early birthday, a little reading and a friendly letter

 My team celebrated my birthday today. December is just as crazy at school as it is in our life outside of school. We had a yummy lunch from Mama Java's and Jennifer made delicious cupcakes and brought me this pretty flowers. Thanks girls and guy for celebrating my birthday early.

 The kids found Tinsel reading books this morning. She must like to read as much as Hannah does.

Hannah wrote this letter to Tinsel today at school. She put it beside Tinsel and told her to take it home with her. I am sure Tinsel will keep it in a safe place.

oh, Tinsel

Tinsel and her friends enjoyed a bubble bath. Silly girls!!! I am just glad that she always cleans up after herself. She is well trained.

randomness and Tinsel

 These are the notes that Hannah wrote Tinsel the first night she was here. She even wrote one for Hunter. So sweet!

 Hunter brought this home from school this week. How cute his is little hand as the Mayflower? I love it!!!!

 I also love that his turkey has two different size eyes.

 Hannah and Hunter could not find Tinsel this morning. They were so funny. They decided that she must have been tired and decided to sleep in at the North Pole. Hannah asked me as soon as I picked her up if I had seen Tinsel. I told her I did see her when I was putting garland she made last year on her Christmas tree. Hannah loved that she got her bear out of her bed to talk to. Tinsel thought the Tangle tower was a neat place.

 The picture did not turn out great, but these are snowman lights to add a little decoration to the kids bathroom. They loved it!!

Hunter sang his Christmas songs tonight at church. None of the kids wanted to sing tonight. They all looked really cute standing on the stage though. Derrick took a picture of him on the stage and videoed it. We will work on getting it on the blog.

putting what she learns at school to practice at home

I think I may let the kids put a few ornaments on each night. They love decorating the tree.

 Hannah found this ornament and yelled, "Mom, look it is our vocabulary word for the week, friendship, on our ornament." I have never seen a kid get so excited about finding a vocabulary word.

Hannah and Hunter wrote notes to Santa last night and put them in the mail box. Hannah's note was so cute. Santa wrote her back and Tinsel brought it and decided to hang out in the mailbox. Hunter was not excited that she as in the mailbox because that meant he could not touch it and move it around today.

Here is Hannah's note. In case it is hard for some of you to read first grade writing the note says:
Dear Santa,
Thank you for giving me Tinsel. Tinsel is funny she is also a mess. We rote notes to Tinsel. I made a ornament for Tinsel also.
Love,
Hannah
To Santa

She is also learning how to write friendly letters this week. She even put the date at the top. I love it!! I am not sure what Hunter's note say, but he did tell me this morning that one of the notes was for the Easter Bunny. It was all I could do to not bust out laughing at him.

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

 Tinsel spent a little time playing in the jewelry last night. At least she did not make a mess.

 They could not wait to start sorting the change.

 Derrick thought he would be funny and put E.T. in the nativity set. Everyone needs to know about Jesus, even E.T.

 The kids were so excited to start decorating the tree. We will have to finish tomorrow night.

 Hannah hanging her stocking.

 Hannah helping Hunter hand his stocking.

 Hannah wanted to take my picture hanging my stocking.

 Dad is so silly.

 Oh, this makes me happy!!!!

 The two dancing angels are an early birthday present. Thanks MeMe!

 Hunter decorating his tree.

 Hannah decorating her tree. 

I love Thanksgiving and Christmas. One day I hope to decorate for both, but for now I am happy to decorate for Christmas. Hunter has been very excited about putting up the "big" tree and decorating it. We did a little decorating tonight but will have to finish tomorrow night. I think what I like the most besides baby Jesus coming is that we spend so much time as a family. The kids put their trees up before we went to SC for Thanksgiving. I want all the decorating done before this weekend so we will have the whole month to enjoy them.

