From Our Family to Yours

We always get together with my Mom & Dad for Christmas on Christmas Eve. It's usually in the morning so that the kids can open gifts before we all eat lunch & go down for a nap before Christmas Mass with the Stelly's.

Once we got all the kids together, Paw Paw started telling the Christmas story.

This year, he had Caleb, our Nephew, read from Luke 2.

If you've ever heard a child read scriptures, you know.

You know the power of a child's voice reading from scripture.

That morning was very special to listen to a little person just reading with wonder & innocence & purity.

Just to close your eyes & hear his voice telling the story.

Very sweet. Good Job Buddy!

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.

¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

  

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Then the unwrapping began.

The girls' were a hit! They all became PRINCESSES in a moment.

Tutu's & Tiaras!

 Don't forget the magic wands!

 This is the only shot I got of Bubbs during Christmastime!

He didn't sit still for a minute!!!

{And he didn't look happy at this, either!!}

Merry Christmas from the Stellys

Conversations From The Potty

Mom:

So, Sophie, what's your favorite color?

Sophie:

ummm, pink....and puwpal. Yep. Pink and Puuupal.

Mom:

Great! What's your favorite animal?

Sophie:

elafaaaants. yep, I like two elafaants
{holding up four fingers}.

and I like tigers too!!

Izzzzzyyyy!! I like tigers!!

Izzy:

Noooo, deys is my animaaaals!!

Mom:

Izzy, she can like tigers, too.

Mom:

Sophie, are tigers your favorite, too or do you just want to make Izzy mad?

Sophie:

OK, I just like elafaaants.

Mom:

Okay, what's your favorite shape?

Sophie:

Twiangals. And Hawts.

You know Jesus is in my hawts, Momma?

Mom:

Really, that's very special, So-So!

Sophie:

Yep, my tummies, too. Jesus likes my tummies.

Umm, I gotta poo-poo. I needs some pwivacees.

Mom:

Okay, call me when you're finished.

Sophie:

Momma, I loves Jesus in my tummeeees.
Do you loves Jesus in yous tummees?

What We've Been Up To Lately

....sing it with me now...

Tee-Tee on the Pot-tee!!

Tee-Tee on the Pot-TEE!!!!

 Thank You, Baby Jesus, for an early

Christmas Gift!!

This Momma is truly grateful!!

Cut & Paste

As much as our girls are alike, they are different.

.....They both love pigtails.

However, Sophie parts to the right & Izzy right down the middle.

.....They both love edemame.

However, Sophie picks her own pods, Izzy needs hers done for her.

.....They both love to color.

However, Izzy LOVES markers while Sophie prefers crayons.

.....They both LOVE to do crafts.

However, Sophie LOVES to cut paper.....

.....And Izzy LOVES to paste.

It works so well that way.

Sophie goes to town cutting little scraps of paper,

I dot glue all over a sheet of paper

and Izzy sticks the bits paper all over

VOILA, we have art!!

Forty Under 40

Chris was honored this year as a Forty Under 40 Nominee for the Baton Rouge Business Report.

Out of Four Hundred & Something submissions, a panel chooses 40 Outstanding Men & Women in the Baton Rouge Area who are making a difference in our community.

Our Very Own Executive Director was one of those chosen.

Of course, I, being his brilliant side-kick, knew he was always going to be recognized one day for his hard work & dedication in bringing Economic Growth to our Great State.

I'm glad others finally got the MEMO:-)

Last night was the lovely banquet honoring Chris & the other 39 Phenomenal Entrepreneurs, Business People and Volunteers.

 Oh, and we all had a blast, too!!

Chris' Parent were there.

{I think Mrs. Kay & I are tied in the running as The Executive Director's #1 Fan.}

My Parents Came as Well.

{Jeremy, I'm so sorry my Dad goosed you:-(}

The Brothers, Brothers and Sisters, Sisters came, too!

Plus Aunts & Uncles!!

Between everyone there for Chris, we filled up two tables!

We were also the loudest....Imagine that....

Here's the Executive Director looking all dapper & composed and ready to interview about the billions of dollars spent by the movie industry.....

And here's the Executive Director that we all know & love.

{This is also Izzy & Bubb's favorite picture of the night}

Babe, we are all so very proud of you and the hard work you do on a daily basis. Your work ethic & dedication come 2nd to no one.

We love you, Mr. Executive Director!

~I always knew Hollywood would come to you.

Santa Came to MOP's

Our MOPs coordinators pulled some strings and got the Big Guy to come down from the North Pole just for our little MOPPETs this morning.

