Merry Christmas to All...



This "light up hula hoop" was one of only
two things Ellie had on her Christmas list.
Glad Santa was able to find one!



She was over the moon for her new toothbrush!! In fact,
it was the only thing she said Santa brought her when asked at
church this morning.

Last but not least...they found the iPad.



That's my girl...pink sparkle heels and a
weed eater!



Ellie loved her cheerleader uniform...and
 is still wearing it 7 hours later!



Merry Christmas and Roll Tide!



Santa Babies

Wow...10 Years

10 years ago today...

I borrowed the cutest top from my best friend,

sat through a movie that I could barely see (forgot my glasses),

laughed until my mascara ran,

stayed up way too late for a school night,

froze standing outside my front door, and

began the most amazing journey of my life.

Mark, thank you for the last 10 years.

 I am so thankful that God

led us to each other, gave us two darling daughters,

and blessed us with

hearts that forgive and brains that forget.

I have loved you for the past 10 years and will love you

for 100 more.

"Ellie" Lou Retton?

Last weekend, Ellie had her first gymnastics recital. It was quite brief and I couldn't get the camera to focus worth a darn, but she had fun nonetheless! She did her cartwheel, handstand, and backbend on cue and even added her own flair to the dance moves. We are so proud of our little gymnast!

The pictures are fuzzy, but you get the idea...

Overheard

Ellie and Sadie Kate got an elf this year and L-O-V-E waking up each morning to search for where he is resting after his long trip to the North Pole reporting on their behavior. Tuesday morning, they found him sitting on the kitchen table eating an oatmeal pie. Sadie Kate, who is quite skeptical about the whole elf deal, said, "That sure is a big bite he took. He has a little bitty mouth." Ellie, who adores the whole idea of the elf, replied, "Yes, but that's because he has a really big smile."
Wow, that pretty much sums up those girls! Ellie is trusting and takes everyone at face value. Sadie Kate asks tons of questions and needs explanations for everything. Can you guess where they get these traits??

Little Pig, Little Pig

Looks like someone liked Thanksgving leftovers!



My Little Rudolph

What a sweet little reindeer!

Our Week in Review

It's been a busy week and I'm feeling rather lazy, so I'll just fill this post with photos and brief explanations. I'll be back up to speed next week...I promise!

Showing off her new Thanksgiving shirt from MiMi!

How we discovered Sadie Kate had a food allergy.

Ellie's turkey cookie

Sadie Kate conquered the roller coaster at the playground.

Ellie and her pal, Ella Grace, climbing like pros on the roller coaster.

"Reunited and it feels so good!"
 Major, Ellie, Sadie Kate, and Ella Grace had a blast
playing and catching up...just like old times.

Lindsey and I did too!

A Trip to the Barnyard

Saturday morning, the girls and I went to their friend Carolina's birthday party at The Barnyard. Ellie held, fed, and rode everything there...within reason. Sadie Kate, however, did not. A spitting llama and the voracious appetite of a baby goat secured Sadie Kate's place on my hip for the entire trip.

This was my view for much of the day! "Hold me, hold me!"

In hog heaven...

Ellie riding a pony...she loved this!!!



Sadie Kate did get on the pony...just for Miss Stephanie-
notice the grip Sadie Kate has on Stephanie's finger!



They loved watching the Shetland pony.

Ellie feeding the turkeys

Ellie's Turkey

Ellie with her "turkey in disguise" project for school. She chose to disguise Tom as a pink cupcake with sprinkles, candles, and a cherry on top! What a great job!

It's Report Card Time!

Friday, Ellie came home with her first report card. She had great scores, positive comments from her teacher, and even a Perfect Attendance award. Her proud parents had no choice but to reward her hard work with...



TCBY!!!

Great job, Ellie! Momma and Daddy are so proud of you!

Fun with the Grands!

OOPS! I forgot to publish this last month!

