Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

I'm taking the rest of the year off! :)

Daddy's Girl

Ok, I'll admit it, as much as I always say that Emma Lee is a lot like me, she also has a good bit of her daddy in her too! Outside of my dad who has lists any and every where, Andy makes the most lists of anyone I've ever met. Emma Lee has also developed a love for lists, and I find them all over the house. Here's today's:

*The proud mama/teacher in me would also like to point out that every word is spelled correctly and she's even mastered the use of the possessive apostrophe! :)

The Next Level

I feel like we've taken a step up to the next level in our life as parents. That's right, even though it's not the "official" swagger wagon,

we are now proud new owners of a minivan!

Hey, I think it's already been proven that dads have major cool points, and a minivan only enhances that. Just in case you still have  some doubts, I offer you more proof: 

I mean, come on, just because I may be a minivan driving mom doesn't mean that I have to pull out the mom jeans anytime soon (or ever)!

Oh, by the way, while it has been proven in this post that owning a minivan does not inherently make one "uncool," if one was to happen to take a lets-all-jump-in-the-air picture in front of said minivan, that would most likely result in a pretty significant deduction of cool points. 

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Just Because . . .

he's so amazing 

                        . . . my sweet husband not only decided to fix my favorite breakfast this morning (biscuits and gravy, sausage, and eggs),

he also decided to pull out the Christmas tablecloth and napkins and really do it up right! 

Yep, he's a keeper!

Mermaids, Mice, & Men

We've had some busy busy days visiting with my two youngest brothers - one who has just been stationed at Fort Benning, GA (a mere hour and a half away!) and one who is home on leave from Iraq. Like the good uncles they are, they agreed (with complaint!) to some girly activities with their little nieces. We had a fun time visiting the aquarium and seeing "real live mermaids" (said in Kerri's voice) with Nathan.

Jeremy got the privilege of watching Tangled with us, but he also managed to fit in a lot of wrestling time!

We managed to make it back to GA in time to meet the mouse from "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" at today's library story time.

   Next up on our agenda - lots of baking of Christmas goodies for our neighbors and getting our Christmas cards in the mail!

Mini Concert

Emma Lee loves making up songs and singing them. Here's a little concert she put on for me the other night. She did three songs - all made up on the spot. My favorite is the second one - it made me laugh so much (in my head of course because she offends very easily!) -  and she ended the set with a sweet little Christmas song. You can also see that participating in Xtreme Praise at church is influencing her to add in some dance moves.

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Johnsons Unedited: Kerri on Favorite Restaurant

I think we're way overdue for a Johnsons Unedited sequence, so Kerri kindly agreed to answer a question for me tonight. Today's topic - favorite place to eat. Enjoy!

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Andy said today that Kerri is like a living breathing cartoon, and he is so right! Seriously, have you ever seen or heard anything cuter??? I'm sure going to miss this when she grows up!

P.S. You can always type Johnsons Unedited in the search box to catch up any you have missed or to watch them again and again. ;) 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

*Little frustrated with how I can't get the pictures to do it justice. Anyone have any suggestions on what settings to use for taking pretty Christmas tree/lights pictures?? 

Christmas

. . . is about adoption . . . 

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."  Galatians 4:4-5 

Jesus didn't leave the comforts of heaven to be born in a stable and die a cruel death just so He could experience life on earth. He did it for you; he did it for me, so we can become part of His family. 

It's hard work to adopt. Things have to be given up, sacrifices have to be made, your privacy is invaded, you can even get hurt, but all this is worth welcoming someone new into your family. Jesus did that for you! Are you ready to become a part of His family? Are you ready to tell others about the family you're in? This Christmas, let's celebrate our adoption.

It's a Wonderful Life

. . . and I'm so grateful!

Sew Cute!

This week the girls and I ventured out on our first little homeschool outing. Every other Thursday, a group of girls meet to do crafty type things - this week it just so happened to be sewing. Emma Lee was thrilled to learn how to sew and is very proud of the hand-sewn sachet she made.

 

Here she is hard at work:

Look at those great stitches!! She did everything (but thread the needle) all by herself!!

She now has her own little sewing basket and is begging for more projects (stay tuned!)

What about Kerri, you ask?

Well, I think the look on her face says it all.

Maybe she'll be more interested next time. ;)

Good Times

Not only did I get to take their pictures, but I also got to keep these adorable little ones overnight!

I LOVE still having some family close enough for sleepovers and get-togethers!