I am thankful for.....

.. homemade Indian hats! Especially little ones made with his little hands!  I had to work Thanksgiving Day.... so we celebrated with some of our favorite friends on Friday!  

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  I made these little turkey place card holders.  They turned out pretty cute.

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And these little pilgrim hats/crayon holders were the perfect addition to the kiddos table- {that Joey covered with Trader Joe bags}.  They colored as they ate & clean-up was even easier :)

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But I think they liked wearing them even better :)  The kiddos play more like brothers & sisters.  They know their ways around each others' rooms.  They crack me up how they know when something is new or moved around.

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Anna loves all things girls- and she loves Prissy's lovees!  She bounces straight up to them when she gets here- we {heart} her!!!

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We had the traditional turkey, stuffing, cranberry chutney, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, rolls, etc.  But Catherine made this beautiful salad with this fresh homemade cranberry dressing that made you want seconds... and thirds... and fourths!  She promised to give it to me & I promise to pass it on very soon.  {I plan on making it in Indiana when we go home for Christmas.} It is the BEST dressing that I have EVER eaten- y'all will LOVE it!!!!!!!

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Our guests brought a fancy bottle of wine.... that they found- ha ha!  The story makes me chuckle even as I write this.  And the fact that I took a picture of the price tells you I know very little about wine :)

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Joey was the Barista of the day.  He got to make coffee/lattes for our guests all day long {with his new espresso machine=b-day gift from me}.  I must say we are getting pretty fancy around here... Makes me almost want to try the stuff....   

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JP won the wishbone pull.... And thank goodness for that!  He wished for "everyone to have a great Thanksgiving!" While Prissy had wished for- "Uhm $1000.00!"  Heaven help us ALL!!!

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my tiny dancer...

My sweet little Prissy.  You are such a beautiful dancer {you have been since you started when you were 3}.  This year CPAC presented "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and you did not disappoint!

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 It required many late classes, countless Saturday rehearsals, a grueling tech week schedule {4 hrs each night}, 2 Friday school performances, & 2 shows on Saturday!  But... it was AMAZING!!!! {she actually wore a hole through her ballet shoes!}

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I got most of my crying out during rehearsals, but still some how the tears flew again at the 7pm show.  She was stunning!!! 

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This year her bestie was in the Hip Hop number with her- they were precious together!!

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Mikaela {CPAC's senior student} did an amazing job as Grinchy!!

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They ALL were stunning!

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But... one little ballerina in particular stole the show in my book!!!

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The Hip Hop dance made me laugh... she got to be "sassy" & freestyle dance in the end- 

oH mY GoOdNeSs!!!

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Joey was one proud Papa!  And the A-man {who was completely captivated by the entire show} asked me "Momma guess who was my favorite?"  "The Grinch" I said, fairly confidently.  "NO- Prissy!!"  he answered... and I cried all over again!!

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And this is the face on one proud Momma {sans any eye liner or mascara cause I cried the poor creatures off :) }. 

4th grade Medieval Feast

Well....  after the 2nd grade Egyptian Period Study, then the 3rd grade Greek Feast... I knew it was coming...  the 4th grade MEDIEVAL FEAST!  So- I've been collecting silk, satin, velvet, silver, & any and everything that says "Medieval" to me for the past year.  Y'all my attic was chalked full of all sorts of fun.  I had a blast this year, I think somewhere not-so-deep inside of me is a Guinevere of Camelot gal :)  And with the help of Cooner & some other moms we pulled off a pretty stellar feast!  

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First we needed a stage.  The children were expected to come to the Medieval Feast in full costume & prepared to share something from that period.  I used my old dining room drapes to backdrop the stage that we had made out of wood pallets- FREE!

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The tables were draped with burlap and mesh wire ribbon cut into place mats set the scene for a King's table.  **p.s.  Pizza Hut donated these little pie plates. They were so kind & made the whole table look fabulous!**

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I embossed these little place cards & made the programs into scrolls {complete with wax crayon seals- courtesy of A-man's broken ones}.

