Christmas Card 2012

He's been told for nearly 2 years now that when taking a picture with his baby sister, to stand still, look at the camera and continue to smile regardless of what she's doing.  He finally took matters into his own hands...

Love, love, love these 2!!

December in a wink...

I am so far behind.  I mean, December came and went, along with SO many things and I've totally dropped the blogging ball.  Not that it means anything to anyone else. But these are memories I cherish and can't get back.

So to put in my memory vault, just a small snapshot of our month...

Trace REALLY got into the decorating mode this year and I LOVED IT!!  I would totally be the dork that put my tree up the day after Halloween, but it's like pulling teeth around here to get someone (no names will be spoken to protect the lazy innocent ;) to drag our monster tree out of the attic.  I love how, at this age, you get to teach your kid to nag to get what you really want! hee hee

Andy and Kadi were in a chili cook-off contest on Main Street, so we went down to eat, vote and see the parade.  They won 2nd place!!

  Trace had his first school project for school and I'm pleased to report there were NO tears (from him or his mommy) while completing his shepherd for the class nativity scene!!   We survived, until next time.

Dad took his boat down to Ross's Landing for Christmas on the River.  We (along with everyone else in the tri-state area) went to see the boat parade and fireworks.  We're a little spoiled now, having front row seats for all the action. 

 Our girls annual gingerbread house party got changed to a sugar cookie party this year.  This tradition is so special to me.  I hope we are still doing this with our grandbabies one day!

 We compared pictures to one I have on my fridge from 3 years ago.  They were SO little and we were minus Landon and 2 babies!  I can't believe how much they've grown.  Sniff, sniff...

2012

2009

I'll admit, this event is a little stressful on the mothers.  But we've learned how to cope...

 Love these ladies!

 Sidenote:  Funny now... wasn't then.

The morning after this party, Jill called me practically in tears to tell me Abby had lice!!  BLESS HER HEART!  It had been going around her school and Jill had been checking her head for days.  SO... we called all the girls, I started vacuuming the house, wiping everything down, and washing all the linens.  I panicked and bought tea tree oil shampoo and lice shield (overkill, I know.)  For a week, we washed the kids hair in it and sprayed that horrible smelling spray.  It took 2 weeks for Keatyn's hair to stop smelling like a citronella candle.  But luckily... it worked!!  Is your head itching???

#dodgedabullet (but there will be many more lice bullets in our future)

Word of caution:
Never, EVER, google "lice"
Those images are permanently burned into my brain.

Anyhow...

I got to keep Trace's class one afternoon while Mrs. Watt's and Mrs. Brower went to the faculty Christmas lunch.  I couldn't believe how nervous I was!  It had been a long time since I was in charge of a group of Kindergarteners, but they are the sweetest class!!  All I had to do was take them to lunch, recess, the bathroom and then they rested and watched a movie.  Easy breezy!  Breaking me back in ssslllooowwwly.

 I thought I'd sneak off and get some Christmas shopping done with the 2 hours left before dismissal, but Trace wasn't about to let me leave.  That's OK, one day he won't want me anywhere around. :( So I stayed and got to meet his 4th grade buddy, Lindsey.

 I hosted our Monday Morning Mom's Ugly Sweater Christmas party.  I can't believe I talked Jimmy into wearing my mom's old sweatshirt!!  Jane made it for her 25 years ago.  We had to wet it, and stretch it over the rocking chair just so it would fit.  He asked about 3 hours in, if he could take it off because he'd lost the feeling in his arms.  Thank you dear for being such a good sport!

 Lake won the Ugly "outfit" contest and a 5 lb. box of gummy bears!

And as if hosting one party wasn't enough, as the "homeroom mom" I was in charge of Trace's party at school.  I had to go and get all fancy, trying to teach them about giving back and the true meaning of Christmas, by throwing a service project in the mix.  Keep It Simple Stupid (these are 5-year-olds)

Sometimes my "big" ideas give me a big headache.   I'll admit I got a little cuckoo.  At 3:06 a.m. the morning of the party, I was sending out a mass email to the parents about Elmer's glue and shaving cream.  They must think I'm crazy.

We spent the morning making cookies and Christmas cards for the residents of The Manor House (where Great Frank lives) and then spent the rest of the day making Christmas crafts and melted snowman cookies for their class party.  I hope they loved it as much as I did!

I literally hit the bed and took a 2 hour nap when I got home that afternoon.  It was a lot to get together but was totally worth it!! The parents in his class are awesome and such a huge help.  I hope we made the sweet people at The Manor House feel loved and special this Christmas.

There is much, much more to our month but the bed is calling my name...

Save a turkey, eat a crab

As if I didn't already have enough to be grateful for this year, this was my beautiful view on Thanksgiving Day...

and this is my CrAzY child swimming in my beautiful view!!

I couldn't even put my big toe in.

But I'll admit, sitting on the beach in shorts and a T-shirt at the end of November is not a bad way to spend turkey day.  And speaking of turkey.  We had none.  Nada.  Which suits me just fine.  Instead...

We went back and forth for weeks about going.  Would it be freezing, would there be anything to do if you can't swim, would Keatyn scream bloody murder all the way down there???

But late Monday afternoon, when we realized we literally had nothing on the schedule for the next FIVE days, we thought... why not.  Sisty and Granddaddy were already there and said it was beautiful and to come on!

We had already done Thanksgiving with my family.  So we picked Trace up early from school on Tuesday and tried to beat the insane travel traffic.  We were in Destin by bedtime and spent the rest of the week playing! 

Busting a move to a little "Cotton Eyed Joe" at Joe's Crap Shack.

Too much Budweiser maybe?

 SPOILER ALERT:  To the 4 people that still read this blog... some of these pictures may appear on the Christmas card you will be receiving next week.  ;)

Secretly... it has always been my dream to be at Silver Sands on Black Friday! They were opening at midnight and I had planned to get up at 4 a.m. and hit it early, but then Jim happened to drive by at 8 that night and there were people there and lined up.  He asked and most of the stores were opening at 9 or 10.  This changes everything!!!  I threw my clothes back on and headed out!  I can NOT believe Jimmy agreed to go with me.  I think he was afraid of how much damage I would do unsupervised!  ha!

This was the line outside of Coach.  There was a barricade, security and an ambulance.  Craziness!!

The last night we were there, we went to the Wharf for Trace to do the zip line again.  This time, he wanted to try the ropes obstacle course.  I couldn't believe he did it.  Those 45 minutes he was up there, probably took 5 years off my life.  But he was so proud of himself!

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving and I could see this turning into a new family tradition!