Christmas 2017 Photo Challenge

I stumbled across this fun photo challenge on Instagram. I decided to join in and post them here. 

1. RED

I love my RED and white quilt. 

2. LIGHTS

This is the first year I've had LIGHTS on the mantle. And the first time I have not had a wreath above it. I'm loving this picture.

3. SWEETS

These boys can be the SWEET when they want to be. 

4. SANTA

The boys had a great time talking to SANTA this year.

5. TRADITION

It's a TRADITION to add my childhood ornaments to our tree. This year Boom gave us several of Micheal's so they are on the tree as well. 

6. SELFIE

Homework is stressful with these two but a quick SELFIE sessions made it a lot better.

7. GIFTS

It's beginning to look like Christmas with GIFTS under the tree. 

8. MUSIC

It's MUSIC to my ears when these two play so good together. And I can say they play well together most of the time! :) 

What We're Reading Wednesday

I finished this book in October but I forgot to include it in my last review. I've read lots of Susan Mallery's books (mostly the Fool's Gold series) and there are really good. This one was no exception. It was a sweet and funny book.

I've read a couple of Lori Foster's books and this one was on my list to read. I'm not sure how I came across this author but I glad I did! After I read this one I went to do my GoodReads review and it's #2 in the series. Opps. I'm good at reading series in the wrong order. I can't wait to read the first book. 

I read book #2 (Married by Monday) in this series (The Weekday Brides) a while back and it was good. I read it out of order because I assumed it would go in order of the days of the week. I was WRONG! They are all out of order. Haha!! Wife by Wednesday was a shorter book but kept my attention. Blake needs a wife by in order to get his inheritance and Sam runs a match making company. It doesn't take much to figure out which way this book goes. 

Don't tempt me was book 1 in a series. It was a good book but I liked the second book better. 

Colleen Hoover is one of my all time favorite authors. You never know how her books are going to twist and turn. They will make you mad and happy. This is a novella that I didn't realize I downloaded on my Nook a while back. It was super short but packed with goodness. It was a super sweet story with the normal twist you didn't know was coming. 

TBB ASKS...Holiday Edition

Real or Fake Tree

We've had a couple of real trees but mostly fake. We love the smell of real ones but I like to put them up early and I'm afraid they will die. 

Favorite Christmas Cookie

I always bake chocolate chip for my boys but my favorite has to be sugar cookies.  

Home on Christmas Morning or Travel

We are home until 9 or so and then we make our way to my in laws house. It's a whole 3 minute car ride. :) 

Clear or Colored Lights

Growing up we always had colored lights. Now we have white on two of our trees. I just bought a new one for our bedroom and it has colored lights with all of my childhood ornaments. 

Send Christmas Cards

Yes. And I need to address and mail them. 

Favorite Christmas Present Received

Wow. I have no clue. I remember loving my cabbage patch kids and my pink huffy bike with the white basket. 

Favorite Christmas Present Given

Two or three years ago all Carter wanted was a Marshall dog from Paw Patrol. When he opened it from Santa he was so happy he stared crying. Of course Michael and I about lost it! It was the sweetest reaction to a present. 

Stockings or No Stockings

Stockings!! They are my favorite. This year Micheal is doing a stocking for me to open Christmas morning when the boys open theirs. I get two more as well...my in laws and my mom does stockings. Well, my mom does a massive "sack" with lots of goodies. 

Christmas PJ's

Of course! My boys have 2 new pair and I have a new pair. Now if I can only get Micheal to wear them! :) 

Favorite Christmas Carol

O Holy Night. It's my all time favorite!

Favorite Holiday Tradition

For as long as I can remember we have eaten supper at my grandma's house on the night before Christmas Eve. She cooked a ham and made rice with the greasy rice water. We had greasy rice, ham and hot biscuits. Now my aunt lives in my grandma's house and we still eat it. 

Early Shopper or Last Minute

EARLY!! How can I shop once my boys are out of school for Christmas Break? But I love to get into the crowds. 

Favorite Christmas Movie or Show

I really do not know. I like to watch all of the Christmas specials. I guess that will work.

Favorite Holiday Beverage

I found a yummy punch on Pinterest and it's my favorite. We change the name for each holiday. It's Jingle Juice for Christmas. 

