Christmas 2012

This holiday season seemed to pass by in a blur! A six year old, three year old, and 3 week old kept us quite busy.

Our elf, Reddy, visited again this year!

We had Lilly-Belle's preschool Christmas program. Her favorite song was This Little Light of Mine. 

Shaking those Jingle Bells!

 This year we decided to pass on the gigantic real tree we've had the past two years and opted to just use one of the artificial ones that we had. I named her "Minnie" and this is the only picture I have...once Santa had dropped off the kids' loot.

Christmas morning, Nick cooked his traditional biscuits and gravy and we had his parents, brother, and my mom over to eat and open presents.

Lilly-Belle playing a song for Sam

Colson throwing darts at his new dart board

Sam chilling on his playmat

Mama snuggling with all of the babes

The cousins with their GiGi, great-grandmother

We celebrated with family and everyone loved on Sam...it was a wonderful Christmas (even if I didn't take but a few pictures). :)

Dear Readers,

Please excuse my absence as I've been extremely busy putting little check marks beside boxes on our Summer List! I had totally planned on being a better blogger last week, but when the phone rang Thursday and the RedHead proposed that we head for the beach that afternoon I said, "THUNDERCATS ARE GO!" and promptly threw everything we own into several suitcases and waited by the door so we could leave asap. It was an impromptu trip, but a much needed one. We had a fabulous time and made many memories.

Here are a few pics of the babes at the beach:

We also: Ate oysters and shrimp every night...played arcade games and spent $5 to earn enough tickets to buy some Sugar Babies and a watergun...swam every day...and Monkey rode his first "Big Boy" ride at the carnival. He rode the SeaDragon (you know the big ship that swings side to side); he was just tall enough by his hair and although the RedHead and I though for sure he was going to cry, he LOVED it! I was so proud of him for being brave. :)

We've also checked off "Blow Bubbles" and "Visit the Children's Museum" off of our list:

Monkey Covered In Bubbles!

Blowing A BIG Bubble!

Concentrating...

The Edible Schoolyard at Greensboro Children's Museum

Monkey being the weatherman

Bug driving the "Bambulance"

Monkey hauling Nana and Bug off to jail

Collecting eggs from the chickies

Cooking in the play house

Hope you enjoyed this lengthy picture montage! Like I said, we've been busy having fun!!

Most Days Feel Like Mother's Day

I've noticed this past year that pretty much every day feels like Mother's Day. I didn't necessarily feel this way while I was working after Monkey was born, but since I've been at home with my children each and every day I feel so much more appreciative of the time I get to spend with them.

Yes, there have been days when all I want to do is have the RedHead watch them so I can drive far far away to a hotel and just sleep. Every mother has these days. It's because we give our children all we have, more than we have, and that feeling is a survival instinct telling us that we need to recharge so we can continue to be good mothers.

On this Mother's Day I want to share the everyday gifts I enjoy from my children:

~Being able to kiss their heads and hug their necks WHENEVER I want.

~Saying goodnight prayers with my son.

~Being called "Mommy" each and every day.

~Being the one that they run to whenever they are hurt or sad or happy.

~Listening to their laughter fill our home every day.

My list, like any mother's, could go on and on.

I just want to thank my children for making motherhood such a blessed journey and thank my mother for being such a wonderful mother to me and inspiring me to do the same for my children.

**And a special thanks to the RedHead and my sweetpeas for the awesome Mother's Day gift! I can't wait to wear my new ipod when I go running!

Sips Of The South...Steel Magnolias

"The biggest myth about Southern women is that we are frail types--fainting on our sofas...nobody where I grew up ever acted like that. We were about as fragile as coal trucks." --Lee Smith

I think this quote sums up the strength of Southern women perfectly!

This week's topic over at Sweet Tea & Biscuits Sips of the South is to share who are the true steel magnolias in our lives. I'd have to say that the two women who have been steel magnolias in my life are my Mama and my Mamaw.

My Mama was a single mother to my brother and I and she is the best mother I could ever ask for. She sacrificed for us, provided for us, and instilled values in me that I will forever be thankful for. She has been there for me whenever I've needed her and supported every decision I've ever made. I remember her trying to get me to watch her cook when I was maybe middle school age and I couldn't have been less interested, but now I find myself asking her how she makes everything. I'm going to remind my daughter of this and sit her on the counter to watch and learn from her Nana.

I've written on my Mamaw before...most recently about her passing at 95 years old. She was one of those coal truck women referred to in the quote above. My grandfather passed away when my mother was 12, and she had two other children that she raised on her own. She was a woman who could make something out of nothing, had the cleanest house you would ever step into, and could cook a meal that would put 10 pounds on you. I have so many fond memories of living with my Mamaw and my Mama and I know that having these two strong women raise me is what made me who I am today.

My Mama and Mamaw have encouraged me to put down roots, stand tall, and blossom just like the Magnolia tree, and I thank them.