Stayin Afloat!!!

So, I have been avoiding this post. There have been so many events and SO many pictures to go with them that I couldn't face putting it together. Christmas, family wedding,... to name a few. I have finally decided I will not do them justice either way and to put a few of all of them up. I will comment only briefly.

Random light show put on by some "southern" people a short drive from my house put up every year. They put up over a million lights! It was a sight for sure!

Candle Light Christmas Eve Service at my parent's church



A tacky Christmas Eve Statement....thanks mom.


Toys for Boys

The Wedding and other family activities!

Kids activities!
Thursday night party.

Bridesmaids luncheon


Rehearsal Dinner


Getting ready



It was a December 31 wedding and went until after midnight. It was LOTS of fun. I haven't stayed up until the "ball drop" for quite a long time. And when Eliza woke up at 4 to feed and 6 for the day after I went to bed at 2..... I remembered why!!!

Since then....

Alabama won the National Championship

Steven had his Kindergarten Interview for next year!


and the giants are on their way to the Superbowl!

Happy January to all!

Gingerbread Houses Part II

Ever since we went to see the gingerbread houses at the Grove Park, my boys have wanted to make their own. I was a little nervous about the proposition knowing it takes forever to make the ginger bread, glue like icing, and not to mention they would not be able to make something that seemed worth my time in prep. But when I was at ALDI I found a kit for $5.99 which included gingerbread, icing, candy, and a stabilizing tray! I was all in.

Sam helped me put together the houses while Steven was our photographer. These are by far the best two pictures he took.
After "naptime" we got busy decorating. It was a perfect afternoon activity for our rainy week. I will say Sam's ended up being a bit better because he let me put the icing on for him (for a lot of it) while Steven "is good at building lego houses." Which OBVIOUSLY transfers to tubing icing and candy on a gingerbread house. I was very impressed with the kit. It held up really well and the boys loved it!

Picture taken by Sam

Picture taken by Steven

Picture taken by Mama

Totally doing the kit again next year. When we are skilled enough to enter it into the competition at Grove Park, we'll go from scratch. But for now.... kit all the way.

Gingerbread Houses

Today my amazing angel of a neighbor kept Eliza while she had her morning nap and the boys and I headed off to the Grove Park to check out the gingerbread houses. Every year they have a national gingerbread house building competition and the winners are AMAZING. Seriously, they are ridiculous. No idea how long it takes these people to do this or how they ship them here. It's a pretty impressive spectacle.








We started our boy and mommy date by getting some chocolate milk and then headed to check out the Christmas decorations in the lobby of the hotel. It was great fun.

visible evidence for Sam's disobedience. sigh.


We had a really great time. We even listened to our local Christmas station all the way there. We're in the spirit now! And it should be noted that they thought This one is for the Children by New Kids on the Block was worth playing. Sad.

This igloo was simply decoration.... not edible.