Christmas Family pictures

Throughout the years I have made it a habit to do family pictures for Christmas.  Makes great Christmas cards.  This time of the year is so festive and magical,  that it makes for fun props and shoots. It is always my favorite part of the holiday. However,  it is my hubby's least favorite. But he
is a good sport.
This year my theme was plaid and rustic. I found my inspiration in this picture.

I seriously melt when I see this picture!

Here are some from the shoot. I can tell you there were more deleted than edited. Hard work with a little munchkin! 

 My oh my, how my little buddy has grown from last year at 18 months to his first Christmas at 3 months old!

            Our first family  of 3 Christmas picture!

A Weekend of Joyful Festivities

My annual Piano Christmas Recital was Saturday.  The students meet up at the Nursing home and play some Christmas Carols. It went  very  well.  I had a few students who were not able to make it.  But as always, it  was great.

 After the recital we went  to Holli Sweet Tooth.  We started this last year.  It's fun to watch Arlee in there.  Talk about a kid in a candy store....wow!! He was like a mad man in there!  His eyes and brain were on "Can-e" overload.

His favorite item. ..a dum-dum!!..lol

 After that We went to lunch on the Square, then headed to the Ford Center.  They were hosting a ginger bread house exhibit. It was amazing, however maybe not the best idea with a 2 year old who had Can-e on the brain.  Still it was really neat! But we did not dare put him down!

                                

 Daddy and Arlee found some planes to watch.

 Arlee is no doubt a momma's boy,  but he sure loves and adores his daddy!

Another  weekend gone and another day closer to Christmas! 

Now time to get our Christmas pictures done! 

It's Santa!

While we were visiting my in-laws for Thanksgiving,  we decided to take all the kids to see Santa.  Cedar Hills Farms had brunch, cookie and milk or dinner with Santa. The guys wanted to hunt and we wanted a lazy morning with the babies!
 With our schedule we decided to do milk and cookies.

It was the perfect choice! We were the only ones there. We walked into a beautiful rustic barn with the most beautiful Santa sitting there.  He looked just like a Norman Rockwell painting.  He was the kindest gentleman! If there was a real one,  it was him.  He was so patient with the nervous and  septic 2 year old.  He let Arlee play with his toy plane and his  jingle bells.  He offered him a candy cane,  and before we knew it,  Arlee was up in his lap!  Unbelievable! !

The twins were  so cute and sweet,  but Jackson completely stole  the show work his bright eyes and giggles!

Arlee loved his chocolate milk...he never came up for air.

It was a very sweet day!  And this momma had some lovely pictures. I plan to make him our traditional Santa! 

Arlee had a great weekend. By the time we got home he was puckered out. He conned right out on the couch. ..he has never done this.  He  was out by 7!!!

Sweet dreams my sweet little angel. Momma loves you!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

This year I broke all my rules.  I never. Never. Ever. Decorate until after thanksgiving. However, the magic of Christmas and a 2 yr old changes all the rules!  I didn't have any company over for Thanksgiving,  so why not.  It was so much fun seeing Arlee get excited about every little thing. He helped put  up the tree and helped  momma decorate it (or redecorate it!)

Arlee's favorite spot,  of course,  is right next to the choo-choo! He is absolutely obsessed with it! It's the first thing he says in the morning and the last thing he talks about at night.  Best Christmas decoration EVER!!!

Except the fact I have to put it back together every 20 seconds.

His other favorite decoration is the Christmas Village on the piano.  He is so interested in the little people inside the buildings.  And  then there is "Sana" who lives in the Toy Store, that just tickles him. And of course the fire station which is
"w-oo w-oo" that's a firetruck siren in case you were wondering...lol.

I learned that glittery pinecones and 2 yr old are not a good match!...he loves to use them as balls.  Therefore, I find glitter and little pieces of pine cones all over my house. Never again!

I love the holiday season. There is so much going on and so many festivities, I wish we could do them all.  But since we can't,  we tried to think of what Arlee will enjoy most. So, Cotton plant lights and Polar Expires train ride here we come! And of course a visit to Santa!

