Happy New Year and Snow

Happy 2010 Everyone. We had a nice 2009 and are looking forward to an awesome 2010.

We rang in the New Year's with awesome friends and I'm sad to report I have NOT ONE pic to show :-(

I still have lots of Christmas pictures to sort out, so hopefully I'll post those soon.

Yesterday afternoon the snow slowly fell. We didn't get much, but isn't snow soooo much fun?

Mollie stayed with her Papa and Nana Maney while her school closed half a day due to the weather. Lastnight we were going stir crazy and I called our friends/neighbors up and said, "Lets be Crazy, bundle up and come out to play!" Fun Times!

Alden, Emma Kate, and Mollie

Hi!

My Little Snow Angel

Getting ready to slip and slide!

Attempting to slide down the driveway on a tote lid

Mollie Swingin'

Happy Snow Days! Enjoy your weekend!

Christmas Ornaments

Mollie and I made the cutest little ornaments this past weekend. I was planning on making these for teachers/friends/dance teachers/family/co-workers, etc. I got some great ideas over at kelly's korner. These were super easy and I thought they turned out super cute. I filled all the balls up with red or green shredded paper and put their first initial on them. For the teachers, I tied an ABC 123 ribbon, a Red with white polka dots and a sheer green ribbon. For the others, I used Zebra in replace on the ABC 123 ribbon and the red and green. I LOVE doing arts and crafts and it gives me a great sense of accomplishment when its completed.

Mollie loves being involved with things like this also, that just gives me more reason to love it! I love having this "girl time"

Hopefully next week we'll be getting in the kitchen and baking together. Mollie loves to help in the kitchen too....mostly washing dishes (which prbably won't last long) because she LOVES playing in the water!

I enjoy this time so much and I'm hanging on to all the awesome memories that we are creating together as a family.

I hope you and family are creating some good Holiday memories as well.

Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours!

Isn't she lovely

Isn't she lovely.......Isn't she pretty.... Truly the angel's best girl, I'm so happy we have been heaven blessed, I can't believe what God has done. Through us he's given life to one, but isn't she lovely made from love!!!!

We love you so much Mollie.

Thank You again lord for placing this beautiful work of art before us. We are so grateful!

Psalms 45:2
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath BLESSED thee for ever.

Shame On Me

I'm so bad. My blog needs some TLC....As much as I love blogging, its been very hard to sit down and focus to do it. From October to the end of December is a busy time.

Since last time, Derek and I attended a Coupon Workshop in which I'm truly grateful for. We have saved so much money and have gotten a lot of items completely free!!!! It kind of gets addictive!! I'm all about saving some money, and I think we're off to a good start.

Well, we've celebrated Thanksgiving also. It was low-key at my grandmother's house and we had LOTS of great food. I love this time of year because this is really when I'm given the opportunity to get down and dirty in the kitchen ;-) I love to cook, but I also enjoy baking. I LOVE all the family time that comes along with the Holidays.

We Finally got our Christmas Tree's up and they look great. Mollie's tree is my favorite. We don't do much decorating inside, besides the trees. I have a few things in the kitchen and I have my fireplace decorated, Mollie's room has a few Christmas items floating around on her dresser and I have a Nativity Scene in my Foyer. I don't do the bathrooms or our bedroom. I'm thinking very seriously about doing a few things outside. I love Christmastime and Mollie ABSOLUTELY loved helping decorate the trees this year. It gets more exciting ever year!

I'm getting ready to start working on the Christmas cards, so I'm excited to see how these turn out. I have to get on this ASAP....Yikes.

I hope everyone has a Blessed rest of the year!!

I will post again before the end of the year, even if it's just a single pic!!

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth Luke 1:14

Busy Little "Bee"

Wow! It has been FOREVER since I've been here. We have been so, so busy.

Here is my precious little BUMBLE BEE

I'm gonna try to attempt to "recap" the past couple of weeks.

So, every year we take Mollie to the Pumpkin Farm. We usually do this on a weekday when there isn't much traffic. Well this year we went on a Friday and it happened to be raining. We did our rain dance, got a few good pics and bought a couple of pumpkins. Then we loaded up and went further. We wanted to make a day out of it and thought the Pumpkin Farm and a little shopping would pretty much fill our day, but when the rain moved in we had to move on.

