Christmas Time Part 1

Christmas is MY very favorite holiday of the year. Jack shares my love. And I love that he loves it! He turned on the Christmas tree every morning. He moved the marker in his advent calendar to the next day. He also asks if he can have the chocolate piece from his other advent calendar every morning. Each morning I say, " Do we start the day with chocolate?" and depending on his mood I get that half grin or a frustrated grunt. He also has a miniature tree in his room that he say is, "just beautiful".

Each Christmas season I try to get everything out of the way(decorating, presents bought and wrapped) by December 1st so that December is just a time of fun and celebration. However, I completely failed this year. I am trying to figure out exactly why. I think it is because I tried the approach of one thing at a time. I did a lot for the first day of school, Brad was gone a lot early on in the season. We also made Halloween bigger and then I hosted Thanksgiving at my house. I focused on those as they came and did not look forward. So I guess I will try a new approach next year.

We still had a GREAT Christmas! Due to my parents coming in town and my Aunt Susan coming several days, we were able to get everything decorated, all things wrapped and almost all of my handmade gifts completed the week before Christmas! Thank you so much! I will be forever indebted to you guys!!!!!!

Therefore ,we were able to do the all of our favorites just not as many times. We played games, read a ton of Christmas books, watched our favorite tv specials and movies , visited out favorite Christmas places, ate our favorite treats and sang our favorite carols. We missed a few of our favorite outings this year by being in Indy but we will pick them up next year.

Our favorite Christmas books are :How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Crippled Lamb, Who was Born This Special Day?,Merry Christmas Stinky Face, Bear Stays Up for Christmas, Who is Coming to our house?, The Gingerbread Baby.

Our favorite Christmas specials/movies: Elf, Rudolph, Grinch, Christmas Lamb, and new this year Merry Madagascar,Merry Monkey Christmas and Disney's Prep and Landing.

Our favorite Christmas foods are: Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Gingerbread cookies( not together)

Our favorite Christmas toys: Our Nativity sets and the low rider car that Santa drives with reindeer in the backseat wearing sunglasses which plays "All my friends love a low rider" and lights up green neon on the bottom (a passed on gift from a gag gift dirty Santa that my mom played- Thanks mom!)

Our favorite Christmas outings are: Nashville Christmas parade with dinner at Demos, A Walk through Bethlehem, Opryland Hotel( Carriage rides, dinner, Santa, lights show, fountain show), Decorate gingerbread houses, bake cookies for Santa, drive around with hot chocolate to look at lights, new this year: Grinchy night- eat roast beast (Arby's roast beef) and watch the Grinch then play our Grinch game, and read the Grinch before bed!Our family playing Quelf... the best game ever!! Jack and Brad having to wear a Kleenex bib, Dad as a ballerina with a Kleenex tutu. Allie with a complimentary makeover by yours truly! We also had a lot of fun playing the Grinch game. We had to sing to the game so that the Grinch would release our presents that were inside the sleigh from the top of Mt. Crumpit.These are pictures from Opryland with the Sophie and Will. We had so much fun!

Indianapolis

We have a love/hate relationship with the town
of Indianapolis! We love their Children's Museum! It is truly amazing! They have great hotels and a very fun downtown with everything very easy to find! They have great shopping and eating! We were all sick but we still had a blast!

The hate part comes with the Colts. As we drove away from the town my darling husband rolled down the window and in a very screaming/screeching sort of way let the city and a fine policeman know how strong his hatred is with many choice words and some unintelligible words. Aww the memories...fortunately my cherubs were asleep and stayed asleep through the rant!

No bells and two songs with the word "Come"

So this was my big boy's first musical debut! The preschool Christmas concert was Monday night at 7:00. We had my parents from out of town, my best friend and her little girl from Atlanta, Brad's parents and my Aunt Susan. We had no idea what to expect! Oh what a show the St. B's preschool put on for us!

All of the students filed into the Sanctuary and made their way onto the stage. We all waved wildly at Jack and he waved and beamed back at us! I teared up at my big boy so comfortable on stage. Was this going to be the beginning of something? Would he show his big personality off for everyone to see?

During the weeks leading up to the show we did not want to make a fuss about the show and make Jack nervous so our questions were few and far between. He had told me that they were singing Silent Night and that there were probably going to be bells. So The day of the concert I tried to get a little more information . I asked if he knew the names of the songs that he was singing, and if he knew what color his bell would be. He responded with a huff and a slight roll of the eyes, "Mom, there are no bells and I dooon't remember the songs. I just know that two songs have the word "Come" in them. Out of the mouth of babes...Uh... folks, no truer words were ever spoken. He never opened his mouth through a memorized Bible verse and five songs except to sing the word "Come" in "Come All Ye Faithful" and "Come Now is the Time to Worship". We all laughed so hard we cried.

