Some Visitors

Here are some things that happened the week of Thanksgiving, but I never got around to posting... but these are very important things. We had a few visitors that week that I failed to mention.

I walk outside on the front porch to do something and I feel like I have stepped on something... and out of the corner of my eye it doesn't seem like it's a leaf or anything. I look down and look what I was standing on. No exaggeration here.... I am standing on this snake. I scream (very loudly) and since sometimes I am prone to be a little dramatic I didn't think hubby would come running real quick... I didn't want to open the door because this precious little amphibian was on the mat (very close to the house). So I reach over and bang on the door for him to come... and to the rescue matt comes and takes care of the little fellow. This here is what you call a teenager snake... wouldn't classify it as an adult or a baby... somewhere in the middle--like a teenager. Whatever it is, it wasn't welcome here!!
Now on to more happy visitors. Our dear precious friends, Matt and Celeste, have moved to St. Louis (formerly living in New Orleans) and were passing through town on their way back home. We were so excited to get to see them for a brief, but fun visit!! This precious couple is dear to us and will be having a baby boy in the Spring. Aunt Kristen and Uncle Matt are so excited for them!!!

And here are the two Matts...they have been friends since high school and I am so glad we have stayed in touch with them...through all their moves and ours!

Early Christmas With Family

As I said earlier, this weekend we had Christmas with my mom's side of the family. We started the Saturday off with an exciting trip to Belk, Wal-Mart and good ole Chick-fil-A (see cow below). We don't want to overexcite ourselves. We had a delicious meal Saturday night (that I appreciate so much more now that I have done this by myself) complete with crackers. This is a bit of a tradition for our family to pop these "English Crackers" before eating and you wear your paper crown as you eat. Well, somehow the crackers were forgotten this year... but no fear mom can improvise for anything. Mom and dad made their own version of these!! I was impressed.

And the ladies had our annual ornament swap and a little gift opening later... the men all had their new ties from mema. It was a great weekend getting to fellowship with family and we enjoyed spending time with everyone. Fun times with the fam!!

Moo Moo

This weekend as we were celebrating Christmas at Smith Lake with the Bouchillons, our family from South Carolina, we had to make a run to the Chick-fil-A. This wasn't just any ole Saturday at this fine establishment. It was karaoke Christmas caroles day... and take your picture with the cow dressed as Santa day. Too bad there are no photos of the 2 lovely girls with pink hair that serenaded us with Jingle Bells... but we did get a quick photo with the cow. Who doesn't love a good picture with the Chick-fil-A cow?!

Do You Like Our Outfits?

Friday night we had our small group Christmas party where the theme was "Tacky Christmas Sweaters." Now anytime you give matt a theme... he goes all the way!! I went on the search for us some good outfits and let me tell you... America's Thrift Store doesn't have much men's Christmas attire. Matt was thrilled when I came home with a ladies vest for him to wear!! A few shots from the party. Most everyone participated and even a few got crafty and made their own outfits. We had a secret ballot for best dressed and in the end matt won with the most votes! Makes me proud!!

SEC and The Foundry

Last night we headed to our friends Jerry and Wanda's house to watch the game with some other couples. Poor Jerry is a Florida fan and was a little out numbered with the Bama fans! It was a good time with friends and a farewell to Jerry and Wanda as they relocate to Houston for Jerry's job! I guess the best part was watching "Tearbow" boohoo after their loss... ROLL TIDE!! Sunday night the whole family prepared and served dinner at The Foundry. The Foundry is a Christ-centered rescue and recovery center for men and women addicted to drugs and alcohol. At Christmas you can sponsor a table to provide a Christmas dinner to 10 residents. The fam all joined in and we cooked a delicious dinner and mom did a great job decorating their table. It was an honor to serve these men and be a blessing to others!!

State Champs!

Last night we headed to Tuscaloosa...not for an Alabama game... but for the 6A State Championship. We faced Prattville...again... and were hoping to come out with the victory this time. After a long, hard, exhausting season for the player and coaches... Hoover pulled out a win 28-23. They did the "Walk of Champions" like AL does each week. Look at that stud in his suit!!

And the fam made it for the festivities. It was absolutely freezing!! And it didn't help that after halftime it started raining. This is Matt's first championship of any kind and he was on top of the world last night. I am so proud of him!! He has worked so hard this season and we give God the glory for all of this!! Go Bucs!!

