The last two weeks

We've been so busy the last few weeks...we're all pretty exhausted. It started two Saturdays ago with the ladies luncheon at our church. Mrs. Dudish decorated a beautiful table and there was a wonderful speaker...Mama and Beverly came and we had a great time.

Later that day, we decorated our tree...I didn't really get any good pictures, but Walker took his ornaments and put them all in a pile on the bottom section of the tree. After he went to bed, I moved them all around the tree. The next morning, Walker came down, went over to "his" spot and said mine? mine? mine? I tried to explain that his were all over the tree. Here's his spot.

And...the only picture I could snap of the two boys together by the tree.
The next day, we had Justin and Lori come over and take pictures of us and then our small group came for group time and dinner. A picture I haven't shared.

Then, sometime last week, Hudson and Walker were playing upstairs, and I went up to check on them...Hudson is standing there with a red marker, top off. He said they were painting. Where are you painting...well...all over Mommy's wall!!!Friday, we headed to the Georgia Dome to watch Clay's football team. They lost, but what an accomplishment to be #2 in the state in Class AA football.

This was my long week...M, T, W...and I'm exhausted! Last night, I got home after 5 and had to have Hudson at the church at 6 to practice singing for Sunday. He flipped out...I mean really flipped out when we got to the church. He screamed...I traumatized him...I left him in his church room, screaming! When they 3 and 4 yr olds came in to practice, someone was holding Hudson. He had his hands in his mouth and wouldn't let them put him down. When he got to me...he started sobbing. I felt awful. He told me he wasn't singing, but has since decided that if everyone comes to watch him(grandmama, granddaddy, aunt bevo, uncle clay) that he'll sing Sunday. We'll see. I just really don't want them to drive 1 hr here for Hudson to not sing! We'll see. Tonight, we went shopping for a family that our small group is supporting for Christmas. It was fun picking out toys and clothes to give to another family. Hudson and Walker enjoyed looking at all the toys (I usually avoid this section when I'm by myself).

Is it really just 8:06?

I think I've said before that we all sleep with fans. And, this morning, at 6:55 a.m., the power went off, flashed back on, off, on, off. A few minutes later Walker yelled out Mommy and cried, I went in and got him, then heard Hudson crying too! So, we've all been up since 7:15 a.m. This week, with the overcast skies, we've been sleeping in until almost 9:00! And, I went to see Twilight last night at 8:50! I guess it works out well though, b/c this afternoon, we are going to the Georgia Dome to watch Uncle Clay's Calhoun Yellow Jackets play in the state championship and we needed to nap early. I can already tell, we'll all be ready EARLY!!!

Thankful Thursday

I should have saved the family picture that I posted yesterday for today, but here's a great pic of the three guys that I am so thankful for today!

Family Picture

I loved, like super loved this picture before I noticed Hudson's tummy hanging out...it's still a cute picture!

This is so sweet...we have a similar one from last year's Christmas pictures with Walker leaning on Tony just like this!

Some sweet pictures

Justin took these on Sunday. We've been trying to get pictures of Hudson since he turned 3. They are precious! I love the one of him hugging Tony's leg!

I had to add just one of sweet Walker...he wouldn't let go of that paci!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I didn't say when I originally posted this that I was inspired by the Nester, a great blog for cheap ideas in home decor. I painted the stars on the mantle and found the small topiaries at Goodwill and just changed them a little. I'm very happy with how the mantle looks, even if it's not the best garland every!

We have our tree up, but no decorations. We put it up Friday, planned to decorate Saturday after the GA/GA Tech game, but the bottom section of the tree doesn't have lights...they're out. I just can't bring myself to take the lights off the prelit tree and put different ones on...I'll do it soon...I am super duper proud of the mantle...Tony wonders why I even want to decorate...who's gonna see it he says...ME! And anyone who comes to our house...and now...all of you!

P.S. This is what Hudson and Walker did after we got the tree out of the box...they had so much fun!

My Monday morning mistake...

Let me preface this by saying that I think this is a super cute idea and we got this book the year it came out, before we had kids that would enjoy the tradition. It is written by a friend from church and her mom and it really is very sweet. You can find it at many Hallmark stores, and there's a website where you can get info about it...http://www.elfontheshelf.com/. I got it out last year and let Hudson play with the elf before I read the book that says if you touch the elf, you mess up his magic and he cannot get back to Santa. So, I just quickly put him up last year and didn't say anything else about him. Luckily, Hudson did not remember this when I pulled it out this year. I really like the tradition of naming the elf and searching for him each morning, year after year. Last night, I got him out, read the book and really talked it up to Hudson...about how we would go searching for the elf in the morning. Of course, he wanted to name our elf "Baby", but I suggested "Jingle" and he liked that. I probably should have just let him name our elf Baby...and that's what we would have called the elf for years to come, it would have been funny...but I wanted a Christmas-sounding name for the elf. So, we wrote our name in the back of the book and went to sleep with hopes to search for "Jingle" in the morning. Well...needless to say, as soon as we were done reading the book, I completely forgot all about it. But not Hudson. The first thing he said to me this morning when I went to get him...Mommy, where's Jingle...let's go find him. OH MY GOODNESS...Jingle was still sitting in his box! Trying to think quickly, I told Hudson I needed to go to the bathroom. He didn't like this answer, it's first thing in the morning, he needs to go to the bathroom, too and hestarted crying. This is not how this was supposed to go. Think of something else...let mommy go get your underwear...I ran to my room, pulled out the elf, and landed him right beside the TV in our room on the DVD player... ran back to Hudson's room with his undies, and then we went to the bathroom...all the while, I'm steering his little head so he doesn't look and find Jingle. As soon as we got Walker, we went back to my room and searched and found him. Hudson told him today that he wants veggie tales snacks and "move it, move it" snacks (Madagascar for those who don't speak kid talk). So, Jingle has sat all day on the DVD player, and Hudson looked at him after nap and said he wasn't a boy elf...he was a girl. Anyway...I say all this to say that hopefully I'll do better tomorrow and the next day...and I might have to do something where the elf just comes on Saturday and Sunday...everyday is a lot to remember...although it does make for a fun tradition and way to count down to Christmas morning!