*There was one part that was very beautiful and in which no singing was required, they performed "Silent Night" using sign language. It took my breath away to see 3,4,&5 yr. olds using their hands to convey the words to such a special song!

Oh Christmas time! I would love to say that I have not posted in so long because all I have been doing is enjoying the season! However, the truth is ...

• our computer was sick for a week
• we went to Indianapolis for a week
• we have all had pink eye
• we have been sick many times and swaped it many times
• Jack has had a rash with welps twice
• Jack is making his Jumbotron debut this weekend
• Cole has droped a glass pitcher on his toe which led to a lot of blood and screaming
• Cole has started walking
• I have lost my wallet
• I have made many Christmas gifts that have led to many hot glue burns
• I have decorated every inch of our home
• We have hosted all of my family for Thanksgiving
• Jack has had his first program(more on that later)

So now that most of that is behind us I will be back to posting!

Giving Thanks!

I have been reading about families in crisis here and here for a while now. Then a BGA classmate's three year old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. They began a Caring Bridge site to keep everyone updated. It hit so hard for all of us. They are our age, we knew them so well, their family is so beautiful. How is this possible. I read each of their posts most every day and they break my heart.

Brad asked me the other day "Why do you read this stuff? It is so sad." I answered, "Because I have to!" I have to because they are living true faith. Each and every moment is a test, a continual re-up in their beliefs. I have not even come close to facing a test of this magnitude. However, I also know there is no promise that I will not. Each of these families at one point were JUST LIKE mine. They lived and loved and probably took things for granted like I do. I read them because I know every moment that I have lived without one of these moments is completely the road God designed for me. However, since I do not know what the rest of this road will be like, I want to say I have treasured each of the moments that I have had. I want everyone in my life to know that if my world were turned upside down tomorrow I have had so much more than I deserve, could have thought possible and even exceeds the limits that my brain will hold. Here are just a few: God's grace, God's strength, God's love, God's faithfulness, and God's power. The feel of the first flutter in my belly of a new life, the sweet smell of a newborn, and the way that newborn connects himself to a part of my body as though it were made just for him. The way a newborn first moves his mouth into a perfect "0" and looks around the world in awe. The way a woman's body is made to house, feed and nurture a new life. The transformation that takes place from early baby days into infant times and on into childhood. These days that cement the bond between mother and child yet continually change so that you are always aware that you are rearing a person to leave you and one day make their life!

The wonderful transformation a marriage takes as you are sharpened through the trials of living together, holidays, hormones, pregnancy, early baby days, and parenthood. The love that you share with your mate for your children. A love that only the two of you realize how wide and deep it extends. Also the love that grows between the two of you as you paddle with all of your might to maintain an intimacy that excludes the children.

The shoulders we have been given for our children to cry on, to carry this level of responsibility, to snuggle into, to wipe noses on and to protect our little ones from things that go bump in the night! Our hands that envelope smaller ones, give pats on the back, caress them back to sleep, hold their faces to tell them that you love them "as big as the sky and as deep as the ocean." Our eyes that gleam with pride as we watch them take their first steps and say their first words. The way I feel when Jack looks straight at me and says "Momma, do you know that I just love you so much?" The fact that I never can believe it could get any sweeter yet it continually does. I could write for days. This literally barely skims the top. These are the things that I am the most passionate about but there are also things just make me smile... like when my husband comes home a little early or a lot, a great bargain, a smooth day, popcorn and m&ms, girls lunches, fall leaves, hot cider, a tub with jets, a nap, a simple but pretty craft, date night, a passionate kiss, all four of us in the bed, holidays and all the crafts, music, decorating and activities that go with them, fresh tomatoes, travel, the smell of a bonfire, waking up to waves at the beach, fruit tea, pictures of my children, candles, watching Brad play wildly with the kids, fresh sheets, books, libraries, a funny story, the giggle that comes with finding the perfect tickle spot, the joy on a child's face that comes with a surprise, a thrill, or a new idea. This is such a small part of the list of my blessings and such a small testament to how great our God is. I always want to stay fully overwhelmed by all I have been given even if it were to end right now.

Aww sneaky sneaky!

Brad is in charge of game day field passes and distributing them. He feels very strongly that it looks bad for any of his family to be on the field since the passes are to be used for sponsors and their guests.Therefore, I will not ever get to go! However, Papa (Brad's dad) falls into both categories. So this is where it can get a little sticky. Papa went to higher powers and he and Jack went to the field this week. Maybe that is why we finally won! Ha ha! Jack had so much fun! He was running around the parking lot before the game with both arms in the arm, running in circles and saying "And another man comes running out of the tunnel!" I am not sure what that meant but I KNOW he was excited.

