A long time ago...

When I was in high school, I used to whine to my mom about how no stores carried jeans in a size zero. One of these times we were in Dillards at the Hammond Square Mall. I remember it like it was yesterday. After listening to my complaints, Mom replied, "One day you'll wish you had that problem." Well mom, you were right. Through the years I have been every size up to a 16. I am proud to announce that after all of this time and after stretching my body out three times with pregnancy, my body has made a trip back in time. I'm not trying to boast here. I'm just really excited and proud of myself. What have I been doing? Just sticking to the diabetic diet I was given when pregnant with Afton. That gestational diabetes turned out to be a great blessing for me, like so many of you told me it would when I was discouraged. So, my New Year resolution will be to keep up with what I'm already doing, so I don't have to take out the big girl pants again!

Cuteness at its best

Don't you just love how Ian fills out his pjs?!
So cute, I had to grab the camera and share it with you.
He lifted his shirt all on his own BTW.

Dude. Where are we going to put all of these toys?

Ayden loves his sister!

Afton hitched a ride on Ian's dump truck (with Aunt Videt's help).

Santa didn't dissapoint.

Ian+Carwash=BLISS

Our first Christmas as a family of 5, and it was a great one!

Hello there.

Well, this December I discovered that my life requires at least one daily Christmas related activity without any effort on my part. We just returned from Tennessee, visiting my brother and his awesomely cool family with a side of Grammy and Paw-paw to add to the mix! We had a whirlwind of fun, and I was in tears when it was time to go. During that time, we had a lot of good home cookin', went to see "the Princess & the Frog", watched the Saints play a dissapointing game, went to see "the Holiday Express", ran around like crazy at a bounce house, and attended Grace & Jack's piano recital. Go here, here, and here for my mom's report. There's more but we're trying to prepare for the days ahead, so gotta go. Merry Christmas to all! Here's a quiz for you. What do you call the yellow bike looking things that go on railways that my mom has pictured on her "training" post? No cheating! By no cheating I mean no searching the internet for the answer.

Travis's three on the left, mine on the right. A whole couch full of excitement!

December 15, 16, 17

Tuesday Ayden had a Christmas program at school. His class played the bells to two songs, then sang and signed to Silent Night. We were so proud of him! I have video footage, but our computer is SLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOWWWWWW right now, so I can't share it.
Wednesday night I worked all day on getting the house and food ready for my turn to host book club AFTER spending the morning shopping for gifts for various family members. We read "A Redbird Christmas" which is a sweet little Christmas story set in South Alabama. I cooked cornbread casserole, vegetable casserole, and beef nachos-all recipes from the back of the book-and my friend/neighbor made homemade mac n cheese. My friend Page also brought rolls and candy. I think there were about 10 or 11 of us, so we had a good time. In the book, there's a group of old ladies that go around doing anonymous acts of service called "the Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots Secret Society". One of my friends secretly tied a HUGE awesome bunch of polka dotted ribbons to my mailbox the morning before the party. It was a sweet surprise!
Today has been the busiest day yet. I addressed and mailed off our Christmas picture/cards, then went with my Visiting Teaching companion to deliver pumpkin bread and cards to our 4 ladies we visit. As soon as I got home I went to work on little gifts for all of Ayden's schoolmates, and his two teachers. I finished just in time to get to Ayden's class pizza party and now we're home. NOW, I have to do laundry, make a trip to Hobby Lobby, clean up, feed the fam (leftovers from last night, thank goodness), then pack so we can leave for Tennessee tomorrow by 6am. PHEW. How many days do we have left? Just kidding. I enjoy this stuff. GO! CHRISTMAS, GO! Thank goodness for a high protein diet and Diet Dr. Pepper!

