Photo 347

Brandon's newest aquirement/alternate personality/friend is the sock monkey stolen from Kaitlyn named Pacho. Like nachos, only better. Pacho talks to us frequently.

Today he wanted to take over the world wide web (www... ha ha) and decided that would pose rather elegantly with the packages of multiple cookies and NAVEL oranges and apples that I had to buy today so that we wouldn't look stupid just giving people orange. Yep...that Pacho...such a goof off.

But, it isn't he cute...at least when the hands and voice behind him aren't being so absolutely incredibly obnoxious. Yes, that would be Brandon...obnoxious.

Especially today...and right now...while he's trying to tell me what to type and making Pacho poke me in the ear...yep...

Obnoxious.

Photo 346

We finally got the gingerbread house put together yesterday afternoon with the icing gluing the sides together drying overnight. We decorated it tonight; however...the icing from last night needed additional water added to it...me thinks it was a BIT too runny. NONE of my decorations would sit on it. But it sure does look snowy, huh?

Kaitlyn told me it looked nothing like the picture and that ours never does. Zachary said that Duff off of Ace of Cakes would NEVER hire me.

THANKS a lot, kiddos. You SURE know how to make a mom feel great! :)

Photo 345

I purchased this advent calendar at Target in hopes that we could accomplish something daily with the kids. So far, so good...although I'm sure somewhere along the way something will be missed or not be able to be done. It's the process that counts, though!

Photo 344

After a lot of busts, I finally made a cookie that was just 'okay' - not great, but good enough to take with me to the 6th annual Cookie Exchange Party at Tammy's house.

Butterscotch Oatmeal Chippers

Photo 343

Today was Zachary's official 11th birthday. We celebrated the evening with my cousin Jamie and his wife Renee who were in town for the weekend. It was a quiet family evening with the requested 'lemon-glazed' cake.

Photo 342

Kaitlyn and I went to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Opryland Hotel today with the Girl Scout troops across the city. It was a great show that they put on, but my favorite part was the very dramatic and touching nativity scene at the end. They closed the show out with what they narrated as being the most important part of the season. I agree with them. Most definitely...just as the narrator said. This season is because of a man that only lived 33 years, never traveled more than 200 miles from his birthplace, spoke to the comman man, yet touched and changed all of our lives so dramatically that we still celebrate his birth thousands of years after his death. No other man will ever come close to being as great and magnificent as our Lord is. No man...nothing compares. Nothing.

In saying all of that...here's a picture of one of my favorite Christmas things I made last year.

Photo 341

Taking the gifts to the Angel Tree right now...after prayers were said for each person.

Photo 340

Zachary's birthday party was tonight. There were 16 kids not including adults and the majority were boys between 9-11. CRAZY. Seriously.

Anyhoo...here's a birthday cake pic.

Photo 339

I made my December Daily album on the 1st...I didn't exactly finish all the page basics like Ali suggested, but I had enough done to get me started. When I get time, I'll do more basic backgrounds so that I'll be able to easily add stuff in when I get time to print and journal.

This is something I'm excited to do simply for this reason alone. While cleaning out my 'album' box that is still stored, I found my Christmas album I made shortly after moving into the house we had built on Setter Court. It had all these neat little stories about the kids and their traditions and our decorations. It was definitely a nostalgic moment and I hope that each year we look at this one we feel the same way!

Photo 338

Got SOME decorations out...now on to the dining room, upstairs (kid's decorations) and the trees.

Photo 337

I just LOVE this little baby of mine...and she always loves me, too...no matter what!

Photo 336

I had extra cupcake batter left0ver yesterday and made some mini-cupcakes. We picked up LeAnna from school today and I let the girls ice mini-cupcakes for snacks. YUM!

Photo 334

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to my little baby girl Kaitlyn who just turned nine and that makes her mommy sad... Happy birthday to you!

Photo 333

I'm SO glad that Thomas told me to go ahead and get new pots and this knife set. I SO needed it for all the prep that was done in the kitchen this week. Thanks for my early birthday and Christmas gift!

Photo 332

I rescued some parsley from the garden thinking we might use it for the dinner dishes, but it didn't get used. It did look pretty in my lovely and FAVORITE little bloom vase.

Photo 331

TOO much food...and not enough stomach, lol!

Photo 330

Olivia found in a no-no spot...and she just looked at me the entire time I took her picture...didn't even feel bad apparently...

Photo 329

Ahh....nothing makes a mother's heart prouder than to see her son organizing under the kitchen sink...

(okay...so I made him...SO WHAT?!?!....tee hee)

Photo 328

We had craft day at Kaitlyn's class today. This is the project that I found online for us to do. They had fun.

Photo 327

Zachary went with his Boy Scouts troop to see a basketball game (Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz) and brought back this souvenir...apparently he's the guy to beat when you're playing against the Grizzlies.

Photo 326

Kaitlyn's party was today...she had a blast. I always love the candle blowing pictures...my favs...

Photo 325

Love old books on display and loved finding these at Holiday Flea Market today for $1.00 each.

Photo 324

I love these 'green' bags from the grocery stores. I have 3 from Publix and 2 from Whole Foods. WHEN I remember to put them back in the car after emptying them, they make carrying the bags in by myself SO much easier...

Photo 323

Again, another late addition to my fall decor; however, Kaitlyn's birthday party is this weekend...and I found this frame while cleaning last night. Decided to stop and decorate it per season as I planned to do originally when I purchased it the first week World Market was open...oh, say....in March?

Photo 322

Gotta add this in here, though it's extremely late. Makes my monthly photos of my calendar complete for my end of year printed blog album I plan to do.

Photo 321

Got some fall decor at 66% off at Hobby Lobby. Was glad to add it to my collection even if only for another week. At this house, we hold off until the day after Thanksgiving to put up Christmas stuff. In fact, Zachary is in full protest this year. If you MENTION Christmas anything (the few things I've bought already are taking him over the edge) he says it's not allowed until after Thanksgiving is over. He was fully irritated the there were Christmas things for sale at some places even before Halloween stuff was out. He doesn't understand the concept of early buying...I will say, the Christmas music playing in the stores is a bit much for me, too. I understand the 'concept' of it...just don't understand the necessity of it.

So, in other words...we're hanging on to Thanksgiving and Fall decor as long as possible. And that's okay with us.

Photo 320

Love my new little sign I picked up at Hallmark yesterday...

Photo 319

Getting my cookbooks out for Christmas cookie baking...yummy.

Photo 318

A mess of epic proportions....massive.

Photo 317

The halloween candy needs to die already!

Photo 316

Meet my $12.99 Home Goods puppets that I just couldn't resist purchasing for the church puppet team; however, they've since found a home with Kaitlyn and Zachary who thinks they are just HILARIOUS to play with! Who knew?