Our Little Lexi "LuLu Doll"

So many things to post about and pictures to share! For now, Our little "Lulu doll" is walking! She took her first steps on the 17th of December. She is choosing walking over crawling now, so it's official. Our house just got a little busier! We needed that, it was way too calm here!

Happy Christmas Eve...

Classic Santa photo! Lexi is screaming, Summer is "bored" and refuses to smile and well, my boys, look how sweet they look. Actually, Matthew's look is a little more mischief than sweet.

The kids are all snug in their beds...I can't wait 'til morning!

Whoa Here She Comes...

"Watch out boys, she'll chew you up!"

"She's a man eater!"

OK Friends...

Jess is over a youth activity tomorrow and needs some help. They are doing "Speed Socializing." You know, kind of like speed dating, accept it's not a date, it's just getting to know one another. Anyway, the kids are each supposed to come with a question, one that can't be answered with yes or no and is interesting somehow. You know the kind, "If you were gum, what flavor would you be?" I told Jess that I had a book that would have perfect ideas for him, only I can't find said book. So, my web friends, I am asking for your help. Please leave a question (or two, or more!) that Jess can use in my comments section so that when the kids show up question-less, they still have something to talk about! Thanks, that will free up my time to do the 9 loads of laundry I need to get to tomorrow!

RS Christmas Party

I hosted our RS Christmas Party this past Thursday. We had a great turnout and I think all had a great time. Our theme was service and giving during the holiday season and throughout the year.
Happy, Lexie and me at the party! Can you believe that we have been friends for 18 years now?!! Seriously, are we that old?

The yummies! I really do love to host parties.

On that note, we also had a lesson at church on keeping Christ in Christmas. Here are some of the things that we are trying here: We do a service secret Santa with the kids, make cards for the local nursing home, attend the Living Nativity experience, and read the story of his birth on Christmas Eve. I am curious what you all do. I am always looking for new ideas, so please share...

Refinishing Fools!

I had the bright idea last spring to buy an indoor table (cheap at a garage sale) and refinish it with outdoor stain to use as our patio table. This table was really easy to strip because it only had a thin layer varnish on it. We got it sanded really nice and Jess stained it. Being an amateur, he didn't know and I didn't remember until it was too late, that you brush the stain on and then wipe off the excess. We have to re-strip it and start over. Fun, fun, fun!

Safety first!! In order to include the kids in the job, Jess pulled out the air compressor and let the kids blow the wood dust away.

This is an antique table and chairs that my Aunt Sweetie Pie brought me when she came for Thanksgiving! I love it. We spent a good deal of time that week/weekend stripping the table and chairs. My Mom and I finished the stripping and began the sanding. I have one chair left to strip and then I can begin the many phases of sanding. I have, indeed, lost momentum! I am preparing for a Christmas party at my house. When that is done maybe I'll get back to work. For now, my garage holds two unfinished tables, 6 chairs and is covered with wood dust. Hmmm, am I a refinishing fool or a fool for refinishing? I'll let you know!

A little late...

But better than never, right??
Our annual Thanksgiving tree, plus an added bonus, a tree elf courtesy of Summer!

Our Thanksgiving feast. At the head, My Grandaddy, my Mom, T Jay, Mom's cousin Karl and his wife Ruth, me, Matthew, Aunt Sherry's SIL Becky, my brother Kenny and his wife Katherine, Mom's sister Aunt Sherry, her daughter Katelyn, and Summer. We had a blast cooking and visiting. Jess swears he is putting his foot down next year about the massive quantities of food produced. We'll see! You can never have too many desserts if you ask me!!