Ladies Night

I wanted to share some pictures I have of the Ladies Night we had at church last Thursday evening. One lady was responsible for each table and creating a Christian-themed setting. There were some that were very elaborate. All of them were gorgeous. I never would have thought of some of the things, styles used. There was one great table with a black tablecloth, a clear glass urn in the middle of the table. Inside was sand at the bottom with Mary and Jesus in a manger. There were also a couple of battery-operated tea lights inside. It was really neat! Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of it.

This table was really neat - you can see the tree in the middle of the table with the nativity pieces surrounding it.

My friends Amber and Kelly working on Amber's table.

Leslie and Tiffany working on Tiffany's table.

Jeremy looks good carrying that tray around!

And look at him sporting that apron!

We are thankful for...

For the last few days Ella Grace and Major have been bringing home all sorts of Thanksgiving crafts...some pumpkins, turkeys, colorings of families eating Thanksgiving dinners. Jeremy & I have been discussing with them different things we are thankful for - our home, our food, our car (to which Ella Grace just laughed).
Heather made a great list of some of the things she is thankful for and I wanted to share some of the blessings I am thankful for:

1. Definitely my God that promises He will never leave us, nor forsake us.
2. My wonderful husband. Jeremy is so supportive of me in all I do - work, school, etc.
3. Ella Grace - I love her heart and her desire to be a "leader". I love to listen to her talk and act like such a big girl!
4. Major - what a sweet, sweet little boy. He's definitely a momma's boy and I could definitely hold him all day long if I didn't have anything else to do!
5. A job that allows me to assist in providing for our family.
6. Two cars that are paid for and are dependable.
7. Our church family and the wonderful friends we have to fellowship with and the support system they provide.
8. The opportunity to go back to school. As hard as the last year and a half have been, I know God allowed me to do this for a reason and I am thankful for what he has in store.
9. Hope. Hope that God will see me through any obstacle put before me and my family. God is so good and has been our Rock this year.
10. A family that loves all of us, despite our shortfalls, that is there to help us when we need it.
11. Jeremy's job. Though he has to work some long hours at times, we are thankful for all it provides.
12. Health. We have been really fortunate to be in good health. Other than Major's asthma and the coughs, colds and allergies that seem to stay at our house, these minor things typically don't slow us down.
13. Ella Grace and Major's teachers at school and church. We are so lucky to have them in a great school and teachers that love on them when they are there and at church. I love how Ella Grace asks "Whose class am I in, Momma?"
14. Food. As we begin to prepare things for Thanksgiving, school and work functions, we are so lucky to have food and have choices of the food we will eat and decide when we will eat it.
15. My marriage. I am thankful that Jeremy & I have a strong marriage.
16. Our country - we can worship our God freely!
17. My cell phone. What a piece of technology that I am too attached to, but I am thankful for the way it makes me feel secure and keeps me connected to my family!
18. Clothes. As I sit here and stare at the pile of clothes laying in my living room and packed for Thanksgiving travel, I am thankful that my clothes are clean.
19. My washer and dryer. Bless 'em!
20. Christian music - I get hooked on some singers or songs and listen over and over...Ella Grace and Major can even pick out their music!

I Passed!

Thursday was THE day! As I was headed to church for our Ladies Night "In" Jeremy called and read my letter to me! I was so excited and I know he and the kids were, too! 21 days left until graduation! Yippee!!

Halloween

I know I am totally behind, but I still wanted to show some pictures from Halloween this year. Due to school and just not planning ahead enough it was so last minute getting the kids some sort of costume to wear to school on October 30. That was the same day I was taking my comps, thus I had been studying absolutely all week. As usual, Ella Grace and Major were able to wear costumes to school that day, then on Saturday we went to a friends for a Halloween party, hay ride and trick-or-treating.

Ella Grace as Magenta from Blue's Clues.

Blue himself!

A group of our friends - Drew, Ella Grace, Emma Belle, Lili Claire, Jack, Gavin, Ray, and our friends' neighbor and Major.

Ella Grace, Jon Douglas, Emma and Major.

Major looked like this just about that entire day!

Ella Grace and Major were so excited to see Sadie Kate and her big sister Ellie.

Major, Ella Grace and Jack trick-or-treating.

Ella Grace, Ray, Major and Jack. Ella Grace and Ray were so competitive at ringing those doorbells. Almost more fun than getting candy!

Major with more candy...

When we finally got some treats to eat Sunday after our naps!

Isn't this a fun piece of candy?

Messy Major

Conversations with my kids

One morning last week, this was the conversation as we neared the kids' school:

Ella Grace: What are those black things?
Mom: What black things?
Ella Grace: On the windshield! (can't believe you didn't know what black things I was talking about!)
Mom: Oh, those are windshield wipers. They move the water off the windshield so we can see. Watch. If I turn them off the water stays on the windshield. When they are on, though, they swish the water off.
Ella Grace: Why are they taking a nap and waking up?
Mom: (speechless)

Home, Sweet Home

Jeremy and I took a trip to Pigeon Forge Thursday through Sunday. We had a great time relaxing, shopping, watching football, just spending some much needed time to ourselves.
While we were waiting to eat out one night we were sitting outside and two other couples (one group) sat near us. One couple, new grandparents, were talking about keeping their new grand-daughter. The grandmother (another Nana like my mom) sat the little girl up in pumpkin posing for a picture. She went on about the pictures she took, then said she propped the baby in the flower bed around some mums and pumpkins and she slowly stepped away to get a shot and flop, the sweet baby fell face down in the mulch - mulch was stuck to her, an ant was on her lip. Then she began saying how her daughter called, wanted the little girl to wear the outfit to church that night (it was a fall outfit). Nana said "It's dirty." So, how is an infant getting an outfit dirty?? "She was playing outside." ha! Jeremy and I just laughed. One, it made us wonder what was going on back at our Nana's house, and two, we know our kids would blab in a heartbeat! No keeping secrets now!!
So, we did get some Christmas shopping done, some things we just needed or wanted for now (like I got a new pair of work shoes and a sifter! what a combo!). It was fun just getting out and looking around.
But, the best part of today was getting Major up after his nap. I went upstairs and listened from the room next door to see if he was stirring. When I heard him, I went to the door to the room (my old room) and opened it up. He was still laying down, but had his eyes wide open. He looked at me and said "Mom! Hey, Mom! Hey, Mom!...Where's Dad?" I don't know where all of his "y's" have gone - I'm not Mommy anymore! It is so cute, he talks like he is like 17 years old sometimes.
What a welcome home! I missed those babies!

I Pledge Allegiance...

Ella Grace is learning so much at school and church. Last night she put on a little show for Jeremy, Major and me. She stood so proud and said the pledges to the American Flag (followed by like one line of My Country 'Tis of Thee), then the Christian Flag (then sang I'm in the Lord's Army, with some back-up vocals by Major), and last she pledged to the Bible, with an all-time favorite "The B-I-B-L-E." Wow! What a smart little girl!

Sometimes she acts really shy, like she doesn't want to say things like the pledges or sing songs in front of people, but if you catch her in the right mood she will sing everything she knows for you. I have told her I wanted to record her again so our family can see. I'm off to a recruitment event tomorrow night, so maybe I can capture my America's Got Talent candidate on Friday!