25 Days of Christmas Kindness!

I am so excited about tomorrow! It is the 1st day of December and we are starting our Christmas countdown! I know there are many people that do a countdown and we normally do one just with candy but this year we are doing something different! I am trying so hard to teach Jagger that Christmas is not just about lists, toys and Santa! It is so much more than that! I actually want him to get away from all that! We are truly blessed and God provides for all of our needs. I want Jagger to learn that this season is about others! So...this year we are doing a Random Act of Christmas Kindness countdown! We are using our normal countdown but inside each box is a piece of paper with a "random act of kindness" on it! I have also printed off these cute labels to go with the acts of kindness!

Here is the countdown house we are using!

Each Act of Kindness!!!

Print off!

I hope this will not only bless us but many others! Do you and your family do any countdown for Christmas?
Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Christmas Decorations!

Christmas Decorations is one of my favorite things! Being an only, mom and dad always went over the top with Christmas. We loved having decorations in every room and then dad always did lights outside! There is just something so exciting about Christmas and the decorations..I can't get enough of them and then I get extremely overwhelmed because I want it all! I promise there is not one thing I see I don't want! ;) This year I have not bought one decoration but I have bought ornaments. I am thinking at this rate I am going to need another tree next year! When Matthew and I first got married, I thought we would do everything snowman. Well...that lasted one year! Now we really don't have a theme. As I sit here in my living room and look around, we have a big Santa in the floor, a Snowman in our entry way, nativity scenes, reindeer, Christmas village, various tree statues bought at Hobby Lobby and then of course all my peacock stuff that has been transformed into Christmas stuff! :) So basically, we have just hodge podge of stuff! I would like to start collecting the Jim Shore Christmas Santas, and then there are several nativity scenes that I will be stalking after Christmas hoping to find them on sale!! I went through the house and took pictures of some of my favorite Christmas decorations we have......enjoy!

This is one of my top favorite things!!! It is a ceramic tree that was my Great Granny's! I get so excited every year when it is time to get it out of the box! It is super special!

Please excuse the fish food in the picture.....but this is probably my TOP favorite thing....Jagger made this last year and I think it is precious!

This plate also means so much to me and I know these hand made things will mean even more the older he gets!

Winter Wonderland hand painted sign on a piece of wood! I have this in my entry way! I think it is super festive!

This is a piece of art made out of paint color samples, ribbon, and buttons! It is super cool!

and I love my trees but I am saving that for another post! I can't give it all to you at one time! ;)
So what are you favorite Christmas decorations?
Hope everyone has a blessed night!

I'm Here!!

Yes, I am still here! We have officially gotten sucked into the "holiday season"! We have been busy busy busy but it makes me Happy Happy Happy (I love Phil on Duck Dynasty!) Well since the last post about Graceland we have basically been with family! On Sunday after we went to Graceland we had our church Thanksgiving meal and the Faithful Friends ornament exchange! It was so fun! I love my church family so much and feel so grateful to be around all of these wonderful people! ;) Monday morning very early, Jagger and I got up and started toward Grandma's! My cousin Teressa and her beautiful daughters, Harley and Emma came home finally-its been almost 2 years! I have missed them so much it makes my heart hurt so I was so excited to get to see them! When we got to Grandma's until we left on Thursday it was just family and food! Is there anything better? We had a blast just getting to spend time with them! When we get around each other we laugh so much we cry! While we were there, Jagger got to ride a horse for the first time. He thought it was the coolest thing ever! On Thursday for Thanksgiving I ate way too much, but I do this every year! I didn't really eat dessert it was the extra dressing that put me over the edge! :) I love Thanksgiving food so much. I hate that we only get it one time a year but I guess that makes us like it even more! After eating lunch with my family we drove home to be with Matthew's family! Not only do I love the food on Thanksgiving but I get so excited about the black Friday ad newspaper! This year I did not go out to get anything. We enjoyed the day putting up Christmas decorations and I am so happy we did! I don't think my pregnant self could handle all of it. I have started doing some Christmas shopping! I love picking out gifts for everyone. I spend almost all year coming up with ideas! I always try to find unique things that they would never ask for or even know exists!
So did you go out on Black Friday and if you did, did you get some good deals?

Graceland!

