Christmas 2012

We had a lovely Christmas this year (as we do every year)! The kids announced at the end of Christmas that they got everything they ever wanted, lol. Through out the season we read to them the real reason for the season, Christ. And almost every day reminded them that it wasn't their birthday, its Jesus', and we spoke of ways that we could give to him, which is by giving to others and loving people. I'm hoping this lesson sticks with them.

Below are photos of us celebrating:

Jingle Twinkle made an appearance of course

We were able to slip in a few crafts this season. Not as many as last year, because this year unfortunately I was down for half the season with the flu

The Brevards' side Christmas

The Brevard cousins

Our Christmas morning

Christmas at Grandma's

I didn't even get any photos of Mitch and I :( but I guess that's what happens when I'm the photographer and Mitch was by my side instead of in front of me. Oh well, we were there though, I promise ;) and it was a merry Christmas!

Welcome to the world Gage!

This past weekend on Friday November 30th at 6:09 pm, my nephew Gage was born into this world weighing 7 lbs 10 oz and 21 inches long. The proud parents are my sister Jessica and her husband Shane. And with their permission, I get to post pictures!



Here I am! A proud aunt! :)

Now let me back up to when my sister announced that she was in labor, and back up further to say that she has cried wolf before. So...Thursday night she's texting me, updating me on her pregnancy. She's at the hospital because she has high blood pressure, but informs me that the doctor says that her and the baby are fine and that she is not in labor. 10 minutes later she sends me this text, and I don't believer her lol:

Ha! Mom had to call me to let me know that she was for real, lol. So I packed my bags, called grandma and we left together first thing in the morning (she lives 8 hours away, so we thought it would be best not to drive all night in the middle of the night). The turkey text was because before she went into labor she mentioned that she had a frozen turkey and that she wanted to have a turkey dinner "Thanksmas" for when everyone came into town to see the baby, well thanksmas never happened lol. By the morning, she still hadn't given birth, I was relieved, because I was afraid I was going to miss it. Here is another text from my sister:

Ha! She's just hanging out having contractions, and texting, lol :)

As we're driving down the road we're getting updates from my sister and my mom on how she's doing. The entire time I was surprised, yet thankful she hadn't given birth yet. But about 30 minutes before we arrived, I called to check in and found out that she was pushing! "Oh no!" I thought, I just knew that the baby would be here and crying by the time I got up to her room. But I was wrong! We made it! And I got to take some pictures:

(Don't worry, all pictures are rated G...maybe PG)

Who smiles during labor? ^^ this girl ^^

^^ Grandma peeking in because she didn't want to fully be in the room

^ and my kids are just behind the curtain waiting and playing :)

I love how she let the entire family into the room, mom, dad, me, grandma, Shane's mom and grandma. The baby was to be born, surrounded by his family and an endless amount of love...and he was loved!

The baby was "sunny side up", as the doctor put it, and the breech baby could not come out. Jessica was heart broken. She wanted so bad to push him out, and she pushed so well!
But a c-section was best

And baby Gage was born!

^ time to go home

They had a large entourage ;)

The family is happy and safe at home now, and we were all glad to finally meet and welcome baby Gage into the world.

The Tooth Fairy's Last Tooth?

Probably not, but we're getting close. This past week Skylar lost what I think might be her 8th tooth. I've lost count and I didn't even take a picture...shameful! For this last tooth she left a note for the fairy, along with a bottle of fairy dust as a gift and asked the fairy to write her back. So not only did I have to retrieve a small tooth in the middle of the night from underneath her head, but a bottle and a note as well, and then I had to return the note back under her pillow...this tooth fairy job is getting complicated. I think she wanted the note to prove to her knowing friends that she does actually exist, and I'm feeding this fantasy even further while other parents are spilling the beans. I think I was her age when I found out, maybe younger, I'm pretty sure I was 7 when I decided to test the fairy by leaving my tooth under the pillow without telling my mom that I had even lost my tooth. It was the ultimate test, which the fairy failed. I remember feeling so grown up knowing the truth, knowing a secret that the little kids didn't know, not at all traumatized, and yet I'm worried about telling Skylar and at the same time I'm so ready for her to figure it out already lol.

I love her fantasy and imagination though. She has become such a good writer, she loves writing short stories. I'm so proud of her and I hope that her love of reading and writing stays with her.

Too cute not to share

At the end of Skylar's kindergarten year, graduation pictures were made. By the time Maddox entered kindergarten we were in a different school, and I didn't realize that this new school doesn't do graduation pictures until after the year was over. Through out the summer I searched for a photographer that had a mini cap and gown but with no luck. After a while I dropped the ball in my search, but by the time 1st grade started I finally found a photographer who rented a cap and gown just for us. I figured that 4 months late is better than never and his picture turned out just precious!

