Santa's Village and Galaxy of Lights

Last night me and a Friend of mine took our kids to Santa's Village and Galaxy of Lights. I had never been to either. Ava was a little too small for Santa's Village. She wanted to just run around and play. It was fun though. We went to Chili's for dinner and it was a madhouse!!!! I was like really on a Monday night? They were out of chips!!!!!!! The only reason I go to Chili's is chips and salsa! They were out of a lot of different things, including ketchup. I am like go to Target and get some more. We were too hungry and tired to leave and go somewhere else.

Anyways, we went to Galaxy of Lights too. Ava loved it! She would say "Look Mom!" It was so cute!

Holiday Baking

Playing in my pots while I am baking! And yes she loves to play with that sprite bottle for some reason.

My lovely cookies. Can you tell I had bakers block because all the decorations are smiley faces or trees?

Eating her cookie....or just smearing the icing all over my black table.

Its a tradition at my house. I don't feel like its Christmas unless we have certain goodies. I was so fortunate to have a mother that did baking for us each Christmas. She made sure she took the time to have certain sweets and goodies around. I love this tradition and I have started it since I got married and moved out. I want Ava to experience it as well. I hope she will help me as she gets older. We had such a good week. Adam took off work due to the weather, and we just spent quality time together. I spent most of my day Wednesday baking and working in the kitchen. I love to bake and cook so its not a chore to me. I made Chex Muddy Buddy Mix (last night when I took it to a party one of the girls called it Reindeer droppings. I told her I prefer my name for it because i don't want to eat anything that is called droppings.), homemade sugar cookies with homemade icing, and Chinese clusters. Ava didn't really help but she played in my icing. :) She was so cute covered in green and red.

Thursday we went to Huntsville, and tried to finish up our Christmas shopping. Any ideas for Adam would be appreciated. I have yet to buy him anything, and I am feeling the stress over it. He is SO hard to buy for!!!!!

Yesterday I worked half a day. I did more baking, and wrapped gifts. I made chocolate balls (which are my favorite), and chocolate covered pretzels.

We had a Christmas party last night at a Friends house. Its so nice to just enjoy a nice dinner with friends and laugh!!!

Christmas Play, Snow and OSHA

rocking her new baby....adam looks excited doesn't he :)

Ok, I know OSHA so doesn't fit with those other words but that's my life so oh well...

Saturday night was our church Christmas play. Ava was suppose to be a lovely animal but as soon as the kids started walking down the aisle and she realizes I am not behind her she starts crying. So I pick her up and take her to the stage where she starts kicking and crying. So she wasn't an animal, or any other character in the play. We got to watch the play! She did join the kids in singing "Here Comes Santa Clause". Well not really singing but standing there and wondering what was going on. She didn't mind Santa from afar but she DIDN"T want to sit in his lap or get near him. She got a baby from Santa that she enjoyed rocking and playing with.

The unexpected Snow was great!! I wanted to get Ava out in it, but we were dressed for Church Sunday, and she was tired when we got home Sunday night.

Of all Mondays, I had a wonderful exciting OSHA seminar in Huntsville. The very morning its in the teens and snow on the ground I have to get up and leave my warm cozy bed. I have to admit it was a great seminar, and as exciting as OSHA can be. If that's possible.

Christmas Parade

It was FREEZING. We sat in the car till like 2 minutes till it started. Ava loved it. I was afraid she might be scared of the loud sirens, but she loved it. It was so cute. She just waved at everyone. Bless her heart, I had mittens that didn't fit good and they kept falling off. At one point a man walked up and gave her a sucker, but she couldn't grasp it because of the stupid mittens. Yes, note to self to buy new ones.

She looked like a Eskimo. I had her in many layers!!!

I just love the parade. Yes its very small and redneck but its sweet!! I want Ava to have good memories of Christmas festivites like I did.

December begins

December is such a busy month. Its full of holiday parties, Christmas plays and parades,family get togethers, shopping, and extra tasks at work.

First of all an update on my grandpa. He is doing so much better. It amazes me how much he has improved over a few days. I hope we will hear something today about rehab. Saturday afternoon I went to see him. He is such a mess! He was talking about how white and pretty my teeth were. :) That's grandpa!!! The road is going to be long, but he seems to be doing so much better.

Saturday I managed to go to the Craft show in Huntsville. I love going to that. I didn't buy much, but its still fun looking. I also got to visit some people in the hospital along with my grandpa.

Tonight is the Christmas Parade and I am excited. I know we are going to freeze, but its tradition.

My sweet grandpa

Sunday morning my grandmother called me early. I knew when I saw her name on my phone something wasn't right. She said that grandpa had fell and she thought he had a stroke. My grandparents are 90!!!! I hurried and called mom and she rushed down there along with my Aunt. He was in bed and had apparently had a stoke and couldn't get up. They talked him into going to the hospital.
We were all afraid it was something he suffered from years ago.....a bursted blood vessel in his brain. After a cat scan they confirmed no bleeding but did confirm a stroke.
He is stable and doing ok. The main problem is his speech. His brain is telling him to say one thing but something different comes out. You just have to know my grandpa. He is probably one of the funniest people I know. When I walked in to see him I clearly understood him say "Hey". He also asked how Ava was. He was obviously telling jokes because he would say something then die out laughing. I just laughed with him. LOL
Today we are hoping for major progress and the swelling to go down!!
Prayers would be appreciated!!!

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

It all started Wednesday. I worked and my boss let us go early. My brother came in and was at moms so we had dinner over there and spent some time together. Thanksgiving we spent the afternoon with my moms family. We went to my Uncle Mitchells house. His house is amazing. He built this insanely huge house on the bluff. I am talking he did pretty much the whole thing himself which amazes me. Anyways, we had a Great dinner and spent a wonderful evening all together.

Black Friday:

Thursday night I went home and packed up some stuff then went to moms house. I put Ava to bed at their house and I laid down on their couch for a couple hours. Me and mom left her house at 12:30 and picked up my Aunt. We got to Old Navy at 1:30. It was crazy!!!!! The line to check out was like 2 hours long so I just skipped out on that one. I did some other shopping then got in line at Belks at 3:00. They opened at 4am and was giving out 250 gift cards. It was surprisingly fun. I dressed really warm and I had my coffee in hand. I guess the adrenaline was pumping or something because I enjoyed it. My gift card was only $5 but oh well. LOL

I found a few good deals. We were done shopping at 6:30 and had a wonderful breakfast at the Blue Plate Cafe. I really felt the affects when I got home though. Wow, I felt rough. My wonderful mom let me sleep a couple hours. I need to add I was already sick with a sore throat. I am sure that cold rain didn't help but Oh well sometimes I do stupid things and pay for them later.

OH and I got online at Old Navy when I got home and got all the things I wanted :) Yeah!!!!