Merry Christmas!

We went to Reidsville on Tuesday and spent the night with David's parents. Grandmommy let us all open our stockings from she & DD that night!

On Christmas Eve, we went to Papa's and exchanged gifts with him. Then, we all went to Nana's for lunch and more gifts! After reading the Christmas story like we always do (that would be me TRYING to read it as I'm choking up & fighting back tears), we played some fun Christmas games and I gave out prizes! Macy was so much fun this year! She wouldn't have anything to do with me for awhile b/c she just wanted Mommy or Daddy, but now she's my girl! Of course, it's also Nana's birthday, so we celebrated that, too!

After that, we headed back to Thomasville to go to our Christmas Eve service at church. Then, it was back home to open the traditional gift of Christmas Eve. The boys get to pick which one they want to open. Not knowing what it was, they chose to open a trio that was packaged together for the 2 of them. Imagine their surprise to discover a Wii, game & remote! They worked hard for a whole year and ended up saving $150 so Daddy & I chipped in the rest to purchase it all! After making sure Santa & his reindeer were taken care of, saying our goodbyes to Herbie the Elf & tracking Santa's whereabouts, it was off to bed.

Carter was the first one awake on Christmas morning, but thankfully, not until 7:45! They were excited to find that Santa had come and quickly discovered the things he had left and what he stuffed in their stockings and on to opening the other gifts.

We spent the day playing the Wii and enjoying the other games & toys. In the afternoon, David's family came over for yet another round of gift exchanges and dinner. My top 3 favorite gifts this year were my very soft pink robe from my hubby, my pink argyle sweater and the bedroom lamps, both from David's parents! But, most of all, it's the joy that I feel to be so blessed in having a big, happy, healthy family!

We had a great time with all of our family! I'm exhausted and not feeling good anyway, but still very happy and blessed. I always get a little (okay, more than a little) depressed to see it all end. On top of all of the excitement of my favorite holiday being over, it always saddens me to think that another year has passed and my precious boys are growing way too fast and all too soon, it will all be a distant memory. But, I'm enjoying it while it lasts!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:14
Merry Christmas!

Cookie Party

We had a cookie decorating party today with our friends and neighbors, Holly & Makenna! We had goodies and lots of fun! I think more candy went in their tummies than on the cookies. Santa is going to love them!

Cooper & Mommy


Makenna & Holly


Makenna decorating her cookie


Cooper decorating his cookie


Makenna & Cooper

Santa's Prayer

Cooper brought this home from preschool today and I thought it would be nice to share:

Santa's Prayer

The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed,
But Santa still knelt by the side of the bed.
"Dear Father," he prayed "Be with me tonight.
There's much work to do and my schedule is tight.
I must jump in my sleigh and streak through the sky,
Knowing full well that a reindeer can't fly.
I will visit each household before the first light,
I'll cover the world and all in one night.
With sleigh bells a-ringing, I'll land on each roof,
Amid the soft clatter of each little hoof.
To get in the house is the difficult part,
So I'll slide down the chimney of each child's heart.
My sack will hold toys to grant all their wishes.
The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.
I will fill all the stockings and not leave a track.
I'll eat every cookie that is left for my snack.
I can do all these things Lord, only through You,
I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do.
All this is to honor the birth of the One,
That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.
So to all of my friends, least Your glory I rob,
Please Lord, remind them who gave me this job."

I thought this was a beautiful way to remind us what the season is truly about.

I do LOVE everything about Christmas and all of the magic that comes with it. But, I always make it a point to teach my children the real reason we celebrate Christmas. They always get 3 gifts from Santa because Jesus got 3 gifts. One of my favorite books to read to them is The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado. I have never gotten through it without tears. It reminds us that God has a special plan for each of us.

Three of my favorite Christmas songs are the ones playing now. The "fall on your knees" part gets me every time in O Holy Night. In How Many Kings, we are asked "how many fathers gave up their sons for me?" Wow! Let that one sink in for a minute! That really hits home. As does Mary, Did You Know? I was pregnant with both of my boys during Christmas, so I can only imagine what Mary was feeling as "she pondered these things in her heart." Can you imagine being told that your baby boy is the Great I Am?!? I get chills every time I think about it!

So, much love from our family to yours: I hope you enjoy everything about the holidays as much as I do! Soak up every second with your little ones: baking, singing, wrapping, decorating, watching the classic Christmas cartoons, and everything else that adds up to the magic of the season! I hope you have the very Merriest of Christmases!