This weekend I got to do something I have wanted to do since I was a little girl!!!! I got to go to Graceland! I have not been so excited to do something in....I can't even remember when! I have always been a big fan of Elvis..I mean come on my little boys middle name is Preslee- I know its spelled different but we all know its after the "King" himself! :)We left early Saturday morning so that we could get there when the gates opened! When we finally got there and pulled into the parking lot I was about to jump out of my seat! I know my husband thinks I am insane! I just have been wanting to do this for years! I love how as soon as you walk in the entrance all you hear is Elvis music and there are tons of people in their Elvis get-up. You could for sure tell who were the die hard fans and just the normal people coming to check it out! The older ladies that had on the Elvis shirt, coat, and purse were the ones that I enjoyed the most! As we were waiting on our tour bus to take us over to the house, I found the guestbook...I was shocked to see where people had come from! All over the world, and when I say all over the world I mean it! Australia, Austria, Canada, Russia, New Jersery, Washington, Mexico, Russia basically everywhere! This just amazes me..It shows you how much influence he had and how he his music has touched so many! It was finally time for our turn to get on the bus! They give you these head phones to put on during the tour. When we got to the house I was almost overwhelmed trying to take everything in. When you walk through the front door, its almost like you are taken back in time! It is the coolest thing ever...I just would stand in each room and soak it in! I loved all the decorations and can't imagine how much went on in this house! I really enjoyed all the family portraits! The tour took us about 2 hours and by this time Jagger and Matthew had had all they could handle! I probably could have stayed longer but I knew they were tired and hungry! I will definitely be returning to Graceland! I think the next time I go I will not be so overwhelmed! Even if you are not an Elvis fan, it is truly something to see! ;)
Jagger as always added laughter to the trip! Friday we were at the church working and here is the conversation between Jagger and Mrs. Janet....
Mrs. Janet: Jagger I hear you are going to see Elvis tomorrow!
Jagger: No I'm not!
Mrs. Janet: You're not? Well your momma tells me you are going to see Elvis tomorrow in Memphis?
Jagger: No.......and he runs over to me
Jagger: Mommy, are we going to Heaven tomorrow to see Elvis????
Me: NO...we are going to Memphis to see his house! :)
hahahah..we have cracked up over this because we have no idea how he knows Elvis is in Heaven but he knew that he was not in Memphis! ;) I love the mind of a 3 year old!
Well I have to ask.. Are you an Elvis fan? and if so have you been to Graceland?
Hope everyone has a blessed night!

It's Officially Here.....

.....The Holidays that is! I just can not believe Thanksgiving is next week! I feel like this year has flown by, but this is definatly my favorite time of the year! I try and savor every minute of every day until Jan. 1st! I love everything about the Holidays starting with Thanksgiving.
Last weekend, we went to Lil Bit of Christmas which is the huge Craft bazaar in this area! I feel like it is kind of the "kick off" for the holiday season. It really puts you in the spirit! Christmas music is playing, Santa is there for the kids, and there are tons of Christmas decorations! Jagger was so excited about seeing Santa! He got on Santa's lap and told him he wanted a green motorcycle! Well, Santa then told Jagger that he drove a grey motorcycle. This made Jagger so excited....He told Santa that his poppa worked on motorcycles and Santa ask Jagger for his poppa's phone number! They were quite the match! After we got done, Grandma Betty ask Jagger about Santa and his response was, "Me and Santa are best friends"!!!! Now Jagger is wanting me to write Santa and tell him Poppa's phone number so pop can work on Santa's motorcycle! ;)
I have been saying all along that I was not going to do any Christmas decorating until after Thanksgiving. I had to decorate so early last year for the tour of homes and plus I really feel like sometimes Thanksgiving just gets over looked! I want Jagger to know what Thanksgiving is all about..We just go straight from Halloween to Christmas! Well guess what??? Jagger talked me into to putting up his small tree in his room and part of our Christmas village?? We have both been so excited about putting up our trees but I am really not going to put up the big ones until next week! I do have all my ornaments laid out in the spare room admiring them! :) i love Christmas ornaments! They make me super happy! I almost get overwhelmed because I want them all and we are running out of room on our two trees! I guess i could just buy another tree and fill it up!
Tonight we had our women's bible study potluck/dirty Santa ornament exchange! Let me tell you that these women have no MERCY!!! Momma, based on tonight, I think the other ladies would agree you raised me well! :) ! I normally find the ones I like, find out where they come from and just go buy it for myself! But i guess that is no fun huh? I laughed so hard tonight at these ladies and I am so happy to be apart of such a wonderful group of women! I love that we can all laugh and have fun together! I am truly blessed! I feel like after tonight we are busy every weekend until Christmas! And this week is Breaking Dawn part 2 midnight premier! Yes..  I will be there but thankfully not at midnight! The theater we go to has a 10 o'clock show!! This is perfect for this pregnant girl because I can go and still get home before 2am!
So are you ready for the Holidays?
Hope everyone had a blessed day!