I have ALWAYS loved Cabbage Patch Dolls and Mollie is REALLY diggin' dolls right now, so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to take her to the Cabbage Patch Hospital where these little babies are brought to life!! I'm so glad we did because she enjoyed every single second. She was amazed and I cherished the joy I saw written all over that beautiful face. Mollie was able to witness 3, yes 3 births while we were there and needless to say there was the lucky one that we got to bring home. Born on August 18th (4 days before Mollie) we welcomed Jenifer Addison. She is in love!!

AMAZED!!!

The same weekend we had more fun in store. We got to see Disney On Ice: Finding Nemo. This was a nice treat that we all enjoyed.

Mollie and Addison

So the pumpkins that we purchased at Burt's were carved. All three of us had a pumpkin to carve but somehow I got stuck with mine and Mollie's. (Which BTW, I didn't mind...I love doing stuff like this) Derek DID one, but he always seems to "mess" his up so we only had two. Mollie was more interested in playing ball in the garage than getting messy with the pumpkin.

So onto the fun fall festivites that Mollie's School puts on every year. This past Friday they had a Halloween Parade. It was soooooo cute. The 3 and 4 year olds dressed up and just walked around in a circle about 20 times!! (Not really 20) There were some of the cutest kids I have ever seen.

Then in the afternoon they have their actual Halloween Party. I made goody bags and we had Cupcakes, Popcorn and Candy Corn, Apples and Halloween Oreo's. (Very healthy I know, thats why I threw in the apple!!)

The goody bags I made were adorable and so simple. I use Traditional Chex Mix, Autumn Candy Corn and some Halloween M & M's, mix together and throw it in a bag. Easy enough. And the Popcorn Bags were simple too. Get the clear gloves that they use in the Deli section of your grocery store (Not latex, Plastic) Put a piece of Candy Corn in the fingers and fill with popcorn and tie with ribbon or zip tie. So cute and festive. I found this in a magazine.

Hallloween night we ALWAYS go to my mom's and pass out candy and let Mollie tour the neighborhood. There are lots of houses but only hitting a couple is right up Mollie's allie! I think she enjoys passing out the candy more than she does walking around and getting it. Although this year she was more into EATING the candy. ;-)

Gosh how the time flies. This is Mollie's 4th year of doing Halloween and it only gets better by the year, but my little baby is turning into a little girl. I know I say it all the time but this little human that my GOD created AMAZES me EVERY SINGLE SECOND. Derek and I are so grateful. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You GOD for blessing us with this amazing little person.

And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
Genesis 33:12

Something Worth "Reading" About

Well, I know, its been too long since last post (AGAIN), but all of a sudden I've found a new hobby: Reading! I've always liked the thought of sitting down and reading an interesting book, but have never been that crazy about it. (Although I LOVE reading to Mollie)

But, when we went to the beach a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd pick up a book to enjoy while relaxing in the sun.....Yeah Right!!

I was literally crazy for thinking I that I would actually find time to read with a 3 year old in tow!!

I guess I was dreaming! But I did find time when we returned and "settled" down.

I found myself REALLY enjoying reading! I was reading all the time. So, anyways I finally finished the book that I bought in Florida. This is the first book I read, it was good but keeps

getting better.

So, this is #2 and so far, this one was my favorite:

So the next one in line is :

And the last one I will read by Emily Giffin (because this completes all of her books) will be:

So, yesterday I thought I would google authors like her and found quite a few. I also found out these type books are classified as "Chick Lit" books. Whatever they may be classified, I'm really diggin' me some "Chick Lit" Books!

And so now I've come to the conclusion that this will require a trip to:

I heart this place! Now I have a GOOD excuse to go, and many books to choose from! I'm definitely squeezing this into my schedule this week.

While I'm in Chattanooga, I will get Mollie's Halloween costume too. Mollie has FINALLY made her decision on what she will be, of course I had nothing to do with it!! ;-)
Keep checking back (I know, I know it kills you to do so) and I'll reveal soon!!!

Happy Reading!