it's practically here!

So obviously I'm not good at commitments -- especially to this blog.  But I'm going to quit talking about it and just be happy when I get to it. 

Two Saturdays ago.... Our next door neighbors had a tacky Christmas party! Lucky for us, our monitor works at their house and we didn't need a sitter. ha! We had a great time and we LOVE our neighbors!

Last Monday, we had our friends Taylor & Wes come hang out! Allen, Wes' dad, works with Stephen and so they were in town with him and we got to play! We played and played until we had to take off clothes and eat sloppy joes! We learned how to climb up on the toy shelf and cleaned out the kitchen! 

We ordered a 22ft ladder from Amazon -- because I get everything from Amazon -- and it came in the BIGGEST BOX! Which was the kids favorite thing ever.  I seriously should have saved it for a Christmas gift. 

Tuesday night we met the Woods at Chick-Fil-A... just like old times! Man, we miss seeing them as often as we used to! I didn't get pics of the big kids because they were playing so hard! But it was Gideon's first time to really be into climbing in the play area... he loved it! and pooped in it. 

Thursday, RG's school (& our church) put on their Christmas program.  It was called a Journey to Bethlehem.  It was so cool.. It was three different rooms and teachers/staff were dressed up.  The kids and one parent got to sit on the mat and sing and hear about the journey to see Jesus.  I only snapped one pic.. the wiseman with the crown on is one of RG's teachers, Mrs. Kristen.  

Here is a better pic of RG's teachers - Mrs. Ruthie & Mrs. Kristen.  (I borrowed from Mrs. Kristen's Facebook).  These two have been such a blessing and have been SO great! Thank you Lord for putting them in our lives!

And this pic because she is so stinking cute. 

Friday was Federated's office party.... and Stephen's favorite excuse to wear women's Christmas clothing.  (see below for previous years)

Saturday morning, we woke up in matching pajamas. and played on the couch cushions. 

Gideon can NOT stay out of the tree. He loves it.

Saturday afternoon we had to make a run to Cool Springs Mall -- not smart. One of the most popular towns in America, the main mall in that area, on the Saturday before Christmas.... It was chaos. But we made it out alive... and got to watch lots of crazy shoppers. RG & I faked the photo booth. 

Here is my weekly sleeping picture of Gideon...

 And the weekly booty pic of Gideon. Y'all he is such a typical boy and loves to be naked. HELP! haha!

I can't believe Christmas is almost here. It truly goes by too fast and I am so enjoying this season with my babies.  It's so fun to watch them get so excited about everything. 

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Finally Friday!

Stephen has been in MN for work all week and man, it has been a doozy.  Shout out to single moms everywhere because two kids 3 & under AIN'T NO JOKE. Mama needs a nap and to be hooked up to a caffeine IV.  Not to mention, this week has included threenager major meltdowns, fevers in both kids, coughs, too many trips to Kroger and freezing temps that keeps us from going outside.

WELCOME HOME BADGER! Now, I'm going to take a nap.  Bye, Felicia!

Ok so lets go back to last weekend.  We wanted to go to the downtown Nashville christmas parade.  We went last year and it was awesome.  Well Gideon woke up at 4am... I was feeling sickly... needless too say, we didn't make it.  Ok, so let's go to the Franklin parade!! I look up on a website and it says it starts at 11:30.  So Gideon naps, we get ready and as soon as he wakes up, we go.  At like 10:45... So i'm looking to see where the parade starts and I pull up another website and it says the parade starts at 1pm.  Oh ok... well that's not ideal, but we can grab lunch before.  So, I start to question myself... check their Facebook page... it starts at 2!!!! WHAAATTTT? ok this is getting ridiculous.  We grabbed lunch at Merridee's Bakery (yum - BTW) and headed home to let kiddos nap again.  

We then decided to try for the Spring Hill parade that night.  Much smaller, but still the fun of a parade.  Ends up raining and pretty cold... but we press on and had a great time!

we laughed so hard at this pic because I'm a struggle bus as usual - holding Gideon (his favorite), keeping him away from whatever RG has, trying to tell RG to calm down, smushed between the two of them.. and Stephen is perfectly smiling and posing.  hahahahaha! 

Sunday, we were going to go to church but RG woke up puny and because I didn't have a trustworthy thermometer I didn't want to take her to the nursery at church if she had a fever. 

Monday, we went to dance class and her teacher told me she kept saying she needed to go potty but would never go when they took her.  Ok, so I know a lot of 3 year olds do this because they want to check out the cool bathrooms at every single place we go to... but she has been doing this to me at home too! And she did it to Stephen... So we ran her to the dr to check for a UTI since she was acting funky Sunday... well no UTI.. Just being funky I guess! 

