Hanging of the Green

 It's probably one of my favorite services.  It's one I don't ever want to be pushed out of our traditions.  I love it.  Our church is beautiful but at Christmas it is just overwhelming.  

 Jett was not overly excited to wear a one piece nor was his Daddy excited about it, but I had it, it fit, and it will be the last one he gets to wear.  He was a trooper and didn't make a big deal about it.

 Our job this year was to place the nativity scene.  As we placed it, Jett had to put the donkey, the sheep, and the cow out.  I taught him a song this year about the friendly beast that each one of those animals has verse.  Well he thought he needed to sing each verse in a whisper as he placed his animal.  I tried to hurry him along and keep him hushed, but it was a sweet moment I want to remember for a long time.  

After we placed the nativity scene we sat with my mom.  He wallers on my mom and talks her in to things while they sit at church.  If he would be quiet he thought he could talk her in to letting him go to her house.  It didn't work out for him and he cried and cried on the way home.  Cullen gets really thown off when Jett has a meltdown, and his goal was to get him home as quickly as possible.  

God Love him, he had to go to bed early and was so sad he couldn't go to Sadie's.  They worked something out for the next day though.

The Polar Express

 We headed to the North Pole again this year.  We met our friends and enjoyed the ride in First Class this year.

 It's really hard to get two toddlers and three preschoolers to look in the same direction at the same time.  

 The best pic we got with Santa.  It is always rushed and crazy trying to get a pic.  In fact this is the worst one of all the times we ridden the train.  Oh well. 

We love the moments we get to spend together catching up and fostering friendships.  I love these mamas and their sweet babies.

Thanksgiving 2016

 This year was a whirlwind.  We had over 30 people in and out of the house with friends and family gathered close.  I've come to the conclusion that you can work ahead of time to make sure everything is taken care of, but when you are hosting a party you never get to visit with your guests.  

 I managed to pull up a chair at the table just as many were finishing their lunch and sit and chat for a few moments, then it was time to begin the clean up. We serve on fine china, use crystal, and silver, so then the time comes for clean up we are hand washing it all.  

 I managed to lay down for about thirty minutes after everyone left and then I woke up to break all the tables down and begin to put up my Christmas tree.  We had everyone back over for dinner, Cullen had smoked a Boston Butt.  

 And once it was all cleaned and settled for the second time this kid was more than excited to be the center of attention again.

Friendsgiving 2016

 The Youngs were in town for Thanksgiving which meant we had friendsgiving at the McCartys.

 The boys rough housed with Mary Leighton's toys and ran around like wild animals while the babies were sweet and wanted to be held constantly.  We've learned through the years to not make too much of a plan with these little ones.  We just get food and let them do their thing.  They all started to meltdown just as we were ready to eat, but we rolled with it and kept on talking.

The Pollards are Pontotoc Residents Now

Cullen's parents found a house just about two weeks after their's burned.  They relocated to Pontotoc. They had hoped to retire in Tupelo in a few years and move to Oxford, but the fire sidetracked those plans.  They found one that still allows them to commute to work and puts them closer to Oxford than they were.  In a few years as they near retirement they may move toward Oxford but for now they are just around the corner.  

Our sweet friends the Wynnes were moving back to the Delta and they put their house on the market the day the Pollards lost their home in a fire.  My mom's best friend built this house originally and I had always loved it.  When we were at a birthday party after the fire, I looked around and thought this would be a perfect place for my inlaws.  My mother in law felt the same way and now they are at home in Pontotoc.  

It is clear that unless you are from here you will never love it like a Pontotoc native does.  There is something very magical about this place, its people, and the love we share amongst us.  I am happy the Pollards have found a resting place for now closer to us and in a great house.

They have been more than blessed after the fire, they moved in the week of Thanksgiving and with a pretty much fully furnished.  We treated the to pizza and a play date with Jett the night they moved in.  Jett is happy to have more love closer to home.

Russell Simmons Wedding Continued

 What a wonderful weekend.  My sweet Anna got married.  I taught this baby girl in preschool choir, I babysat her and I was able to direct her sweet wedding.

 I can not tell you how wonderful this wedding was.  It was sweet and included the most important people in the bride's life in the most adorable ways.  This couple surprised me over and over again with their attention to detail.

Oh how I loved getting to be a part of this day with these girls.  The whole weekend was practically perfect.