A few cute moments from Maddox in these past couple of weeks were just too cute not to share, besides if I don't write them down (like I wish I had in the past) I'll forget.

YesTerday after school Maddox was complaining about all his classmates being Carolina Gamecock fans and that he is the only Clemson fan. LOL, for my children to have parents who could care less about sports (including their father), my kids sure are some hard core Clemson fans. A few weeks back, or maybe a month or so ago, I don't know, my grandma asked Maddox, why are you a Clemson fan, to which he replied, "I don't know grandma, I was just born that way." haha silly boy. Skylar is just as big of a fan. It must be because of their aunt, Mitch's sister Brianna. She went to Clemson. We even took Skylar to the Clemson campus for a tour when she was 7 because she said that is where she wants to go to college.

Days back I was petting Maddox's hair and he asked me to stop, well I didn't so he bit me! And it left a mark...and yes I spanked him, it hurt! I had to spank him for him to let up off his bite, stinker.

About a week ago I asked him to sit in my lap for a snuggle, he refused, but a minute later he asked for a treat (a second snack before dinner). Well! Since I didn't get my snuggle, no second snack for him. He agreed to finally give me a snuggle but he tooted on me the entire time :/

A cute word Maddox has been using is "focus-straight" instead of concentrate lol.

***************************************************

Mitch had the day off today, so we got to enjoy a lunch date for the first time since school has started back. We went to Quaker for some wings :) then to the store to pick up some Draino, our kitchen sink is clogged. Anyways, while in the store I was joking with Mitch saying, you know fall is coming when everything comes out in pumpkin flavor. Just then I spotted pumpkin flavored Bluemoon beer, pumpkin harvest ale. I'm enjoying it now :)
After school, homework takes over most of my afternoon, not to mention we have 2 extras hanging out, Skylar and Maddox's friends Cadence and Gabe, but I love having them :)

Before dinner we worked out in the yard. Mitch mowed, I pulled weeds and the boys were getting fussed at for messing with a fire ant hill... boys (sigh). They finally moved on to finding large green, and brown fuzzy caterpillars. The girls stayed inside playing barbies. After the friends left Maddox read with daddy, his reading and spelling is so impressive! Especially since last year. Skylar is doing well reading chapter books on her own, I am so proud of her love for reading. For dinner we had tacos and it was a good day :)

Right now I am cuddling with this sweet stray kitten that has been coming around for the past 3 days. She's so skinny, but so sweet. I guess with me feeding her, we'll be seeing more of her. I'm thinking of naming her Pumkin :)

Labor Day In VA Beach

Last weekend we took a trip up to Virginia to spend Labor day weekend with my sister and her husband. It was expected to rain that weekend, with hurricane Issac out there causing trouble, but it stayed sunny for us and we got to enjoy 2 full days at the beach and one full day at the pool. It was a great end of the summer vacation and we were grateful for my sister and her husband's hospitality and their free "beach home" for us ;)

Our highlights of the trip of course were the moments at the beach, but the kids also enjoyed playing with their dog Boozer (a dog or cat is a special treat for them), baking cookies, eating out at probably one of the best seafood restaurants out that way, Beach Pub, watching the kids feed the seagulls, and not to mention witnessing Shane (my brother in law) but his foot in his mouth when he called my pregnant sister a whale LOL. To his defense, he wasn't referring to her size. Jessica was swimming under water, thinking she was going to sneak up on her husband, she's all smiles under the clear water too. When she pops up Shane laughs saying, "Jessica, you can't sneak up on me, you're as obvious as a whale." LOL! He tried to recover but it was too late, even the lifeguard near by had a chuckle lol.

Our lowlight, so to speak, was the long drive (well worth it though), us forgetting the beach chairs, but a trip to store made that a quick fix, oh and Mitch getting his first speeding ticket in 10 years. Yuck! And on our first day to the beach too. Mitch was a good sport about it, but it still stinks.

Here are some photos of our trip:

Today's Accomplishments

*6:55 got kids ready, hair, breakfast, packed lunches and a bible story. Mitch had to leave for work early this morning for an early morning meeting, so he was leaving as we were rising. he went to kiss the kids good bye as they were sleeping, but the kids yelled at him for waking them up, yelling "get out!" Tsk Tsk Tsk, my children are so charming in the morning :(

*lit a candle, turned on music
*made beds
*dolled up
*wiped down bathroom counters. The bathroom still smells like bleach, ugh
*put away laundry
*planned dinner

*9 am Mitch is home from his meeting and we enjoy breakfast together, an egg and grilled cheese sandwich, blueberry oatmeal and coffee :). After some quiet time alone together it's time to send him off to work with a kiss and a packed lunch

*dishes
*picked up in the kitchen and living room
*swept the down stairs floor
*took the garbage out to the road
*enjoyed my quiet time in A Purpose Driven Life before starting my chores

