Operation Christmas Child

A fairly new tradition for our family during the holidays is wrapping Operation Christmas Child boxes.   We started two years ago and it is a favorite for the kids. Each child chooses toys and items for a girl or boy matching their age. They really think hard about the best thing to put in each box before it is shipped around the world to some very special children. This is what they came up with this year.

Putting together the boxes.

I added a few more practical things like soap, washcloths, and other toiletries before wrapping them up and sending them off. With the arrival of the boxes, the children receiving them will also hear the wonderful news of Christ our Savior. What a wonderful Christmas gift indeed! We will get an email in a few weeks letting us know where our boxes ended up.

Paper mache, alaska, and more

It's school project time. At our house there is always at least one school project being worked on.  Isabelle is working on a project for journey class. They are creating an ocean habitat. She wanted to make a 3D fish. She already had the whole thing figured out. She was going to do paper mache and had the list of supplies written down on a notecard for me to buy at the store. Yes, seriously.  I wasn't really sure how she was going to create the fins but she found some foam in our craft stash and it seemed hold up well on the balloon.

She wasn't going to get away with playing in glue without little sister helping.

 Paper mache fish hanging up to dry. It took an entire day because they were a little too generous with the glue!

 Painting in her leotard. She is always in her gym leo. Either about to go or just coming home.

 Cute fish face.

I think it's a puffer fish but not sure.


Caleb is working on his state project. He researched all about Alaska and planning what to put on his tri-board. He still has a week before it's turned in, so I'm proud that he was diligent about not waiting until the last minute to get started.

The teenager is working on a research paper.  I don't help him anymore with his school projects as much as "encourage" him to complete them on time. "Encourage" - meaning to go into his room and hide his iPhone, Beats, laptop...and of course there is always the very long lecture on the importance of trying hard because this is really important for his future (all while he rolls his eyes). Good times.

Pictures from homecoming

It's been a couple of weeks since Matthew's homecoming but I just got the pictures in today. I couldn't let the chance go by to at least post some. Especially since they turned out so good. His date was Montana. She is a great friend of Matthew's from school.

I am so proud of my son.

Preschool for Vivienne

Vivienne goes to "preschool" at our church two mornings a week. 

She loves packing her hello kitty lunchbox to carry.

She demands to carry her own lunchbox and backpack into school.

She always has a smile on her face when she goes to preschool.

She loves her teachers Mrs. Jen and Mrs. Christy.

She is blessed to have a wonderful school to learn and explore.

She is always happy to see her mommy at the end of preschool.

She says "mommy!" and runs to me with her arms wide open.

I love this part the best. :)

There is nothing cuter than a baby with pigtails.

 We love Hello Kitty.

Look at the big girl!

Vivienne is a genius

About six months ago we discovered our baby is a genius.  

Look at how she holds her pencil perfectly!

She's very serious about her writing.

Election Day!

Romney/Ryan 2012. Hoping my children will always remember today. A day when their parents cared about and were passionate about the future of our country. I hope they also see that no matter who wins the presidency our faith is not in a man but in the Lord.

Celebrating Election Day in red, white, and blue.

Saturday Between The Hedges

Saturdays in the Fall are some of my favorite times. It's tailgating and Georgia football. A tradition that began when Mercer's dad took him to the games as a young boy. Mercer and I took the boys this Saturday. The girls stayed home with Mrs. Wendy but still put on their uniforms for some pre-game cheering.

 Pre-game cheerleaders

Headed to Athens and a rare picture with the teenager. 

UGA taking a nap. How cute?

Happy November!

November is here and in just a few weeks it will be Thanksgiving. Today is pajama day at school!

 I love Caleb's bear slippers.

Vivienne's at preschool and I have a lot of halloween decorations to store away. 

We will be busy the next three weeks with gymnastics for the girls, basketball for Caleb, and the start of varsity soccer workouts for Matthew. 

In the busy weeks ahead, I'm going to remember to give thanks to my heavenly Father daily for all the wonderful blessings. 

Today I am thankful for the full life I share with my family and the healthy bodies we have to live that life!

Candy Hangover

Halloween is over and there is enough candy in this house to open our own candy store. We had a great Halloween and I have so many pictures to share. I wish I could post one shot of all the kids together but this is how the afternoon went....Dress rapunzel, find tights without holes, fix her rapunzel hair, dress the genie, find the grim reaper's mask, wake baby up from nap, fix her ponytails and dress her as a bee, rapunzel's hair has fallen down, redo rapunzel hair, find bee wings and headband, get ready to take picture, genie reminds me I promised mascara and lipstick, apply mascara and lipstick, redo rapunzel's hair, change diaper, redo pigtails, get ready to take picture, grim reaper needs his sword axe thingy, find sword axe thingy, genie is crying because her costume is itchy, mascara runs, redo mascara, redo rapunzel's hair, threaten to throw rapunzel's hair in the trash, gather everyone on porch, camera battery dead, find iPhone, grim reaper has lost interest and has taken off on the golf cart, I give up and take a few shots of the girls, and luckily remember to get one of the grim reaper later.

Bumble Bee

Rapunzel

"Mystical" Genie- not just a genie, ok?!

Grim Reaper

Enjoying candy at Trunk or Treat

Funniest pic. of the night." Just try to take a piece of my candy"!

Daddy taking some kids and friends to trick or treat in the neighborhood while mommy is toasty and warm handing out candy at home. Such a great daddy!