Thanksgiving in a flash

The Thanksgiving holiday has officially come to an end. I can't promise that this post will make sense because I am running on very little sleep! So please forgive me if I ramble! I am going to try to give an overview of the past week.

Last week Peyton had his Thanksgiving party at school. They rotated classrooms and made various Indian crafts. He loved every bit of it. He felt so big! Here he is modeling his Indian headband. Monday I helped his class make turkey's out of oreos, hershey kisses, and candy corn. They turned out so cute! I'll try to post a picture of them soon.

Sunday our church had its Thanksgiving luncheon. What yummy food! I took lots of pictures, but this is one of my favorites!

Tuesday Trevor's class had their Thanksgiving feast. They had so much great food. Everything from pumpkin pie to yams to homemade corn bread to turkey! He had a great time with his friends. Here he is with two of his best friends Isabella and Tyler.

During the busy week of cooking and cleaning I snapped this picture of Princess Morgan putting on her make-up. I don't know what I am going to do with her! She loves that make-up!

Wednesday night we had Thanksgiving at our house. My parents and Gene's dad and stepmom came over to celebrate with us. It was our first holiday in which everyone came to our house. I was quite proud of my first attempt at sweet potato casserole! Needless to say, we had great food and great fellowship! Yesterday Gene had to work so the kids and I rode to Hattiesburg with my parents to have dinner with my sister, Aunt Rebecca, and cousin Rachel. We had a great time eating and playing Phase 10. (Which I one by the way!) Then we drove to McComb to spend the night at MawMaw's. Gene drove down after he got off last night. He and I were at Wal-Mart in McComb at 4am! This was my first experience with shopping on Black Friday before daylight. We scored lots of Christmas presents for the kids and saved a ton of money. The big item we were going for, the Barbie Jeep for $88, was already gone when Mom and Melanie got there at 3:30! You couldn't even check out until 5! These people are crazy! oh well, we were only getting it because it was so cheap. Later we ate lunch at MawMaw's with the whole family and played a little wofel ball in the backyard. Even MawMaw got in on the fun!

We are finally back home and sitting down to watch a holiday movie. We can't put up our decorations until Monday because Gene has to work tomorrow and Sunday. I can't wait!

Peyton and cousin Cody discussing their game plan

MawMaw running from 2nd to 3rd

Cousin CJ - Morgan couldn't stay away from him! She loves her baby!

The whole crew

A precious moment between Cinderella and her prince charming

The Weekend At Last

Despite the fridged temperature, my little ball player took advantage of Daddy's off weekend and insisted on playing catch.

Little brother and sister could resist the chance to play outside, even if they did have to bundle up like the kid on "A Christmas Story". Morgan borrowed her brother's coat because I had not unboxed her winter clothes yet. She had to have her baby and cell phone though!


Enjoying cinnamon rolls this morning!

My new haircut! My friend Michelle convinced me that it was time for a makeover. Thanks Michelle! I love it!


I am so glad it is finally the weekend! The week was so busy it is a blur. I'm not even sure what all we did. Peyton has his Thanksgiving party at school Thursday. He got to rotate classrooms with the Kindergarten classes and make different indian crafts. We are loving this cold weather too! I had to go through all of the kids clothes yesterday afternoon and pull out the winter clothes. I hate going through clothes, but atleast that chore is finally finished. Gene was great and kept the kids occupied so I could work faster!

This morning, Gene is gone hunting so I hoped to get to spread out in the bed and sleep late. What was I thinking? I have three kids, who like all kids, have to be dragged out of bed for school and then bounce out of bed at 6:45 on weekends! I know that one day that will change. They will become teenagers and want to sleep until noon but seriously! I want sleep now! Oh well, atleast I got the opportunity to post and hopefully get a few hairbows made!

We have two birthday parties this afternoon so hopefully Daddy will be home soon so we can tag team! Three kids + 2 birthday parties + 1 mommy = disaster!

Hallelujah

I finally got a new camera! It is a Canon EOS 40D. It has more gadgets than I know what to do with! I am so excited! I don't think Gene was too excited as he paid for it though. There goes my Christmas and birthday for the next three years! Oh well! I can finally get back to doing what I love. The pictures I am posting I took ten minutes after sticking the battery in so I didn't know what I was doing... and probably won't a year from now!

Promised Pics

Here are some long over due pictures! Not sure why the ones from my sister are smaller but oh well!

Trevor in tree at McAlister's
Monkeys in tree at McAlister's

More Monkeys

Peyton doing bungee run at fall festival

Melanie and I in sack race

Gene and Morgan in obstacle course (He had to take her through five times)

Gene jousting with Daniel

Trevor and Peyton bobbing for apples

Senator Thad Cochran reading to second grade class

Beechwood students in Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program

Senator Cochran and me

RIF guy and presidential candidates (I found these masks at Wal-Mart! Two six graders wore them for the skit.)

Special Guest section

This event was a huge deal for our school. RIF is a nonprofit organization that is funded by the federal government. It gives a free book to every child in participating schools three times a year. The purpose is to motivate children to read so we try to make the distributions exciting. Our theme was "Elect a Good Book" and children got to vote on their favorite book. The winner was announced at the program. Beechwood was chosen by the National RIF organization to host a thank you for the sentor for helping to find funding for the program in congress. We also had local officials present such as the mayor, sherriff, school board, MS senators and representatives, superintendent, state insurance commissioner, etc. The whole thing was very nerve racking to plan, escpecially being so new in this position, but it turned out great! I found out today that I am going to be the Mississippi National RIF ambassador. I'm not sure what all that means just yet but I do know I'm the only one in the state! I'm excited but very nervous! I hope you have a great weekend!

Crazy Days!

As you can tell from my lack of posting recently, we have been very busy! Last week seems like a blur so I will start with Friday. Friday two friends from work and I played hookie and went to Mistletoe Marketplace. It was my first time to go and I have mixed feelings about the whole experience. Negative - I do not like to shop while people are leaning over my shoulder huffing and puffing or having to push my way into a booth to look at way over priced things that I like but don't need. Positive - It was great to spend a day with friends laughing, being silly, and talking about girl stuff without wiping noses, butts, or bloody knees! I also came home so much in the Christmas spirit that I am ready to put up my tree!

Saturday, Peyton played his last soccer game of the season. I'm not sure soccer is his thing. (Which is fine with us... we don't get it anyway. Sorry soccer lovers!) I think he is going to try baseball in the spring. Aunt Melanie came in to town Saturday morning so she took Morgan to Nana's with her while Gene and Trevor went to get hay for our church fall festival and I took Peyton to his friend, Bo Broome's birthday party. He had a great time playing with all of his classmates! Later I went to praise team practice while Gene and the kids went to Mom's to wait for me and watch Kung Fu Panda. While at Mom's, Mom, Melanie, and I decided we would highlight each others hair. Mom's looks great! Melanie and I however were at Wal-Mart at 11pm buying dye! I had become a blond! Not a good look for me. Thankfully my hair is back to its original color! I won't be doing that again!

Sunday was our fall festival at church. We had the best time! There were games, free food, jumping things, slides, a jousting ring, bingo, a pie eating contest, a sack race (which I competed in but didn't win), and much more! We also came home with eight goldfish the kids had won! My sister took pictures of the whole weekend that I'll post as soon as she sends them to me!

Yesterday, Morgan spent the whole day hanging out with Aunt Melanie while the rest of us were at work and school. They both had a great time doing girl stuff! The boys, however, were jealous until she checked them out early! Thanks Aunt Melanie! Hope everyone has a great week! I'll post pictures soon!