"in other Turkey news..."

I did successfully bake my 2nd turkey EVER- praise the Lord!!!! We had a wonderful & scrumptious time with the Moons- thank you sweet friends- we love you guys!!! Here are a few photos from the last week....

here is a peek of my 1st ever pumpkin pie {without Cooner here} from yes.... a REAL pumpkin... and it turned out- yeah!!!!





this is JP & Priss pulling the wish bone from the bird {Travis & I pull it every year- I sometimes let him win- ha ha}. I think I'll keep this photo for their rehearsal dinner too- wink wink!!!



and.... this is me running in my 1st ever {now some of you may want to sit down for this one}...race!!!! I have sorta taken up the whole running thing over the last 6 months... I know it still shocks Joey! The first thing I knew someone was darting to the finish line and scooped me up. He just kept saying "I didn't expect to see you so soon"- thanks Joe!!! He continues to brag on me {which is sorta fun :)}. I think he is prouder of me now than after pushing out 2 babies for him {and 1 with NO epidural} and I'm NOT kidding!!!! It cracks me up what these boys think of as an accomplishment- little does he know that being a "back stage mom" @ ballet is WAY harder!!!!!!!! But I think for now- I'll let him have his glory- ha ha ha!!!!!!



~Jodi & I after the Turkey Trot~
{although I look 5 feet taller than her in this photo- I am standing on a curb!
And let me bring some attention to our matching shirts- all 5 of us got them on our beach trip}
...and when it was ALL said & done... she says we are shooting for the BIG one next year???

"Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!"

We have MUCH to be thankful for this year!! I hope today you take time out to thank the One that pours out the blessings over your life....

Cooner & kiddos made these little turkeys out of next to nothing- I know you're NOT surprised- ha ha!!! I'm gonna use them as place card holders on the kids table... This year we are celebrating with our dear friends the Moon's & they are like family to us. We feel so blessed that God has given us such sweet people to share our lives with {surely He will make a match with 2 of our children someday- maybe we can just do a double wedding with JP & Priss and A-man & Anna :) }!!!



and this cracks me up- when asked by his teacher "what are you MOST thankful for?" His replay was.. "cars"!!!! I {heart} him & his little ways!!

and this quite impressive little recitation is really what it's ALL about!!! I {heart} her too!!!

"Christmas with a touch of Cooner....."

So.. in a sentence- Cooner came this week {for a very short visit- boo!} & I know y'all didn't take it personal cause you know how I feel about our time together- it's PRECIOUS to me!!! We {Joey, the kiddos, & I} had put our tree up on Monday & found out that she was coming in on Tuesday... Needless-to say... with a wave of her magic wand my house was TOTALLY transformed! Here is quick recap of some of our week....

{this is the Harris Family Christmas Tree 2010- take 1}
Now in my defense- Cooner sent me 3 rolls of 1 yard wide lime green burlap- how was I suppose to know that you were suppose to twist it & that bows could be made with such as beast as that?? And she cut off the tree topper in this picture- and that was the best part- ha ha!!!



{this is Cooner's Harris Family Christmas tree 2010- take 2}
Shameful isn't she??? She just waltzed right in fresh off of the airplane & shook her head. Then she proceeded to take everything off & start a fresh. I swear the woman works magic. Joey said "well I thought ours looked pretty good until now!" THANKS Joe!!! I fell in love with the new tree instantly....



...& quickly begged for her help on the mantel {thank goodness she didn't take a before picture of it- I may have lost a follower or 2- ha ha!!}



... and then the wreaths got a wave of the wand...




... and the swags too- which are 10 yrs old by the way & have NEVER looked better...




and YES ladies the chandys weren't safe either!!!




on the 7th day {eve} she FINALLY rested!!!!


but did manage to make us our favorites... like BUTTER COOKIES!!!! {and we all ate 1 10}

Now I must add that she DID rest- everyday she napped with A-man & went to bed early with Priss, took her meds on time, & ate properly!!! We love you so much Cooner- THANKS for coming to see us!!! No one loves you like we do!!!!!!!! And tonight I am finishing up the last of the details & all the while I'm missing her advice, her humming everywhere we go, her wonderful cooking, her loving on my children- just the way I like to do, but MOST of all- I just miss knowing that I can go into the next room & see her sweet face!!

p.s.

I did get a lot of praise for his tree...

and her tree!!!
{maybe there is hope for me & tree decorating after all???}

"1st annual girls BEACH trip"

.... all we kept saying was- "I'm so glad we did this!" It was BETTER than I could have even imagined!!!! A weekend away with girls that I L*O*V*E, staying up late {VERY}, eating yummy food & NOT looking @ the children's menu, shopping {with awesome deals & actually getting to try on clothes!!}, listening to stories that I could SO relate to, laughing until I cried, & ahhh sleeping in until almost 8 am- hallelujah!!!!!! It was just the right medicine to make me so appreciative to my sweet husband for letting me go & my precious little ones to whom I get to teach & train everyday for being "good as gold" while I was away!!! We made some wonderful memories that will hopefully hold me until next year- since we have promised to make this an annual event!!!! My kiddos met me @ the door wanting kisses & hugs surprises & treats from my trip!!!!

{Jodi, Me, & Catherine}
at Anthropologie....
ladies can we say "peeking" in happiness!!!

{an early dinner & then some shopping!!!!}


THANK YOU-
Michelle, Jodi B, Catherine, & Jodi C!!! I praise GOD for you & your precious spirits!!!!!

