Christian Poses and Lottery Tickets

Here she goes again. She wears me out with her poses. EVERY time I try to take a group photo, she has to do a weird pose. Maybe it's because she's the baby in the family...I don't know but whatever the reason, it's very annoying!
 
 
 
 
Santa did bring an interesting gift for their stockings...lottery tickets...which they thought were very fun (much better than candy) and they've already informed us they want Santa to bring them again next year! 



12/29/06 - Update on the Lottery Winnings:Amie didn't win anything. Adam won $4 and 1 free ticket, niether of which he has cashed in yet. Christian initially won $4 and 3 free tickets which Joey cashed in and she ended up with a $27 winning ticket. Amie and Adam both decided gambling doesn't pay, Christian thinks it might be a good part time job. Aren't we great parents!

While she was out...

Christmas came early for Amie. Yesterday while she was at work Joey and I worked our butts off and did a little "While You Were Out" apartment makeover for her. Even though we were totally exhausted by the end of the day, it was soooo worth it. She got home about 6:30 after much coordination with her boss and Christian. She knew everyone was acting weird but I don't think she had any idea we would actually make over her whole apartment. She seemed to be truly surprised and moved by it all. Joey painted her bedroom and we put up wallpaper borders in the bathrooms. We got new bedding and curtains for all rooms, slip covers for the couch and chair, closets organized, and hung pictures and chachki's...it looks so nice. And we really had fun doing it! Merry Christmas, Amie!
 
 
 
  

Hand made gifts...

Some gifts I made for my sister in law. These are pictures of her sons (my nephews). I think it's pretty safe to post pictures because I'm sure doens't read my blog...or know I have a blog...or it's very possible she doesn't even know what a blog is! I hope she like them! 

P.S. Artistic Recognition should be given to Jill Cline for her amazing contribution to the above mentioned projects!!

Aren't these cute?

Aren't these just the cutest little gift bags? And I mean little, too. Just the right size for some VISA gift cards for my nephews. I made them with my Cricut (I love that machine!) using the Tags, Bags, and Boxes cartridge. Then I used my shredder to make some shredded paper filling to put inside.

Wilbur

 

I took Lillie to see Wilbur the pig today. I case you don't know this already, the pig used for picture on the new cover of the Charlotte's Web book and movie posters (not in the movie) resides in Murfreesboro. So we have a celebrity amongst us. And today was his last public appearance and he will be retiring. Amie took Lillie to see Charlotte's Web yesterday and she loved it. So she was very excited to see Wilbur in person today. She was disappointed that he didn't talk though! 

The tradition continues...

 
 

Ever since Christian was a little girl she has made a gingerbread house before Christmas. When we lived in Kentucky my mom would make it with her. Then we moved to Tennessee and she has continued making them on her own. Now she is sharing the tradition with Lillie...which makes me very happy!

It's been so busy around here that I haven't had time to blog much. I'm dying to share about all of the cool gifts that I've made or that I've found... But then that would ruin the surprises for those that read my blog. So I'll just keep it to myself for a few more days, then I'll post pictures after Christmas. I'm so excited...can you tell?

I did go shopping today with my good friend, Jill. We went to a scrapbook store that was having a very good sale on everything in the store and bought some scrapbook goodies that we probably didn't really need. But how can you pass up a 60% sale on scrapbook stuff? I can't. We also stopped by Big Lots where I found 2 lamps for $15 a peice which totally makes up for any uneeded scrapbook purchases for the day...don't you think?! 

Baby, It's Warm Outside!

 

Do you see this? This was the tempurature while we were out Christmas shopping today. Actually, I think it got up to 74 degrees...on December 16th...in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. What's up with that? 

I've been tagged

I've been tagged by Sonia.

So here it goes:

Favorite Christmas Movie: Home Alone

Favorite Christmas Song: right now it's Jesus, Light of the World sung by Third Day

Favorite Christmas cookie: ummm, well, I making Magic Bars right now so I guess that would be my favorite

Favorite Christmas gift ever received: When I was four years old, my parents got me a play house that was really a storage building for a construction site. They had stocked it with a table and chairs, refridgerator, stove and enough fake food to serve them dinner on Christmas day.

