Putting up the tree

We do not have many traditions in our family,however the ones we do have are strictly adhered to. The day after Thanksgiving, for example, is the day we put up the tree.
All five of us helped in the process of putting up the Christmas tree. Chris and I put the tree up and made sure that only the non breakable ornaments made it into the tree this year. Jonathan helped put those ornaments on the tree. Nicholas lost interest and played football with my brother. Laurie Grace tried to help but mainly managed to take ornaments OFF the tree. Laurie thought that she was being helpful though. She went around the tree, got up on the step stool, and tried her best to aid in the process.
The tree finally was done about 9:30pm after all the kids were in the bed! I think that it looks good to only have the nonbreakable ornaments on it this year. We did that for the protection of our good, breakable ornaments..you know the ones that can not be replaced and hold lots of sentinmental value.

Reflections on a holiday

I was catching up with one of my friends through their blog and what they wrote got me to thinking, I have many things and people to be thankful for and I may have let Thursday go by without acknowledging all those good things in my life.
My brother did have car trouble but he is OK and his car was able to get fixed with minimal cost. He is doing well in graduate school and is able to visit for the holidays. My family may be apart but we are able to keep in touch through the use of technology. My parents are safe and doing what the Lord would have them do. My brothers all love the Lord and are seeking to do his will.
My children are all happy and healthy. Jonathan has adjusted well to kindergarten and is even slightly ahead in his class work. Nicholas loves preschool-his teacher and all his friends. Laurie Grace is such a sweet girl and an answer to prayer. We were able to visit our extended family at my aunt's new home. My grandmother, though she is having lots of tests right now, is doing well and staying active. She loves my kids and they were able to spend some time with her on Thursday.
My husband and I have had 11 wonderful years together. God has been so good to us, blessing us with three children and a home to raise them in. He has given us all the material things that we could ever want. We are a part of a wonderful church and have good friends there. Most of all, God sent Jesus to be our savior. I am excited to be going into the season in which we focus on that Savior.

Happy Thanksgiving

Holidays are always interesting around our house. For example. Thanksgiving seems to be a simple enough holiday right? Not at our house...
I have three brothers and since my parents are out of the country everyone that can congregates at my house. However, this year my baby brother had a little trouble doing that.
He was driving down from NC where he attends graduate school when his car completely stopped working. He pulled over and waited a little while thinking maybe that the car's temperature was hot or something. After some time, he tried again, and again the car did not cooperate. So we receieve a call from him at 7:30pm informing us that he is stuck on the side of the highway in NC. We are at my in-law's house having our Thanksgiving meal with them when we get this call. We all start thinking about the best way to get my brother and his broken car to SC.

We thought of many plans, but my father in-law came up with the best plan and the one that we executed. He called a towing guy that he knew and he went and got my brother and brought him back to my in-law's house. My husband and I gathered up our children, took them home, met my other brother who was waiting for us at my house, and then turned around and went back to pick up my other brother who had made it safely at last from NC.

What excitment and that was just the day before Thanksgiving! I wonder what is in store for today? I hope your day is a little more stress free and relaxing than I'm sure mine will prove to be. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Deef and Wide

Nicholas has been learning many new songs at preschool. His favorite is Deep and Wide, however he pronounces it slightly different. Take a listen..he is a great singer!

The golf course in my living room

Nicholas loves to play any kind of sports but especially golf. Every morning, sometimes before he even gets dressed, he goes into the living room and gets my husband's putting green out of the hall closet and sets up his own putt putt course! He uses the two tables from my entry way to put his course together. He plays that particular hole and then he rearranges the tables and calls it the next level and plays that hole and so on. Nicholas always sets up his course in the living room since there is plenty of room there. I have tried to put the putting green up at night but here lately I have given up and simply leave it out for him.

He usually plays by himself since Jonathan has to go to school. He enjoys playing even more when he can get his brother or father to play with him. Nicholas wants a real junior set of golf clubs for his birthday. Right now, he uses Jonathan's putter for his games.

After all, doesn't everyone have a golf course in their living room?

My extraordinary daughter

Laurie Grace is extraordinary in my eyes in many ways. Tonight however, she outdid herself!
I was running her bath water and we were sitting on the toilet trying to use it. You see in the past couple of days, she has been letting us know that she is wet and needs to be changed. So, I have started putting her on the toilet for her to try to pee pee. She has been unsuccessful until tonight! I heard her pee pee just a little bit in the toilet right before I got her up and into the bath. Imagine that..and she is just 20m old!!
I called my husband into the bathroom right away and we made a huge deal over it. Laurie just grinned from ear to ear! I am hoping that this may be the beginning of the end of our diaper stage. I am more than ready to see good ridance to them.

Some of our favorite fall pics

Laurie at the pumpkin patch

Jonathan as a puppy

Nicholas at the apple farm

Our head cheerleader!