Sweet Christmas Time!

Christmas! What a special time of the year! I know for some it's a stressful time. A time of sadness. A time of heartache, but for many it's a time of happiness! A time of precious memories!
Two years ago was a hard time for our family! We spent Christmas in a hospital and had no clue what God's plan was for our sweet Hudson. Last year around Christmas, we buried my sweet Aunt. Even though we have had our share of hard times during the Holiday, I try my best to find time to focus on my kids and what the true meaning of this season is!
The last two days have been filled with several Christmas events that have really gotten us in the spirit!
* The annual Christmas pageant at our church! This is my absolute favorite thing of Christmas!! The Christmas story is read and during the reading all of the young children come out as characters in the story! Angels, Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Wise Men, and the Star! It is so precious to see the sweet babies portraying the most special story in history!
My Jagger was a shepherd again this year, and he was so darn cute! He gets so shy on stage! All you see is dimples!

 Probably the only shepherd you have seen with camo crocs huh??? ;)  He cracks me up!

Our sweet girl giving her mommy and daddy a thumbs up!! I love this girl so much!

 It took fit throwing and drama took get this two second shot! Not too bad!!

*Parents as Teachers Christmas Party- I was so excited we went to this. It was kind of a last minute decision to go, but both boys had a blast! They had lots of fun "stations" for the boys to go to! (build a gingerbread man cookie, stacking wrapped Christmas boxes, match stockings, play-doh center...just a lot of neat things for kids to do!

*Riding around to look at lights- This is something we love to do! This year there is a new home we got to see that is out of this world! The house and yard is covered with tons of lights and it is synced up with music! When you pull up to the house, you turn the radio to the designated station and sit back for a wonderful show! We have been twice already and Jagger is already planning the next trip! Another great thing is that they have a box for donations to St. Jude's!

These lights are just so awesome! If you are in this area its a must for this Christmas!!

I am also excited because this tonight we are ringing the Salvation Army bell, and going to watch the Christmas Parade! Tomorrow morning is Polar Express at the movie theater, I know this will be one my boys will love!
Even with all of this excitement I want to make sure that my boys know what Christmas is truly about! I have been telling them that yes this is all fun stuff, but our true focus is the birth of Jesus!
Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Lots of love..

Mom Jeans

Mom Jeans.....I don't even know where to start on this subject, but when I hear those words I cringe.
Here is what most of us think of when we hear "mom jeans"

Basically a horrible fashion of the 80's! I know you are probably wondering where in the world I am going with all this, so here it is! I am a mom, and I love jeans! I want to be able to find a good pair of jeans that I feel comfortable in. I don't want to have to sell my right arm to afford them, but I also know how cheap jeans turn out! This situation is making me want to give up on jeans and just live in yoga pants or leggings!
Before kids, I could go into any store and buy jeans/pants without trying anything on. I knew what size I was and most everything fit me. Fast forward 7 years and 2 kids later, and I can not find any jeans that fit!! Saturday, my mother in law and I went shopping for jeans. I tried on so many pairs of jeans I was getting beyond frustrated! Nothing fit,nothing looked good! I know my body is not the same as it once was, but good GRIEF!!! I finally decided to put my problem on Facebook and see what the response would be! I was blow away by all the suggestions on jeans! So if you are in the same situation as me and can't find jeans that are not "mom jeans" here are some of the top suggestions that were given on facebook!

*iT Collective Corset Denim- several people mentioned these jeans, so I started researching and I can not wait to try them on!! They sound amazing! They do run around $100, but I am starting to think it would be better to invest in some good jeans then buying cheapy and they wear out in a month and they don't look good? Click here to check them out!

Using the latest in tech fabric, these jeans stretch just enough to fit your body without pinching or creating the dreaded muffin-top. And they hold their shape all day long. No bagging in the seat or falling off your hips. By the time I took these photos, I had already worn them a full day.
They are slightly higher in the rise but not enough to be dated or considered high-waisted. They hold your abdomen in place without feeling like you’re wearing support wear or a girdle.

* Loft jeans- I have honestly never even thought about looking at jeans from Loft, so when I saw several people mention it I immediately went to the website! They have several cute styles that I really like!

Curvy Skinny Jeans - these are $79, and I am constantly seeing coupons for Loft!

