Break Thus Far...

Monday night I had the chance to see Erin D who is back from Jamaica for a few weeks.  Also her cousin Lisa who has been on the last couple Jamaica trips with us.  There is always bound to be much laughter when we're together.  And who can complain about an excuse to go to Olive Garden?

Tuesday night there were about 15 girls who went caroling and then back to a friends house for fondue.  Much fun was had but not many pictures taken.  I do have a picture of me playing Wii for the first time ever (but didn't feel the need to post it:)  And my arm is still sore from all that sword fighting!  Wednesday for lunch some of my old roommates met for lunch.  It's always so good to get together.  We are separated by many miles but love to see each other and catch up when we can.  And we got to meet little Charlie who is a doll!

Wednesday night was Hodel Christmas.  It's always good to be spend the evening with the Hodels

Dad, David and Brad singing their hearts out.

Abel trying to steal Haley's paci.  He eventually was successful.  We had fun watching them.  He just kept trying and Haley just kept sitting there.  She didn't quite grasp the fact that she could just get up and walk away from him:)

Did I mention I love Christmas break?

Some Of My Favorite People

Tonight was Aeschleman Christmas.  I was pretty excited because at first I wasn't going to be able to go.  It was supposed to be last Sunday but due to several people not being able to come (including me) and my cousins baby decided to come a few weeks early, they decided to change it.  It's always bound to be a good time.  Tonight we had a poetry contest.  I failed miserably.  We also played the "Rudolph" game.  Each team had a pair of panyhose and a pile of balloons.  We had to blow up the balloons and stuff the legs of the pantyhose.  When the hose were stuffed, someone on the team had to put them on to look like antlers and sing the entire song of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  It was really funny.  I did not fail miserably at that game and am pleased to announce that my team won!  The grand prize was a bag of popcorn for each person on the team. Woo hoo, right?  But it was really fun.

That's my aunt Kathy.  She was actually on the losing team but I liked the picture. 

That's little Katie.  She was supposed to be born Jan. 4 but came last Friday.  She's the sweetest and tiniest five pound bundle!

And there's my darling neice Haley.  She was pretty excited with her new kitchen toys:)  I didn't get very many good pictures of everyone there.  They're all some of my favorite people.  It's good to be back for awhile!

Another Play Come and Gone

Tonight was our annual Christmas play at the preschool.  I really didn't want to have one this year because they're just so much work and there's always so much to do before we leave on our break.  But after several parents made it pretty clear that they really wanted it, we decided to go ahead with it.  Nothing too major happend.  All the main characters got nervous or something and forgot all their lines.  The angel told Mary the thing that she was supposed to tell Joseph.  "Mary is going to have a baby.  Get married to her and then name the baby Jesus."  Mary couldn't think of her lines and just sat there and laughed.  Joseph completely forgot his lines.  The original innkeeper couldn't come because of a death in the family so we pulled the goat out of the stable and made him the innkeeper with only two days left before the play.  So he didn't know his lines.  After the innkeepers part was over he went off to the side to where King Herod was.  King Herod then proceeded to tickle the innkeeper instead of siting nicely in his throne.  Wiseman number 1 froze completely even though he said his lines by himself every day at practice.  Wiseman number 2 decided she was carrying frankincense instead of myhrr.  Yes- she.  We have a big shortage of boys right now and had to have two wisemen and one wisewoman.  BUT,  the things that happened tonight made it funny.  It definitely wasn't as stressful as the first year I was here.  Now that was crazy.  Oh, if you click on that link you're going to have to highlight the text to be able to read it. 
Now I have to work on packing.  I have my two week break to pack for and also my trip to Jamaica.  I usually go in March but for some reason am going in January this year.  Usually I'm so excited when I'm only two weeks away from Jamaica but there's just been way too much going on.  I just hope I get everything I need because I'm leaving from IL for the trip and won't be back here.  I guess as long as I have my passport I'm good to go.  Anyways.  Sorry there's no pictures.  I always wish I could post a bunch of my kids pictures but I can't.  Bummer.  I'm tired.  Not sure why I'm still up.  Good night everyone.

Good Weekend, No Pictures:(

Friday: Christmas caroling, birthday party for Jessica and Anna
Saturday: Devin's basketball game (he lost), hours upon hours of Christmas shopping, short nap, date with Devin!  I wanted to take him for lunch right after his game but he just really didn't want to go because he was afraid he would miss the birthday party he was going to that afternoon.  So we decided to wait until supper time.  Good choice- he was in a great mood and we had the best time we've ever had on our little dates.  Probably because he knew he was getting a present for Christmas and was excited about that.  First thing he says when we got in the car- "Where's my toy?"  We ordered a pizza and went to Blockbuster and got Alvin and the Chipmunks.  Came to my house and opened presents.  I gave him a transformer and a Bible story book.  I told him the transformer might be more fun but the book is way more important he had to read it.  The whole time we watched the movie he'd keep opening it up and looking at it.  That made me happy:)  I love that boy.
Sunday: church (of course), Christmas program at church, lunch with Tyler and Whitney, spend the next 2 1/2 hours getting food ready for Christmas potluck, potluck, PRESENT:), apples to apples, wrap preschool kids presents, crash.