Least favorite thing about Christmas: the anticipation of it all and then how quickly the day is over

Where would your perfect Christmas be: I really like celebrating Christmas the way we do right now. Even though it's a rush to open presents, jump in the car and travel to Kentucky to have Christmas with both sides of our family. It has become such a tradition and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Favorite part of Christmas: the focus on Jesus' birth, the Christmas performances at church, and the Christmas Eve service

Favorite Christmas Decoration you own: I absolutely love all of the homemade ornaments that my kids have made over the years. We all look forward to seeing them each year and remembering how old each child was when they made it.

When do you put up the tree?: usually the day after Thanksgiving.

Do you wear "holiday" sweaters/sweatshirts/t shirts?: Yeah, I have a couple of holiday sweaters, although my daughters beg me not to wear them!

Okay, now I'm gonna tag Deanna and Monica. You guys are it!

Post-script: Sonia said...
mmm magic bars. Do you make them homemade? I found a "kit"at wally world to make them.
I did make them homemade this time. I got the kit a couple weeks ago then I realized I could make a large pan of them for the same price on my own. They are extremely easy to make.

Christmas Parade

 
 
 

Okay, so tell me what you think about this. We went to the Christmas parade today because Adam was riding the Walter Hill Fire Engine and Nikki wanted to see him. So we went and had a great time. It reminded me of all of the parades we endured out in the freezing cold when our kids were little. So, there we are sitting on the curb when all of a sudden I notice Lillie's Aunt Katie (Lillie's Dad's sister) walking in the parade in front of a float. So I yelled to her and asked if Lillie was there watching the parade (it's their day to have her). She said "Yeah, she's right in back of me on the float." And sure enough, there she was, just as cute as she could be, waving and wishing everyone a Merry Kissmas! Now, don't you think it would have been nice of them to tell us she was going to be riding a float in the Christmas parade? Luckily, I happened to be there and able to take a couple of pictures, but Amie would have loved to see her own daughter in a parade. I swear I don't know what's wrong with those people. 

Christian's Senior Pictures

 
 
  

Lillie's Fine

This morning Lillie had surgery at 7:30 am at Stone Crest Medical Center and I gotta tell ya that it was wonderful. The staff was so nice and we were out of there so quickly...I was actually home by 10:30 even after stopping to pick up a perscription for her. If we ever have any more emergencies or surgeries in our family I will definitely be traveling to Smyrna instead of using the local Murfreesboro hospital. Anyway, Lillie did great. The doctors removed a cyst from her leg and she is up playing and doing fine. She's not even sleepy (which I was kinda counting on so I could get some things done) but I'm so glad she's fine. Thanks for your prayers.

 
Lillie got to visit Santa today and I heard that she asked for some very interesting things. Like green fur(?), a handbag, 2 fake cats, a mural on her wall just like the painted wall outside Chuck E Cheese at Stones River Mall, and on an on she went. She had Santa and all of the elves craking up. They said she was the most imaginative kid they had come across so far this year! Which of coarse just makes me so proud to be her grandma! Anyway, I don't think this picture looks at all like her. She looks like she's about 5 years old and she's holding her mouth funny. But then again she holds her mouth funny in every picture! She's having surgery on Friday to remove a little spot on her leg, so keep her in your prayers if you think of it...thanks. 

SURPRISE!!

Yep, it's me. I'm actually blogging. Sorry I've been absent for quite a while. Just didn't have the urge to blog.
So here I am...trying to think of something to say to the 2 people out there that actually check my blog...uh-umm Jill...Debbie...oh yeah, and Nancy...and occasionally Sonia...and Jennifer. Okay so there's 5 people and my mom make's 6!

Ummmmm, well I made my family go with me to our church Christmas performance last night. Wow, it was so good. We have a lot of very professional singers in our church and the quality was amazing. Plus Michael O'Brien from New Song was there. It totally rocked! Lillie had a good time too...clapping and singing...so sweet.

Before we went last night I attempted to take our annual Christmas photo in front of the tree. Well Christian insisted on her usual antics of making a funny face in each picture. I got so mad at her, and she promised she was done. SO I took one more and this is what she did...stuck her butt out. She doesn't think I'll actually send it out with all of my Christmas cards...but guess what..I'm going to! That will teach her a lesson!