Christmas

Christmas Traditions were all the same this year. We spent Christmas Eve going to church and then to Mama Sally and Granddaddy's for dinner and gifts! The kids always love going because these are the 1st gifts they receive!! I feel like we are so in a rush though, trying to get them home at a reasonable hour to get ready for Santa. We have to get on pajamas, take pictures, read T'was the night before Christmas, The Christmas Story and then put out cookies for Santa. Once we are done, we wait...until they are fast asleep. Once they are fast asleep, I sometimes have to wake Jason up as well so he can be on the look out while Santa comes in to leave all their surprises!! Once he leaves, I can finally get in the bed for a little sleep! Will usually wakes up way to early. This year he woke up at 12:30 and I had to go lay in the bed with him until he went back to sleep. He would get up and peek!! He has done it before! After they get up and play with their toys we eat breakfast and then around 11:00 we got to Bibbie and Deeda's for gifts at their house! Usually what Santa didn't bring they get here! They always love it! For a late lunch Jason's family comes over so we get the best of both worlds! We get to spend Christmas Day with both of our families! That is one great benefit for living in the same town with them!! And we don't have to travel far! Christmas Night we go to Jason's parents house and the kids get their gifts from them. They always love this too because they get everything they ask for and then surprises!! When we get home, I am ready to crash...them, no way they want to stay up and play!!

City of Troy Christmas Parade

 The Christmas Parade is always something we look forward to. It not only kicks of the season but the kids get to ride on the City float with their daddy and they all this it is real neat! It was very cold this year but I had them bundled up and they enjoyed it. We stayed for the tree lighting which was very nice. The hit of the whole night for Kate was seeing Santa!

Drew is on the other side of Jason

Decorating for Christmas

I can't even believe I am typing this, but not a one of the boys wanted to help with the tree this year. Kate lost interest real quick too! I hate to admit it, but I really enjoyed decorating it without their help! I did get one picture of them with their Disney ornaments. Several years ago on one of our many Disney trips, I decided to buy each child an ornament and have it personalized. We always come back from Disney with so much junk, that I wanted to bring back something we would always have. So each year I take their picture with the ornament for the year. Well, this year they have 2 because in 2010 we didn't go to Disney World until after Christmas so they didn't have one to hang on the tree last year, but this year they have 2! Their 2010 and 2011 ones. They always bring back the wonderful memories of the trip we made and it is always fun picking out the ornaments to fit their personalities!
After the tree was done, Kate and I did the outside of the house. On Sunday, she decorated her tree! She did a great job and did it all herself! She wouldn't let me help! I wonder who she gets that from!! LOL!! She likes to just do it herself sometimes!!

Big Al our elf came back this year too. He comes every year the tree goes up which was on Friday after Thanksgiving. He was hiding in the tree. On Saturday, he got on our elephant and left a note saying "Roll Tide" Big Al! Glad he is a Bama fan. Don't know if we could handle an elf that was for Auburn!! We are looking forward to all the funny things our elf does! The better you behave the more fun he gets to have! The boys and Kate have promised to be good! We will see!!

Iron Bowl 2011

All season this year we watched Alabama play out at Wendy and Kevin's house. Usually we watch the games at Brett and Elizabeth's but since Walker played pee wee football, it interfered with our usual routine. The pee wee season isn't as long as college football so the 1st weekend Walker didn't have a game we watched the game and their house. We played LSU and we lost! The next time, we played Mississippi State, and just didn't play our usual best like when we played before LSU beat us. So, for the IRON BOWL we went back to Wendy and Kevin's to watch. The superstition just got to me. We won, would have shut them out except that we gave them their touchdowns! We had a great time and the win was great too. Our lose after LSU sent us from #2 to #3 but our win to Mississippi State and the loses for the other Top 5 teams sent us back to #2 and a chance at playing in our 14th National Championship, only thing is we had to beat Auburn and we did!! Hopefully, we will stay at #2 evenhough we don't get to play in the SEC Championship Game. We'll see come December 4th! But for the next 364 days we own the rights as IRON BOWL Champs!! Roll Tide!!

Happy 4th Birthday Kate!

Today, 4 years ago, our baby girl was born. Four years. I look at her everyday and wonder where my baby has gone. She lights up my day every morning when I wake her up. Her smile melts my heart! I can't even begin to wonder what I would be doing without her. She is my shadow and when I come to get her in the afternoon she is always excited to see me! She is proof that when you let God be in control he sends you what you want! Jason and I had been trying for 1 more baby for about 6 months. I had decided that it was not meant to be so I gathered up all the boys baby clothes and sold them on eBay. Big mistake at the time because the next month I found out I was pregnant! I knew since I had sold all their stuff that the baby would for sure be a boy. We were able to find out the sex of our baby July 2. Deep down I really felt like the baby was a girl because everything about this pregnancy was nothing like the other 3. All 3 of the boys were exactly the same. With Kate, I spotted some all 1st trimester and I was sick as a dog! I was afraid to say I thought it was a girl because I really wanted a girl and I thought I would jinx it! Jason said he knew she was a girl! I was still in shock when we found out she was indeed going to be a girl! We were all so excited! This day, our lives changed forever. Raising boys wasn't going to be easy but there are a lot of things about raising boys that are different than raising girls. I have always thought raising a girl would be much harder. So many other issues with growing up that we girls have to go through. So far there has not been too many differences between the boys and Kate except that her clothes are a lot more fun to shop for and ALOT more expensive!
God not only blessed Jason and me when He gave us Kate but he blessed my mom and Lacey as well! Lacey was blessed by having a girl cousin and my mom was blessed because Kate gives her a reason to keep going. She spends every afternoon with her Bibbie. They are 2 peas in a pod! The time they spend together is so very special for all of us! On Friday mornings she goes with Deeda to the coffee shop for breakfast! That is a treat for everyone, Kate, Deeda and all the other men at breakfast!
Happy Birthday Kate! I am glad you are mine and I love you so very much!!

Kate has Bieber Fever!

Doesn't every 4 year old want a princess party or a Dora party or even a Pinkalicious party? Not my 4 year old! Her choice was a Justin Bieber party! It was quite hard to come up with something to do for 4 year olds! I did my best and she had a blast! We celebrated a couple of days early. She will be 4 on the 16th! Instead of telling you about it I am just going to post pictures!