Family Pictures

After all the drama over what to wear for family pics, here is what we came up with....
A few of the pictures:

Jay: shirt-detailed black button-down, old navy, jeans-7 for all mankind (thrifted)
Debra: top-Gap ruffled plum tank, skirt- wool pencil (thrifted), blazer- black dept. store (thrifted), shoes- nine west
TJ: sweater-old navy v-neck emerald, jeans-pac sun
Cory: sweater- old navy v-neck charcoal
Madison: sweater-target, skirt-dillards, shoes-green nine west (thrifted), headband-F21
Zachery: sweater-crazy8 snowflake half-zip, pants-gap rusty cords, chuck taylors in grey

Walking in Ghent

The photograph I wanted to copy from this

BIG fan of this one. Love the trees....

Michael W. Smith ROCKS! (Or, "A Christmas Concert to DIE for!)

Last Sunday my bff Freda and I had a date night (finally!) with Michael W. Smith.  If you are unfamiliar with his Christmas and/or instrumental music, you must get it. Right now. I will wait.
Done? Okay, so he is musical genious.  This guy is self-taught on multiple instruments, and that alone is amazing. But he is also an unbelievable composer.  Oh, to have an ounce of the talent in that mind. I want to marry meet him.
We went downtown and parked, then walked over to Guadalajara's to eat.  (Why NOT Mexican?) Then back over to Scope to watch the concert.  Afterward, we had time to go to Village Inn and eat pie. I love pie. And Freda.
So here are a few pics of me and Freda.....






Me and Freda heading out.

The Man

He dressed up for me.

A self-portrait after the concert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWD84K8nwjA&feature=channel
Here is one of our favorites from the concert....

Go Shorty (It's Your Birthday)

I know, now that stupid song is running around in your head, right. Me too, so I had to share the torture love.
I had such a lovely birthday. Actually, most birthdays are pretty much like every other day now that I am a Mom.  Yesterday was an exceptionally nice day.
I had lunch with friends planned by my girlfriend Anne, and Jennifer, Diane, Lynna and Dana came. They gave me such cute cards and sweet gifts.
Then my sister brought me a naked (put a shirt on, will ya!) vegetarian burrito from Qdoba, YUM! And she made me a cherry cheesecake, since I never have been a fan of cake.  (I know, a Baptist who hates Chick-Fil-A and cake. I am a disgrace to my kind.)

After dinner I went to DSW and scored my suggested running shoes (you know, by the experts at Running Etc.) on clearance AND used my birthday coupon.

Then I went to Allies for coffee and dessert (spelled with two "s's", since everyone wants more of it) and treats from my wonderful girls.  I love them so much. How blessed am I?  CRAZY blessed.

Millie, Me, Michelle and Allie (Thanks, Lyss!)

Ashley and Me

Me and Allie

Thanks for Giving

Making pies

I feel like I have skipped town on the blogging front, but had been very busy setting up and preparing for Thanksgiving.  Jay and I hosted more than 20 family/extended family. I think everything went extremely well, except for my sister Valerie's cherry pie mishap. (Slippery little suckers)
Here are some photo's from our preparation and Thanksgiving Day:

My sister came over Wednesday afternoon to make apple and cherry pies. We played around with new ideas for the crust this year.+



I look really tired! :)



 



The cherry pie before...

The cherry pie after...

Zach and Madelyn (my niece) slicing apples.

Then we set up the tables. (See what Jay is doing in the background?  Yep, that is Modern Warfare addiction at its best.)

Yay! All done before bed.

The butter server, Valerie.

My aunt Sue, and my mother in law, Nora.

Me with them. ;)

Me and my trusty side-kick.

American (Indian) Torture

Madison's class had a field trip yesterday. Anyone who knows me knows I love a good field trip. Out of all four kids, I think I have miss two field trips. Ever. Because I had just given birth. (NO excuse, I know.)

Me and my girl

I wish I had missed this one.

Actec Indian

We went to Fort Story to an Indian Pow Pow.  The Indians were beautiful, the Fort is beautiful. The kids were not. We were guided down a path toward a large circle, where there was a dancing ring, and stands around the outer edge. The kids were encouraged to come around the circle and watch the dancing and participate.  Unfortunately, they were much more interested in all of the shopping opportunities on the outer edge of the circle. This makes a control freak mom crazy.  The kids refused to listen to my demands suggestions to stop touching the merchandise, as they had no money with which to shop.  (I could see the terror in the shop-owners' eyes.)  I still don't understand why they would invite 1,001 school-age kids to an event where all but one stand was shopping! Makes no sense to me at all.  They lost interest in the dancing/display in about 5 minutes, so that left the parents and teachers to frantically trying to keep them happy and out of trouble for the other 3 hours and 55 minutes. Did I mention Madison's teacher was out of town and unable to attend? I wish I had gone with her. 

Epic Fail.

Dancing With Raindrops

But I did get some cool pictures. I told the kids to pretend they were having fun. :)

With an Indian chief

Maddie and Jameson

This is what they did, when I told them to pretend they liked each other. ;)

A terrible rock demonstration

Gabby and Maddie

My other daughter Rachel.

Good 'Ole Conservative Values

I just got finished snuggling M.J. and Z.J. and watching the new episode of "Sarah Palin's Alaska". We laughed and "Ooooo'd" over the scenery and the dynamics portrayed in the Palin family.  I thought I was hearing a discussion (or a thousand) that C.J. and I have had when I heard Willow say, "Really? Mom. Really?" When given instruction. Haha  Guess I am not the only one who is a strict Mama Bear.

Incidentally, I am on a political spree of reading/t.v. watching. President Bush's new book arrived yesterday, Decision Points.  I ripped open the package and started reading, and could hardly put it down. His writing style is warm and engaging, and draws you in to the story. He has (so far) given a very honest portrayal of his decisions, both good and bad. And allows the reader a glimpse into the things that guide him in life. I can't wait to read more. But I don't want it to end!

Falling for Charlottesville





"I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles." Philipians 4:10-14 (The Message)

Don't you love this translation of the "Whatsoever State" passage?  I latched on to this scripture very early in my Christian walk.  It has been a hallmark of my faith to be content with every circumstance.  The Lord gave that gift to me quickly, and I am so thankful.  I can find joy in such little things with the reminder of this passage.

This past week, we took advantage of the school break, and took the kids up to Charlottesville to see the leaves, and to see Montpelier (home of James and Dolley Madison).  The weather was gorgeous, the leaves and mountains stunning, and the house was beautiful.  TJ got to practice some country driving, and I got to play around with my camera some more.  What an amazing backdrop!

Even in such a beautiful scene, I was reminded to take life a little more slow.  To pay attention to the details.  Like stopping when the kids found interesting leaves, to look at the scenery they found interesting, play a round of volleyball with my girl.  I tend to get so busy "taking care" of everything that I don't get to enjoy "everything".  We rented a small cabin at a KOA campground, and had a ball cooking outside, and playing card games with the kids, and even Jay and I snuggling Zach (who had a hard time sleeping)- all three of us in a double bed!

I love that our God displays Himself in such obvious ways! Look around you, He is in creation. Such magnificence!