He went to the field through the tunnel and had the best time. His favorite player Cortland Finnegan #31 waved to him and through him a game ball. I am so glad he choose Cortland to be his favorite player. He is a great guy who is really small but plays like he is just as big as the rest of them. He knows his strengths and uses them.

He saw Brad, a referee and even TRAC getting ready for his opening skit.He truly was on cloud nine!

Once we all got back together we tried for a family picture which was a bust but we will definitely have the memories.

Thanks Papa - We love your sneaky ways!

Halloween part 2

Halloween Day began with treats...

We were supposed to have a soccer game with the team and coaches in full costume but it was rained out. That would have been a hoot! Our coaches are college kids who are really great. Our head coach and his girlfriend were Lucy and Ricky. I really wanted to see the two of them coaching four year old dress up soccer.

However, it was actually nice to have a slow morning at home. We then got dressed for trick or treat with the Titans. I am really impressed that this tradition has continued especially during this season. We had so much fun! The boys received at least 4lbs of candy. We did get some good pictures! Here are a few...

Halloween part 1

We really love to celebrate holidays at our house! Jack has caught my love for them. Many times he is pushing me to figure out new ways to incorporate holiday themed activities! He looked through some holiday magazines and asked if we could make this or eat that.

We love to pick out pumpkins and carve them while listening to Halloween music. This year we carved three pumpkins. He is very much into things being spooky this year (However, it is still very much on a four year old level!) So we carved one as a skeleton, one as a cat, and one has a flaming jack-o- lantern.

We had movie night with my favorite snack,popcorn with m&ms. We watched Night at the Museum. Jack's first a little bit scary movie. We also made Carmel apples with mini-chocolate chips and new this year popcorn balls! It will be our last though! No one liked them!

Also, new (and really having much more to do with H week) we made a haunted house.

Awwww

Cole is ready to walk! I said it would be by Halloween! It is not today but it will be any day! So that lead to the wonderful tradition of going to Lonnie Young to be fitted for Cole's 1st pair of white walkers!

This time we even had four generations of McClanahans with us! Brad's beautiful and so very spry Mamaw came with us for the special event!

A big thanks to Gigi who takes us every time!

I can't believe my baby is ready to walk! Sniffle Sniffle!

There are heroes among us

This past week was H week! I will post later about the tremendous amount of fun we had but I wanted to do a special post just about one "H" in particular - Heroes! Superheroes are a BIG part of our lives right now. Jack and Cole are superheroes for Halloween. Jack was invited to a superhero birthday party and has already decided that he will have a superhero fifth birthday party as well. We tell Jack adventures of Super Jack each and every night. These stories always include Super Jack saving the day! He loves to hear these adventures and the worst punishment is to loose the privilege of a Super Jack story

While H week was upon us, I read from a book entitled The Children's Book of Heroes. A poem called "Only a Dad" by Edgar Guest about a father caught my eye. I read it and I was stunned to recognize just how much of a hero we have living right in our home. Brad does an amazing job at work. He literally does the job of three men. He does love it so I know that makes it easier but he still works very long hours and for many days in a row. This past week was the bye week. This is the first time he has had a day off in months. This could have meant that he would just whole up somewhere and lay around and only come out for food. However, this is not what happened at all. He took Jack to school twice last week. He was so excited to get to drop him off. He called me both days to give me a report and to tell me how much fun he had. After Jack's soccer game he took him to the park and then home to watch the UT/ Bama game. He finished off the night cuddling Jack in the floor to have movie night! He is not only Jack's hero but little Cole is saying "da da da da" and leaning to him to get in his cuddles as well.

During this week he got another star on his hero cape in the husband department as well! He took me on a wonderful date to Flemings. He went into work late and came home early. Also, he went on a BIG grocery trip for me,I took TWO naps and he trimmed the hedges. Yep Ladies he is mine all mine!!

During the long hours and the hard days I forget, I feel entitled, I can play 57 rounds of tit for tat and for all of that I am truly sorry! This week was a wonderful reminder that I have a wonderful man!Thank you for saving the day!

The poem goes like this:

Only a Dad

Only a dad with a tired face,

Coming home from the daily race,

Bringing home little of gold or home

To show how well he has played the game

But glad in his heart that his own rejoice

To see him come and to hear his voice.

Only a dad with a brood of four,

One of ten million men or more

Plodding along in the daily strife,

Bearing the whips and scorns of life,

with never a whimper of pain or hate,

For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad,neither rich nor proud,

Merely one of the surging crowd,

Toiling,striving from day to day,

Facing whatever may come his way,

Silent whenever the harsh condemn,

And bearing it all for the love of them

Only a dad but he gives his all,

To smooth the way for his children small,

Doing with courage stern and grim

The deeds that his father did for him.

This is the line that for him I pen:

Only a dad,but the best of men.