LIghts! Camera!

We went down to the square tonight and got some pictures of the lights. It is supposed to be the warmest night of the week. The temperature was in the 50s. We still had to bundle up, but it wasn't freezing cold like it has been or will be.

The girls got to see the lights up close and ride the ponies! Thankfully it was only $5 a ride. We topped the evening off with some yummy hot chocolate when we got back home. I love family outings!

Here are the pictures you've been waiting for. Click on each picture to enlarge it.

Christmastime is Here!

We finally got all of our Christmas decorations put up today. It really feels like Christmas now! I thought I'd take pictures of some of our things and share them with you.

These first two pictures are of the girls up in the attic "helping" Jim get the decorations down. They only have bike helmets on because they were riding their bikes. We're not THAT safety conscious!
These next ornaments are my "year ornaments". I get one every year that has the year on it. I started this quite innocently the year we got married, 1997. Some of them have been gifts for my birthday, and others I have just bought on my own. (or with birthday money :) And before any of you get picky and point this out to me, some of them have the year on the back. So you can't see it. :)

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Ok, so 2007 doesn't have the year on it. It is also a "licensed character" ornament which I FORBID to be on my tree. HOWEVER, Jim and the girls picked this one out for me. It is Linus reciting the scripture from Luke, "To you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, the Messiah, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11." He concludes with "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." So I let this one stay. :) It has actually become my favorite one of all of them.

2008

2009

Last but not least, this year's has a picture of Harper on it. I like that this is supposed to be a treat jar with the dog's picture in it.

Trying not to think about it.....

Today was a celebration day! A good celebration day.

It was my 35th birthday.

Yep. It's been 20 years since I turned 15. TEN years since I turned 25, which was, like, soooo old.

We had a birthday lunch for me yesterday at mom's house. The girls made up games and mom decorated a cookie cake.




Today, we went to AQ Chicken House for lunch after church. Then we got an ice cream cake from Maggie Moos. (YUM!!!!) When we got home, I got to open my gifts. I got some Mary Kay skin care serum (just what I wanted!) (heh heh, I bought it and told Jim to wrap it up.....), more lipstick, a devotional book for moms, and *sniff* one of the sweetest gifts EVER! It was a book called "Prayers for my little boy". Yes, I cried immediately upon seeing the title. Jim started laughing and said he knew I'd cry instantly, but he also said he knew he had to get me that book.

I had asked for a devotional book to read during pregnancy. I had no idea if those existed or not. Jim said they do, but they are really more for first-time moms. That's why he got me the book for moms and then the one about little boys. I haven't read much of it yet. (I keep crying!) But I definitely will in the coming months.

Here are some pictures:

Thanksgiving!

Well, believe it or not, another Thanksgiving has come and gone. We had an awesome time down in Little Rock with our families. Here are some pics:

The girls came up with this idea on their own. They drew a "thankfulness tree" on some paper, used popsicle sticks for branches, and drew leaves, clouds, a sun, and turkeys. They had each of us write what we were thankful for on the branches. It was very cute! Here are some pictures of what people wrote. (But not everyone.....didn't know how many people would want theirs posted)





Here is one of the lone pics I got down at Gramma & Pop's house. The kids are playing in a collapsible tunnel. It's very fun!

We had a wonderful time seeing everyone. Can't wait for Christmas!

Drum Roll Please.......

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch This Space!!!!

Important announcement possibly coming tomorrow evening!

Could be pink, could be blue!

Awesome and Terrifying. All at the same time.

See, now this is what I'm dealing with:

Beta asks for oreos after school. I tell her she can have two. She opens the package and nonchalantly tells me that she has learned to start counting at zero. I think nothing of this until dessert tonight when she asks for two more oreos. She tells me again, "I start counting at zero, mommy! See? Zero, one. I need another oreo to get to two."

Awesome and terrifying. All at the same time.

Update: This afternoon, she again says she'll have two oreos. She counts "zero, one, two." Well, momma wasn't born yesterday nor was she an Underwater Basketweaving major. I told her "no, if you're going to count that way, you can have ONE!" It took a swift hand, but I got them away from her. And she only got 2 oreos. The right way.