He came with his sack full of toys for all of the kids there.

He's good like that.

Izzy was a H.O.O.T.!!

When Santa called her name to come & get her gift,

She ran up to him,

grabbed her gift,

and then sprinted off.

She did WAY better than Sophie, though.

Sophie made Izzy go & get her gift, too:-)

Then, when it was time for a Photo-Op, Sophie acted like she & Santa were BFF's!!

What tha'?!?!

Izzy....not so much....

But man, did she have fun making "reindeerssss food for Thanta's {Santa's} deers wid {with} horns!!"

New Tradition

Today I went to a party for {In Izzy's words} "Just you's Momma's."

Mostly it was just us Mommas.

It was a White Elephant ornament exchange with a lot of the ladies in my life.

Ann & I went with Mrs. Kay & Aunt Crystal.

This was the whole group. We had so much fun.

We plan on making it an annual party.

Next year on top of bringing ornaments,

we're gonna have an

UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER

contest.

I'm already looking for mine now.

Our days are Filled With

.....playing princesses

.....running with barefeet

.....brushing 'lil ponies' hair

.....waiting on Bubb

.....being pretend "Baby Cate"

.....easy lunches

.....complicated snacks

......tight, tight hugs

......coloring with markers

.....eating crayons

.....playing Mommy & Babies

.....cutting paper

.....gluing paper

.....rushing to the busstop

.....snuggly kisses

.....naked jay-birds

.....taking pictures

.....watching movies

.....reading for book club

.....channeling jedi knights

.....working on puzzles

.....talking on the phone

.....texting on the phone

.....emailing on the phone

.....editing in bridge

.....watching home videos

.....giggling at home videos

.....enjoying life.

Shhh, don't tell Bubb...

It's Movie Morning in his bed....

Reasons Why I Love Early Bedtime

Sophia:  Momma, Bubb just spit on me!!

Momma: Bubb, what the heck?!?!

Bubb: Well, I licked her hand and it had dirt on it!

Momma: So you spit on her?!? Wait, why were you licking your sister???

Bubb: I dunno, but I had to spit it out....

{....sigh....}

Can You Hear It?

It's calling me.

From the top of my china hutch.

I thought that if I put it way up high,

I would forget about it.

Not so much.

This is what's left from

Trick or Treating

 These are the three candies that are whispering,

"Lindsey, Lindsey, Lindsey...."

 These babies right here.

Oh man.

Put them in the fridge for an hour or 2.

I swear they are my kryptonite.

And these, I could eat them all day.

Someone told me a long time ago that

Tootsie Rolls had no calories.

Good enough for me.

What's your vice?

Candy and Ninjas and Fairies, oh my....

This was the year of tuu tuus and masks!!

It was hard to believe that The Sisters wore different colors.

If someone was looking for Sophie,

They were also looking for Izzy in purple.

If someone was looking for Izzy,

They were also looking, well, you get it...

If someone was looking for Bubb,

They never found him.

I had a hard time, too.

That ninja mask threw me off all night.

A couple of times I lost him.

But then he told me,

"that's what ninjas do, Mom."

{Insert sarcastic tone right there.}

 Technically, if you asked Izzy what was she was dressed as for Trick or Treat,

she'd say, "Velma" from Scobby Doo.

And then I'd say, "we're a little obsessed in the Stelly house about Scooby Doo."

 Naturally, since Izzy is Velma, Sophie HAS to be Daphne. Has.to.be.

We got lotsa loot!

Lotsa Lotsa LOOT!!  

 

Once the kids are asleep,

I'm thinking of throwing some away.

Or eating it.

Not sure yet.

We Lubb da Punkin Patch

Sophie: {gasp!!!} "Mommie, looka da tiny baby ones!"

Sophie: "I'm gonna count 'em.

1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 8.....I lubb deess punkins!!"

Izzy: "I don't WANNA sit on the punkin!"

 

Sophie: "If Izzy don't, I don't."

Momma: "Sit on those pumpkins or you won't get a treat with the other MOPPETS!!"

Izzy: "I'll do you one better: I'll even look like I'm enjoying this!"

Sophie: "Izz, look dees gots bumps on dem!!"

Izzy: "yeah, it's boogers!!"

Mom: sigh....

Izzy: "Sophie, look more boogers!!"

Sophie: "Mommmmm, Izzy said boogers!!"

Izzy: "I'm done. Let's go home!!"

Sophie: "IZZY!!!! wait for MEEEE!!"

Sophie: " 'mon Mom!!"