it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

I watched my first Christmas movie by the glow of the tree tonight!

I like white lights and simple decorations.  Jason likes colored lights and inflatables that make the yard look junky during the day when they're down.  I've become a fan of tacky trees so I actually did the outside tree this year.  Our yard is kind of like a mullet, but backwards (party in the front, business in the back).  

Even Bentley is ready for Christmas.  He just doesn't know it, ha!

post thanksgiving fun

We headed to Raleigh for Thanksgiving lunch at my grandmother's retirement center.  I didn't manage a single picture there.  Just this picture of Emmy on the ride home!

We were able to get home in time for Thanksgiving dinner at Jason's grandma's house but I still didn't manage any pictures.  

We were excited to watch the VT vs UVA football game today.  Apparently Bryce was growing his hair out to wear a mohawk for this game.  Now he's ready for a haircut, ha!

Jason worked at the bakery on Tuesday night.  He got a paper cut on a pie box and quickly bandaged it up so he could get back to work.  When he got home and took off his bandaid, he saw VT in his blood.  Weird, I know, but pretty cool.  We hoped it was a good sign we'd win, but unfortunately the streak has been broken after 15 straight VT wins.

Jason bought me a "special" present.  Can you guess by the boxes what it was?

"It's a major award!"  I do love that movie and I have a couple leg lamp ornaments, but this takes the cake.  I'm pretty sure this was more for Jason since he's the tacky decorator and I like nice, more fancy décor.  

Jason even opened the blinds so you could really appreciate it.  The outdoor decorations were strategically placed so they wouldn't interfere with the visibility of the lamp.  Like I said, I'm pretty sure this was for him.  He's just like the dad in the movie about this thing!

As is our Thanksgiving tradition, we had Thanksgiving dinner at Nana's house tonight.

Rives and Jeris were able to join us this year.

We've been wearing our pajamas the past few years to decorate the tree.  This year Nana wanted to us to match so we got sloth Christmas shirts.  Nanny would be proud.  Maybe!

Family time is the best time!

pre thanksgiving fun

Tuesday was our last day of school before our Thanksgiving break.  The library will open the book fair when the kids return so Jason went to school with us and helped set up.  He dressed for the occasion. 

Emmy wore her Thanksgiving shirt.

And surprisingly, her friend did too.  They matched perfectly for not evening planning it!

Jason and I had to go to the funeral home on Tuesday after school so Nana and Rosabeth came over to watch the kids.  They came with all the supplies to make turkey sugar cookies.

He's a turkey just like his daddy.

Skittles and candy corn make for an interesting cookie.

Neither of them can smile at the camera at the same time anymore!

The kids spent the night with MeMa and PaPa on Tuesday night and had lots of fun on Wednesday.

our weekend

I didn't take any blog worthy pictures until Friday this week!

Emmy received a character award for being caring, cooperative and courageous.

Jason and Bryce went striper fishing on Friday night and came home with one keeper.

Emmy went to watch Chase play basketball Friday night so I got some Christmas decorations put up and started to get into the holiday spirit!

I saw this idea on someone's blog this week and had to do it!  The Amazon man was our first "customer" this morning!

I got my pretty tree decorated Saturday night.  I thought I was going to have to get a new tree this year (even bought one but didn't love it) but I was able to wrap a strand of lights around the few branches that didn't light.

Bryce lost a tooth on Saturday (the first one in a long time) and the tooth fairy found him at Nana's.

We brought a turkey with us to church this morning!

Last year I started displaying our past Christmas cards and Santa pictures, but I think I already need a new way to do it!

donuts for A's

We hit up Krispy Kreme this morning before church to cash in on great report cards!

The kids each got 9 free glazed donuts for their report cards.  WOW!

friendsgiving

We gathered with our neighbors for a friends/neighborsgiving on Friday night!  Our kids are at such different ages now and we all have different schedules, but we found time to share a meal and it was so fun.

The BelJackLock ladies!

The BelJackLock kiddos.

Thanksgiving food is my favorite!

We attended our third Friendsgiving tonight.  This annual tradition is lots of fun.  Our kids didn't join us this year because they had other things going on, but it's always fun for the kiddos because Santa comes and delivers each of the kids a stocking.

We still have almost two weeks until Thanksgiving, but I'm thinking Christmas now!!

goodbye

Jason's grandmama passed away two weeks ago and the family gathered today to celebrate her and her wonderful life.

Bryce recited scripture at Jason's granddaddy's funeral and did the same today!

Jason's mom is one of 8 children.  Jason is one of 16 grandchildren.  There are 27 great grandchildren.  We took this picture at the service and there were only 15 people missing.  This is such a special family I get to be a part of!   

pizza delivery night

Our school does a Papa John's teacher delivery night every year and the kids always hope one of their teachers delivers our pizza.

I wasn't even going to order this year because both kids had sports practice tonight but I found a way to be here with Bryce during one of the delivery times and of course Emmy's teacher (on the right) delivered our pizza and she missed it.  She was bummed but since I work at the school, we know lots of staff members so it was fun to see who came!

america's got talent

Jason's sister is the children's director at our church and she does such a good job planning the kids' programs.  The Wednesday night theme this session was game shows.  Each week the kids have done some variation of a tv game show and it was so fun.  They wrapped up the study tonight with an America's Got Talent talent show. 

Bryce and Chase did a few magic tricks.  Bryce made the scuba diver "move" and he did a levitating card trick.

They were so cute.

Emmy did gymnastics and made up her routine as she went along!

Such a cute group of talented kids!

snow

Today is November 12th.  

It snowed today!  

That may be the earliest snow I remember around here!

I stayed home today because we were having carpet installed.  It was raining when the kids left for school and then a cold front came through and it turned to snow.  The kids' teachers were nice enough to let them get a little glimpse of it while they were at school.

It had stopped snowing by the time the kids got home but it stuck around on the grass for quite a while.  That means its too cold for November!

a fun weekend

Jason and I were both off on Friday so we enjoyed a much needed day date!  We went out to lunch and then ran some errands before the kids got home from school.

The kids had plans to go to a play with Nana and spend the night so we ended up getting to go out again Friday evening!  We did a wine tasting at a local restaurant and then went home for an evening in front of the fire!

Last year I got the Aldi wine advent calendar and this year I decided to try the Cooper's Hawk 12 nights of Christmas wine box!

We had a Friendsgiving with our Sunday School/life group on Saturday night.  I LOVE Thanksgiving food!

Love having a shirt for every occasion!