a christmas carol...another yearly tradition

Every year Todd and I take the boys out to dinner and to the IRT to see The Christmas Carol.  This year they took dates...YIKES!  We had such a good time.

Here is Evan and Caitlyn.  She is wearing a beautiful necklace that Evan got her for Christmas.

Graham and Desire' (her dress was adorable!) She is wearing the necklace  that Graham got her "just because" and the bracelet he got her for Christmas this year.

The whole gang!  Don't you just love the plug to the Christmas lights in the background.  Those who know me very well know that I cannot stand to see plugs!

After the play we couldn't find the car...so unlike Todd (he was really tired).  Here he is checking up the hill to see if it's up there.  We heard him yell, "I found it!"

Here he is backing up to us because Desire' and I were having trouble in our heels.

It was a great evening and it is always nice to see my boys dressed up with their girls:) 

PS

Thank you Todd for treating all of us to such a fun evening and for my gift...you're too good to me.   I love you!

let them eat cheesecake...white chocolate cheesecake!

Have you ever had heaven on a fork?  Well, if you haven't this is what it looks like and OHHHHHH, you should taste it!!  Thank you Tom for making us feel so special with your homemade cheesecake...you and Karen are THE BEST neighbor's/friends anyone could have.  Merry Christmas!

christmas cookie tradition!

Every year since the boys were very small they have gone to Grandma's to make Christmas cookies with their cousins.  Last year Tyler and Chad weren't there.  I'm not sure why Tyler wasn't there but Chad was in Iraq.  This year Becky wasn't there because she had to work...we missed you Becky! 

There's Kiely...in her cute little hat!

Evan is so glad to see her...but not half as glad that he has now passed her in height!

Yep, it's true Kiley!  Hard to believe that we were worried that this boy would never even catch you:)

Yay!  Heeeeeeerrr's Tyler!

Grandma had everything layed out in their "stations" and ready to go.  After all these years, everyone knows what cookies they like to make.  This station is mine...I make the yummy date balls!  They have lots of butter, sugar, dates, rice krispies and coconut.

Here is the finished product! SWEET!

With his minature coke (which grandma always has just for him) he is the first one to start working at his "station".  Graham, Evan, Tyler and Chad do all of the sugar cookies.

Here is a sample of the fine decorating job that the boys did.  They love the red hots and sugar! Although, I'm not sure about the placement of the red hots on the gingerbread man...? Boys!!

Look who emerged from his work in the Master Bathroom...Grandpa!  Grandma gave him permission to stay and play awhile! Ha!

I know that it looks like Kiely isn't working in any of the above photos but she is always in charge of the Noel Nut Balls.  These are NOT mexican wedding cakes!  They are bigger and much tastier and no one does them like Kiely Erin!

The natives have become restless!  Come on guys...Tyler still needs you!

Here are some of mom's Christmas trees.  The topiary tree looks like rosemary.  I saw it at Pottery Barn while shopping with mom and said, "Oh, you have to have this in your hallway.  It just makes a statement!"  So it is known as the "statement tree".  The glass tree is 59 yrs. old and used to be my grandma and grandpa Hites'.  I have always loved this tree!!  When I was little I used to just stare at all of the colored lights!  (I hope that someday it will be mine...hint, hint!)  And the last tree is mom and dad's Christmas tree all done up in gold!

I just love these carolers and how they stand in front of the light.  Mom has them in her kitchen on the counter.

Stocking's are hung by the chimney with care! (in hopes that Marjorie Kay soon will be there with us on Christmas Eve!)

Thanks mom for an awesome day and for keeping the Christmas cookie tradition alive!  One more thing I wanted to mention.  In the first picture of this long post, there is a candle cookie cutter near the top. This is one of my favorite one's because I love the size of cookie it makes...you don't have to break it to dunk it in your milk!  Well, half way through the sugar cookie making it came up missing.  We looked everywhere...trash, drawers, cookie tins you name it and we couldn't find it anywhere.  I just have to laugh and say that I am glad that Lori was able to join us today!  She knows that number one it was my favorite cutter and two that it is driving me crazy as to where it is at!  There are Angels among us...and I'm glad:)

these are a few of our favorite things...

Our favorite things was this year's theme at our Christmas get together.  We each gave gifts with that in mind...of course, Fripp and our "girlie get together" was one of my favorite things!

This is the picture that I put into some frames that said, "Seriously?" at the top of the frame and gave to my "Pendletucky" bff's.  We went to Fripp last spring and the word "seriously" was used quite freqently.  So, when I saw the frames with this word on it I knew I had to get them...one problem, I didn't take any pictures of us at Fripp to put in them so I put the above picture in them for inspiration for our 2010 get-a-way!

Amy always spoils us with her homemade food, tablescapes with china and candles all amongst a winter wonderland of beautiful decorations in every room of her home.  Thank you Amy for your hospitality and for taking your vacation day for us!

Here are all of the goodies!  So much thought was put into them and love and giggles oozed out when each "favorite thing" was pulled out!                       

We three haven't been together since last June!  It was so good to be together and get caught up on one another's lives.  I love these girls and feel so blessed that God placed them in my life.  Thanks for the laughs and Merry Christmas!

an angels birthday...

God saw you getting tired
and a cure was not to be,
so he put his arms around you
and whispered, "Come with Me."
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer
and saw you fade away.
Although we loved you dearly,
we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove that he only takes the best.
It's lonesome here without you, we miss you more each day.
Life doesn't seem the same since you've gone away.
When days are sad and lonely and everything goes wrong, we seem to hear you whisper, "Cheer up, and carrry on."
Each time we see your picture you smile and seem to say, "Don't cry, I'm in God's keeping, and we'll meet again someday."
Today would've been my sister's 49th birthday.  I miss her and wish that I could talk and laugh with her!  I love you Lori!

we wish you a merry christmas!

I finally got this to post! I know that I said I would do just one more elf yourself the last time, but really, this is it for 2009(maybe...weeelll, the month is young!)
By the way, the mouths on the elves are just an example of how fast our mouths were moving when we were together...we had to fit everything in ya know!

PS The dance at the end fits our personalities to a tee! Ha!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

it's the most wonderful time of the year!

Today I met with my bff's Amy, Julie, and Kimmie (I've never seen the other guy!).  We have been friends for 20 years and always get together at least three times a year but we always make sure that Christmastime is one of them!  I don't know what I would do without this group:)

We met at Paradise Cafe' for "cawfee" and unwrapped presents and then (after sitting there for two hours) we moved our butts to Bravo's for lunch and some more great conversation! 

Already it was 1:00 and time to hit the road.  We said good-bye to Julie and loaded up the sleigh van, and headed home.  It is just never long enough when we all are together.  That's okay, because the next time we will all be together will be in the Spring.. at Fripp! This should give us tons of time to be together! 

never can say good bye...

Today we went to pick out Todd's dad's stone.  We were given a much needed break from the massive warehouse full of stones and decision making when the lady we were working with showed us the memorial stone they made for Michael Jackson.  It was amazing!  It stood about 8 ft. high and was black granite and had laser etchings of his pictures, songs and life story.  If you look closely at the second picture, in the middle of the words you can see his face.  They kept one stone for their showroom and shipped the other stone to Gary.

Troy is home this week.  He flew down but is driving dad's truck back to South Carolina.  I am so glad that he is keeping the truck in the family:)  After we looked at stones we purchased a grave blanket and cross wreath for Dad's grave.  It looked so pretty...and "Christmasy".  Love you Dad!