Family Gathering

This year we celebrated my family's Christmas at our house. We had a house full of people! The grand-kids had a wonderful time exchanging gifts! The best gift for me was having my sister in from Virginia. It has been years since she was last home in the month of December. She drove in lots of snow to get here too! I am so thankful she made it home safely. It was a special treat having her here with us!

This is me with all of my lovely sisters! Getting a group picture does not happen very often. We have great times when we're all together!


12 of 17 grand-kids pictured!


The grand-kids anxiously waiting to open presents!


Will enjoying time with cousins


Will opening presents


Shelby opening presents


Shelby playing Peek-a-boo


Shelby with Aunt Cindy and Aunt Chrissy

The very next day all the women met and had Mexican for lunch. We had a good time. Shelby was getting all the attention!


Will and Keenan


Kennedy and Kaitlyn


Shelby and Aunt Cindy getting silly

Birthday Wishes

On December 9th, I turned 33 years of age. I wish I could say I had just turned 23, but those days are long gone. Even though I feel older, my late twenties and early thirties have been the best years of my life! As my hubby might say, "Just think...in 7 more years you'll be 40!" If I had just one more wish, I would wish for life to slow down! I want to enjoy these two precious little one's as they will soon be all grown up and out on their own! They are life's most precious gifts and I want them to stay this little forever!

Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful birthday wishes and gifts! Life without you would not be the same!

Better Late than Never

One very precious hand made this for me and Daddy!


Mommy and Daddy's little pilgrim!

Where have the last few weeks gone?? I keep asking myself that same question!!! I am ashamed to say this is my first time blogging since before Thanksgiving!! I have already promised myself to never let that happen again!

It has been a super busy time for our family. We celebrated Thanksgiving with Blake's family. I took a Mom's only trip to Virginia to visit one of my sister's. My embroidery business has grown faster than I keep up. The kids and I have been shopping and decorating the house for Christmas. And our list goes on!!

I am ready for all the hustle and bustle to cease! It's time to enjoy the true reason for this season!

Here are some pictures taken during Thanksgiving week.


My first time preparing a Thanksgiving meal all by myself. I cannot remember the last time we used our fine china! I look forward to the many years we have ahead of us!


Thanksgiving with the Thompsons. What a blessing it was to be back in WKY over the Thanksgiving holiday. It, too, was a God-given blessing to have Great Granny with us!


I promise Will was having a good time (even though he does not appear that way in this photograph!)


It's precious to watch your little one grow! Will and Shelby both love playing Nana and Papa's piano!


The Thompson grandchildren all playing the piano. They make quite a team!



Playing ball with Papa and Daddy. Let's get tough!


Fun times on Papa's golf cart!


Shelby taking her first ride on the Kawasaki


Will writing the alphabet and very proud of it!

Slumber Parties

We've been in the mood for slumber parties this week!

On Tuesday, our friends Ashley and Grady stayed over at our house. Grady is around 5-6 weeks older than Shelby. They are good playmates. Will likes Grady too. He tells me he and Grady are cousins. We think Grady has a crush on Shelby. He used to call her "Shel-bug", but now he is able to say "Shelby". Ashley says he mentions her name at home a lot. He and Shelby gave each other a kiss the other night. After their sweet little kiss, Grady walked away to sit on the couch. Shelby followed him and continued giving him smooches in the air. It was the cutest thing ever!

On Thursday, the kids and I packed our things and headed to Aunt Heather's house for the evening. The kids were able to play for a little bit before heading to bed. The following morning, Coleman and Keenan had preschool so Will, Shelby, Mommy, and Aunt Heather spent some time at the mall. Heather and I were able to find some Christmas presents for the kids. I CANNOT believe Christmas is just around the corner. Where has all the time gone??!!

Two big reasons Mommy and Daddy are thankful
and so blessed! God is so good!



Coleman and Keenan made these pieces of artwork for Will and Shelby. I thought they were so sweet and had to share them. Coleman, Keenan, and Aunt Heather live in our old hometown. We miss being right there with them. I can imagine there being lots more slumber parties in the near future!

To: Will
From: Coleman


To: Shelby
From: Keenan

Autumn Leaves

Autumn leaves are falling down,

Falling down, falling down,

Autumn leaves are falling down,

Yellow,red, orange and brown!

The Fun Continues

On Friday evening the kids and I went to IBC's fall festival. We met up with some friends at Chick-Fil-a, and then headed over to IBC for a great time. Will got to play in the bounce house, go down a really big slide, and then ride a pony. He and Shelby played a few games too. The place was packed! In the many years we've attended the festival, never before have there been that many people.

What a surprise! Will's friend Abbey was dressed as
Jessie (another character from Toy Story).


Shelby was so excited about the pony rides.
She screamed when I placed her on one though.
I guess she thought mommy was going to ride too!
Needless to say, she watched brother ride instead!


Our friend Grady dressed up as a penguin.

The best looking sheep I've ever seen!

Last night we went to IHCC's fall festival. Will played several games and got lots of candy. We stopped by to see Peepaw's resting place and then headed out to Aunt Cindy's house with all Will and Shelby's cousins. They all got to go trick 'r treating in her neighborhood. Will had a great time with his cousins while Mommy and Shelby handed out candy to trick 'r treaters.


Catching a big fish!


Airplane painted on his face.

Peepaw would have been proud to see the kids all dressed up!


All the kids dressed up at Aunt Cindy's house.
Lots of Toy Story characters this year!