10 years worth of savings

Derrick and I started putting our change in this jug when we lived at the studio the first year we were married. The whole first year we did not put any quarters in it because we used them to wash clothes. When we moved to our first house we took the jug with us and keep putting our change in it, now getting to add quarters. Once Hannah came long the grandparents started saving change and giving it to her. We added it to the jug. Then Hunter came and the grandparents started giving both of the them change. Derrick said we were not going to roll it until it was filled to the top. Well today it is filled to the top. We will sort, count and roll it soon. We have not decided what we will do with the money, but I am sure it was be used for the 4 of us to do something fun. Thanks to all the grandparents for contributing to the change jug. We will start filling it again and see how long it takes to fill it a second time.

she's back

Tinsel is back form the North Pole. Hannah was so excited when she walked in and saw this as she was going to her room. I wish I could have gotten a picture of her face. You can see some of the excitement in the picture of her reading the note. Hunter was not very sure about her. I hope he will warm up to her. He keeps wanting to hear her talk. We keep telling him she only talks to Santa and sometimes to us. I wonder where she will be in the morning. I hope she does not make this big a mess each day until Christmas.

more fun

Hunter was so tired from all the fun yesterday that he slept until 11am. When we were getting him dressed and ready to go to lunch he said, "But I did not eat any breakfast." We told him that is what happens when you sleep so late. We had a nice lunch, "at Mexican" as Hunter calls it, with Aunt Kim before she had to leave. From there we went to make our rounds one last time before we went to the Hayes' to end our fun filled Thanksgiving. I was once again to busy visiting to take pictures. I am glad we have so many people to visit and that we get to share such good times and memories with. This is the only picture I took all day. I reminder Great Papa before we left that Hunter would be coming to live with him on April 3. He laughed and said he was would ready for him.

fun filled day

Hannah and Hunter spent the night with Papa and Nana last night. We were proud that Hunter stayed. I was thankful to sleep in this morning, until about 10:30. Papa took the kids to see Aunt Carol, Uncle Roy and Angie. Hunter has been asking about Uncle Roy and his tractor since we went to see them in September. He was on cloud nine getting to ride the tractor with Papa. Thanks for letting them come and sorry I did not get to come visit. I will come next time. These are a few pictures of the fun!

I am sure Hunter was telling them all about something.

After all the fun at Aunt Carol and Uncle Roy's they stopped by the park to play before going back to Papa and Nana's. Derrick and I went and picked them up so we could go to MeMe's to celebrate Thanksgiving with her. I did not take any pictures, but we had a great time playing, eating and visiting with everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a great day spending time with family all day. I did not take any pictures.

I did not want to try to keep up with the 30 days of thankfulness on Facebook, but thought I would list them here.