Okay, Maybe I should just give up on this Christmas thing

So, I'm here to report on Sunday and today.
Sunday. Went to church. Sang "How Far Is It To Bethlehem" with the Relief Society during our Sacrament meeting after chasing Ian down the hall three times, finally getting him in the chapel and leaving immediately after sitting with him b/c he was SO LOUD! Also after getting vomited on by Afton (nasty smelling yogurt vomit all over her Christmas dress). ALSO after stripping her down because the smell made me want to vomit. She ended up wearing just her sweater and diaper cover. After the first hour was over, my friend Nicole helped me clean her up in the bathroom and had a change of clothes in her car for Afton AND had some perfume for me to spray on my vomit scented self. SHE SAVED THE DAY!!
Today. Made our Christmas list and headed to the new Hudson's Treasure Hunt only 20 minutes away in Zachary. They ended up only having junk. No treasures this time. I had Josh try on a cheesy sweater that made me laugh so hard I peed on myself. Not just a tinkle, but enough to make a PUDDLE on the floor. I wrapped Josh's jacket around my legs and scurried out, leaving PEE FOOTPRINTS the whole way. I hope no one slipped in my puddle. I was so embarrassed. That's what happens when you give birth to three kids and have no bladder control. I need some diapers. So how's that for spreading holiday cheer?!
Tonight we had FHE at our church with some friends and had a white elephant gift exchange with a twist. Everyone just wrapped up something they already had at their house. We had a lot of fun and kept the kids up way too late, but it was worth it.

Social Darling Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Social Darling Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

3 days of Christmas

I took a picture of the picture, hence the poor quality.

Hmm, this Christmas countdown is getting challenging for me. The doing isn't hard, it's the reporting that I have a hard time with. Let's see.
On the 10th, I volunteered for 3 hours at Ayden's school because Josh was home to watch the bebes for me (he's on a paid vacation until JANUARY!). Anyway, there was a "Santa's Shop" for the kids to shop for Christmas. Ayden bought me some really nice earrings that I truly like and he got Josh a paper weight with a scorpion inside which Ayden said he can keep in his room, if daddy really wants him to! When I helped the kids shop, it was so sweet watching them try to budget and get something for all of their family members. One kid had $20 and a list of 10 people. It took a lot of work, but he got something for everyone!
On the 11th we checked Ayden out of school early to go get pictures taken with Santa. First we tried Bass Pro Shop, but Santa decided to play a scavenger hunting game with us and he high tailed it to the mall, so we packed the kids back into the van and played secret spies to catch Santa. We made it just in time, because he was about to go eat some lunch right when we found him. He was so sweet to Ayden and Ian. Ayden was mesmerized! Santa saw that Ian was nervous, so he talked with the boys before he held them on his lap. First he told them that they were on his good list, then he asked them what they wanted for Christmas. He won Ian over, which is a big deal, because he is SO SHY. We were very pleased with how the picture turned out. Especially after the Bunny incident. It was also Afton's first picture with Santa! I do this every year to see how they grow each year. Ayden said two sweet things. One: "Santa, isn't Afton adorable?" Two: As we were leaving, "Santa is so nice."That night we took the kids to BREC's Santa roadshow. It's usually outside, but it was cold and rainy, so they had everything set up in the basketball sized gym. The boys had fun jumping in the spacewalk and playing at all of the booths. Santa and Mrs. Claus rode in on a FIRETRUCK. How awesome is that?! The weather didn't stop anyone from having fun.
Today I had a cookie exchange at my friend Maren's house. It was very nice, as usual. She breaks out the china and makes a delicious brunch, and we all bring home WAY TOO MANY cookies!! Then tonight was our church Christmas party. The rain held off just long enough for us to go on our caroling hayride around the LSU lakes and we all had a great time. I ate some delicious gumbo and had fun visiting with everyone. It seemed like everyone enjoyed themselves. Yet again, Robin & Brent threw a great party with their activities posse. So there. I've been festive!

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
Reality list: warm socks, headbands, clothes, cell phone, photo albums
Not going to happen list: Embroidery machine, Cricut, Wii with all Mario Bros. games, I phone, genuine leather riding boots

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
My diaper bag

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
I want to crochet/knit hats (flapper girl style)

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
$100 cash to spend on clothes

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
Transformers, car wash, helicopter

6. What is your favorite holiday food?
COOKIES

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
I made some Christmas tree bows for all of the young girls in my family

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
Home Alone

9. Favorite holiday song?
Jingle Bells sung by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

10. Favorite holiday pastime?
I love driving around to see everyone's houses/yards all lit up

Little Sweet Vera is Finally Here-a!!

My Mom posted some photos of our newest little family member. She's a doll! Go here. Now we can finally rest after a rough week of anticipation. It was an international saga with love, labor, and prayer vibes flowing over the Atlantic to that sweet little family. We're so excited for Dixie and Markus!!

(I'm not sharing any more details until Dixie has a chance to do it herself.)

Christmas. Yeah, yeah.

Today I brought Egg Nog ice cream to our playdate Potluck. That's all the Christmas spirit I had today, because I'm so nervous about Dixie's labor. Come on little lady!