This weekend, the girls and I went to visit with Dad, Carol, and my grandparents. They LOVE going to visit their grandparents and great-grandparents because no one seems to recall how to tell them no! The girls spent their weekend being the center of everyone's attention and loving every minute. I love watching my girls with their grandparents and my grandparents. My heart was absolutely full as I watched my grandmother with my daughters, knowing that their mere presence was making her heart swell with pride and love. My grandmother is a true blessing to our family and I am so thankful that my daughters get to see the strength, kindness, and selflessness she shows to all who know her. Thank you, Lord for this true Christ-like woman. 

Coloring with Pop was a hit!

She found a captive audience in Pop and MaMa.

Sunday morning, CiCi and I found the girls chatting in the swing, still in their pajamas. I love this!

Relaxing in the sun before we left.

Our First Fieldtrip...

Last week, Mark and I went with Ellie and the ENTIRE kindergarten (all 206 kiddos) to the Grand Ol' Pumpkin Patch for her first field trip. I suppose it wasn't necessary for both of us to go, but neither wanted to miss it; I guess that's what personal days are for, right? The trip was very well planned and everything seemed to fall into place for each student to have a great time with their classmates and families. The only negative...it was FREEZING!!! We all took jackets, but truthfully, we needed gloves, scarves, and hats to survive the cold wind blowing across the open field. Mark and I loved tagging along watching Ellie playing, talking, and eating lunch with her new kindergarten friends...best personal day ever!

She loved feeing the baby goats!

Waiting for another hungry goat.



Ellie LOVED riding the horses!



Ellie and some classmates waiting for lunch.

That's my girl...ears covered!

Going for two!

Hopping over hay bales was a hit!

Staying warm with Daddy.

Zapped!

Perking up thanks to a milkshake from Daddy.

Good and perked up...thanks to Daddy!

Saturday Fun

Wheee! There's nothing like a good push, a sweet daddy, and a strong swing!

Fall Break Play Date!

Sadie Kate was kind of puny the first few days of fall break, but she and Ellie finished strong with a play date with their good friends, Ben and Jon Douglas, Tuesday afternoon. I couldn't count how many different games they played, Bugles they ate, or towers they built...but it was ALOT! Those four darlings laughed, ran, squealed, ate, slid, climbed, crawled, and jumped all over our house...for several hours, but the most fun was had by me. These four kiddos have grown up together, so I got a bit nostalgic watching and listening to their conversations and make-believe scenarios. Listening to Ben and Sadie Kate pretend to be the parents of several unruly babies was priceless; needless to say, those apples didn't fall too far! Jon Douglas and Ellie were veterinarians to the freakishly lifelike horse that lives in the playroom, hotel builders/demolition foremen, teachers, and even bakers of cupcakes! I absolutely can not wait to see what happens during Thanksgiving break!!!

Tell me he's not precious!

Waiting for a movie and popcorn.

Jon Douglas/Ellie's hotel
Ben/Sadie Kate's frog

The frog...?

BUGLES!!!





A Fun Fall Weekend

Wow, this weather is amazing! It's so difficult to get the girls to come in at the end of the day, but I can't really blame them. We have enjoyed playing outside, swinging, riding bicycles, and having races in the backyard all weekend. Saturday evening, I took the girls to a camp out birthday party for their friends Cayden and Camryn. Cayden and Ellie were friends from daycare and are now at school together and Camryn and Sadie Kate have been best friends at school for "years now". Ellie and Sadie Kate were the only girls at the birthday party, but had a blast and fit right in with all of the rowdy boys. They roasted marshmallows, hot dogs, and even made smores for the first time. They also jumped on a trampoline for the first time as I watched anxiously (not a big fan of trampolines). I kept picturing them falling off and breaking an arm or leg or both. Boy, was I glad when they decided to go in and eat cupcakes!

Ellie slid first so Sadie Kate would go down...what a great sister!

Sadie Kate loves a good slide!

Camryn and Sadie Kate

Sadie Kate was helping Camryn take off his shoes.

Ellie-mid jump



Ellie was much more comfortable on the trampoline than Sadie Kate.