Cookies and Milk for Santa

YES! I always bake cookies for Santa. My boys are getting worried about Santa eating so many cookies so who knows what they may want to leave for him this year.

A Month of Sundays November

Daylight savings was NO fun with these 4 boys. Turner and Jackson were up at 5 which was usually 6. Way too early for me! :) But at least we made it to church on time.

We stayed at home this Sunday morning but made it to Awana that night! 

My handsome boys on Jackson's 10th birthday!

The boys were in our "Hanging of the Green" service at church Sunday night. They took to Chrismons to the tree and sang. It was super sweet!

November FLEW by!! I can't believe it's almost December. 

Dave and Busters

Jackson chose to go to the beach to Dave and Busters for his birthday. We have never been so it was a fun day for all of us!

We ate lunch there first and it wasn't all that great. Not many people were in there so the boys explored the restaurant section since they had been riding in the truck for 2 hours.  

After we inhaled our blah food we headed to the arcade. It was super clean but LOUD! 

The boys played every game they wanted and didn't have to wait one time. 

They loved air hockey. You can see how many people are in the background...not many. That area is where you redeem your tickets for junky toys.

Skee Ball is my all time favorite! I'm glad my boys like it too.

Then there was virtual bowling. And I think they liked that more than skee ball.

Miles liked everything. He is getting very good at the shooting games. 

And he got a strike in the bowling game!! He was a little excited. 

If there is a motorcycle game Miles and Jackson will to play it. These boys LOVE them. 

And Jackson played the money grabber once and this boxing glove fell out of the claw. He begged for one more try and he GOT IT! Oh goodness. That made his day. 

After several hours in the arcade Jackson was ready for dinner. He chose the Gulf Stream Cafe. I'm glad this boy has great taste in restaurants!

 It's on the inlet in Garden City so you get to watch the boats while you eat. 

The view is amazing!

I think it is safe to say that Jackson had a great 10th birthday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What's Up Wednesday

WHAT WE'RE EATING THIS WEEK...

I've wanted red beans and rice for a while so I bought a package of Zatarans. 

It was tasty but I would love to find a home made version. My boys would not eat this so they had pizza. :) The rest of the meals are sandwiches, corn dogs and chicken nuggets until Thanksgiving.

We are kinda having typical Thanksgiving dinners. So it's ham, turkey and a chuck roast. 

WHAT I'M REMINISCING ABOUT...

Jackson's first Thanksgiving. He was 4 days old. 

And Miles and Carter close to their first Thanksgiving.

WHAT I'M LOVING

Everything. It's almost Christmas. 

WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO...

A little bit of everything. All 3 boys have been sick and then endless task of laundry and keeping the house clean.

We went to the beach for the day this past Saturday to celebrate Jackson's 10th birthday. We had a blast. I'll do a post about that very soon!

WHAT I'M DREADING...

Not much. I love cleaning the house and getting ready for Christmas. 

Well.  Our elf should be showing up on December 1st. Let's hope Little Rodney remembers all of his duties! 

WHAT I'M WORKING ON...

I started pulling boxes from the attic the other night. My trees will start going up soon.

WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT...

Thanksgiving and all of the yuumy food! 

WHAT I'M WATCHING/READING...

We still watch the same old shows but I really do like Live PD these days. It's interesting to see what law enforcement has to deal with each day. They are the best!

I've been very slack with reading recently. I have not found a book that interests me. I took 3 back to the library that I tried to read. I decided life's too short to read a book I really do not like. Haha!! 

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO...

I LOVE Christmas music!

And this is my favorite song of all time. 

WHAT I'M WEARING...

The basic stay at home mom outfits.

Black yoga pants. Leggings and tunics. Dresses from Old Navy that are super comfy.

WHAT I'M DOING THIS WEEKEND...

It's time for all the decorations to go up! Michael is off Thursday and Friday so he will be around to help get everything up. 

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH...

All of the fun activities for Christmas! We have church programs and plays, field trips and parties. It's going to be a busy month. 

WHAT ELSE IS NEW...

My baby is 10! How did that happen? 

Happy Birthday Jackson!

11.19.2017

A Month of Sunday's October

Happy Halloween!

from Obi Wan, Yoda and Jay.

That's really an Obi Wan mask and not Jesus. Miles was mistaken several times at Trunk or Treat. And that Yoda mask gives me the CREEPS!! But at least they are cuties under the masks!