Wednesdays I work in the bedrooms, Tuesdays the bathroom, and Mondays the living room

*in our room I polished the furniture and mirrors
*scubbed the baseboards, light switch plates, and wiped any small finger prints off the walls
*tidied up the closets
*organized the kids' rooms. I usually have them pick up their own room and their own mess, but once a week I go in and make sure their closets and drawers are tidy, clean what they've missed, like under the bed and I organize the toys, this helps them keep it clean through out the week. When Maddox came home he asked, "hey mommy, did you clean my room"? - yes "I love you mommy." that right there makes it all worth it :)

*2:30 I picked up the kids and their friends. Waiting for them at home were 4 snack necklaces and juice boxes. The necklaces were a big hit :)

*after homework I had to sit in the middle of the hallway in between Skylar's room and Maddox's room to keep the boys from fighting with the girls. I felt this was as good of time as any to paint my nails :). Some get to have their nails done in a salon, me...I get to do it myself while playing referee :)

*Mitch had to close at work tonight, so we ate my homemade Chinese food of fried rice and egg rolls (recipe found on pinterest of course) just the 3 of us around the table while I tried to fish for details of their school day

*Before bed we finished the last 2 chapters of Wizard Of Oz and a page out of the children's bible devotional, then it's kisses and hugs and don't let the bed bugs bite. Mitch is home soon after :)

I read this verse today, and it just kind of stuck with me:

A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life

~ Proverbs 13:7 (message)

Today's Accomplishments

I doubt I'll keep up with my daily accomplishments every night, but its fun for me to look back on my day and see how it was filled.

*7:00 am (I over slept) got the kids ready- hair, breakfast, packed lunches and a bible story before school
*kissed Mitch good bye for work
*lit a candle, turned on some music
*got all dolled up. I may not have coworkers to impress, but I want my children to think of me as a pretty mommy and my husband to think of me as a pretty wife. Not to say that I haven't taken advantage of hanging out in my pjs all day, because I have, but today (like I try to most days) I dolled up.
*made the beds
*wiped down the bathroom counters
*put away laundry and straightened up the bedroom
*washed dishes
*straightened up the living room and kitchen
*swept the down stairs floors
*planned dinner

*for lunch I enjoyed my husband's company, for he came home on his lunch hour and I fixed him a grilled cheese sandwich and a side of left over macaroni and cheese :) I love it when my hubby comes home for lunch :)

*after lunch I finished up my Proverbs 31 woman bible study that I have been working on for the past 14 weeks through a blog, Good Morning Girls. LOVE that study! And I was glad to finally have it complete. Also in my quiet time I read the second chapter of A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren...I hope it's a good read. Through out the day I enjoyed texting my friends and sending messages back and forth via Facebook, and it's rare for a day to go by with out a phone call to or from my sister, mom, grandma, or friend (blessed!).

For my chores I:
*mopped the living room, dinning room, and kitchen floors
*scrubbed the toilets
*cleaned the baseboards in the main bathroom
* polished the bathroom mirrors
*scrubbed the grout in our master bathroom with bleach. It made a big difference, but I still have a Clorox headache
*mopped the bathroom floors

*2:30 I picked the kids up from school. I also got to bring home one of Skylar's friends! 3 days out of the week I watch a friend of mine's kids after school. It's a fun way for me to earn some extra money, and my kids have fun playing with some extra playmates. I usually watch 2, but today I only had one.
*after snacks it's time for homework. I helped the girls with their math, vocabulary and spelling. Later during reading time, Skylar read independently to herself while I read 2 more chapters to Maddox out of his library book, The Magic Treehouse
*with the house cleaned,and homework done I then got to watch the kids play and answer whatever random questions they had for me, and share yet another embarrassing childhood story of mine-the embarrassing stories are their favorites and then they like to tell their friends. I don't know why I keep feeding them theses stories, I guess I just like to hear them laugh :)

*for dinner I made crispy chicken over bowtie pasta with this cream sauce I found on pinterest, served with green beans and garlic bread. Mitch is home and we all enjoyed dinner together around the table. Skylar said the blessing tonight, and we all shared stories about our day.

*dishes
*wipe down the kitchen and dinning room table

*8:00 it's time for baths, brushed teeth and hair and another chapter out of The Wizard Of Oz. kisses, hugs, and don't let the bed bugs bite.
*my day is complete and now I get to spend some alone time with Mitch and I'm starting a new crochet project, a green blanket.

Looking over my list of what I do all day may seem like I live day after day completing mundane tasks, but I truly enjoy making my house a home and spending quality time every day with myself in the morning, quality time with my children in the afternoon, and quality time with my husband in the evening. I thank God for these days and my life. Besides, not everyday is so "routine" ;)