It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

December has been so busy!  I'm not sure why that surprises me, but it does. With all of the events, gatherings, and traditions, we have managed to have lots of fun!

WARNING:  Picture Overload

Urtle, our Elf, returned in early December.  He always brings "The 1st Gift of Christmas" so this year he brought Inside Out. We are lucky that Urtle is not one of those that gets into lots of shenanigans. He is pretty laid back and sometimes he gets SO comfortable in one spot he doesn't even make it back to the North Pole before morning! ;) 

We always kick off the Christmas season with the Landrum Christmas Parade and this year was no exception.  They switched up the time this year and it was completely dark the entire time so it was not the best for taking pictures.  Ace was diagnosed with Croup earlier that day so it wasn't the "first" that we wanted, but he was still mesmerized by the lights nonetheless.   

This year Mac is playing in 2 different basketball leagues.  She is playing with Boys and Girls Club through the school and for LifeSprings, which is sponsored by a local church.   She is definitely learning how to be more aggressive in the BnG Club League!  I am looking forward to watching her grow as an athlete over the next few months and years.    

Our church, The Well, has started having a GNO each month.  In early December, we had a "Pajama Party!" It was so much fun.  We had delicious food, fun games, and a great time of fellowship.  I was asked to lead a game so we played a game I found on Pinterest where you stuff pantyhose with balloons to make reindeer antlers. I was worried that it was be a flop, but it was hilarious and everyone seemed to love participating! 

Mickey, his dad, and sister, went to the Clemson vs. UNC ACC Championship Game one Saturday so I took the kids to see Santa and do a little shopping.  Of course, before we left I had to get a shot of my 3 greatest gifts in front of the tree. 

The girls go to LFBC on Sunday nights and are part of the Children's Choir.  They had their performance the following Sunday night and they did a great job.  Mackaylan had a speaking part and she rocked it.  Acting is her thing for sure!!

We couldn't believe it, but Mackaylan won her class spelling bee and made it the school-wide bee.  She and her BFF pulled #s 13 and 14 so they were able to sit beside each other the entire time.  I think she was more excited about that than anything!  She didn't win, but she gave it her all and made it through the 3rd round before getting out.  I was very proud of her effort and fearlessness! :) 

I tried to add a few new touches to our outside decor this year.  A friend at work gave me a wreath she won at our back-to-school program so I used it for inspiration to make some lighted garland to go around the door.  Ace was a great helper! 

So many times I wonder how I lived without Amazon Prime.  It is truly a lifesaver, especially at Christmas!  All of Mickey's side of the family make Wishlists and it makes shopping so much easier!

For the past few years, we have ventured up into the mountains to cut down our own Christmas tree and this year was no exception.  We put an artificial tree upstairs, but like to have a real tree downstairs. On the way, we stopped by my alma mater, Mars Hill University, visited the book store and took a quick ride through campus.  From there we went on up to the Christmas Tree Far, found the perfect tree, brought it home, and got it all decorated for the holidays! 

Mickey, Ace, and I went to our church's Ugly Christmas Sweater Party last week.  We had a lot of fun with our Bucket Group friends and church family!  We are so blessed to be apart of a church that values relationships and the importance of growing together in Christ!

I have a few more pics to post to get caught up before Christmas so stay tuned! 

Life Lately

I can't believe it has been a month since my last post and that we only have one week left in October! That is crazy!!!  So, yet again, here's another catch up post:

You can't really tell by this picture, but at the beginning of October Ace cut his first tooth.  Needless to say, this month has been full of sleepless nights and baby snuggles.  As much as I wish he was sleeping all night, I really don't mind getting in some extra time with him that I miss out on during the day!

Lydia and Mackaylan are wonderful big sisters.  They love to play with him and they each try their best to convince him that they are his "favorite big sister!" I guess only time will tell....

Mickey is such a great husband and daddy!  October is always a crazy month at work and he has really helped out a lot by spending quality time with the girls, helping with the laundry, and even help cook supper.  He hasn't complained once when we had take-out... again, and understands when I collapse in bed at night. No, you can't have him! He's all ours. 

Ace turned 6 months and is definitely the happiest baby ever!  He is still nursing like a champ and will eat fruit baby food, but doesn't care for the veggies at all.  He was eating them pretty good, but over the past few weeks he has gone on strike against them all.  Maybe he just wants to skip straight to table food. Who knows!  He loves to sit up, but shows no interest in crawling yet.  He doesn't like to be on his tummy at all (despite the smile in this pic) and can roll over both ways.

My diet this month has been nonexistent.  I have fallen off the wagon and really need to get back on track.  I love following the Weight Watchers plan, but am thinking I need to switch back to The Belly Fat Cure by Jorge Cruise b/c I am addicted to sugar  and I think I need to have a little more discipline in my life in this area.  I have followed this plan before and was very successful.  It isn't a no sugar plan, but you are allowed limited sugar and carbs.  Hmmm... Until then, I will eat all of these that I can find.  I am loving all things pumpkin! 

We are so proud of Aunt Betsi as she coached her volleyball team to the Region Championship! They enter the playoffs next week and we can't wait to see how far they go! Go Bruins!

We celebrated Mickey's birthday this month with a breakfast party and time with our family!  He has taken up bicycling so all of his presents consisted of things he needed for this new hobby.  We are so blessed to call him ours!

I finally completed a Pinterest project that I had been wanting to do.  I finally got our pantry under control last weekend and I love the hanging shoe organizer used to hold spice packs, snacks for the girls, ziploc bags, etc.  It saves a lot of shelf space and makes things very easy to find. I should have done this months ago!

