Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

Andrew's 9th Birthday

Happy 9th Birthday Andrew!



Today is Andrew's 9th birthday. He was born on the very last day of the century - 1999.He was the sweetest baby and still such a sensitive and sweet little boy. I hate to see him grow up. Since his birthday is exactly one week after Christmas, it is a hard time of year to plan a party. So for the past several years, we have had his "friends" birthday party on his "half' b-day in June.
For breakfast he wanted Krispy Kreme, for lunch Big Ed's pizza and for dinner we went with Mamaw, Mimi & Papaw to O'Charley's. I made his birthday cake - (I even made homemade cream cheese icing!) We are going this weekend to spend the night in Pigeon Forge at the new Wilderness in the Smokies ~ indoor waterpark!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Emma Grace & Gracie Kate at Libby Lu...





Emma Grace and her sweet little friend Gracie Kate Allen went to Libby Lu this morning. This was Emma's 1st time to go to Libby Lu. They had a great time getting their manicures and hair styled like Princesses. :) So girly!!!!!!!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas Eve candle light service









Christmas just wouldn't be "Christmas" without going to church. Since we have to be at Mamaw's house for Christmas Eve dinner, we don't have time to go to the service at our church. We have been going to Grace Baptists candle light service for a few years now. Our good friend Sara Cox is always a very beautiful angel during the manger scene. Emma Grace was so proud to get to hold her own candle this year. She also found a very pretty manger scene outside the sanctuary.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Emma Grace & the manger



Ever since last year Emma Grace has loved this manger that our church was getting rid of. She plays with and talks to her baby jesus all year. The manger has been stored away and I just got it back out last week. I dressed her in her Angel dress today and she just loved on that baby all afternoon.
But the angel to them, "Do not be afraid, I bring you good tidings of great joy that will be for all people. today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2: 8-20.

Christmas family photos 2005, 2006, 2007





Christmas 2005 was Emma Grace's 1st Christmas...











2006












2007

Christmas 2008 family picture



our "most special" Manger scene...


We have several manger scenes that we get out every Christmas. We have the "breakable ones" that haven't been out for the past 3 years, b/c of Emma Grace, the Fischer Price one that the kids play with - throughout the year, etc.. But THIS one is our most SPECIAL Nativity scene. It was bought in 1965 by Mamaw - for John's 1st Christmas. He remembers setting it up when he was a little boy. It is now a family Heirloom. Morgan & Andrew have always taken such care while getting it out of the box every year. Emma Grace is still a little rough with it though. She was playing with it one day this week and broke Joseph's head off. We had to super glue it back before daddy came home from work. :(

Monday, December 22, 2008

Emma Grace LOVES Santa Claus!





Emma Grace LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Santa Claus! We have seen him several times already this season. She fills his ears full when she gets up on his lap! This particular time we were visiting him, there was no one else in line, so she took

an extra long time just asking him questions about his reindeer.

Friday, December 19, 2008


A few weeks ago my 6th graders acted out the play, the Tale of Despereaux in our Reading class. The book, The Tale of Despereaux, was a 2004 Newberry Award winning novel. When we learned that is was going to be a movie coming out in December, I decided it would be fun to go see the movie. It came out in theaters today. Since it was a half day of school, a few of them met me at the theatre after school. It was a very cute movie about a little brave mouse ~ Desperaeux!

The cupcake Lady



Just wanted to make an advertisement for my friend, Rhoni Speed. She is the teacher that I job share with. She is also known as the "cupcake lady", because she makes the most amazing gourmet cupcakes that you will ever put in your mouth! They literally MELT in your mouth. She makes them for parties, baby showers and even weddings. They also make nice "gifts". All her cupcakes are made from scratch using high quality ingredients such as: organic cocoa, imported chocolate, real butter, madagascar
bourbon vanilla, rich buttermilk and real cream. No cake box mixes here! She lives in Hardin Valley and can even deliver to your home! Her website is www.http://thecupcakelady.com. If you ever need some FANCY & delicious treats , give her a call!
865-693-1471

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Andrew's 3rd grade class


Andrew's class before their Christmas party at school.

BRUMC Pre School Christmas Program













Today was Emma Grace's Christmas Program at her Pre school. Her class , the 3 yr olds, were the sheep. They followed the Shepherds (who watched their flock by night ) to the manger to see the baby Jesus. It was precious. They sang some sweet little songs and then Santa made a surprise visit.
Mamaw & Mimi got to come to the performance as well. ** A SPECIAL thank you to Jane Buckner for watching my 6th graders for a while so I could sneak over to the church to see her. :)

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Sunday school friends...



Emma Grace's best little Sunday school friends are Carley and Ashley.

Emma Grace meets Biscuit!





We went to Smart Toys & Books last Saturday morning to meet Biscuit! We LOVE Biscuit books. Even the boys liked Biscuit when they were little! (they would never admit it though...)