Curvy Skinny Jeans in Dark wash- these are $69 and I think its hard to beat a dark wash!


*Daytrip from The Buckle- I always get overwhelmed in The Buckle because there is so much to look at! I googled these and there are not a ton of options which I like and they are very reasonably priced. Anywhere from $46-$52! The next time I am around The Buckle I will be trying some of these on!

*Silver Jeans- an oldie but goodie! I remember when these came out and you could buy them at Maurices! I haven't worn them in years, but think I need to try another pair on!

I know there are probably tons and tons of great jeans out there, but these were the top 4 mentioned! I can't wait to try all of them and see if I have any luck! Please tell me I am not the only one that struggles with jean issues? Do you have an all time favorite pair of jeans?
Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Lots of love..

For The Love of Nutcrackers!

Nutcrackers, Nutcrackers and more Nutcrackers!
My family has a bad tendency of falling for something and falling hard! We find something we like and get obsessed! We can't just have 1....we need several and then several turns into more! Are we strange or what?
Ever since Jagger was a baby he has loved Nutcrackers or as he calls them Cracka Nuts! :) He just has a full blown fascination with them! Grandma Betty bought him one a couple of years ago and the love has never stopped! We now have them all over! The boy even put one on his Christmas list!! He used his spending money at Disney for a Mickey Mouse nutcracker! This is total dedication in my book!
It's funny because I have never really cared for Nutcrackers. I really thought they were strange and kind of creepy, but I have slowly started falling for them also, so the next time you see a Cracka Nut, think of us!

 Every year Jagger gets a snowglobe from Target. I'm not really sure why we started getting them from there, but I was excited when I found this years had a nutcracker/solider!

 My favorite part about this picture is that my mom painted the picture in the background! I think it is too cute!

 I almost screamed when I found this guy at Hobby Lobby Saturday. It was the very last one!

 Jagger bought the Mickey Mouse when we were at Disney World! He had his own spending money and this was what he wanted to buy! ;)

 My mother in law found this rug in her attic! She thought it was perfect for us! I couldn't agree more!

 World Market has some of the coolest nutcracker plates, and mugs! We love to pull these out at Christmas to enjoy hot chocolate and coffee!

 Christmas day shirts!!!

This last one is very special! He is our newest one! Jagger is so in love with him! He just stands and watches him. The nutcracker drums and plays music! Great addition to any home!

 

What does your family collect during the holidays???

Lots of love..

Shopping and Sickness!

Well...I can't believe Thanksgiving is over and it's time for Christmas! I know I have said this several times, but this year is flying by! 

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! Lots of food and laughter! I actually didn't over do it this year on the food! In the past, I have been known to almost make myself sick! This year I stopped way before that point! My mom made a brussel sprout quiche that was divine!! and oh my goodness, the dressing! Yummo!

Anyway, after all the yummy food it was time to focus on my favorite thing: Shopping! We don't ever go on Black Friday, but we do go on that Saturday! The last two years we have ended up in Nashville and had a blast! I love this because not only do we get to do some awesome shopping we get to stay with our really good friends!! 

This year I had a list and was determined we were not leaving Nashville until the list was finished! and when I say we shopped, we shopped! We got to Opry Mill at 8:50 in the morning and did not get back to our friends house until 9:30 that night! We did not stay the whole time at Opry Mills. We were all over Nashville! Poor Matthew was worn out!! I am so proud he hung in there with me! I was disappointed because we didn't finish the list! I think every year I make a list of stuff I am wanting to find, I never find it! Next year I will just wing it! ;)  My legs by the time we got home were about to break off! I am really thinking this is the first time I have ever "looked" that long! 

While we were in the midst of shopping, we get a phone call from Matthew's mom saying that both the boys are not feeling well! Hudson has been running fever, and Jagger was throwing up!! I was so bummed out! We were over 3 hours from home and I wish we could have snapped our fingers and got back! Matthew's mom said there was no point driving at night to get home, they would be fine through the night! We decided to get up early and drive home! 

I was so happy to get home to our sick little boys! I know a hug from mommy and daddy can make things better! We spent all day on Sunday decorating for Christmas! Jagger was instantly feeling better! Hudson, not so much! He is terrified of all the Santa decorations, and he is loving taking all the ornaments off the tree!! This is driving my OCD crazy! 

