Highlights of Our Holidays

Chris was able to take the entire week of Thanksgiving off of work.

Alexander only went to school on Monday which left the rest of the week for family time.

I was able to get out of the house & work a couple of hours by myself in the office.

We had a successful dinner at Ninfa's as a Family Wednesday night.

We successfully left a Transformer at Ninfa's after a Family Dinner Night.

We had a fabulous lunch at the Stelly's on Thanksgiving Day. Complete with Fried Turkey, Baked Ham, Roasted Pork Loin, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Corn Bread Dressing, Rice Dressing, Macaroni & Cheese, etc...okay, okay, here's a picture of my plate fixed with a bit of everything complete with an cold coke.

We started a new tradition of roasting marshmallows and making s'mores with graham crackers on the fire pit.

My Sweet Boy didn't want a S'More....Nah, just went straight to the chocolate. Who needs all that extra stuff clouding the taste buds?

In the afternoon we rolled our full, jolly bellies drove across the bayou to Mom & Dad's house for dinner and YES, we ATE AGAIN!

We couldn't get enough of their dog, CoCo's, pups who were just opening their eyes after only being born 2 weeks earlier. They were snuggly, grunting little balls of fur and Sophie couldn't squeeze on them enough. {Anyone need a puppy for Christmas? They'll be weened the week before, wink, wink, hint, hint....}
Friday afternoon we went for the ride to get our Christmas Tree & lemme tell ya, it wasn't an easy feat with two 20 mo. olds in tow. We unwrapped 3 trees and by the third one, Sophie was rolling around in the limb clippings and Izzy had gotten lost in one of the 6-7 ft. tree bays. Wasn't expecting to leave so frazzled. Chris & Alexander put the lights on the house & then we settled in for a weekend wind down.

We finally decorated the tree tonight. More on that debacle later....

The Traditions We Know

Traditions are what I remember from Childhood. Things that I KNEW we were going to do without asking. I KNEW we were going to Grammie's house for Thanksgiving lunch. I KNEW we were going to Maw Maw & Paw Paw's house for Thanksgiving supper. I KNEW the day after we'd go get our Christmas Tree.

Now, I'm so excited for our traditions that Chris & I are building with our Children. We KNOW that we're going to MeMe & Poppie's for Thanksgiving Lunch. We KNOW that we'll spend Thanksgiving Supper with Nonny & Paw Paw at their house. I KNOW the day after we'll go and pick out the most over-priced Frasier fir for our humble living room. I KNOW that Chris'll be on his ladder all day long after putting lights on the house that could only match Clark Griswold's in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Although the Girls won't remember this year or next {Alexander may not either for that matter}, I KNOW that years to come, we won't even need to answer their questions, they'll KNOW.

I am truly blessed for my huge list of THANKS. And although I won't remember them all right away, here are some:

My Salvation; My Husband; My Healthy Children: Alexander, Isabella & Sophia; My Loving Parents; My Giving In-Laws; My Loyal Brothers and Sisters; My Many, Many Family Members; Awesome Co-Workers; My Home; Food in my pantry; Clothes in my Closets & My Children's Closets; The Bestest Friend a Girl Could Ask For; A Great Church; Fabulous Church Friends; vehicles that are paid for and RUN; full time, good-paying jobs.

The list could go on and on and on. I really don't know what I did do deserve what I've been given.

God has given us so much. We are so blessed beyond anything we could ever express in Thanks or Gratitude. My only hope is that we are able to give as much as we receive on a daily basis.

2 Samuel 22:50
Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.

I Give Thanks for.....

My Husband.
The ever patient, ever loving, ever acknowledging and validating man in my life. The Lord knew what kind of husband I needed even before I was formed in the womb. Thankfully, he sent me Chris. Patient is not sustainable to describe what that Man is to me. When I fly of the handle, loose my cool, jump to conclusions {you get the drift} he is there with a soft answer making me realize how foolish I'm behaving see the bigger picture. He encourages me to be a better person, wife, mom, daughter{In-Law}, sister, friend, etc.

My Children.
They are excitable, determined, funny, exasperating, tiring Little People. But OHHH, do they make my heart swell with indescribable love. Some days I just look at them and can't breathe they make me so full.

Alexander The Great.

The lover of all things Transformers. The Thinker. The Whiner. The Big Goof Ball of South Baton Rouge. He loves and lives fearless. Doesn't like to laugh at someone because he thinks it might hurt their feelings.

Isabelly Stelly. What a Light-Hearted little Silly Willy. All the time Giggler. Ways to find anything silly. Finds the tightest spot in the house & will turn a flip. Tries to run away when someone wants to give a kiss.