*Scroll down b/c I posted some pics of my kiddos*

Tonight's pics

Afton has been sleeping in her room all week now! She goes down at 8pm, wakes up at about 4am (8Hours!!) I feed her and she sleeps again until 8am. I wrap her up tight and snuggle her between the pillow and her rolled up quilt. I also put socks on her hands to keep her warm. She really likes it.

Afton sat up by herself for about 3 minutes while I took at least 15 pictures of her.

Ian pulled up a diaper box to stand on and joined the fun.

When Josh is away at night, this is where Afton sits while the boys get their bath.
She gets plenty of entertainment.

Ayden and Ian are cah-razy in the tub. See the waves?

Ian hid under the table and stuffed this much gum in his mouth while I bathed Afton.
He was something else tonight. For example, he spilled rice all over the dining room while I was cooking!

Stacy's Tree Farm

I made six Christmas tree bows today while watching for updates on Dixie's delivery via gmail and facebook. She's been in labor for 13 hours now. Poor thing. This afternoon we went to take family Christmas photos at our friend's studio. I can't wait to see how they turn out. I'll share my faves, don't worry.

On the 7th Day of December...

I searched and cleaned and searched some more for Afton's super cute winter hat from H&M that matches a super cute sweater that ties at the waist. I can't find it ANYWHERE. I totally cleaned her room the other day, Josh helped me clean the boys' room, I've searched on, under, and inside all furniture. I even had Josh pull out the fridge and dryer. I've retraced my steps and jogged my memory. I just can't let that hat go. It might have fallen out of the van when we stopped to eat in Tallahassee on our trip home from Orlando, but I still have a feeling that it's here. I went up to the attic and checked every pocket of the suitcases. Needless to say, I didn't feel like cooking dinner today, so we went to our favorite place to eat-Dempsey's-and enjoyed a big delicious bowl of seafood gumbo and the best French Dip ever made! The kid's menu had a Christmas word find, which I finished in about 1.5 minutes. That's my Christmas act of the day. Sorry, that's all I've got. Now back to searching. Wish me luck.

Day #s 5 & 6

I missed yesterday's post, but I was so busy all day that I crashed in the couch at about 9pm, when I was supposed to be preparing the lesson for today. However, I made up big time with my lacking from yesterday by teaching a lesson about service during this season AND working on Ayden's Christmas stocking for school-which we did as a family. Josh helped Ayden with the glue and glitter while I worked on the picture collage of our Christmases through the years. Afton helped by trying to grab everything and pooping her diaper, and Ian cheered us on. Ayden cut out a lot of the photos the penguin, snowman and present. He also drew a cute picture of Afton. He gave her long lashes and a Santa hat. Love it!

Christmas Cheer

I made the deadline for Christmas day #4 with two hours to spare! Tonight I went to my good friend Cathi's house and made a craft to give as a Christmas gift. Now I have to decide who will get it... There are nine different "Way To Be" blocks that can either help you to be happy or give you a guilt trip. Your choice. The nine "Be"s are: prayerful, humble, still, involved, clean, grateful, smart, true, and positive.

Festivity of the day

Tonight we had our Relief Society Christmas dinner. Josh works Thursday nights so I had to get the kids fed and all of us ready by 6pm. Didn't happen. Within the one hour I needed to get us all presentable Ian dropped a huge jug of apple juice all over the kitchen floor, Afton cried non-stop, and Ayden fell off my bed and slammed his head into the corner of a door frame. I was about to give up and stay home, but I needed to go b/c I was singing with my friends Janel and Jill-"Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem" which I am counting as my third act of festivity. I also knew that it would be good for me to get out and the boys would be playing in the nursery the whole time, so I kept at it. I just got home and I did enjoy myself. I also got a Christmas gift for Afton, along with all other mothers of new babies: a homemade tie quilt. It was so funny because all of the moms stood together and unwrapped our blankets, then we all traded around until everyone got a quilt they liked. I got the one I had my eyes set on when I saw them being made a few months ago! I really like toile prints!! (I don't know how to spell it.)

Today is December 2nd, so I need come up with some Christmas cheer. I'll show what I will be doing after the kids are all nestled in their beds with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads...

I made these for Afton, and I will be making more for little girls I know but I won't say who!

25 Days of Christmas

I'm planning on doing this 25 days of Christmas challenge where you do something festive every day and post about it. For day 1, we actually did it on November 30th for FHE.

