Christmas with The Smiths

Christmas Eve with The Crowders

The Ugliest Gingerbread House Ever

This was our 1st and maybe last attempt at a gingerbread house. I REALLY hate being bad at something. I was very bad at building one of these. It said on the box it was easy...not the case. It fell apart shortly after we were done. I think next year I will get the one that is already assembled and just needs decorating. However, the point was to make memories with AR and we did! She had no idea how ugly it was and I think she ate most of the candy instead of putting it on the house. We had fun making it and that is all that matters to me!!!

T3 Christmas Party

I left school early one day so I could make it to AR's Christmas party. It was at 2:45, don't they know some mothers acutally work! :-) I am glad I could make it. I enjoyed seeing AR with her friends. They ate tons of sugar and sang us two songs. Mrs. Kisha and Ms. Stacy said that AR was the loudest and most animated all week while their were practicing, but of course when I show up, she is all of the sudden shy! It was still really cute and I think I will stick to teaching 1st grade. Those little ones are a handful! (especially mine) AR moved from T2 to T3 about a month ago. We LOVED our T2 teachers, but have been just as pleased with T3 teachers. They are WONDERFUL!!!! AR has NEVER hesitated going to school. She is usally pushing me out of the door before I can tell her bye. I love knowing she is happy each day at school.

AR with Ms. Stacey

AR with Mrs. Kisha

AR's First Tea Party

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Nannee and Grandaddy came to town for a visit last weekend. We all loaded up and headed to the mall to meet Santa. We avoided the galleria and went to a different mall. I think it was the smart choice. We waited about 45 minutes to an hour at the most! She did great in line and I was thankful to have Nannee there to occupy her in line. She can tell anybody that she wants Santa to bring her a baby doll. However, she did not tell him when she met him. (I think we have it covered)  She was not her usual sassy self, but did not cry either. She sat so sweetly and got her picture taken. Then she asked for a cookie. The Santa line ran right beside the cookie store...who would do that??? She was such a big girl waiting and meeting him that she of course got a cookie!

Twins???

I have NEVER been able to tell who AR looks like. I think it because she just has her own little sassy personality and I don't see either one of us. However, I found a picture of me close to AR's age and I think I can finally see it. I think it is the hair and the mouth. What do you think???

(You can tell why I learned to hate humidity at an early age!!!)

Tacky Sweater Day

This past Friday was the last day of school before Christmas vacation. I work with some AMAZING people and they are soooo much fun! I have always loved the tacky Christmas sweater party and decided we should do it as a faculty for our annual Christmas breakfast. Thankfully I am not the only crazy nut at my school and have lots of friends that jumped on board. We had a BLAST and made this last day of school so much fun. I will have to say that my students said I looked very beautiful and I should dress like that all the time. I guess tacky works for me! Ha!  :-)

Here are just a few of the pics. I have so many more, but I only picked some favorites.

What am I going to do with her???

Two nights ago I was on the phone with my Mom while Ann Rogers was playing. Mom asked if she had a good day at school so I turned to talk to Ann Rogers.

Me: "Ann Rogers did you go to time out today?
AR: "Yos" (She says yes in some weird swedish accent. I think it is swedish)
Me: "AR...you DID go to time out...why?"
AR: as clear as can be..."pitching a fit"
I made a mistake and fell out laughing. No, I don't want her to think time out is funny, but her answer caught me so off gaurd. I asked her teachers, but they said she had not gone to time out the day before at school. I guess the time out she was thinking of was at home...AND she was exactly right. She has been pitching some monster fits lately. She keeps me on my toes! :-)

A sad sad Egg Bowl...but we still LOVE our Rebels!!!

What else is there to say about the Egg Bowl. We got whipped by MSU. It was a hard pill to swallow, but we are still Rebels. We are looking forward to cheering again for them in a bowl game. Back to back New Year's Day bowls is not too shabby and I am still thankful we have Coach Nutt! Hotty Toddy!

(p.s. You know you are football family when everyone is dressed in their gear and at halftime you go play football in the backyard. We are pathetic! )

Perry, AR, and Wade

Christmas Card Outtakes

Mom and I got AR dressed up to try and get our Christmas card picture. She actually did great and it didn't take that long to get one. I didn't want to post the actual one yet. I like for it to be a surprise. :-) I thought some of the outtakes were hilarious. She is a STINKER lately...I know it is only the beginning!

Thanksgiving Day

We did Thanksgiving a little different this year. Jim, AR, and I usually head to Greenwood the day before Thanksgiving and stay through the weekend. However, since his Dad has been sick plans were a little different. We were so glad that Jim's brotherh Carey and his family came to town for Thanksgiving. We had everyone over for breakfast at our house. I NEVER cook breakfast but was proud to pull off two different breakfast cassroles, grits, sausage and fruit. It was nice change to get stuffed on breakfast items instead of the traditional turkey day food. Jim stayed in town to visit with his family and that afternoon AR and I headed to Greenwood to spend the weekend.

We are so very thankful for the wonderful family we have on both sides!!!

Ann Rogers, Colette and Collin enjoying their breakfast

AR trying to eat a strawberry

MeMaw and our cousin Tyler

Colette helping keep the kids entertained on the computer

AR with Aunt Karen and Uncle Mark

We made it to Greenwood just in time for her to have 2 cookies for supper and play in the laundry basket.