So-So Girl. What I wouldn't give to remember her little sing-song voice for the rest of my life. She sings any song at any time at any volume she wants and it is pure butter to my ears. She'll give out kisses at my request and they are oh, so delicious.

Toys for Tots DVD Donations

A few months back I joined the following link: http://disney.go.com/disneymovierewards/.
It's a rewards program you can join for FREE through Disney Movies that you buy.

Most of their movies have those papers in the cases and it's got a Reward Code you can enter and earn POINTS, FREE points.

These points can "buy" you "free" items in the Disney Rewards Store. Most items aren't worth much: i.e. stickers, magazines, stuffed animals, etc.


Well....We bought "UP" this weekend - The new Disney/Pixar movie. I entered my movie code & then checked to see what new rewards were in the store.

GUESS WHAT?!?! There is a Toys for Tots/Marine Corps Donation option!! For every 100 points, you can have a DVD donated to Toys for Tots/Marine Corps Toy Drive!! How cool is that?!?! It's a FREE donation because you've already BOUGHT the movie that's sitting on your shelf!!

Sooooo, go to your shelves, look through all of your Disney DVD's to find the rewards codes, sign up, redeem those points and donate to a WORTHY cause!! Who knows how many points (free donation dollars!!) are sitting on your shelf RIGHT NOW!!!


**This is a really big personal push from me because as many of you know, both of my brothers are Marines and we are so proud to do as much as we can for Toys for Tots during the Christmas Season.

There are children everywhere who do not have a life that we {are blessed to} give to our own children - this is a way for them to feel like kids, feel like they are worthy, feel like they are loved....**

Not much going on here in Stellyville to speak much of. Last week Chris was vacationing working in L.A. for S.E.V.E.N. days. Yes folks, seven days. I have such an enormous respect for single moms, military moms and any mom who is doing it alone. We took trips to the zoo, mall and park along with drives out to G.T. to visit the Grandparents. Those kids wore me out!But it's so much fun! And so reassuring to have such fabulous parents and in-laws. What woulda gone on without them?!?!
The night that Daddy came home Izzy was bitten by an itty bitty 'ole mosquito on her temple.
The next day her eye looked like this. That joker did a number on my baby's head, huh?!?!

Monday morning I took her to the Dr. just to make sure her eye was okay and we weren't going to have to change her name to Quasimodo deal with nerve issues down the road in her little eye.

Good thing we visited with our Pediatrician and had her check us all out because at that very moment, Chris {the vacationing Movie Man} was entering into the beginning stages of the FLU back at home!

Yes, just as soon as Single Motherhood had ended, it picked back up again. We quarantined Daddy in our master bedroom while I exiled myself to the couch for three nights. Finally, last night I pretty much didn't care if I would get the flu, palsy, eczema, I DIDN'T CARE! I needed to sleep in MY bed, on MY pillow, under MY covers.But man, I've never seen my husband sleep as much as he has this week. I swear he's slept 23 out of 24 hours each day. It really took a lot out of him. Now he's on the mend, heading back to work tomorrow. Pray for his strength and stamina.

As for the rest of the house, we're doing fine. No flu for us. Only a few coughs and colds. Nothing that a little trip to the zoo in this gorgeous fall weather won't cure.

More pics later....

Chest Pains

A few mornings ago Alexander woke up saying his chest hurt him. He was a tad bit bent over like he was an old man. I kinda got panicked but then remembered he is the master of hypochondria.

I asked him where it hurt, how it hurt, etc. I listened to his heart beat - it sounded normal and in rhythm. Maybe he slept on his side wrong and his muscles were hurting?



Alexander: "Nah, I slept good."



Momma: "Well lets just lay on the couch for a few minutes and see how you feel."



Alexander: "Mom, I think my heart stopped beeping last night."



Momma: "Oh, really?"



Alexander: "Yeah, I think it's broken in two."



Ring, ring: Momma:{Insert panicky voice now} "Chris, Alexander woke up in pain in his chest. I'm kinda worried but don't know what to do. Do you think I should call the pediatrician, go to the ER?"



Daddy: "Well Babe, what's he doing now?"



Momma: "Climbing on the living room table. Have a good day, babe. I'll talk to you later. GET DOWN OFF OF THAT TABLE!!"



Momma: "Alexander, let's pray for your chest to feel better."



....A few minutes later after fussing at him to get down off of the table A.G.A.I.N.



Momma: "Alexander, how are you feeling?"



Alexander: "Good, I'm almost healed."



Momma: "Oh yeah? I think Jesus has already healed you. We claimed it in His Name, remember?"



Alexander: "No, not yet."



Momma: "Not yet?"



Alexander: "Nah, He hasn't made it here yet. But, He'll be here soon and I'll tell you when He is."