Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Well maybe not! The weather has been very warm and nice for riding bikes but not great for thinking about Christmas. If our street wasn't full of houses with Christmas lights you might think it was still October on Brookwood. All the kids are out every afternoon playing and riding their bikes. Bailey is right there with them. She was very upset when I sold her little bike at our last garage sale. I promised her to get her a new, bigger bike soon. I was going to go after Christmas, but my mom pointed out that there wouldn't be much left after Christmas. That's Mimi, always looking out for her grandkids. She looks so big zipping around on her new pink princess bike with streamers and a water bottle! I have so much to catch up on!
Jack is playing basketball now and loving it! He is actually really good at it. Greg is his coach and I think he is really enjoying doing this with Jack. Jack hasn't actually scored yet and his first game ended with a BIG score of 4-2! He is also thrilled to have his good friend Kyle on his team. Kyle and his family have become friends of ours through school and all the sports the boys play together. I think this is the fourth sport they have played together. GO HAWKS!!!

Last Thursday we had our parties at Sunshine School. Bailey had a great time making a Santa and eating yummy foods. She was so excited that she and Ashlyn had on the same shirt. We have been very blessed to have our kids go to Sunshine School. They have learned so much and really enjoy each day they go. Connor loved his party! They gave him this sugar cookie covered with icing. I said he would never be able to eat it. Boy, was I wrong. He chowed it down so fast and all the little girls in his class were still looking at it when he finished. After his cookie he was ready for a nap. My class had a great party. My moms are wonderful and thoughtful. They were so good to me for my birthday and Christmas. But, I was ready for a break for a while.
My favorite day so far this December, by far, was our annual trip to North Park. We always go see the Santa there. I love how jolly and friendly and realistic he is. My kids truly believe he is the real Santa and all the other malls are just his helper Santas. We went out early in the afternoon with Mimi and sat on Santa's lap. It was the best year ever. Not just because Connor was with us this year but because it went so smoothly. All three smiling and happy and looking at the camera. No stress for me. Connor loved Santa! Bailey even loved Santa this year. Jack has always loved Santa. Then we met everyone else and ate and saw Scrooge. Jack got picked on this year. He loved it. While we were there Jack saddled up to the band playing outside Dillards and sang with them for a long time. They loved him and said they made more money because of him and invited him to come to Sam's Club on Greenville the next day to sing with them again! He was so cute and he truly is comfortable around all ages. The man he sang with was elderly and Jack loved him and talked his ears off. He is such a friendly kid!
Bailey and I were invited to Kendyll's for a Cookie Exchange. Bailey was so excited. We made cookies forever on Saturday night, after we had gone to Santa's Village for a while. Bailey was such a big help making the cookies. She rolled all 4 dozen and helped me roll them in the nuts. She really looked cute in her apron. Then she went to bed...

and woke up at midnight throwing up! And she kept throwing up! All night long. Poor Bailey, no cookie party for her. She was so upset. Whatever she had worked its way through several of us before it was done. Hopefully we are over all the sick before Christmas.

Finally, on the 6th day of Christmas my true love (Jack) gave to me a fun Christmas party at his school! I am Jack's room mom and we had a great time making an ornament (that Jack broke) and eating decorated cookies, and playing games. It was fun to be in a room with that much excitement. I am really enjoying helping Jack's sweet teacher so much this year. So far December has been one crazy month! We are enjoying it so much and can't wait for the rest of the 12 Days of Christmas!

My Hunting Boys

I grew up in a family that hunted. So, it isn't hard for me to understand my husband who likes to hunt. But now, I am raising hunting children too. Jack always wants to shoot his G-dads pellet gun and talks all the time about going hunting with daddy. Bailey, who refused to put her camo on for this picture, always asks her daddy if she can go hunting with him too. She likes the idea of going anywhere with her daddy, but she is not so crazy about the clothes! That's my girl.
I am pretty sure Connor will follow his big brother and want to go hunting also. They do make a handsome picture!