Thanksgiving Gatherings and Black Friday

This year,  My husband's family celebrated Thanksgiving the Saturday before. We always have such a good time! The guys are gathered around the TV watching college football. And the girls tend to mingle in the kitchen catching up on the latest news.
There is  always laughter. Lots of picture taking. And there are usually shouts of frustration at the TV.
We are a family divided by the Ole Miss Rebels and Mississippi State. That brings on a whole level of fun all in itself.
And of course there is the amazing food and the dessert bar! My husband literally anticipates this dinner all year  round..lol
I am so blessed  to have wonderful in-laws. It is so amazing that your family can be some of your closest friends!

This is the shirt I made out of Arlee's handprints

     
 Not wanting to share a smile with the camera

 All the kiddos...everyone is happy except my child!

The Gates Girlies, my SILs, and the cute little photo bomber struck again!

 All the girls and the kiddos, can't get the men away from football!

 Carlee-Kate made sweet magnets for all the kids!

It was a great evening!  Arlee was pretty grouchy but other  than that, we had another amazing Thanksgiving.

Sunday our church had its annual program and meal. The children sang a few  songs. While I was leading I noticed Arlee (who is normally in the nursery) jump right up in the middle of all the kids. He sang his little heart out! ( it was more of a scream but so cute!)  I nearly fell out of my seat with shock and laughter, but I was leading the Children's choir  so I did my best to keep it together.  I hope someone took a picture.

Thanksgiving day we spent with my husband's grandparents.  We started this  tradition a few years back.  It is a much smaller group. It's his mom's side of the family.  Arlee enjoys it cause he is the only kid that is usually there,  so he gets all the attention. His granddaddy took him around on the four wheeler and basically he  spent  the day playing in the dirt! It was a beautiful fall day. So most of the time was spent outside!  I tried to get a few pics but the wind was a little crazy.  This was about the best I could get!

Although it's not the best picture. I adore Arlee's laugh. He was cracking up at the wind and my flying hair.
And how sweet are their  matching shirts!

That night I met up with my SILS and we hit up our new Tanger Outlet Mall for Black Friday shopping.  This is another tradition. I literally look forward to this more than the holiday meals,  we have so much fun! We shopped our hearts out and grabbed a bite to eat, did some more damage and called it a night. We hit the stores up again the next morning! We did have one problem. ...we seemed to buy more for ourselves than what was on our Christmas list!! Oops.

It was a great Thanksgiving.  Hard to believe it came and went so quickly.  I was blessed to see all my family this year.  I could not ask for more. 

And that offically ended the Thanksgiving holiday!

Being a Friend to your Friends

Do you ever  wish you could go back to those good old Jr/Sr high school days.  When you and your best friend would talk on the phone for hours talking  about everything or just absolutely nothing! Sleep overs that never involved  sleep but usually  involed trying on each others clothes,  trying out new make-up, watching movies that you were not allowed to watch at home (Dirty Dancing) or sneaking out to roll the neighbor's house. Hanging out at the mall,  or better yet, driving up and down the town strip jamming out to "I like big butts and I can not lie" or the New Kids on the Block! (Keeping it real people..
Angie West that one is for you! )

There were no secrets between the two of  you. No judgment. No drama. Pure, honest acceptance. You were not embarrassed to share your dreams, goals and heartbreaks with this kindred spirit that you called your best friend.

Even now as you are reading this her sweet face pops into your mind.  A thousand memories flood your heart. You can't help but smile or  laugh. All the fun innocence of youth wrapped up in her friendship!

There is something so precious about friendships. It is something that should be guarded and treasured. It is gift of God.
However,  the older we get,  the harder it is to hold on to. Through either busy life styles, long distances, hurt feelings, miscommunications, different beliefs, conflicts in schedules or just plain old jealousy, friendships unfortunately,  tend to grow apart.

Although,  those sleepover days are long gone,  the sweet, pure friendships don't have to be. Think of the wonderful group of ladies God has put in your life. Think of the friendships that are worth investing in. Think of the people who can lift your spirit when your down. Those who make you a better person.
Now, be a friend to that friend. Be loyal. Have their back. Be a peacemaker. Encourage them.  Rejoice in their happy. Cry in their hurt. Leave out the drama. Engage in their conversations. Laugh. Invest.
Just be a friend.