We pulled out all of our Christmas boxes and decorated our tree. I like to buy things on clearance the day after Christmas, and last year I bought a pre-lit tree which we just took out of the box. I was disappointed because it is smaller than I expected, but I'm over it now. It looks a little lopsided, but that can be fixed with some more branch bending. We have to get a new tree topper because the snowflake I have used for the past 9 years is too heavy to stay up. I despise shaping plastic trees, but I don't want any more sick kids, so this is my sacrifice and I'll just tell myself that this makes me Christlike, which brings Christmas cheer to my heart. (Sense the heavy sarcasm?)

We put up our stockings, which are now 5 instead of 4, so I don't have enough stocking holders. Afton is using the same "Baby's First Christmas" stocking that Ayden & Ian used-from Grammy-then on Dec. 26th I will order her a stocking from Pottery Barn Kids to match the rest of ours. (50% off and free shipping!) So, I already have a list of after Christmas bargains to find!!

Happy Half Birthday, Affy Taffy

She's the smiliest little baby around!

She has two brothers who adore her...

...a little too much sometimes.

She is BEEEAUTIFUL!

Our little Afton isn't so little anymore. She turned six months old on the 12th. She has been such a joy. She has been very happy and a lot easier to care for since she started eating baby food a few weeks ago. She's in the 50th percentile for height, weight and head circumference (15 lbs. 3 oz.).
We all love this girl so much. I remember always feeling like there was one more child coming to our family when Ian was little. I'm so glad she's here with us.

For her half birthday, we celebrated at the park with Grammy and Paw-Paw and had a picnic lunch. Good times. Great memories.

*Make sure to scroll down for more. I have four new posts!*

Three Words For You!

!

The 'Rents

Travis, me, Mom & Dad

My mom and dad are on a world tour, visiting all of their kids within three months. First, they drove down to Colorado to see my older sister, Chani and her hubby, Billy. Then they said their goodbyes to my baby sis, Nikki, her hub, Devon, and little boy Taryn who have all been living in the same town, but are now moving to Nevada. They planned on visiting Dixie next, but since Maw-Maw passed away, they squeezed in a visit here for six days. On Tuesday, they flew to England, where they will be for a while with Dixie and hubby Markus, anticipating the birth of their little girl coming any day. For Christmas they'll be visiting my brother, Travis, his wifey, Raegan, and their three kids in Knoxville. Then they will finally be making it back home. Josh and I are trying to talk them into selling their house and getting an RV to visit us all whenever we each have the mildest seasons. We'll see if we can make that happen...

Where do I start?

I haven't posted lately because there's been so much going on I don't know where to begin. I guess I'll start with my maw-maw. She passed away on November 7th. She was 92 years old and had been digressing for the past six months. Her body was just old and worn out. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all die of old age? My maw-maw was a wonderful woman. She had a positive attitude even though her life gave her a lot of reasons to be bitter. That woman could COOK. She could sing and play guitar. She told me that I look a lot like her and my dad tells me that I sing like her. I have so many great memories of her, and I can't help but smile or laugh with every thought. She would always stand at the door and watch us drive away until we were out of her sight. There's so much more I could say about her. I love her dearly and I can feel her near me. She requested that I sing "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" for her funeral service, and I swear to you, I could feel her singing with me during the service. It was amazing. I'll miss you, Maw-Maw, but not too much because I can feel you watching over me.

Me and Miss Nora-what everyone likes to call her-November, 2007

The whole family in attendance

Long stem roses from each of her great-grandkids who were able to be there.

Nothing spectacular, but...

This is what life is all about! Dinner was eaten, baths were taken, teeth were brushed, and we all piled up to watch the new Tinkerbell movie. I told Josh he had to get a picture of us. It's a good thing, because it didn't last long.

Before I forget, I have to show off Ayden's pumpkins.
He drew these faces and we carved them for him.
Ian didn't show any interest this year, but he got a kick out of trick-or-treating!

Any drop in the temp. and I get excited to dress Affie up in her winter clothes.
The moon boots were Ian's. I'm glad we're getting more use out of them.

They taste good too!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Batman, Robin, the Penguin, and the Bat Girls

Just Emptying Out My Memory Card...

All layered up

I swaddled Afton in just her diaper and a bib after changing her for the 4th time b/c of vomiting (I overfed her bananas because I was so excited that she was actually eating and wanting more).

a fun morning + a full belly= passing out during lunch

To The Batmobile!

Oh, I can't wait for the big day!

Park Playdate Perk!

My friend, Jane, has one of those awesome cameras, and she definitely knows what to do with it!
She took these during our playdate at the park last week.