Bunco Christmas

I know when I've gotten two texts/emails from Ron in the course of several days to update the blog that I have indeed left you lingering.  What can I say?  It's Christmas and all the shopping, planning, partying, wrapping, going to and from has gotten the best of me.  We've had four Christmas parties this week alone, not to mention I have four houses under contract (hallelujah!) all closing within a months time.  Tonight, I'll share photos of my Bunco groups Christmas party last Friday night the 3rd.  We planned a progressive dinner in my neighborhood and took the party on the road for the different courses throughout the night.  Our bunco group meets once a month and it is truly a "girls night" we look forward to for weeks in advance.  I love these girls and I'm so fortunate to have such a great group to be a part of!

We had appetizers and salads at Lindsay's fabulously decorated pad.  Lindsay even had Santa surprise the group with presents!  All the ladies received Santa hats and the guys got lumps of coal!

Our spouses all enjoyed hanging by the fire pit

We enjoyed cobb salad, shrimp cocktail and captain rodney dip which has become my new fave

After our starters, we headed on to the my house for the main course, we had mainly pick up finger foods, it was delish!

Rachael, Joni, Allison, Claire and I

Claire, Emily, Angel and Laurie

After dinner, it was off to Rachael's we went for dessert.  By this point we were all completely stuffed and miserable.  Rachael served spiced rum and sparking grape juice for three of us that are pregnant.

This get together was the first time all of our husbands were allowed at one of our bunco festivities.  Needless to say, the night was much tamer than our usual gatherings.  It was a great night and a great start to the Christmas parties that followed which I'm now excited to say are over!  Now, we can focus on the holiday and returning to NC in a few days to be with family.

My Boys

My boys are best buds.  They have a blast being silly together.  This is how every night in our household usually goes and it is so much fun.  I'll let these photos speak for themselves...

and the sweetest of them all

Just had to throw this in there, since I've put out our Christmas nativity scene, Grant won't leave it alone.  He plays with all the animals daily and it has provided hours of entertainment for my little guy.

Earlier today I heard Grant saying, "Go cowboy, Go cowboy," and didn't think much of it.  Tonight I looked behind me and died laughing.  This is what I found.  Boys...

Kid's Christmas Craft Party

Grant and I hosted a Craft Party for all of his closest friends at our house this morning.  He's just now getting to the age where he enjoys organized fun and I thought it would be exciting to have a party just for the kiddos.  After all, they do get left out a lot of the holiday celebrations and stuck at home with babysitters! 

Grant and I ready to party!  In honor of my Mom, I wore an apron.  You couldn't catch my Mom growing up at home without her apron on!

Laurie came over the night before to help me prepare all the goodies which are all pinterest inspired.  "Pinspired"  My newest website obsession.

Chocolate covered marshmellows were a hit and left the kids with pink mouths

A good 'ole classic

Snowman donuts!  After much thought we decided to leave off their mouths.  They looked better and more recognizable this way.

Reindeer cookies.  These cookies were supposed to be made out of nutter butters but I found the traditional nutter butter cookie hard to find.  Instead we used Keebler elf cookies which were delish.

Sippy Cups for the children

Onto the crafts, we made snowman magnet picture frames

and colored as Elmo watched on

The nativity scene stickers were a hit, I think any stickers at this age would have been popular

They were able to make their own scene on construction paper

The elf hats and snowflake ornaments were a little harder to construct

Emma and Savannah coloring.  Right before this picture was taken, Savannah looked at Emma and said, "Emma, I've missed you!"  She is so sweet that little one.

Ward enjoyed playing outside most.  Here he's taking a rest and a drink after pretend mowing our lawn.

and eventually... the majority of the kiddos ended up in the sandbox.  Each and every one of them was covered from head to toe in sand but they had a blast!

Sweet Chloe played hard and ate lots of chocolate!

and for a rare glimpse at a few of the mama's.  Angel took place in a 5k before the party and came in third!

Now, we're looking forward to the grown up parties!  ;)

Friendsgiving

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with our dear friends and neighbors, The Lowery's.  From Texas, they were not able to spend the holiday with their families either so we came together and gave thanks.  Ron made his first turkey and did an awesome job, it was delicious!

