OH CHRISTMAS TREE....

How beautiful you are! I am so excited that we FINALLY got our Christmas tree up and decorated! We waited on Jerry to come home before we did anything.
The kids were so ready to put the tree up and put on their special decorations.
Bailee was most concerned with putting up the Mickey Mouse blow up toy!! That is her favorite thing to do!! She can't wait to plug it in and watch it fill up with air! Caiden and Bailee have always loved this special Christmas Decoration!
I love this time of year!! It seems that our family really tries to focus on the blessings we have!We really get into the Christmas spirit!

We had our traditional Christmas music playing while we put up the tree, we laughed and joked around, enjoying every moment together. I hope Caiden and Bailee will continue this tradition with their own families!

I love to see Jerry and Caiden together, these are the most impressionable times in a boys life, Caiden is at the age where he really looks up to his father, and he wants to be like his dad, I think that is so wonderful, they are building a strong father and son bond.

I love watching Jerry spending time with the children, they were so happy that we waited till he got home!

This brings make so many memories of my childhood.

My mom, brother, and sister always had such a wonderful time putting up our Christmas tree. My mom had Ronnie Milsap Christmas Cd playing, she always was in the kitchen, cooking, making our favorite cookies and candy. We each had our favorite, and she ALWAYS made each one, it really meant a lot to us, those are some of the best times that I will never forget!

I was so glad that Jerry was there, I think he was too!! The picture says it all..don't you think??!!

Caiden asked me if he could help but the beads on the tree, he really enjoyed it.

This was my most favorite part of putting up our tree. Caiden and Bailee had their very 1st Christmas ornaments that they had ever made. I always cry when I pull these priceless little ornaments out of the box. I can still picture them bringing me these ornaments, they were so proud of themselves and they couldn't wait to put them on our tree! I look forward to many many more Christmas' of them hanging them up, and I will always cherish each year I see them hang them, even when they are 16, I will still cry, and still appreciate the innocence they had when they made them! And I and will cry when I give them to them when they leave home to put on their own family Christmas tree with their own children.

These are the times that I cherish with my children, I am so blessed to be able to watch them hang these special ornaments!

I could not imagine my life with Caiden and Bailee.

It was now mine and Jerry's turn to hang our special ornament together. This represents our union as a couple, that we were united together by God, and he in turned blessed us with a family of our own. We has so much fun putting up our tree. I cooked Trash, made everyone's favorite Christmas candy. After we finished decorating the tree, we turned off all the lights, made some hot chocolate, and set in the living room with our Christmas music and admired our Beautiful Christmas tree! These are the ties that bind, and make us realize how much we have to be thankful for!

COOKIN WITH 4-H

One of the best things about entering the 5th grade is the chance to join the 4-H club. Caiden was excited about getting involved in it.


The 4-H club put on a cookie contest, and each member had to come up with a homemade cookie recipe, summit it, and cook it. Caiden decided on Peanut Butter Blossoms.These are some of his favorite cookies, his Kay Kay cooks them a lot and he loves them! Bailee Grace even helped out. She unwrapped the Hershey kisses.

I love watching them together like this!

After stirring the dough, Caiden rolled the dough in to little balls

Then he dipped the balls into a bowl of sugar

This is the best part of all, placing the little kisses on the cookies!

The finished product! Caiden brought his cookies to school and the kids enjoyed eating them, he didn't win, BUT he did say that 3 other students brought the same cookies and his cookies were the only ones that got ALL eaten! It was a great experience for him! He enjoyed making the cookies!

CAIDEN GETS MORE BELTS!!

Caiden has not only received one belt on his musical recorder, but 2!! He got his yellow and orange belt in the same day! He really loves to play it, and he practices everyday, all over the house..and sometimes in our ears..but we love hearing him play it! He is always determined to be the best he can be! He will preform in a 5Th grade musical rectal at school on Wednesday. I am so looking forward to hearing him play and most of all, I am soo grateful that Jerry is here to hear him play!! We have so many activities planned next week. We have many field trips. parties to attend this being the last week of school for Christmas! This is the busiest time of year, but the funniest!!
He also decorated his little pouch that holds his recorder, this little pouch he carries around with him a lot, kinda like his cell phone! Way to go Caiden, we are soo proud of you!!

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I know, I am a little late on my "Thanks" posting. but I have has such a wonderful day and I have been so busy!!
My Jerry is home!!! I am so happy! So, I am giving "thanks" for Jerry's homecoming! He got home around 12 am Thursday morning. I was waiting up for him, I was too excited to sleep!!

AND, the kids... well, lets just say they were so ecstatic about him coming home to us!! They wanted to stay up so bad, but they knew that daddy would arrive home, go to each bedroom, with a kiss of "I am so glad to be here, I missed ya'll soo much!"

We talked for quite a while once he arrived. hugging each other, and wanting to really catch up, but we knew we would have the next day to do so.

