Van Gogh had to start somewhere

Okay, I have lots of party photos to post from this past weekend, but I haven't had time to get everything off my camera yet. I even did a little sewing this weekend ... hope to have some pictures up soon!

For now, I will leave you with this. David has really progressed in his coloring skills since he started Mother's Day Out this fall. {He is also quite the painter I have heard.}

But sometimes, I still catch him doing this. Good thing these aren't toxic!

He likes to use lots of colors in his pictures.

Hard at work. Love those sweet hands!

I am glad that the kids are both old enough to sit at the kitchen table and color while I get dinner ready at night, but I am sad that my little boy is growing up so fast!

"A Christmas Journey" ... to the dreadful stage

Claire had her Christmas program at preschool last week. This was the first of many school programs for us and Claire did not disappoint.

We were a little nervous about whether or not she would actually get on stage. She loves to sing and had been practicing with the CD all during Thanksgiving break. (Even David can sing the songs now.) But she would burst into tears every time I talked about getting up on stage to sing. At their dress rehearsal the day before, her teacher told me that she refused to get on stage and that we might not want to even bother coming to watch the program because she thought there was "no way" Claire was going to do it.

Well, I had a little talk with Claire on the way home that day. I basically told her that (1) there was no reason to be scared and (2) we were going to quit ballet if she didn't get on stage the next day because I was not going to suffer through a year of ballet classes (and pay for the recital costumes which I had to pay a deposit for last week) only to have her refuse to participate in the recital at the end of the year. Well, it worked! As you can see below, she got on the stage no problem. She even smiled a little, although I thought she might burst into tears at any given moment. She kept looking out in the audience at me for reassurance. She did great and I am so proud of her.

I think she is proud of herself too. She told everybody we saw that next week about singing on stage and she kept saying to me "are you so proud of me?". (And she remembered that she could "go to ballet now".) I am glad I pushed her a little (well, a lot actually), but that it turned out to be a positive experience for her. Mission accomplished!

Advent

This would have been more appropriate to post on December 1, but guess what? I'm behind ... the story of my life.

Last year, I bought this super fun Advent book for the kids, and each night we add a new part of the REAL Christmas story to our reading. (So, by the time we get to day 24, the kids have heard days 1-23 multiple times. It is supposed to help them learn the story.) You know ... repetition.

David was more interested in his MagnaDoodle than hearing the story of Jesus' birth, but he'll get it one day.

Claire really likes this particular Advent book because she gets to open a door inside the book each day to reveal the next part of the story. She calls it, "the door book". She does not miss a thing!

If you're wondering where I got this book, it is called The Advent Book by Jack & Kathy Stockman and it is a nice hardback coffee table-sized book. The edition we have is out of print, but I did notice that it was re-published last year so you should be able to find it. I ordered mine "gently used" on Amazon.

David wandered off with his "doodle" when Will started reading.

And then he wandered back.

Next year, in addition to reading the Advent story each night, I would like to do some type of activity each day with the kids. There are lots of good ideas floating around out there on the internet. Maybe if I start planning now, I will have it ready to go for next year! Wishful thinking I do believe.

My favorite part of the Christmas story: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19 (NIV).

The Perfect Season

Will always gets SEC championship tickets for his birthday from his parents, so we typically spend his birthday weekend in Atlanta. It is especially fun when we come home with a BIG WIN over Florida like we did this year. Go Bama!

The view from our seats.

Pre-game festivities with a big Bama spell-out by the band.

Will and I during halftime.

The big foam finger ... my souvenir from the game. This baby actually made its way to our Sunday School class Christmas party last night as our White Elephant/Dirty Santa gift. One huge Tennessee fan was less-than-thrilled to get it.

Bama about to score.

I'm glad we weren't sitting directly behind this guy. And yes, that is an orange satin shirt he is wearing.

The final score and final minutes of the game.

Boo hoo ... Tim Tebow crying like a baby. So sad Tebow, but you've had your day in the sun. {On a side note: I really like Tim Tebow in general and think he is a great kid, but I think he could have waited until the locker room to have his little pity party.}

It's raining streamers and confetti after the game.

Bama is the undisputed #1 college football team.

The trophy ceremony after the game.

To top off our big win, we got the eat dinner after the game with our friends Scotty and Lesley at Houston's (one of our all-time favorite restaurants ... the one in our town closed a couple of years ago). I didn't take any pictures at dinner. We were all tired and hungry ... and busy watching Texas almost get beat by Nebraska in their conference championship game.

Hopefully one or both of us will be able to make it out to watch Bama in the Rose Bowl in January to play for the National Championship.

"Remember the Rose Bowl, we'll win then."

(lyrics from Alabama's fight song Yea Alabama)

Menu Plan Monday: December 7-13

Nothing too exciting this week. I didn't post all recipes links so if you see something you want, leave me a comment.

Monday: tilapia, potato casserole, green beans

Tuesday: ham & pinto beans (in the crockpot), cornbread

Wednesday: chicken puffs, mixed veggies

Thursday: turkey pot pie

Friday: Christmas parties

Saturday: eat dinner out for Will's parents' 40th wedding anniversary

Sunday (lunch): leftover buffet

Sunday (dinner): Ritz chicken, broccoli casserole

Check out other menu plans here.

Happy Birthday Will!

Will celebrated his birthday today ... well, actually we celebrated all weekend ... in Atlanta ... without the kids! Yeah for grandparents! Will and I actually had his "grown-up" birthday dinner at Wildfire in Atlanta on Friday night. We both forgot that today was his actual birthday until his dad called to wish him happy birthday this morning. Oops!

We made it back to Meme & Poppy's house in time for lunch and some birthday cookie (Will's favorite ... I am a cake girl myself).

Here is Will with the kids ... can we all say NAPTIME for David?!?

Birthday cookie ... pre-blue mouths.

My niece Evie & Claire waiting on some cookie cake.

Post blue mouth.

Will and I. Oh my! He looks like he has blue teeth! Yikes! Beware of colored frosting!

Happy Birthday my sweet husband!!

It's all relative

Most of the people who know me, especially people who have known me my entire life, think that both of my kids look exactly like me. David throws them off a little with the blond hair, but they definitely have my cheeks and eyes.

But, if you didn't know what I looked like, our kids really do look a lot like Will. His mom brought this baby picture up over Thanksgiving because he needed for something at work. He is 18 months old in the picture below.

Now, compare Will's baby picture to a current picture of David (at the same age) ...

and a current picture of Claire.

What do you think?