I love the holidays. The hustle and bustle is great- but my favorite part is spending the day after Christmas in pjs watching movies with family and napping whenever I want!
Bran and Dad made a delicious frittata.
As I’ve said before, being a teacher has LOTS of perks- and having the day after Christmas off is definitely one of them!
Have you heard about Scentsy? Have you smelled any of the Scentsy products? Yea- I hadn’t either until I got one for Christmas. All of these photos are courtesy of www.scentsy.net
I got a Scentsy plug-in warmer from Bran and IT.IS.FABULOUS.
Mom also got one and we’ve plugged hers in and it has the Luna scent melting currently. It’s one of the most clean, fresh scents I’ve ever smelled.
When I get home I’m going to plug in the Clean Breeze scent and let it fill the rooms of my home.
If you need a gift for that hard to buy for person, this is the perfect gift!
Christmas Day was a day spent with family, remembering that Jesus is the reason for the season.
Last Sunday when returning home from New Orleans, I head Faith Hill’s song A Baby Changes Everything. Then that same night I was blog surfing, and came across Amanda’s blog about that same song. If you haven’t heard it, take a minute and watch this You Tube clip. Because after all, a baby does change everything.
This year was especially fun because we had a baby in the family, which meant a high chair we needed! This was my high chair and Mom has saved it for all these years.
Tinley Kate is the most precious baby, and she looks just like her momma did! Bran got a little floor time with her-
Dan, Nancy, Kristen, Jeff, Nana, Mammaw, Bran, Josh, Mom, Dad, and I all enjoyed a meal and a friendly game of dirty Santa. We missed Shawn and Melanie and their girls!
It was a very Merry Christmas spent with family and celebrating the joys of the season.
Josh and I had a wonderful Christmas Eve today with the Abrahams. We opened gifts, and then had a photo shoot in our matching MSU grey pullovers, tags still on.
It was such a blessing to have Granny there with us after the scare she gave us this fall.
Mr. Jimmy got a heater so he will always be warm!
After a delicious lunch, everyone napped and watched some football, then got dressed for church. This year was the first time I’ve ever been to the Catholic church for Christmas Eve services. We went to the 5:00 service and there were LOTS of babies and children dressed in their holiday finest!
Merry Christmas Eve!
Red velvet cake is a favorite of many- the Abraham men and Dawson men especially!
I started off my Christmas break with a red velvet baking. Mom made one for her house, and I made one to take to the Abraham’s house.
The oven was heated
and the photographer failed to get a pic of the cake batter process, but picked right back up with the testing of the cakes in the oven.
We had some help from the peanut gallery. Can you see Nana in the background? She made sure to comment on everything we did!
After the cakes were cooled………….
it was time to ice the cakes!
Layer time
and the outside icing!
The red velvet tradition lives on………
This weekend I went down to New Orleans with Debbie and Courtney. Courtney was participating in a dance convention, and I just tagged along so Debbie wouldn’t have to hang out by herself all day yesterday.
Debbie and I started out yesterday morning enjoying
The rest of the day we shopping and braved the COLD wind.
It was so nice to get away from the busy schedule of the holidays. We did whatever we wanted for an entire weekend and didn’t feel guilty for eating lots of great food because we walked miles and miles!
It was a great weekend- even though I feel like I was hit by a Street Car!
Last weekend Josh and I went to K-town to help Mom and Dad move some things into their new home. Slugger and Suma went with us, and Slugger was a terrible rider. He usually will settle down a few minutes into the ride, but this day he spent a majority of the time doing this:
That weekend I spent a majority of the time doing this:
while Dad and Josh spent a majority of their time doing this:
Just kidding- Dad and Josh moved every flower pot and EVERY SINGLE ANYTHING that belonged outside or in the garage. This was just the only picture I got of them. Mom was there working hard too- but she refused to have her picture made.
The Christmas parade this year was a Disney theme. We did a Mickey Mouse Schoolhouse the our wonderful principal was Mickey. That’s his darling wife to the left of him and then the “Mousekateachers” are pictured with them.
The kids were mousekateers. Our asstistant principal Ms. Judge was Minnie (she is on the far left of the float in the picture below).
We won best non-profit and are so thankful for all the help from parents and teachers!
It was a great evening- where so many memories were made!
SAE Where Dreams Do Come True
On this last day of November, I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of an awesome Christmas tradition, the Vicksburg Main Street Association Christmas Parade.
Check back on Saturday for finished float pictures and parade details!
Yesterday I posted about Tiny Prints Christmas Cards. Christmas cards are one of my favorite parts about the holiday season. Each afternoon I race to the mailbox to find Christmas cards with beautiful designs and precious smiling faces.
It matters not if I saw the family the weekend before, or if it’s been years since I’ve seen them in person, a Christmas card in my mailbox is super special to me.
Sending Christmas cards makes me smile as well, even if it’s a hassle to get my darling precious wonderful husband to smile and pose for a picture! And the two pups- they just got fresh haircuts- so the photo shoot is coming soon!
I am thankful for holiday traditions that never get old.
Every year when it comes time for Christmas cards, I pour over website after website looking for unique cards. My budget doesn’t allow me to have a custom designed card, handmade especially for my family, but Tiny Prints does!
Look at these great shapes!
I’m having a hard time deciding between the square and the round!
Love the red and green square
But this colorful square card catches my eye as well.
and how precious is this one?
(All images from Tiny Prints website) You can click on each picture to be taken directly to that card on the Tiny Prints site!
Want to see more? Need a card for your family? Click on the link to see TONS more cards, and use the filters on the left side to select just your type.
http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/picture-christmas-cards.htm
Can’t wait to show you our Christmas card once I make up my mind- and get it printed!
Happy Christmas Card shopping!
Even though it’s not even December yet, I am thankful for Christmas music. The fun upbeat songs that I can sing at the top of my lungs to are great- but I also really love the sacred songs and hymns that go along with the Christmas season.
When living in North Mississippi, there were stations that played Christmas music 24/7 from the day after Thanksgiving until the day after Christmas. Here in mid Mississippi, I haven’t found a station that plays it non-stop.
What are your favorite songs or artists?
Even though it was a cold and wet game, I am thankful that the Golden Egg will be spending another year in Starkville!
The Abraham Families
We missed Shawn and Melanie.
Today I am thankful for a family that loves tailgating and spending time together.
