Christmas Card 2015!!:)

Weddings, Playdates, Santa, Dance Observation & More!!

This is definitely a 'catch-up' post to get things in before the year is OVER! I can't believe how quickly the holidays fly by when you're a "grown-up." It's frankly quite sad. One minute you're decorating, the next you're taking it all down. The wise and experienced always tell me --- it goes by quickly, particularly on the growing of your little ones... and I can really see that it is true. Sad, and true. All of it - life - goes by in a blink. 2016 will definitely be a year of more attempts to soak it all in and enjoy my life and my family. Today is CHRISTMAS EVE, and I will try to enjoy it! Happy Birthday, Uncle Jules!

Chrissy got married!! Ceci and I both got to be a part of this special day!

Gorgeous bride!!

The bridesmaids and one sweet little flower girl

Kristin and I

Another spotting of Skippy!

Yummers! I actually made cookies for supper club this month. I learned them from last semester's cooking bible study I took at Sharra Reno's house. They were a hit!:)

Tea party madness!

Dance observation day! Oh, how the time passes! Ceci is doing such a great job with dance and loves it.

Heehee... Maurie, Brooke and I went to a girls dinner last week. We made Maurie sit in the carseat.;)

My working man!

More Santa sightings! One little man wasn't very impressed.

And more sweet Santa sightings! Ceci and Les couldn't get enough of the big guy! This was at the Jones Companies Christmas Party!:)

AAANNNDDD... another Santa sighting at Longleaf Plantation! What a nice place!

Wrestle time!

Ceci, our budding artist!

A fun Christmas party at the Camellia House. And our friends, the Bennetts, were there! Dr. Rodney Bennett, USM's President, LOVES LOVES LOVES Jonathan! They are "besties!":):)

Jennifer and I at the party. They hosted the party!

Sweet besties, Vera and Ceci, having fun at church!

A precious picture from the hayride at Ceci's 5th birthday party!:)

Uh oh!! Joseph got his first goose egg(s)!! Poor boy! It was bound to happen. That week was SUCH a doozy. Ceci woke up with a fever on Tues then by 9 am, Joseph had gotten hurt, Jonathan and I were both sick with sinus infections. Les came home with hives all over his ankles and wrists on Thurs then Jonathan came home from work with a fever. I ended up at the clinic Fri morning for a shot and rx too. I must say it wasn't one of our better weeks, but that being said --- it can always be worse! It wasn't too bad; we all survived.;)

Happy as a lark 30 mins after the crash... Just give him a cheeto and he's back in action!

Les' facial expressions KILL ME!!!

Christmas party time at The Learning Depot! We love sweet Mrs. Nan and all our classmates! Ceci did so good singing her songs!

And these two little rascals, best friends and partners in crime! Les and Isaac! They kept turning off the lights in the class, and Isaac would say "do it again, Lester D!" Hahaha!

Dad came for the fun!

Les did SUCH a good job telling the story of Jesus' birth. Poor fella wasn't feeling great. When we got home, he had hives and a 102 fever.:( Luckily, Les always bounces back quickly from a fever. Typically his never really linger.

Sweet friends!!

If you recall my Sea Island post, this is Ceci's best friend, boyfriend and husband, as she says.

Ford Payne. She was exhausted at this Christmas party and did NOT want to be there. But as soon as we saw Ford, this is the HUGE smile we got.:)

Once again, her favorite thing to do --- art!!

We had a fun playdate and holiday dinner with the Phillips family in town from Houston at Jones' house! James and Kate are on the left and Jules Jones is the baby evaluating Joseph.;) Then the blondes are the Duhons.;)

Joseph and Jules, fast friends!

Ceci got the PRETTIEST and softest Cinderella/Elsa gown from her besties Ella, Vera and Lucy Kate. She gets to bring to Disney in Feb and is TOO excited!!

DID SOMEONE SAY WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY??!? YES!! First week of February!!

Getting ready!!

Someone is big enough to go, and boy, is he excited?!?!?!?

A FUN December... with posts still to go!

Below are so many events, but many I only have a few pics of.... so I combined a post. Let's face it; it's a busy time right now! I wouldn't have it any other way, but it's certainly busy!! Given this is my family's "project," I have to get all our memories in before the end of 2015!

A couple funnies before they slip my mind...

Les' teacher had to help him use the potty this week. Apparently, he stood up and sprayed the entire stall. Poor Les, when we are outside, I let him basically make "art" with his teetee and spray leaves, trees, anything he wants... Oops, I guess this freedom backfired. So after he doused the stall, he said "Oh goodness, I made a mess. But I didn't get any on my pants, so it's all good." 

Sweet Mrs. Deborah moved this year. She made this for Les. Tear. I died.

Just some reading before bedtime at Lagniappe.

Chicago!! Chrissy's bachy was in Chi and so much fun!!

The Bride... and me!

Some fun reading with Papa! Papa is THE VERY BEST reader. Ever.

Well, howdy, J Town!

Could you NOT eat him up!?!? Oh my GOSH! Swoon, ladies. Swoon.

Cookie dough for reading books at school! First up, cookies, next stop, Harvard.

Aaaaannnddd... the finished product.

Mommy is Treasurer of Junior Auxiliary right now. Whew. Work. But giving back to the community truly is heartwarming! This is my friend, Lavinia!

Justice, Brooke, and Maurie!

My provisional class! 

Photo Booth Fun with my besties!!

Ole Miss/LSU game in Oxford. So much fun!! Provost Stokes and his wife are amazing, inspirational people. Jonathan went to church with Dr. Stokes throughout college, and I met Dr. Stokes by going to church when I would visit Jonathan. I first knew him as Chair of the Accounting Dept then moved right on up to President/Provost of Ole Miss. He's that kind of man... amazing!

Jonathan, our friend Tommy Duff, and ME!

Jennifer Payne (Ford's Mommy!!), me, and Arlean Sackler

Susannah Shook and I after the game. Burrrrrrr

Somebody got BUSTED!!!!!!!

Birthday night out for Leslie! Missing Brooke!

So, we added a new family member this year, Skippy, the Elf on the Shelf. He has magical powers and flies to the North Pole each night to report on the children. He suggest to Santa if the kids were on the "nice" or "naughty" list that day... and they certainly want to be in that nice list!

Someone is 9 months old!!

Family photo cred of Les...

Watching the big kids decorate their tree...

They did it all themselves!

Even little man has to get in on the tackle!

The CHAMP is here!