1. I am thankful for my salvation and that God loves me when I do not deserve it.
2. I am thankful for Derrick. I could not ask for a better husband, friend, and dad for our kids.
3. I am thankful for Hannah. She is such a smart, fun and loving little girl.
4. I am thankful for Hunter. He is a ball of energy that always makes us laugh.
5. I am thankful for my family. They have helped me become the person I am today. They always loved and supported me.
6. I am thankful for Derrick's family. They have accepted me from day one. They have always loved and supported us.
7. I am thankful for my job. Even on the days I do not feel like going or that what I am doing matters I still love teaching.
8. I am thankful for my class. I have the sweetest class who make me laugh and feel so loved everyday.
9. I am thankful for my friends. I have made the greatest friends here and could not make it though lots of days without them.
10. I am thankful for our church.
11. I am thankful for our neighbors. They not only look out for us but they love our kids.
12. I am thankful for Sonic. I love coke zero!
13. I am thankful for our house.
14. I am thankful for my brother. He makes me crazy sometimes but I still love him.
15. I am thankful for my grandparents. I miss Nanny, Pa Tom, and Ma Dot so much but I am happy that I have such good memories of them. I am glad that I still have Papa and Papa Charlie.
16. I am thankful for seasons. There are many things I love about all of them.
17. I am thankful for sunsets. I am glad I get to see such beautiful sunsets and talk about how great God is with my kids as we look at them.
18. I am thankful for exercise. I never thought I would say that. I have missed working out this past month and can't wait to get back to the gym. Thanks Bussell's for getting me started exercising. Thanks Julia, Sarah and Danielle for working out with me.
19. I am thankful for Saturday's at home. They do not happen often but when they do we enjoy them.
20. I am thankful for my aunts and uncles. They make me laugh and feel very loved.
21. I am thankful technology. I am glad I can keep our family up to date by updating this blog and that they can Skype/face-time/ichat with us.
22. I am thankful for my bible study group. I love getting to study the bible and share life with them.
23. I am thankful for food. I love to eat and I am glad that I can enjoy so many foods.
24. I am thankful for freedom and living in America.
25. I am thankful for the kids teachers. I am glad they are loved and cared for while being taught each day.
26. I am thankful for the snooze button. I hit it at least twice each morning.
27. I am thankful for traditions. I love teaching them to my kids and making new ones with them.
28. I am thankful for vacations. I love getting to spend time as a family or just with Derrick and having nothing else it do.
29. I am thankful for books. I have not always loved to read, but in the past few years I have read a lot of books and wish I had more time to read.
30. I am thankful for good health. I have been sick for the last month and it has made me realize I take good health for granted.

I hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving and that you take time to reflect on the things you are thankful for.

ready for Thanksgiving

 This is a little better sample of the beautiful sunset we had tonight.

 Hunter tasted pumpkin pie at school today and loved it. They made this complete with cool whip and cinnamon.

 Hannah did these Thanksgiving activities/papers at school and I thought they were too good/cute not to share.

 These are couple more papers Hunter did at school. He loves to color and paint. He is getting really good at staying in the lines. He is so excited about Thanksgiving this year. I love that both kids are old enough now to really be excited about the holidays.

happy

 Today has been much better. Hunter was very kind and loving today. We took pumpkin bread to the Tidwell's and Tucker's. We are very blessed to have such wonderful neighbors.

This picture is not great but we have had such beautiful sunsets lately. I love that Hannah and Hunter notice them and point out how great God is. Hope you all had a great Monday!

sad

Hunter told me today that when he is 4 he is going to pack his toys and go live at Great Papa's house. I told him I am sure Great Papa would love come company. He also told me earlier today that I am mean because I made him clean up and would not let him color. I told him I was not trying to be mean, I am trying to teach him how to take care of things and obey. That did not go over so well. When Hannah tells me I am mean she will come back a little later and tell me she loves and give me a hug. Hunter went to bed tonight still telling me I was mean. That makes me sad. I talked to him about a bible verse we learned during Skippy about encouraging one another and building each other up. I asked him if he was doing that. He said so I am tearing you down (the song talked about that). I asked him if he could think of something nice to say to me. He said, "Jesus loves you!" For that I will always be thankful. I told him I loved him and that I was not mad at him for saying mean things but that it made me sad. He said, "OK." I hope this is just a one day things and that he will be much nicer when he wakes up in the morning. We had a great morning and early afternoon, but it all went downhill when I told him to clean up. I am going to give him kisses and tell him I love him again once he is asleep and can't talk back to me.

SATURDAY!!!

Today was the first Saturday in 5 weeks that we have not had something to do in the morning. We did not have to be anywhere today until 2:45. Today is Cooper's birthday and we had a great time celebrating him this afternoon. It was a really fun party. It was so nice out that Dad decided we should take the jeep. It was a nice ride to the party but a rather chilly ride home. I like riding in the jeep but think it will be much more enjoyable next summer.

This is what Gypsy thought about Christmas card pictures.

In other news we took Christmas card pictures today. I know you all are in shock, if you know us well. We are usually scrambling to shoot the card the second week of December. Not this year, we are on it. I hope to have them in the mail by the second week of December if not before.