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I couldn't get over how much paper was & we needed 50 {actually 67- sadly the RSVP is dead here in the south}.  So I used resume paper that I had & wood stained them with furniture polish- hence my to-this-day stained fingernails.....

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The kiddos had a blast- and did an AMAZING job!  They wrote plays, recited poems, played instruments, sword fought, & taught us about weapons from the Medieval Times- SO FUN!  

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And... they had to come up with a castle to display at the feast too.  I put Prissy & Joey in charge of this months ago.... but Cooner came in and bailed them out :)  It was spectacular & won 2nd place in the students choice vote! **A-man wants me to mention that he let Prissy "borrow" all of his Knights & animals for the castle that he in return got to keep after the judging**

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My pig was a success!...  And even though she is just a bleach jug & newspapers- I just couldn't throw her away... So I packed her up with my other treasures & now she lives in the attic :)

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The food "scape" all courtesy of Cooner- isn't it beautiful?  Everyone LOVED it!  I cannot even begin to say "thank you" to my sweet mother who {as always} helped me well into the night... MANY nights!  I adore you Cooner!!!! I have no idea what 5th grade holds.....


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P.S.  Happy Birthday Aunt Michelle- 
can't wait to see you next week!!!

my preacher boy....

Y'all today... THIS MORNING... 6 hrs ago... my hubby preached at Church {all 3 services}!  I can tell you this now, because up until now I've been sworn to secrecy!  I washed his shirt last night {again}- prayed all night long-  got up early with him- then sent him ahead of us.  It was like the kiddos 1st day of kindergarten all over again times 100,000,000!  When we arrived at church, I was greeted with "he was awesome & You must be so proud." To which I responded "I knew he would be & I always am!" But.... my stomach churned cause I hadn't heard the message yet, I love that man more than any wife ought to be allowed, & I tend to border on a nervous break down at any moment!!!!  But... as he took the stage and I held my breath.... he just shined like a big bright star.  But, one that was sorta humble and not showy.... the best kind of star... my star!  I laughed and cried and beamed with pride the entire message- it was one sent I'm convinced straight from God right to our church.  I am SO proud of you darling preacher boy of mine!!

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And I know that these ladies were praying their guts out {cause I tell them secrets}.  THANK YOU sweet sisters of mine- you are the best!!!!

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So... to recap this stressful week that I promise to post about as soon as I collect myself...

1.  Medieval Feast-  47 RSVP'd 67 showed up

2.  Ballet- 4 shows in 24 hrs

3.  today- Joey preached 

4.  tomorrow- Cooner is going home

p.s.  Jodi B took this pic of us at the beach... she is definitely the photographer in the group NOT me :)

girls just wanna have fun!

I am back from an AMAZING weekend away with my precious girlfriends!  A year is too long to wait to see you girls- I've missed you more than you know.  We ate, shopped, & stayed up late every night.  

It's funny how NO RESPONSIBILITY can be SO fun & relaxing!!  We hadn't a care in the world unless you count how to fold the perfect scarf?  And in that case- we mastered it in the end :)

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The "favorite things party" was a so fun!  So far I have used:  Michelle's kitchen sliver sponge {I adore it & Cooner has already snagged one}, Jodi C's Lemon Mrs. Meyers cleaner- LOVE the smell of it!, Jodi B's Star Buck's card- got a pumpkin scone today & thought of you sweet girl!, & I use my lip gloss daily from Catherine- it was what I gave the girls too {along with leg warmers}.  How funny for us to choose the same "favorite thing"!!!!!!

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Catherine & I shared a room.... I have always wanted to a sister to whisper with in the dark.  Thank you darling friend for tolerating my antics... my driving, my heating pad,  the whizzer, etc- ha ha!  