Our festive table

Ron actually made the majority of the food given I was down with my back.  Laurie brought over sweet potato casserole, potatoes and dessert.  Gotta love the silver gravy boat in between the corningwear and Pyrex, not to mention the lack of a butter dish.  Hey, Ron tried.  Didn't want to drag out the good stuff.

Grant and Luke enjoyed their Thanksgiving feast!

and like most men on Thanksgiving, sat back and relaxed with a little football after stuffing themselves silly!

A little later, we made forts and watched Christmas movies

In your face!

Sorry there are no adults besides Ron in the photos, I was not feeling my best and we had a laid back, casual kind of holiday.  Thank you Laurie and Drew for helping make this year's Thanksgiving special!

Catching Up

I'm back.  Sorry for my absense.  Last Sunday night I drove from Clinton to Charlotte, a total of four hours.  We spent the night with George and Betty one last time and then got up and at 'em the next morning and made the nine hour trip back home.  BY-MY-SELF.  To say it was tough with a two-year-old and being pregnant would be an understatement, but I was determined.  Determined to see my hubby after a two week absense and sleep in my own bed.  Sleeping in my own bed was glorious (insert my sing-song voice here.)  The lower back pain I awoke with the next morning was not.  The only complaint I've had this entire pregnancy has been the back pain.  It's tough getting Grant in and out of his crib and car seat and some days it's all I can do to stand up straight.  The following days consisted of unpacking our suitcases, cleaning out the car, cleaning up the house, grocery shopping all in the spaces of time I felt some relief from the awful shooting pains I've become accustomed to in my lower back.  With all this said, I felt better by Wednesday but I seemed to have overdone it.  Thanksgiving morning I sneezed and that was all she wrote.  I cried out, Ron caught me and poof!  Couldn't move.  I was in an awful state the majority of the holiday, Ron was so wonderful at taking care of me he even once had to drape me over his shoulders and carry me to the bathroom.  It was miserable.  Three days later, I'm feeling like myself again but taking it easy.  My hope is this back pain will stay at bay for awhile and I plan on avoiding long car rides at least until Christmas.  So, that's what's been going on and why I have left you lingering with the final details of our trip to North Carolina.  So now, on with the story.

Five weeks ago, my dear Mother underwent knee replacement surgery.  She has had a tough recovery so a lot of the time spent at home was spent at home, with her, keeping her company.  We did venture out to my friend Jill's baby shower the Sunday afternoon before I left.  Here I am with my Mom and Dad.

The Rouse sisters, Jennifer, Mom-to-be, Jill and Grant's Godmommy, Jessica

Jessica and our pal, Georganne

Grant had a great time playing with Papa during our visit, they did a lot of fun things together like riding Papa's "tractor"

We also spent a couple of nights in Mt. Airy with Ron's Mom.  This day we ventured out to the local park and threw rocks in the creek.

Grant could literally do this for hours.

Another highlight of our trip was helping host a sip and see for my great friend Emily and her beautiful daughter, Collins.  Collins was born in September and looks just like her Daddy!  It was a joy finally meeting her and being reunited with so many of my dearest friends.

Pregnant pals and best friends.  Both of these gals have been with me through it all and were in our wedding.  Now, we're sharing the journey of pregnancy together, just wished we lived closer!

Emily received so many pink, girly things for Collins.  The shower was so fun!

A good majority of my sorority pledge class.  Oh, how I miss these girls!

Had to include these because I love all things crafty.  Emily gave these flower pins to all the hostesses.  The best part?  She made them!  They will be accessorizing all of my sweaters and jackets this season.

And that's about it.  We covered a lot of distance, traveled many miles, packed in a lot of fun with a lot of friends and the trip was a success!  Time with family and friends in NC is always so bittersweet because I never know when my next visit will be.  That's why these times are so cherished and I'm so glad there all documented right here.  Even after the long drive and consequential back pain, we are glad to be back in Sweet Home Alabama!