We took baths and pretended to be mermaids

We did Christmas crafts!

I also took Gideon's 10 month pics... Look how similar they are at the same age!! 

This is me -- still wondering where RG gets her facial expressions from? #shegetitfromhermama

and in the spirit of Christmas - here I am with Ronda & Santa... Wonder where I get my style from?? #shegetitfromhermama

On another note, I have finished ALL of my christmas shopping except for a few small things for Stephen's stocking. I would like to thank Amazon prime for making Christmas shopping the easiest thing since life without kids.  I would also like to thank Target and my red card for giving me lots of deals & free shipping.  Ho Ho Ho. 

Speaking of Target... if you like candles that smell like Christmas, RUN (don't walk) to your nearest Tar-Jay and pick up these two beauts. They are super cheap ($5) and they smell up the entire house. 

Holiday Spruce

Merry and Bright

This weekend we are going to go to Dickens of a Christmas in Franklin and hopefully rest, a lot!

Here is a video of RG half-you-know-what saying her bible verse we are working on... with a paci and no pants. #illtakewhaticanget

Birthday Bonanza & Thanksgiving Trifecta

Well I meant to do this last Friday and here we are again I'm late. So I guess this is just going to be what it is.... Real life. I can't keep up!

It will be long with lots of pictures.  My baby girl turned 3, we visited MS for a week for Thanksgiving and the Christmas season (my favorite season) is starting!

First off, we will start with the drive to MS... Should take 6 hours... took 8! Gideon HATES the car. HATES IT! Whether we travel for 5 minutes to take RG to school or whether we are on an 8 hour trip to MS. Screams the whole way! Forward facing (eeeeeek!!!! I know), rear facing, movie, beside RG, away from RG... NOTHING helps. So we stopped A LOT... but we made it. 

Sunday was Ruby's 3rd birthday! We started off with balloons and singing!

We then went to Waffle House for breakfast in our pajamas! (Our tradition - right when she wakes up, we head straight to eat breakfast!) This year she was super proud she was 3.  And Memaw & Papa Toler, Ah-Ra & K-Paw!

Our waitress made her Mickey Mouse pancakes and we sang HBD!

We then had a bday party at Memaw & Papa Toler's house Sunday afternoon!

(true life)

 (TANGLED HAIR!!)

Then we started Thanksgiving FESTIVITIES!!!

Monday, we went to my Dad's mothers house (My Nanny) for lunch.  Ruby got to play with her cousin Swayze and we had the BEST TIME!

Later that day, Stephen caught a fish at his parents house.. I'm not sure who is more excited.. Stephen, Ruby or Zoey. 

Wednesday, we went to my Mom & Ken's house for chili & more cousins!

Cousin Miles, Pepper Ann's son!

And Papaw, telling RG a "one-day" (one day, a long long time ago, when papaw didn't have no shoes and no socks.......)

Thursday was Thanksgiving with the Hoods! (more cousins!!!)

Ruby had so much fun with Hayden! They are not quite a month apart!

 This is Luke.. He and Gideon are 10 days apart!

Stephen and Jason have a Thanksgiving bet that whoever loses the Egg bowl has to wear a sweater from the other team the following year... Unfortunately Stephen had to wear this garbage... but next year... Jason, we are coming for ya!

We had to get a pic without that trash in it!

Friday, we packed up the car and RG had a make up tutorial with Memaw!

We drove home Friday night, hoping and praying that our kids would be a little more cooperative in the car... and they slept most of the way! Thank you Jesus!

Saturday morning, we headed out to get a Christmas tree!

and yes, I GOT A MINI VAN while we were in Jackson! It is HEAVEN!!!! I always swore I would never ever get one... but y'all. it's a game changer. 

Sunday morning, we woke up to a fun breakfast from Elfis!!

I'm not going to be so hard on myself trying to do the elf every single day.  But I do want to try to do some sort of advent activity & scripture with the kids each day! We are going to memorize Luke 2:11 this year and try to make sure we know we are celebrating Jesus' birthday (just like we celebrated RG's)

Here is the advent activity calendar I am using as a template - but I am tweaking it a good bit. I think a family activity, service activity and craft is too much in one day every day... so we are spacing it out. 

Christ Centered Advent for Preschoolers

Gideon ate chalk and looked like Santa! 

And my heavens, those cheeks. Gosh, I love a sleeping baby. 

This weekend, we are going to the Nashville parade and hopefully a few other Christmas things! Trying to get our outdoor decor up and avoid getting sick!!!! Have a great weekend!

Today, your Savior was born in David's town.  He is Christ the Lord! - Luke 2:11