Big Church

Jett Boy went to Big Church for the first time.  He has been learning how to sit through church on Sunday nights, but we took the plunge and brought him in to the sanctuary on a Sunday morning.  I was nervous but he knew just what to do.  He asked for square candies over and over again, and he held on to his trains the whole time.  He loved the chairs in the balcony and how the seats go up and down, but sat pretty still.  

Christmas Breakfast

We enjoyed Christmas Breakfast with my mom this year. She catered it to our house and so she was able to see all that Santa had brought Jett. He was just delighted with his big track and small gifts.  It was a morning to remember, he kept saying how awesome and amazing his presents were.   

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a bittersweet day for us.  Mom and I went to Mrs. Floyd McCullough's funeral service before lunch, then we followed through with tradition and went to Cullen's parents house.  They were more than generous in sharing their blessings with us.  Jett got a tricycle for our house.  We then ran home and got ready for church.  We read the advent passage for the Candlelight Service and I sang with the boys of the First Day band.  Haylee sat with us and it was her first service ever.  She loved it, can't wait to bring her next year and maybe her kiddos.  What a precious day of memories. 

Polar Express Round 2

Well one trip on the Batesville Polar Express wasn't enough, so we went again with my mom and my brother's family.  It was colder this time and we went out night so it was different.

 Sadie was so happy to have her grands together and enjoying an outing.

I have Jett videoed having the best time ever.  He loved the music and the people dancing.  It was all as if he had never been before.  We are so lucky to have memories like this with our family.  

Jett's Reindeer Party

Maybe it was classes, or work, or my other work, or Cullen coaching, or church work, but whatever the reason, December made me feel like I was falling apart at the seams.  I mean I just couldn't get it together as far as party planning.  I mean I sent an invite on Facebook....that is definitely not my style.  I had a small turnout at the party but it was dear friends and a good time.  Jett was determined the train would be at his reindeer party, and of course Daddy Don delivered it.  It was a whirlwind party filled with crafting stations and desserts.  The kids had a great time, the weather was wonderful and the nap that followed was even better.  I'm so lucky to have great friends and Jett is even luckier to have great friends with great mamas.  Next year I hope to be back on my A game for Pollard's Party Planning.

Garbage

 I'm not quite sure why, but this tree caused us a mini civil war. For a few weeks Jett walked around my mom's house with our childhood ornaments calling them his treasures.  Mom and he worked out a date to put them on a tree of his very own.  The night came for them to put it together and Jett wanted NO part of it.  He told her to put it in the Garbage.  It was a gnashing of teeth kind of night and I may not have been on my parental A game.  Finally after a few long conversations and a lot of tears he came around and got excited about decorating it.

He loved the little elves that came from my grandmother's tree, they were the original Elf on the Shelf.

Herding Cats

I am thankful for the opportunity to teach our youngest choir.  My own child makes it a struggle.  The main goal is to get them on stage for Christmas and to keep them there.  Thankfully Anna Claire and Haylee are willing volunteers who helped keep them at bay each week and for the night of the performance kept them in line.  Getting 11 kids on stage and smiling and singing is like herding cats. You get one where they need to be and then you look and the others are everywhere.

 These kiddos entertained themselves by taking selfies while we waited on all the preludes to be completed.

 After we were finished I celebrated with a Selfie with Didi. 

 And just as he does, Mr. Mickey saved the Feliz Navidad rap at the closing of the service when the rhythm of our oldest choir came in to question.  

Lily's Party on the Farm

Sweet Lily turned 3.  It seems like the other day we were at the hospital waiting on her to make her arrival.  The kiddos loved being on the farm again.  Jett loved the bouncy slide and the cows during the hayride.  He also worked up the nerve to ride on a horse.  It was a beautiful day with perfect weather.  These babies are growing up and looking more and more like big kids.

St. Jude Half Marathon

In August my friend Carla talked me in to running the St. Jude Half as a Hero, meaning to run I had to raise $500.00.  We didn't really train hard after about September we fell off the running wagon and it was just a hit and miss if we got a long run in.  We ran the first three miles together and then split up.  I felt pretty rushed the whole race.  It was the biggest race I'd ever done and the people on the race route cheering us on were just the motivation I needed to keep going.  About mile 6 my running shoes (the new ones I really HATE)  started rubbing a blister on top of the blister they had rubbed during the Turkey Trot.  I stopped for less than a minute and took my shoe off and readjusted, prayed, and kept moving.  It was the best crowd atmosphere and a blast to run.  I had my personal best but it wasn't until I was walking back to the car that I even knew.  The race clocks along the route were not synced with my phone or my running watch.  So with a 2:11 time I was super excited.