We make mistakes, we hurt others.
We get hurt.
Unfortunately, sometimes it seems easier to walk away than to fight for the friendship.   But may we all kick it back old school to our Saved by the Bell and Full House days. Back to  when NOTHING would come between you and your BFF!
Let's reach out  this week and be a friend to our friends!

Through out my life I have been richly blessed with friends from my Louisiana days at Barron Road. My teenage years in Memphis at Bethel. College days at Tri-state and Hyles-Anderson. I have been blessed with wonderful church friends who have become family. Work friend who are now sisters.  Family and in laws that are close. And how blessed to be best friends with your own sista and sister-n-laws!
I'm a lucky gal.
 I am fortunate as an adult to have an amazing circle of friends.

I pray each one of you amazing ladies will know,  I cherish each memory. Cling to my pictures. Treasure those good times whether past or present.

I am a better person because of you.
Thank you for investing in me.
Thank you for thinking I am worthy to be called your friend.

I pray I can be a loyal, loving,  encouraging,  faithful, trust - worthy, positive friend.
And simply, be a friend to my friends!

The Hill Thanksgiving 2015

My family had the rare opportunity to enjoy an early Thanksgiving together. My hubby is a hunter and every year we head up to Illinois for a week. Since my parents live up there, it works out great! He drops me off at their house and he trots off into the woods.
We usually go about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. Due to everyone's schedules and all of us being so spread out,  we don't usually get together for Thanksgiving. But, this  year it worked out with everyone's schedule to come up and have an early Thanksgiving. It was a treat and sweet memories were made.

We spent the week having a Jane  Austin movie marathon. And Arlee watched anything Choo-choo. We watched Polar Express 3 nights in a row.  He watched the entire movie completely memorized. I had to go buy it for him that  week!

There was, of course, a shopping trip with the girls (and a yummy lunch). We went to Buffalo Wild Wings and each of the kiddos got their own iPad to play with...that  was a hit with Arlee, even though he had no idea how to use it. It kept him entertained and happy!..whoop whoop!

Wednesday evening church brought in a Tornado storm leaving us with no power. So we had fellowship (in the dark), a prayer meeting and ice-cream!

I love that Arlee wanted to be in this  picture... cutest photo bomber ever!




Thursday was our Thanksgiving meal.  It  simply amazes me how much time is spent preparing the meal and then how quickly  it is all over!

I adore this picture. It captures the whole trip for Arlee in a quick shot. He was Katey's shadow.  He absolutely loves her.  From the very first time he ever met her (at 3 months old) He was captivated by her. She could get him to giggle and smile like no one else.  She is so kind, patient and playful with him. I wish we lived closer and they could spend more time together. 

Sunday, all of us girls sang "I am so Blessed". It was a joy to sing with my neices.  They are growing up so much and have beautiful voices.
They are also learning the piano and doing great. I'm so proud of  the sweet young ladies they are becoming.

Arlee loved this candy box. When You pulled it open a little mouse would pop out.  He screamed every time, then he would giggle, yell "Eek Eek" (that's what he calls a mouse! ) and do it again and again.

After church, Jenny (my SIL) and I did a quick impromptu photo shoot of the cousins. The girls did great,  Arlee on the other hand didn't want to cooperate. (My child!) He is just like his daddy when it comes to a camera!
Katey though,  that little lady is quite the little model. She is a natural in front of a camera.  She loved posing and was so much fun to work with. She is so photogenic and easy to work with.
Then there was Kaylan. She is 15 and embarrassed and shy about  everything. (I'm sure she is dying even now,  as she is reading this!)
She is at the fun age of growing up which is sometimes sa
d for me  but I'm really enjoying her as a young lady.  She took gorgeous pictures, but in true teen nature, didn't like any of them.

 I'm pretty partial, but they are the prettiest girls ever.
They were also very helpful trying to get  Arlee to cooperate.  What do you do with a 2 year old that refuses to give up his suckers and sippy cup.
Oh well, we tried. ...lol