Lydia has been coughing for most of the month so I took her back to the doctor on Monday with the attitude that I was not leaving until they did something about her cough.  I was happy that we were able to see our doctor because he spent time listening to me and examining her.  After a breathing treatment in the office, we walked away with a bronchitis diagnosis and 2 prescriptions to take.  She still has a little cough, but I'm hoping it will be completely gone in the next day or two.

On Wednesday of this week both of the girls were selected as Terrific Kids for their classrooms.  It was a special morning because it was Mackaylan's last TK ceremony and Lydia's first.  I was so glad they were able to share in this together.  We know they are Terrific Kids, but it's always nice when you know others think so too!

We are off of school today and we have lots of fun activities planned for this long weekend.  Hopefully, it will not be Thanksgiving until I post again! Happy Friday, friends! :)

Let the Fall Fun Begin

I'm so excited that it is officially FALL!  I love everything about fall... cooler weather, sweatshirts, football, pumpkin spice everything,  and the list could go on!  One thing we enjoy doing as a family is hitting up different fall festivals in our area.  A few weekends ago we went to the Green Creek Heritage Day Festival to watch Mickey in the parade with his biking buddies.  We had never been to that particular festival before, but it was so much fun.  The kids and I arrived a bit before the parade started so we were able to walk around and check out several of the vendors before it got too crowded.  Once we clapped and cheered for Mickey in the parade, we continued shopping.   We were able to get a jump start on our Christmas list by purchasing all of our teacher gifts, the girls picked out a handmade outfit for each of the American Girl dolls, and I bought some homemade candle melts.  It was such a fun (and successful) day. I have a feeling it is only the beginning to our fall fun this year! 

 Mickey and the kiddos after the bike parade.  Mickey was the only one without an official biking jersey on.  Thank goodness he has a birthday coming up soon!

 I think every fire department within a 20 mile radius was represented in the parade. While I'm sure the kids liked seeing the different fire trucks, the noise was horrendous.  Mackaylan was such a sweet, big sister and covered Ace's ears the entire time.  

 Only in Green Creek would the highlight of the parade be a pack of llamas! 

Love these 3 more than words! 

Our Week in Review- 8.24

Last week started out a bit rocky because Lydia was sick.  You can't tell it by this picture, but she was running a fever and complaining of a sore throat.  She stayed home from school on Monday and spent the day with Grams and Pop O.  I'm sure it will be the first of many "sickies" for her since she has started public school and daycare.  If only this sweet smile could keep the germs away! 

Mondays are also our PD days after school.  A big part of my job responsibilities is to design and implement staff development for my school.  We had a fun afternoon discussing our new classes and learning different ways to use the app Telegami.  I am so blessed to have such a wonderful work family! 

I am also taking a Reading Recovery class this school year through Clemson University.  We meet every Tuesday night until 6:30.  While it is stressful to have to arrange childcare for 3 kiddos during this time, I am learning a lot and the food has not disappointed me yet! 

On Wednesday we had a Coaches Meeting.  At the end of the meeting we  played around in a Google Hangout together.  We all had a great time with the "additions" and we were reminded that we are all just a bunch of big kids! haha We are hoping in the future to be able to have some of our meetings virtually instead of having to always travel to the District Office.  

Friday night we enjoyed a night in Greenville at the Greenville Drive baseball game for Sloan Family Night.  While I can honestly say I didn't see one play of the game, we all had a fun time!  The girls enjoyed the playground, meeting the mascot, and the misting machine.  Ace, and his sweet self, just loved being outside and was all smiles the entire time!

Today has a been a relaxing day.  This morning was spent doing laundry and working on school work.  This afternoon the kiddos and I went to Target, and then tonight we met the Bakers on Lexington Rd. for a swim session and pizza.  I am trying to work with Ace to be able to transition him to his crib, but he doesn't seem to like to sleep flat because he is used to his cradle and how snuggled in he feels.  So... for his nap today I used two pillows to 

"wedge" him in while he was asleep.  Evidently he liked it because he slept for over 3 hours.  Will it work tonight?  Only time will tell! 

Whew, it has been a busy week.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow and enjoying a lazy day at home with the kiddos after church.  I always like to use Sunday afternoons to get ready for the week ahead. I do not think tomorrow will be any different! :)

Not-So-Wordless Wednesday- Back to School

The blog has been quiet lately because we are all back in school.  Let me tell you, life with three kiddos is B-U-S-Y!  The mornings are crazy between nursing, trying to get myself and the girls fed and ready, dropping everyone off at school/the sitter's house, and trying my best to make it work on time (7:30AM!) It's definitely a challenge!  By the time I walk through the doors of the school I feel like I've already worked a full day.  I'm sure we will begin to settle into a routine very soon, but for now all I can say is I'm trying the best I can.  However, looking at these sweet kiddos and the smiles on their faces makes all of the hustle and bustle worth every minute.

Mackaylan started 5th grade this year.  It's hard to believe, but this is her last year at the elementary school.  Next year I will have a middle-schooler!  YIKES! She loves everything about school. She is an avid reader and always gives her very best!  

This year Mackaylan is sharing her "senior" year at OPE with Lydia who is just beginning her elementary career as a K4 student.   Lydia seems to be enjoying school so far, but the verdict is still out.  She is definitely our little socialite, and has a mind of her own, so we are all thrilled that we are on day 7 of smiley faces!  This year is a big adjustment for her as she is going from a home daycare situation with one other child to 1/2 day at public school and 1/2 day at daycare.   So far so good! 

 Even though starting back to school is hectic, I love the new opportunities that August always brings.     And the fact that these two get to share this year at the same school together sure makes this mama's heart happy!