BLUE!!!!

We are so excited to announce that we are going to be blessed with another baby BOY!!! We were jumping up and down when we found out! Matthew and I have always said we would love a house full of boys! Yes..girls are sweet and cute, but there is something about a baby boy! They are so precious! and CHEAPER ;)

and also don't forget to go and VOTE but remember....

Hope everyone has a blessed day!!!

Travel, Family, Football, Sick, and Halloween!

Yes, We are still here!! but it has been CRAZY!!! I know you are wondering what in the world the title of this post is talking about, but basically it is the last several days in a nutshell! Friday morning, Jagger and I left with Grandma and Pa Don to drive to Columbia (5 hours) for Mizzou's Homecoming! We were very excited because almost everyone in the family were going to be there! Matthew backed out at the last minute but I think it was for the best because he probably would not have had any fun! I think he enjoyed his alone time! :) So Friday around 10am, they picked Jagger and I up and we started out on our journey! Now I have to tell you that when you ride with Grandma and Pa a 5 hour trip can EASILY turn into a 8 hour trip! ;) They enjoy stopping to eat at an actual restaurant and then we stop for bathroom breaks! I had prepared Jagger and myself with lots of movies, games, books and other things! It was not a bad trip and Jagger did awesome! He did not complain one time and the time went by fast! When we got to Columbia, it was so cold! I was so happy that we had packed really warm clothes! We all got to the hotel about the same time and once we got in and put our things in the room we all decided it was time for food! Since it was Homecoming weekend, everything is crowded and people are everywhere. You do not just up and go somewhere! It has to be planned out!
Saturday was when all the festivities were going on but we had already decided ahead of time that we were not even going to attempt the game. There were only 6 of us that did not go and I am glad that we didn't. It was so cold and I do not think Jagger would have fun having to sit still with 60,000 plus people! While the game was going on, Jagger, Gigi, Grandma, Claire and I went to the mall and Toys R Us! Of course, Jagger had a blast! He was in heaven! I mean two grandmas in the same place! After the game, we met up with everyone for supper! We had 18 in our group so trying to get seated and wait for food takes a long time! I think we ended up being in the restaurant almost right at 3 hours! It was crazy but alot of fun! The kids were glad when it was done because they wanted to go swim at the hotel! The kids had a great time swimming until Jagger had a small scary spell! He had got in the hot tub several times and the last time he got in he told me he didn't feel good, so I told him that we would dry off and go upstairs, put our pjs on and wait for the rest of the family! As I was drying him off, he starts screaming and when I say scream I am talking like I am hurting him! At first, I say Jagger come on now we have to dry off but then he starts biting his tongue and going crazy! I pick him up because I know something is not right! Thankfully the rest of the family is there! Grandma and I start trying to get him to calm down and then he start convulsing, biting his tongue, screaming, then he would pass out..He would open his eyes and start all over! IT was so scary! Matthew's Aunt took Jagger and we start running towards the lobby! I am trying to call 911 while we are working with him! and of all things my phone has NO SERVICE!!!!! Yes..seriously! I was in a full blown panic! By the time we got almost to the lobby he came out of it! All I could do was hold him, cry, and pray! (It makes me cry thinking about it!) I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life and I felt so helpless! So come to find out he had a seizure! He was running fever and the hot tub just sent him over the edge!!! I have felt like a horrible mother because I had no clue he was running fever but he never showed any signs of not feeling well!!! Lets just say I did not sleep 30 minutes that night and the next morning in the shower I cried like a baby! God showed me instantly not to take one minute for granted because life can change in a heart beat! You just never know what is going to happen!
The next morning, the whole family got up and ate breakfast! and yes, Jagger was back to his happy self! He ate a great breakfast ( ham and pancakes) and then he did awesome on the way home! We finally got home and he said he was not feeling well! Guess what? 104 fever!! So it was a very long night and next day for us! He finally started feeling better and then I got sick! I know Matthew is probably about ready for a normal feeling family!
Tuesday we spent celebrating Halloween! and so I won't bore you too death I will continue with that on the next one! We had a great Halloween regardless of not feeling 100%!
Hope everyone has had a blessed day!