some photos from Christmas

These pics were JEB and PaPa working on presents.....

JEB and Daddy trying to get a present open......

part of the 'toy' haul.......

He got quite a stash, but the favorites were the movie 'TOY STORY' and the action figures to go with it. He was totally enthralled with them!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS.....ok, so I'm a little late....

Well, we're back from Alabama, where we visited with PaPa, Grandma Sue and Aunt Debra. We also saw some friends on our way up and some other friends on our way home.....which was great fellowship, BUT there is nothing on this earth like returning home and sleeping in YOUR own bed and being in your own house!!!

I'm so glad to be HOME!!! So is JEB!!

I certainly hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!! We did!! JEB got many things which included: Lincoln Logs, remote control garbage truck, truck and race car, Toy Story and Toy Story 2 which were probably the biggest hit. He's watched TS 1 about 10 times already and knows it by heart!! Oh, he got a BuzzLightYear and Rocket and Woody action figures, which he LOVES!

All in all it was a great day, but it's good to be HOME!!

it's my birthday today....

You know, when I was growing up, I absolutely hated having a birthday so close to Christmas. It seems that everyone always thought that if they got you a bigger present, then it was ok to say that it was for both - my birthday and for Christmas. I usually just said, "thank you", and smiled but you know, in my head......I was thinking, 'Yeah right. How about I say the same to you?' I don't really think they would see it the same way if their birthday was in June! BUT, nonetheless, that is what most people would do. It used to bother me, because somehow it just didn't seem fair that I would only get one gift and they would, in the end, get two.

BUT, as I've gotten older and definitely wiser, I see some of the logic in the one gift thought......not that I like it or even agree with it......but I do understand......sort of........maybe you just didn't want to buy two gifts, or maybe they couldn't afford to buy two gifts......or maybe they really believed what they were saying to me about how a bigger gift really did cover both. Oh well, my grandma always, always made sure that I had two separate gifts. She always made my birthday special. She would make me a cake.....whatever flavor I wanted.....and one year, I was into orange! I always got my favorite dinner......fried ckn and mashed potatoes......she always made my day special.

HOWEVER, I have figured out that I like my birthday being close to Christmastime because I get to share in the best holiday of the year......Jesus' birthday. I like sharing with HIM on this special time. It sort of makes my birthday the best time because HE was the perfect gift to us all. That sort of makes up for any other gift issues, doesn't it???

Happy Birthday, Jesus!! Jesus, I love you!!!

It's almost here..........my birthday, no, I mean CHRISTMAS!!!

Hey everyone!! I decided that I probably had better post something, since I've been on Christmas break for a day and a half!!

BUT, I went shopping with my hubby yesterday and we had so much fun! Then we went to the store last night and I helped an elderly lady out today and ran a couple errands and cooked and am just now, sitting down at the computer!!

We'll go to PaPa's house for a couple of days, then come home to enjoy the football games and just be home. We have both decided that the older we've gotten......the more of a 'homebody' we've become! Sad, but soooooo true!

Although, this trip home, we've decided to stay in a little house that is on the property of my sister-in-law's boarding school where she teaches. It's a working monestery and it has a retreat center, with this little rock house that they rent out. It has a living area, bedroom area and a kitchenette. It'll be different, but fun I think! I'll have to take some pics and show you when we return.

Hopefully, everyone is tucked into their cozy pj's and watching the snow fall......on the eastern coast, anyway. We've had days of rain, rain, rain.....it was nice to see the sun today!

Have fun finishing your preparations for Christmas!! I am going to!

Only 4 1/2 days of school left.....

This has been THE LONGEST WEEK EVER!!! It just seemed to drag on and on and on and on!
We had our Christmas program on Tuesday night and then just regular stuff the rest of the week, but it took forever to get thru!!

I'm so glad it's the weekend and that we will have a mostly short week ahead. This morning, I went out with 4 little girls from my class who had been invited to go on a morning out with me by one of them who purchased the time with me at our annual school auction.

They were so wound up when I got to the school to pick them up!! Then we went to Cracker Barrel to eat. Although, as we walked in a gentleman who was leaving commented about how grandma had her hands full today.........I txtd Jn and told him what the man said and asked him if I looked like a grandma. He replied, no of course not.......I said back - Good answer!! We ate and then went to a bead place, where the girls each made a bracelet and I made a cool necklace. However, it got really busy and we needed to get back to the school to meet their parents, so I had to leave mine and I'll go back another day and do it! It was a lot of fun!!!

Not much else really going on. This weekend will be my baking weekend, so I can't blog-hop too much today!

Later!

Special Olympics

the Marine color guard.........

This banner was for JEB's school and was carried by some

of his classmates.

another banner......

another banner......................

the Marine band.......

JEB at the bowling alley telling everyone what to do....

Here he is clapping for someone else's good bowling......

waiting for the ball to go down the lane and hit the pins.....

a Marine trying to convince JEB to wait on the ball...
along with JEB's teacher and classmate, Trent

the Olympic flame being lit by a special athlete!

posing for Mommy to take his picture......he's not big on smiles though!

Well, sorry I haven't written all week, but it's been a hectic one. My school is performing it's Christmas program and we've had practice every morning and since I knew I was going to be out of Friday, I had to prepare for the sub. Sometimes, it's much more work to have a sub in your class than to just go in......but this was for something very special!!!

JEB and many other special athletes all over our county participated in the Special Olympics on Friday! Most of JEB's class did bowling, which was so perfect for them. We started off by being at a local University for Opening Cermonies. They had the local Marine band there playing intro music and then the color guard was there for the pledge to the flag and the National Anthem. After a few speeches, all of the different schools that were involved each had made a banner that they proudly showed off, in hopes of winning a trophy. Then they had some local cheer squads perform a couple of cheers and some special music was performed by a local choral group from one of the HS's. Then, one special athlete came in and with the Olympic torch and ran to light the Olympic Flame and the games were officially OPEN!!

It was so neat to see all of those special athletes! There were many events going on thruout the day, but we went to the bowling alley, where many elementary age special students were going to participate. They used local Marines to come help the teachers keep the kids organized and sort of under control and to keep everything going at a good pace.

JEB had a blast so did all of his classmates!! This was the first opportunity I had to see his classroom and meet his classmates and I fell in love with them all instantly!! They were all so sweet and loving!! They also take very good care of JEB!

I can't wait to see what other events he can do as he gets older. He got a green ribbon for pariticpation, but a lot of them got place ribbons! I'm so glad I got to go and be a part of this wonderful event!!

Oh, and there's only three weeks til Christmas!!! Are YOU done shopping yet??????