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Jodi B took our family pics yesterday & I am dying to see them.  She is ridiculously talented & I know I will love them ALL!!!  Girls- although I didn't promise to "join Face book" he he, I love you all!  It was good for my soul & can't wait until next year already!!!!!  

p.s.  THANK YOU to Joey, Steve, Heath, Kevin, & Jonathon for letting us go away & taking great care of our kiddos while we were gone!  We sung your praises ALL weekend long! 

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Tonight.... I am finishing up a paper mache pig {because what Medieval Feast would be complete without one?} .  I think he is pretty sweet & I might get misty eyed when I have to make him look roasted....

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And... I think Joey has finally embraced my crazy project mode.  He hardly even protested me staying up until midnight wood staining the programs & melting old crayons to "wax seal" them.  That man had NO idea what he was getting into 11 years ago- ha ha!  Tomorrow- the 4 hour ballet recital practices continue & we are decorating the hall for the Feast......  But- Cooner is here to help & we are loving having here along for the this crazy ride this week!  Wish us luck...

happy birthday JoEy!!!

I love this little sign & one of those people is my sweet hubby!  Today is your birthday hunky-man-of-mine ~ I know that Cooner is catering to you until I get there..... see you tonight!

I adore you!

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p.s.  you may open the 3 little packages I left for you in the dining room.....


all my love,

it's that time again...

I am beside myself this morning getting ready for our "girls beach weekend"- YEAH!!  Y'all have no idea {or maybe you do} how many things have to go right to get 5 busy wife/momma/nurse/coach/hair dresser/cook/teacher/personal attendant/domestic engineers out the door on the same day for 2 nights!!  Can I get an "amen" somebody please!!!  I know our kiddos are in very capable hands and Lord knows I've prepped Prissy for any & all emergencies that might arise in my absence... Thankfully Cooner flies in on Saturday & she'll take my place just perfectly.  I have already shopped for the ingredients for Joey's b-day cake ahead of time & Cooner had agreed to get it started for me- A mother's love is really like no other...  He has asked for Cooner's mom's recipe for Red Velvet cake- the kind with the icing that you make on the stove- TO-DIE-FOR!}  

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This year I asked the girls to play "Oprah's Favorite Things"  with me....  But instead of "YOU GET A CAR- YOU GET A CAR..."  it will be something {under $10} that we love like- our favorite lotion or lip gloss or fabulous household item.  I think it will be in the words of Jodi C "super fun"!  I can't wait to see you gals!!!!!  

XXOX,

Halloween 2012

We survived another successful Halloween- YAH HOO!!!  We started our festivities out at the Clubhouse party this year- where the A-man was g-e-n-t-l-y persuaded to wear make-up.  BUT  not  the {gwirly}  kind that you're thinking of... OH NO!  And if anyone of you tell him that I used bare essentials eye liner on him.... well just don't.  He had "boy Capt Jack pirate face paint} on not "make-up"- ha ha.  I love how it's really all in how you say it.....  He looked precious!!!!

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and I mean really doesn't he make y'all want a little boy?  

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And the Princess... she was the belle of the ball!!


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They both looked fantastic! And had a ball making ghost suckers {cover a sucker with a tissue, wrap a piece of Halloween ribbon around the stick to secure it on, then add eyes- SUPER CUTE}

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OH- the fun!!!


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This year we asked some friends to join us "trick or treating".  Prissy could barely collect herself long enough to say "trick or treat" with HM along!  They giggled for 2 straight hours :)

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And.... thankfully she happens to have a little brother too!  The boys were so cute together...

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In the end.... the make-up face paint stayed on.... even through the tears from falling & the reward of early candy eating in the car!!!

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It was another wonderful year of memories.  I pray for many more to come!!!!!!!!!


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And...  here is a sneak peak of what's to come next week......
SCCS's 4th grade Medieval Feast!!!!  Hopefully my poor husband will be able to park in the garage soon!  And... we have her big winter ballet recital next weekend too- the Grinch.  Saturday Nov. 16 @ O-Neal {2 & 7pm}.  THANKFULLY my sweet Cooner is flying in to help us get through it all :)   We can't wait!