Christmas Caroling at the Nursing Home

On Monday, December 21, several people from church went Christmas caroling over at the nursing home. Pam and I had Bri, Marley, Nolan, & Chandler spending the night, so they all got to go, too. The people of Cherry Hill seemed to love it as well as those of us who went!



Other fun & exciting events:
Thursday, Dec. 24: Christmas Eve! My family met Chad's (Pam's boyfriend) family at the movie theatre where we watched "A Christmas Carol." Afterwards we all went to dinner at Logan's.
Friday, Dec. 25: Christmas! We all woke up very early and spent the morning at my parent's house with my family. Then before lunch, Jared & I left and drove to Brundidge to spend the rest of Christmas with his family! We played games all day at both home and had a wonderful time at the most wonderful time of year! Jared & I came back home Saturday evening to pack for Exposure Youth Camp!

Jared's 30th Surprise Bday Party

On December 12, 2009, I, with the help of our families, threw Jared a surprise birthday party! It was fun to get together, but real hard to keep a secret! I did, though! In fact, Jared had been doing so much overtime at work and had spent several nights with Joseph in Montgomery, that I almost fooled him! He figured it out on the way to the party! That's ok because we had a good time! I decorated with Alabama everything and a little 30th birthday stuff including a balloon with his name on it. Mama & Daddy made all different types of hot wings (his fav), mama made 3 bread puddings, Pam made over 200 cookies, Jared's mom made pigs-in-a-blanket and rotel and a veggie tray, and Jenny made hot ham & cheese sandwiches. I tried real hard to make cookies and brownies with this silicone Alabama A pan but that thing about beat me! Mama & Daddy got Jared 30 presents and so Jared played this game with all the kids. He had them guess what was in each package. It got rowdy! I even made Jared a video that we watched at the party. We had so many friends and family there which made it special! We really had a good time and were so thankful for everyone who came to help celebrate!






Other things that went on this week that I didn't get pictures of, but want to remember...
Sunday, Dec. 13: Aunt Enola's 90th birthday party and the Christmas Open House at the Courington's.
Saturday, Dec. 19: Jared's actual birthday (he had to work so he could be off for his party which I had to come up with an excuse as to why he couldn't work the previous Sat.)
We also had Christmas with my dad's side of the family that evening. We did something different this year. Instead of drawing names and buying gifts, we exchanged baked goodies. We made enough for every family, so then everyone got to take home a basket (made by mama)of goodies! We had cookies, hot cocoa kits, fudge, chocolate candy, soup kits, peanut brittle, and chocolate suckers. I really enjoyed that idea. We still got all the kids a gift and everyone was so nice to include Xander (he was supposed to come because he needed to stay the weekend with us, but he ended up getting sick.)
Wait! I have two pics from my phone of Marley & Chandler at Christmas!


Sunday, Dec. 20: Christmas dinner and dirty Santa exchange at our church.

PG Christmas Parade

On Saturday, December 5, 2009, two fun events happened!
One it snowed...in Alabama!

This is the scene we admired on the way to the Christmas parade!

Xander spent the night with us the night before so he could come to the parade, too!
Here's a picture of Xander at the parade. I had a really sweet one of all the kids from church who were there, but I accidentally erased it when I was erasing pics off my camera! Ugh! Oh well! Jennifer invited us over for pancakes and hot cocoa after the parade. This was a very sweet gesture considering she was very pregnant and had been having contractions (too early). She did have some awesome help and the food was great, but the fellowship was even better!

Well, we stayed too long at the McCuiston's so we it left little time for us to get our outside Christmas decorations up and get Xander home before the BIG game! Alabama won the SEC Championship, but the Sanders's Christmas decor never got all the way up! Oh well...we will try again next year!
Other exciting things we did this week, but had no pics for...
Sunday, Dec. 6: Our church held a Progressive Lunch and traveled from house to house by way of church bus to eat each tasty part of our lunch!
We started out for appetizers at Susan and David C.'s (Phyllis & Kent helped), then here at our house for salad (with Mom & Dad, and Pam helping), next stop at Billy & Mary C.'s for chicken fingers, the main course (with James & Amy C. helping), then over to Mark & Mia W.'s for soup ( with Ms. Jackson & Ms. Wylie helping), and last stop...desert at Paul & Kim K's! I really had a wonderful time and I hope all that were involved did as well! I want to make this a fall tradition!
Friday, Dec. 11: Young adult Christmas Party at the McCuiston home! We had a very good time with A LOT of loopy laughter! I am so glad they decided to host the party! We are so blessed with such a good group of friends!

6th & under Kids' Christmas Party

On Sunday, November 29, 2009, we had the the little kids' Christmas Party after the one o'clock service we had because it was a fifth Sunday. We just had snacks since we had just eatten at church for lunch. We played a game.




Then we built gingerbread houses. It was too cute! Jared said his and Xander's was the best trailer in the trailer park!









Last, we played some more games and won some more prizes! We have the most precious little kids!








Oh! We also opened presents!

Thanksgiving

We had so many different family members from all sides come together this year for Thanksgiving! My mom's parents, my mom's sister and family, both of my dad's brothers and their families (minus Jeff and kids), my dad's aunt, my dad's cousin and her family, my immediate family, and Jared's brother and wife! I loved it! We had lunch at mama's. After lunch we played games and ate some more. Let me just say that I have the best family!

My dad and his two brothers and aunt
Lloyd, David, & Marty
Aunt Enola



Brianna & Erica
So pretty!

Turkey Toss '09

Early, Tuesday morning, November 24, 2009, Xander and I got up and met Pam and Addi and Kim at Academy Sports where Rick & Bubba's annual Turkey Toss was held. Ok, so we really don't ever expect to win (Pam is our only hope), but we still go for the fun of it. This was Xander's first experience throwing a frozen turkey and I must admit that we won't ever with him either!




While there we saw a couple of clowns who made balloon animals and such.





We also spun a Hillshire Farms meat wheel. I won a football, Xander won a backpack, I think Pam won a football, too, and Kim won the best prize... some bratwursts! Go meat!





There were other games and face painting and meat to taste! The late night and early morning caught up with out little man and he was ready to go.


Pam and I went inside Academy Sports for a while and we began to play. Xander and Pam found a scooter and took it for a spin in the store. When it was my turn, Xander pushed me and I almost ran into a man who was perusing the aisle! I had to fall off so I wouldn't hit him. Pam and Xander thought it was funny!





We left Academy and went over to Target to do a little Christmas shopping.

I left Pam and Xander at Target and headed over to a friend's house where Tracey taught us how to sew. I decided ahead of time that I would sew Jaiden a dress because I thought it would be easier. How hard could a newborn dress be to make? It wasn't! I made Hannah a matching one, too! And... they are reversible! Go me! Come to think of it...I need to put the snaps on them so they can actually wear them...and then make Lila one. Oh! I also taught myself how to make the cutest tutu's, so...I need to finish those, too... Maybe when I finally get my blog up-to-date!
I met Jared, Pam, and Xander at Habanero's after sewing, for dinner. Then it was off to church (our church changed our midweek service to Tuesday because of Thanksgiving.)