O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

Oh, yes... the time is here. Time to embark on a family tradition that has held true since I was a little girl... The Great Christmas Tree Hunt and Cut!! This is our first year celebrating Christmas in Georgia, so we really didn't know where we would find a tree farm to fulfil our Christmas tradition. Our buddy, Jud, sells beautiful trees out at a tree lot, but the boys love getting under the tree with Sam to cut it down. Jud said he would set the tree on the ground and let them pretend to cut it with a saw... thanks for the thought sweet friend!!! Well, we found a place about 30 minutes away that sounded great, but was a little pricey. Then, I found a place... a mile from our house. They had trees to cut down, hayride for the family, animals to look at, FREE popcorn, cider, and boiled peanuts... all for the low price of the tree!!!! PERFECT!!! Once we loaded the tree and the family back into the truck, we headed over to the Dollar Tree for the boys to pick and buy gifts for the family. They were sooo cute walking around the store with their little baskets in hand choosing something for each member of the family. Once they were paid for... they each had their own bag full of gifts to wrap themselves and put under the tree. Too fun! Two, five dollar Papa John's pizzas later... we were heading home to unload the fun... The holiday season has kicked off and I can't wait for the rest of this sweet season to enjoy celebrating with my family and friends the precious and amazing birth of Jesus. We heard "O, Holy Night" in the truck driving home tonight and I just teared up thinking of the magnatude of sweetness this time of year celebrates. If you haven't read it yet.. Beth Moore wrote a beautiful view of the night Jesus was born through the eyes of Mary. Look it up...

Enjoy this time of year... enjoy your family... enjoy the food... enjoy the calories... enjoy the parties with friends... enjoy and rejoice with eyes shut and arms raised high the birthday of our sweet Savior!!!

Can you believe we go this shot holding the camera out in front of us??!!??

Jackson snapped this one!

Sam is so good about getting me in some pics!
The clippings in my hand are for Colby to make a tree for White Bear... oh, beloved White Bear!

Ummm... popcorn and boiled peanuts! Did you notice all the Alabama attire? The boys are proud of The Tide pulling out a win against Auburn... sorry Grammoo!!!

Donkey and Miniature Horse... Max called them all cows!!!

Hayride with our tree on back!
Cutting it down...
Timber!!!!
Nice choice boys!
Roam free sweet ones!!!

Thankful for Everyday in November...

Oh, November has been wonderful, so far...
I have truly been making the conscious effort to count my blessings instead of counting my problems and it's amazing what a little effort can do.
Jen and I read a book a few years ago that had a chapter titled...
Attitude and Perspective.
That chapter taught us more than any other book we have ever read. We can't control much in our lives... (thank goodness... I have no problem trusting my every step to God... takes the load off of me and His outcome is much more glorious, perfect, and full of purpose)... but we can control our attitude and perspective. We all are given that split second right before making a choice... what will I choose??
Well... raising four boys... determined to have a growing and thriving marriage... maintaining a peaceful and joyful home... ministering to an amazing group of ladies in my aerobics class weekly... nurturing my family relationships and friendships... serving our sweet church family...
I am constantly faced with those split second choices...
- will I choose to be a respectable mommy or fly off the handle
- will I choose to be my husbands' safe haven or resort to my own selfishness
- will I radiate the message in my home that "home is for free expression NOT first impressions" or shove everyone away so that I can clean, clean, clean
- will I just go and exercise at the Y or consciously be there building relationships with some folks that could sometimes use a little light in their day
- will I make that call and plan that trip or become self absorbed in my own life that I neglect family and friends
- will I go to serve or to be served

May we all wake up everyday asking God for a renewed attitude and perspective into every aspect of our day... may we make the time and effort to choose a joyful attitude and a perspective of blessing in that split second...

START COUNTING!!! Blessings...not Problems....

Here's a sneek peak at our Christmas card... I love that our street is full of boys... Homerun Derby time!!!

I finally bought a wire cooling rack... simple blessings!!!

The leaves have almost completely fallen in our yard... Max enjoyed them before daddy got 'em up... He jumped, frolicked, and ate his pudding in them!!!

Ohhh... little boys in blue jeans... melt my heart!!!

The Boys' Fort... oh, this is truly a blessing that I thank God for daily!!! I always yearned for my boys to have a place they could run off to and let their imaginations flow. Well, this fort is that place!! They have decorated it with wood planks and old rusty furniture that they found in an old dump site back in the woods. Complete with a restroom sign pointing to a far off tree!! It rained here alot last week causing the waterfall to be rushing and GORGEOUS in their sweet little boy getaway!!!!

