  My sweet boy.  You make your momma so proud.

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It was cold and wet outside, so Nana let Ella ride her tricycle around the house.  Nana, Ella and Aleck love how you love them.

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Sweet Molly. 

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Tom was pumped about his Kindle from Joy.  Joy, you rock!

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Mommy got new boots and a new camera lens to replace the one that I broke when I dropped my camera at Thanksgiving.  Thanks, Santa!!!

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There are few things better than experiencing Christmas through the eyes of our children.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

We are so thankful for our family, our friends, and our Savior.  We love you all, and wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Gingerbread House Play Date

We had a Gingerbread House play date today.  Instead of using the tradition gingerbread house kit, we used graham crackers and different types of candy.  Brilliant idea, Kathleen.

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This little girl was to busy eating the candy that she didn’t really get into the actually house building.  You can tell by the looks of her house.  Poor little house doesn’t even have a door or window.

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This one ate a good bit of candy also, but at least she had some windows on her house.

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My sweet boy had visions of a car, instead of a house.  He is all boy, and I love that so much!

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

The Shepherd’s Walk

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The kids participated in The Shepherd’s Walk today at church.  Aleck was dressed as a shepherd.  Ella was a little young for the walk, but she saw her brother and fell right in line with the rest of the children.

 

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Ella has decided that this red dress is her favorite thing to wear.  Most mornings she asks for her, “wed dess.”  She says, “wed dess kween?  Momma wash it?”  If it’s clean, she will wear it days in a row.  I love that my sweet girl is such a girly girl, but I am not looking forward to the battles we have over what she wants to wear.  She already wants to pick her own shoes and even barrettes. 

The kids love to play in the church courtyard, and there favorite place is the grate in the center of the courtyard.  Go figure.

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A sweet lady walked by when I was taking pictures of Ella in the church courtyard and snapped a picture of Ella and Mommy.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Pajama Day

The last day of school before Christmas break is pajama day at school.  The kids performed the Christmas program again for people who couldn’t make the program last night.DSC_4170DSC_4202

Ella’s class performed “Jingle Bells”, complete with the bells the jingle.

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My sweet little drummer boy.

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Dean Reed read the kids The Night Before Christmas.

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We are sad to see Mrs. Cook, Ella’s teacher, leave.  Her husband took a job in Midland, and she is moving over the Christmas break.  We’ll miss you, Mrs. Cook, and wish you the best.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Pictures with Santa

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2010                         2011

What a difference a year can make!