Well, that's it.  Boring boring post, I know.  But I didn't take any pictures all weekend (slacker) and I like to update for the sake of my family who I'm sure is absolutely dying to know all the nitty gritty details of my life:) 

My dad is having surgery on Tuesday.  I hope he doesn't mind that I'm putting this on here for anyone to see.  He has prostate cancer and while they caught it at an early stage and everything should be fine, we'd still appreciate any prayers you could offer up on his behalf.  Thanks and have a great week!

Erin and..... Other Stuff

Erin finally came down to visit me this weekend.  It was tons of fun but I failed miserably in the area of picture taking.  We had homemade pizza, homemade chex mix, several movies, Christmas shopping, pretzel dipping, Devin's basketball game... The only time I got pictures was when we were dipping pretzels.  We had gone to Publix to get almond bark and on the way home I thought about having the Edelman girls over to help us.  So we swung by their place to get them (and their next door neighbor).  It was fun and tasty:)

We stayed busy all weekend but it was all good.  I rarely reccomend movies, but if you are looking for a good clean laugh, I highly reccoment Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.  But make sure you've seen the first one before you watch that one.  Seriously- it's hilarious!  Thanks for coming Erin!  I had a blast!

Now, onto something completely different.  One thing I've noticed since being in Alabama is that there's Christmas decorating and then there's Redneck Christmas decorating.  Actually, not just Christmas- all kinds of decorating.  When rednecks decorate, they just find and empty spot on the wall, hammer in a nail and hang up whatever it is they want to hang up.  Pictures, plaques, shelves with trinkets, you name it.  One house I've been to does their Christmas decorating by hanging all their ornaments from the living room ceiling.  Like, the ceiling is literally covered with these ornaments.  It's kinda funny.  Anyway, I think it's starting to rub off.  As much as I love Christmas, I don't have a lot of decorations and since I'm not even here for half of December I don't really worry about it.  But Cassie decided we needed something.  So last weekend when she was home for Thanksgiving, she brought a box of her decorations home with her.  The only problem was, we don't really have anywhere to put them.  BUT.... we do have a few random nails sticking out of our walls......

And really, you don't even need a nail!  We discovered scotch tape works well too:)

As does a fruit plate.  Directions: Remove fruit from plate.  Replace with nativity set.

Yes, we are pretty classy round these parts!  Merry Christmas everyone!

Weekend Full Of Thanksgiving

Drove up Wednesday afternoon/night.  Traffic wasn't too bad except for Nashville.  Thursday church, 2 hour nap and Hodel Thanksgiving.  I'm not sure who had more fun playing after supper, the kids or the guys......

At one point they had this huge setup with a giant track for the cars going almost the whole lenght of the stairs and then a ramp built off of a chair to see how far they could get the cars to fly.  Dustin can use the excuse of having a son that needs to be entertained.  Herb?  Not so much.  Also got to spend some time with my little punkin.  She's so stinkin cute!  Since I last saw her she has most definitely switched from the baby stage to the "I know what I want" toddler stage.  I just adore her!  And her ears- I adore her ears as well:)

While all the kids (and the big boys) were playing with the racetrack, the rest of us spent some quality time together.

Don't be jealous of how attractive we are. 
Friday I was able to have lunch with a few of my old roommates.  I love getting together with them.  We had no problem killing a couple hours at Panera just chatting it up.  I miss these girls! 

Saturday was the ever so exciting annual JUGS trip.  Just Us Girls Shopping.  I've probably explained it before, but just in case....  It started when I was 8 years old.  My aunt Bev took all her nieces out to eat and shopping.  Which, at that time consisted of going to Washington for pizza and then Wal*Mart.  Then as we got older we started going to the mall cause that's such a cool thing to do, ya know.  But it's kinda come full circle because this year we went to Washington for pizza and then to Wal*Mart!  Only this time instead of spending our hard earned allowance money on candy and such we had things to get like diapers and milk!  No matter where we go though, we always have so much fun. 

Bev decided the Salvation Army bell ringer needed some cheering up or something.  So we sang Joy to the World to him.  Brought a huge smile to his face!

Good times, good times.  I love my family!  Saturday night I went to Gridley to hang out with Katrina and LeaAnn.  The whole weekend went really fast.  I wasn't quite ready to pack up and head home but work was calling my name so I had to.  Terrible traffic on the way home.  Thanksgiving traffic is worse than Christmas traffic.  Ugh.  But I made it with no real problems so I can't complain I guess.  We only have three weeks until our Christmas break starts but they are pretty packed full and I feel a little overwhelmed when I sit and think about it.  But then after that we get two weeks off work and after that is my Jamaica trip!  This weekend my cousin Erin is coming down for a visit.  She's never been here and it's high time.  I'm very excited!  Lots to look forward to in the next month:)