Monday was spent in the doctor's office and today was all about cuddling on the couch! ;) 

Hope everyone has a blessed night!

Lots of love.

Do You Black Friday?

I honestly can not believe that tomorrow is Thanksgiving!! Wow! I am so excited about all the yummy food, I may not eat today! ;) Thanksgiving always brings about the thoughts of food, family, football and BLACK FRIDAY!! (It's sounds kind of like an evil thing)
So my question is do you black Friday??? Do you venture out into the madness or do you stay warm in your home with the comfort of knowing you won't get beat up over a trampoline??

I am shocked over how people act to save a little money!! I will have to say that I venture out to Wal-Mart on black Friday but it's never with anything certain to buy! My mother in law, sister in laws and I venture out to see what we can get! last year we were in and out in 30 minutes and actually grabbed some pretty good stuff! Seriously we walk in a straight line, no cart, and grab whatever we can. Then we stop and see what we have and head to the check out! In and out...no stress! ;)
We are they family that buys ahead of time, like months so that way we do not have to fight over the latest and greatest toys!
I was looking through the ads and there are a few good things I wouldn't mind picking up this year but nothing I am really wanting!  I think this year I will probably skip out on the madness! and I have figured out that shopping online typically offers just as good deals with free shipping and no screaming crazy people! ;) Is there anything you are going for???

As I was going through pictures for Black Friday I found this one and it really tugged at my heart! No just for Black Friday, but everyday...

We are a society that has SO much and we don't even realize it at times! We have way tooo much!! Remember while you are out shopping that sometimes less is more! ;) Because I promise 1 month after the new wears off, something else will be in your sight!

Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Lots of love...

Heartaches!

There are just sometimes in life when you heart aches. I do not like times like this, but I know it is just part of life. This week my heart aches. There are several things going on that I just have just a heavy heart for.

*Ferguson,Mo- This whole situation blows my mind. I just can not believe how these people are acting. It is very sad to me. Do these people think that violence and acts of hate are the right thing?As I sit here and watch buildings being burned and cars being overturned all I can do is pray. I pray that God will come down on that city! I am heartbroken that my children are growing up in a world that is so full of hate. I know that this is all in God's plan but I am ready for him to come and take his home!

* #findmalik - My hometown is going through a major heart ache of it's own right now! A 2 year old little boy went missing on Sunday evening. The whole town has really come together to help find this sweet baby boy. I can not imagine. My heart hurts because Hudson is around this age and I know how I would feel if my baby went missing!! I pray that God helps find this baby and bring him home safely!

In both of these situations there is nothing I can do except pray! I hate this because I am a fixer! I want to go to Ferguson and tell all those people that they need to get their act together. I want to find little Malik and bring him home safely. Since I can't do either of these I will do what I can. I can pray and trust that our Heavenly Father has a plan for both situations!

Please join me today in prayer for both of these!
Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Lots of love..

Grateful Heart!!

Well, here we are, the week of Thanksgiving!! I can't believe it! This year has flown by! I am super happy that today is Grateful Heart Monday!

Today I am super grateful that I have a family to spend the holidays with! Thanksgiving is such a special holiday and it makes it even better when spent with loved ones! Being with family during the holidays is something that I truly try not to take advantage of because I know that not every one has this. I thank God everyday for all the special moments he gives me!

Link up with Emily and tell us what you are grateful for!! ;)
Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Lots of love..

Throwback Thursday!

Nothing has been going on in our world the last few days, and I think that is one reason I have not been writing. Oh and I forgot to mention I have been "sucked" into a book that I started Monday night! I think that is the main reason I haven't had any other free time! ;) Anyways, like I said our life has been pretty boring this week except for the Fiberglass that got in Jagger's eye and scratched it all up! Thankfully we got him to the doctor in time that there was no big damage done just a really scratched up eye!
I am super excited that we one week away from Thanksgiving. I have been craving Thanksgiving food! I can't wait to get my hands on Grandma's turkey and dressing! Yummo......and that brings me to my Throwback picture!! It was taken around Thanksgiving when Jagger was a baby!

He was not even one in this picture!! I thought we would sit him in the leaves and he would love it!! Wrong! Obviously he hated it! I crack up every time I see this picture! (I actually felt like this when my alarm went off this morning!)
Well, it's time for me to get off here and get to reading ;)
Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Lots of love..