Cooper singing

Here are the videos of Cooper singing. This was at home while he was practicing. Posting on You Tube was the only way I could figure out how to do it! Just click on the link below to see the 3 short videos of our little songbird!

www.youtube.com/reneepollock

Ho! Ho! Ho!

We took the boys to see Santa Claus tonight...I just love seeing Santa! I still feel the magic!



Jolly Old St. Nicholas, lean your ear this way...


I also broke down and bought "The Elf on the Shelf" tonight. I know it's a little late, but that's just me! I've wanted it, but didn't want to pay $30 for it. So, thanks to Hallmark for sending me a 40% off coupon, which helped to influence my decision. Meet Herbie (this is the name the boys picked), our own personal elf, who will fly to the North Pole each night after the boys are asleep and report to Santa then fly back and perch himself up somewhere high in our home. Kids are not allowed to touch him or he'll lose his magic. This ought to be interesting...

Herbie

Our Little Christmas Angel

Cooper is in the preschool choir at church. He sang in the program on Sunday and did an excellent job. He wouldn't do any of the hand motions, but he sang very loudly. I have video of him singing and I'll post it as soon as I figure out how to change the file format. In the meantime, here's some pictures.

Our Family


Our little angel


Nana & the boys


Grandmommy, DD, & the boys

All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth!

Well, I really just need one!


Carter's friend and neighbor, Aiden, accidentally hit Carter in the mouth with his elbow and knocked his tooth out! The funny thing is that it wasn't even loose! It hurt and he would've cried had he not been so excited about the thought of The Tooth Fairy coming!

***Make sure you check out all of the posts below since I just added several today. I also have some from Cooper's Christmas program at church that I'll post as soon as I figure out how to load the video from my camera. Maybe I'll figure all of this technology stuff out someday!

Trimming the tree

Carter, Mommy & Cooper in our Christmas pajamas


Cooper decorating the tree


Carter decorating the tree


Enjoying hot chocolate, Christmas cookies & How the Grinch Stole Christmas


Cooper wore his train Christmas pajamas to preschool for The Polar Express! He also took his wolfpack blanket, wolfpack slippers & his green teddy. They watched the movie and drank hot chocolate.

Christmas, Christmas time is here!

The boys have their own Christmas tree with all of their special ornaments hanging on it! Santa brings them each one every year in their stocking. Of course, their handmade ones are the best!


The garage-I think I waited too late to take this picture. It was getting dark so you can barely see the wreaths or the mini flag w/a little Raleigh in a wreath! David came home every night and said that side of the house didn't look good b/c it had no decorations and everyone else in the neighborhood did. So, this is the best I could do!


Left side of the house


Front of house...I love my little porch trees! I searched for these for 2 years and everytime someone put them on sale, I'd go and they'd be sold out! So, I finally got them this year, along with the lighted garland!


Counting down the days until Christmas


Our Family Christmas tree...it may not be perfect, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I don't do the themed tree thing because we have way too many ornaments that are sentimental and special to us. I enjoy pulling them out each year and remembering where each came from: trips we've taken or gifts from our wedding, from my students, or from family & friends.


And the stockings were hung...

Are you ready for some football?!?

Yes, I do realize that football season is almost over. However, I am just now getting around to posting pictures of Carter playing flag football. He LOVES to play football and in that respect, he definitely takes after David. After a slow start, he averaged about 2 touchdowns per game and pulled flags left and right. I won't even try to use any technical terms and pretend that I know what they mean about all the other stuff he did! I felt so bad for him on Saturday because Nana, Grandmommy, DD, Nathan, & Elizabeth all came to watch him play and it figures that he would have his worst game ever. Of course, it doesn't bother me because as his mother, I don't care how he plays as long as it's with a good attitude and he does his best--regardless, I love him unconditionally. But, did it ever bother him! He was so upset because everyone had come to see him and he didn't score a single touchdown AND his team lost. You win some, you lose some. But, try explaining that to a 7 year old....

Happy Thanksgiving!

Better late than never, right? Sorry, I've been drowning in Christmas decorations all week and haven't had time for the computer. I can now say that I'm done decorating and for the most part, done shopping, too! Not only can I see my living room floor again, but that also means I can actually spend the rest of the month resting and enjoying the time with my family and doing all of the fun Christmas activities coming up! I have been addicted to the tv lately because I'm a sucker for all of the Christmas shows, old and new. For that matter, I'm crazy about ALL things Christmas! Carter has been a lot of fun so far because he's really into the decorations and the tv shows, too. Our favorite thus far is "A Dennis the Menace Christmas" because our little Cooper is the modern day Dennis the Menace!!!! I look forward to posting all of our fun Christmas pictures from the different activities in the coming weeks.