Max needed a bath early one day after playing the mud... I was torn with playing with him and knowing that I needed to get some clothes folded... So, I thought why don't I kill two birds with one stone!!! Makes laundry much more fun with my sweet little companion having some splish splash fun!

Sam and Bo had the chance to get away together for a day to Huck Finn Father and Son Day for all the Preschoolers in the county. Bo was sooo proud to be hopping into daddy's truck... all decked out in their Tom Sawyer attire with fishing poles in hand... just the two of them! Bo won best costume and Sam one Best Daddy in Bo's eyes!!!

Counting my blessings wouldn't be complete without thanking God that noone got hurt... yes, they are on the roof... no purpose, whatsoever, just on the roof... me, oh, my!!!

Falling In Love with the Fall in Georgia!!

Just when I thought that our new hometown couldn't get any sweeter... Max and I went on a field trip with Bo to the Pumpkin Patch... this place was unlike anywhere I've ever been... deep in the beautiful Georgia mountains lay a sweet little farm ready for kiddos to enjoy... sheer beauty!

Oh my... it is GORGEOUS here in the Fall. I gasp everytime I drive over the brow of the mountain heading into the city... seeing the acres and acres of trees that are turning every shade of an autumn palate. I am smitten driving down our sweet little road that leads to our house because everyday a tree has turned a new shade of beauty.

October Happenings!!!

START AT THE BOTTOM of THIS POST AND READ UP!!!
OOPS!!!

Pop & Lali LOVE their last GrandBoy!!!

and Pop!!!

Max loves Aunt Pam!!!

Failed attempt for a sweet family picture!! I always like these better anyway!!!

Pinata time!!!

The Party Crew!!! Julia, Sam, Ben, Isaac, Cade, Cason, and the bros!!!

Present time!!!

Hayride into the pasture to see the cows in Daddy's truck!!

Ummm.... chocolate fountain!!!

Gotta have a cow cake!!!

next day.... PARTY TIME!!

Little family birthday cupcake!!!

Kick your feet up, Max... it's your birthday pizza dinner!!!

What do u want for your birthday, Max.... Play In The Mud!!!!

I can't believe that our last little baby boy is 2!!! The stomping of his feet running through the house, his sweet kisses and hugs that he loves to give away, his love for cows, and so much more.. just melts us to the core!!!

Oh.. there is a very special day in October... Max's birthday!!!

and coats!!

Time to pull out all the cold weather clothes...

Country dinner... pintos, collards, ham, and skillet cornbread... woo-hoo!!!

I woke up from Sunday nap and found this note on the table!!! My big country boy!

Fall is here... and it is wonderful!!!

COUNTRY LIVING!!! Our neighbors love to grow food in their garden and give it away to us... so we accept!!!

We got to have a fun day celebrating and raising money for sweet Mallory Mc. It was cold and rainy, but nobody's sweet hearts seemed to be dampened!!!

4 precious brothers curled up watching a movie!

Thumbs up from the men!!!

So, being the only gal in the house... I don't cook many pretty, girly meals... but this night was different. I wanted a yummy SALAD with grilled chicken, strawberries, blueberries, almond slivers, and girly dressing... HOW'D THEY LIKE IT!!!???

Max has lost it with this crew!!!

Time to get clean!!!

Yes... that's their faces in the water!!!

When it rains... these boys don't want to curl up with hot chocolate... they want to get in it!!! No lightning... GO FOR IT!!!

Happy Baptism Cake!!

Colby was baptised!!!! Grammoo and Grouch & Pop and Lali all came over to celebrate the day with us! Colby let us know that..."I've known Jesus my whole life and I've known that I don't want to die without Him cuz I don't want to go to hell... now I know that I can't LIVE without Him." That's right buddy...

The Dukes' (minus Jason... he was at a conference in Atlanta) came to stay a week with us. Jen and the 4 kiddos piled into our home... and we had a blast!!! We took most of our pics on Jen's camera, but I had these two! I got to show Jen our new life here in Rome! She took my aerobics class (and did GREAT!), we went to all the parks, saw camels at the fair, went out for an Ali and Jen nite, and so much more... We jokingly called ourselves... "Sam, Ali, & Jen Plus Eight!"

He was catcher the entire season... we bought our first CUP. Now that's little boy world. You should've seen me after the first game washing his uniform... I didn't know how to clean it... washing machine in the undies?? Take it out and put it in the dishwasher?? Hand wash???

Jackson played Fall Baseball with his best friend Cade!

OHHH October is FULL of fun...