So Much To Be Thankful For

I hope your family enjoyed Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for...my salvation, my incredible selfless husband, my family and friends, the body of believers that we worship with each week, our health, a roof over our head, another day of life...the blessings are in abundance. God is so great!!

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20

Thanksgiving was a little different for us this year. My whole fam (minus sister who headed south) packed it up and headed to all meet in Gatlinburg. Matt and I couldn't go because his team is still in the playoffs (4th round tonight) so we invited his parents and grandparents to our house for Thanksgiving dinner. This was a little last minute since we didn't know until last Friday if we would be here or not... so I kicked it into Betty Crocker mode and began planning a meal. I do think my family was a little worried that I could pull this off... I mean this is the girl that blew up the pyrex dish a few years ago. I assured everyone (including the husband) that I had everything under control.

I told matt I would make a chicken casserole and he so kindly told me that it was not a Thanksgiving food and so I wanted to make him proud and bought a turkey breast... mind you I have NEVER cooked one of these before and didn't really know where to start. All week I had nightmares, literally, that we would open it up and it would be like Christmas Vacation all dried out... so I bought a backup ham too. I know people were thinking.. you are in over your head... why not throw in a dressing recipe too!? One last call to my mom yesterday morning to ask her which side of the turkey is the breast.. yikes!!! Matt was such a huge help--we make a great team!!! Amazingly and by God's grace it all turned out fabulous!! Well, at least everyone said it did... they may just be trying to make me feel good.
My turkey and my ham (we'll call them fatty and fatter). Now Fatter and I became very good friends at 4:30 am yesterday morning when I had to get up to put this precious thing in the crockpot.

I will let you guess whose plate this is.... oh matt!!! He piled it on!!

And my plate... I don't like for my food to overlap. I didn't take any good pictures of matt's family because I was too stressed out trying to get all this food ready. Now I really appreciate my mom and grandmothers for all they do each year!! Happy Turkey Day!!!

Outsider's Day

Just one quick photo to share with you... last Friday was Outsider's Day at school. We just finished reading The Outsiders, so we all dress up and watch the movie and pretty much have a "party day" as matt calls it. So my sweet aide that works in my room had her mom make us some poodle skirts. She left me to put the poodle and leash on the skirt... good thing you can't see it up close.. got a little crazy with the glue. Anyways, it was a fun day at school and Matt's only reaction that morning was....wow that skirt sure is pink and poofy... Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

It's Official

A million thoughts are running through your head right...what's official... Well, I am now officially CPR certified. What a milestone! Now if you are choking or have stopped breathing, please call me. I will have to make sure I have my mask ready, you know with all these germs floating around you can't take any chances...but I promise to come to your rescue. And the hubby is up for the Heisman this year... who would have thought?! Matt and his buddy Todd snuck off to take their picture with the trophy while they were supposed to be getting "mentally pumped up" for the game. I didn't see this photo op or I would have got a picture myself. I guess I will have to wait until Matt brings the real thing home.

Hope you are having a good week... can you believe Thanksgiving is just right around the corner? We put our xmas decorations up this weekend.. matt will not let me put anything outside yet.. he doesn't want the neighbors to know we have our stuff up already.

Some Alabama Football

We spent the day in Tuscaloosa yesterday to watch Crimson Tide destroy some LSU Tigers! It was sweet! The family doing a little tailgating...

Matt and I made our rounds around campus to see good friends. Top left is Matt with his buddy Eric and Eric's friend Michael. We have converted these 2 guys into Bama fans (notice Eric's Purdue shirt...well, he came out of the game wearing an AL hat... Matt says...baby steps). Then we saw our sweet friends Jonathan and Rachel. Last in the bottom left corner is my dear dear friend Martha from Oxford. We worked together at the middle school for several years and she was another one of my moms away from my mom when we lived there. I miss her dearly!!

And a few pictures from the game. On the way out we saw sweet Kristin and Jason. The crowd was moving so slow getting out that we had time for a photo opp as we walked.

Now I will leave you with this pretty sight... and you might not be hungry for lunch later. We stopped by one of Matt's coaching buddies tailgate... and he tailgates beside Bob Baumhower.. you know the Wings guy. Anyways, there Bob is ... The Bob... cooking up a whole pig.. I took a picture when he turned his back. Sure put our chicken nuggets to shame back at our tailgate.