Anyway, here's our Thanksgiving pictures. We spent a few days in Reidsville with our families and enjoyed being together...relaxing, shopping, playing games (one of our family traditions), and of course, eating! Make sure you roll the mouse over the photos as they come up if you want to read the captions!

New Chore

I forgot to post this over the summer. Carter has a new chore! David posted it on facebook and some of our friends were teasing him about "child labor laws!" Believe it or not, Carter actually begged to help mow the grass. Will someone please tell me why that is??? The ONE chore that David has and he has someone begging to do it for him. That's funny...I don't see anybody begging to help me clean the house!!!!!????

Davidson County Fair

Again, I'm behind on some of my posts. My friend, Tonya & I took Carter and her son, Spencer, to the Davidson County Fair. We left Cooper & Ava at home. Let me just say that it was nothing in comparison to the Cleveland County Fair, which hosts the state's largest, I think?!? The food was nothing to write home about and really left me wanting some vinegar fries from Shelby, which they didn't even have here! But, what's important is that the boys had a great time together and seeing them happy always makes it worth it for me! Spencer is younger than Carter, so he absolutely adores him. He thinks he hung the moon! Carter is so sweet about it, I guess because it makes him feel special. He amazes me how he'll hold his hand and help him do whatever he wants to do!

Soccer Season

I just realized that I haven't posted some pictures. Both of the boys played soccer this fall. Carter's team was orange and was called the Steelers...I know, go figure??? Cooper's team was blue. Carter scored 1 goal this season. He prefers to play defense. For some reason, that's all he wants to do. This photo is of him playing goalie. Cooper scored multiple goals...he's our little baller! I think having a big brother has helped! I love this action shot of him about to kick.

Thoughts on the election...

This was written by a friend of a friend. She took the words right out of my mouth...

I woke up this morning feeling so thankful to be an American. I live in a country where all I have ever known is freedom. Freedom to live anywhere I choose, work where I choose, have as many children as I choose, marry who I choose, go to church where I choose, pray when and where I choose…. And… to vote for who I would choose to be President. The great thing about this country is not that I will always get my way….but it is that I have the right to have my voice heard…and that every other American has the right for their voice to be heard. Even if I disagree with the final outcome…what a privilege to live in a country where democratic process reigns.

I did not vote for Obama…. not because of his race, but because I have some fundamental differences of opinions with him on some key issues for my life. However enough people voted for him that he will be my President and I will respect him and pray for him that he would have strength each day to lead this great country. And aside from my differences with him on issues, it is amazing what he has accomplished and I admire that he has utilized the opportunities America provides. He ran a very organized campaign and he inspired millions of my fellow citizens to get out and vote. Their voices were heard and God is in control…so I have total peace in that.

No matter what your political view, we have come a long way as a nation and it is wonderful that we live in a country where race and gender are no longer barriers to running for and now attaining the highest office in our land.
And at the end of the day, God is Sovereign. His will is always done. ***I couldn't have said it better myself!

Yearbook Yourself...

If you haven't done this yet, you must! It is hilarious!!!! Go to www.yearbookyourself.com. Enjoy these blasts from the past!


This is exactly what my Grandma Carter looked like up one side and down the other!


Don't laugh...my mom had this beehive hairdo at some point in my childhood!


This is pretty much what I looked like in high school!


Check out David with a mullet!


Is this not hilarious?!?

Happy Halloween

Here are some pictures of our little pumpkins from today. See my facebook page for more!

Since you probably won't recognize who Carter is, I'll have to tell you that he is Ben 10, a character on Cartoon Network. This has been his infatuation lately, so I'll tell you the story of his costume. When he asked for it, I searched on-line and ordered the costume from Costume Express. They called and said it had been discontinued. I continued my search and couldn't find it anywhere except on Ebay for $60, which I refuse to pay--especially for this costume which only consists of a t-shirt and cargo pants. So, being the crafty mom that I am (not!), this was my best attempt at making it. It turned out pretty good. So, we bought him the Omnitrix (Ben 10's gadget) to wear, too. Cooper is Woody, from Toy Story.

I thought my pumpkin carving skills were actually nice, too, if I must say so myself!

I took the day off to spend with Cooper at his preschool. My friend, Holly and I passed out candy there. This evening, we met our friends, the Branscomes, back at the church for Trunk or Treat and a hot dog supper. Afterwards, we walked around our neighborhood with the Gooch family. The kids got enough candy for several hundred children, as usual. But, we had some family time and fun with our friends and that's all that matters!