"Deputy Daddy's b-day..."

well... Joey's "Toy Story" party was in his words "One of the best yet"! I had both kiddos home all day- so I had LOTS of help to pull it off!!!

{Prissy made him this sign...}



...and A-man made him this one-
{his 1st one was just dots & "cars" but he insisted on making one with words like his sister's.. The only word he knows how to spell is.. A~S~H~T~O~N!}



...and what "Toy Story" party would be complete without a "Toy Story" cake...

...and some "Toy Story" toy... {Toy Story Mania was one of our most FAVORITE rides @ Disney and the game is suppose to be awesome too!!!}

p.s. I'm headed off to be beach with my girlfriends this weekend. The last time I left my kiddos & hubby for a weekend... wait- I NEVER have!!! Anyway THANK YOU- Joey, Heath, Steven, Jonathon, & Kevin for watching the kiddos & letting us go {we've got ya'll ALL prayed up}!!!!!!! I love these darling girls to death & I can't wait to catch up, shop, laugh until it hurts, .... & sleep in- ha ha!!!!!!!

"happy birthday Joey...

I love to celebrate birthdays & when it comes to the ones I love.... I have been known to go a bit nuts!!!!! So today as my precious partner in life -Joe-bo-baby- turns 36... I wanted to let him know just how much I love him with a little surprise. I decided to write out 36 reasons why I love him {which came very easy... I wonder if 87 will come that easily??}. Now when he gets home he will get a sneak peak into my heart & just how much he is loved today & EVERYDAY!!! Gotta run now & finish up the cake, the topper, wrap the gifts, make the banner, hang the balloons, make one of his favorites for dinner.... and {as Cooner would say} run a comb through my hair so he will want to come home tomorrow night- ha ha!!!

p.s. I think I'll leave the little banner up a few days to serve as a reminder then I'll tuck into a drawer for him to read and re-read when he forgets!!!!

and....

Happy
Veteran's day
Daddy Bud
and to all the others who serve & have served!!!

"Disney- take 2..."

I was 4 yrs old when Cooner & Daddy Bud took me to Disney world. We stayed @ the Grand Floridian Resort & I remember thinking that it was "most magical castle" in the world. You can imagine my surprise when we went into the Magic Kingdom & I actually saw the real castle... I cried then & I do EVERY time I see it now!!!! We stayed @ the Grand Floridian again & got to see a few wedding in the chapel there... Priss now believes that she too wants to get married there- YEAH!!!! I told her I'm TOTALLY for it!! Now if we can just find someone worthy of her???? The trip was in Prissy's words from our 1st trip "just a dream come true". I think as a mother, nothing pleases me more than seeing my kiddos in pure bliss- they were 99% of our trip... and they were rewarded for their behavior I assure you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So without further delay- I give ya'll Disney- take 2...

{this is A-man after he "packed" all by himself... must to his dismay- we only took 5!}

{A-man meeting Lightning McQueen & Mater- he could barley talk he has SO excited let alone pose for pictures!!}

{the kiddos meeting the Playhouse Disney cast- with Handy Manny}


{and this is the MOST quiet that I have EVER heard my son be when he saw this guy...}

{A-man waiting in line for "Toy Story Mania"- we ALL loved it!!}

{Prissy with a "Toy Story Soldier"}

{here we are piled into a car @ the Sci-Fi dinner theatre- A-man thought this was a little slice of heaven (I mean really eating in a real car made into a table while watching cartoons) & the food was wonderful!!}


{every night we can home to our beds turned down... and chocolates!!!}



{...and fresh towels in the shape of "Mickey"
on our beds!!!}

I {heart} Disney!!!!!!!!


{Prissy with Mary Poppins}


{the kiddos outside the castle- I cried of course & Prissy did too & Joey did too but NOT A-man!!}

{Prissy after being made-over @ the "Pirate's League"... A-man tried, but.. then said "would you not have me put that paint on my face?" I just couldn't make him cry @ Disney World! When I told Daddy Bud the story he told me to tell him "he was proud of him for NOT getting make-up on like girls!".... }


{the kiddos with Goofy the Pirate}


{...and with their good partners- Woody & Jessie}


{and while Prissy the Princess Pirate said "hello" to Ariel...}

{...and the Fairy Godmother...}


{A-man slept...}


{my Capt. Joe Sparrow- isn't he dreamy with his patch??- I think some of his patients would appreciate this look!!}


{my little MiCkEy & MiNnIe}


{my very own Minnie...}


{hanging out with Tigger...}


...{and Poo!!!}


...{and Eeyore!!!!}


{my little Mouseketeers!!- A-man opted for NO face paint again...}


{and while Prissy & her Daddy rode the BIG rides... A-man did this!!!}


{the gang- Snow White, Capt. Joe, & First Mate A-man- after eating @ Boma- YUMMY!!!!}


{A-man loving the tasty treats of Epcot!!}


{the kiddos @ the Grand Floridian Resort playroom}


{and this is the little view that I got to see EVERYDAY @ Disney... was one of my VERY favorites!!! Isn't it precious!!}

and because Disney now makes a clothing line for 18in dolls {thanks Walt} and because I somehow convinced Prissy that Disney world was NO place for Lucy & Lanie.... we are now the proud owners the complete Belle costume...

thanks for taking this little Disney journey with us...
have a Magical Day!!!