He woke the kids up to get ready for school, and they were so excited to see him! They were telling all their friends that daddy had come home!!

Jerry and I had the best day ever! We went out for lunch, talked about so many things, and our plans for Christmas! We had such a wonderful day, just me and him, it was great!!

We picked up the kids from school, and had a great family time! I love how Jerry is so involved with our children! Caiden was so glad that his daddy was home to play football with him!!

I could not be any more happier than I am now!! We have such a big weekend planned! We are going to FINALLY put up our Christmas Tree, Singing Christmas songs, fellowship, AND cook!!! I am ready to cook ALL my Christmas goodies, which Jerry loves!! Welcome home Jerry, we missed you!! I have the best family in the world! I could not be happier than I am now!!

BATH TIME WITH BUBBA AND BAXTER

Our little puppies are growing so fast! It is so hard to believe that our first little puppy, Bubba, will be a year old on December 26!!!

The kids love playing with Bubba and Baxter! We have gotten so attached to them. Caiden,Bailee, and I always spend time with them, loving them, and holding them. Bath time, well, it is a challenge. Bathing one dog is not all that bad, but when you have 2, it can be somewhat a hassle!

I usually help them give Bubba and Baxter a bath, but for some reason, this weekend, they talked me into letting them do it all by themselves. Caiden and Bailee had so much fun bathing them. They had the shampoo, towels, all layed out. I love that they have somewhat of a routine in mind, for I am a very organized and routine person, but I think it just stems from being a mother. It really made me glad to see that that they are starting to create their own state of organization.

I also believe, even though there is always a mess to clean up, which they did clean up, (thank goodness, for showing responsibility!) They create a bond with our little Chihuahuas, that will be everlasting! Caiden and Bailee have held their end of the bargain... They promised to care for Bubba and Baxter, they feed them, play with them , and most of all LOVE them!

BAILEE'S BRACES ARE GONE !!!

Bailee will no longer look this way again... She was had these braces since August 31, 2007, and what a wonderful change has happened with her teeth! Bailee has been so excited since her last visit last month. She was told that her braces were FINALLY coming off! If you could see her before and after pictures..you would be amazed! I am soo proud of her! It has been a long journey, one that consisted of each visit, getting wires tightened, her hurting from that, not being able to eat certain foods, to sores in her mouth. there were many times of using Ora gel to ease her discomfort, wax to keep the wires from cutting her mouth. My Bailee has been through so much, just to have perfectly straight teeth. I was there to help her through this long tedious process, doctoring her little bobo's , but the ending process is great!! She has been so patient, and it was so worth it!
After the 1 hour process of getting the braces off, she received a great bag of goodies of little treats that she couldn't eat with braces! What moved me most was that she was so excited about sharing it with Caiden! I love her giving heart! She has been walking around the house, looking in every mirror, admiring her new teeth!! She also got a retainer to wear, and she has been so responsible with it! She takes it out to eat and brush, and never forgets to put it back in!

This is our New Bailee Grace, a smile that says a 1,000 new words, she is soo proud of her new smile! I am so proud of her! What a beautiful little girl she is!!

"THANKFUL THURSDAY"

Today, I am giving thanks for being a mother. Oh, I wanted be me a mother, and after many many years of praying, the Lord blessed Jerry and I. The day I became the mother of 2 wonderful healthy children was the best day of my life!

The first time I held Caiden, my son, in my arms, I cried! Oh my , how perfect he looked, and I made sure to count every little toe and finger! There is no there feeling like it in the world! I vowed right then and there, before God, that I would do everything I could to ensure Caiden had the best life ever, under the leadership of our Lord. Caiden was absolutely the most prefect baby!

My little Bailee Grace, what a bundle of joy!! How could I deserve another prefect little angel!When I held my one and only daughter for the first time, I thought, "Oh my sweet girl, you have so many wonderful things to look forward too." She was my one and only daughter, and we would soon have a bond that was like no other, What a wonderful little gift from the Lord, Bailee I knew, from the first time I held you, you were destined for many great things!This little baby girl would later give me grandchildren, she would be the one I would spend many nights talking to while tucking her into bed, fixing her hair for her when she would have a date, Bailee, there is so much waiting for you, and I will be there with you every step of the way!

I am thankful for each Birthday celebration

I am thankful for each Birthday we celebrate together

I am thankful for each celebration of receiving awards well deserved

Most of all, I am thankful for being able to have children, for them to call me "mom"

There is no other word better than "mommy" Thank you Lord for giving me my children!

CAIDEN AND BAILEE'S 2ND SIX WEEKS AWARD ASSEMBLY

I am soo proud of Caiden and Bailee! They have really worked so hard in school.
Yes, It is a challenge, but we study hard every night, making sure that they understand each subject.
I enjoy are little study time, it gives me a chance to sit down with each one, and really help them in areas that they are having trouble with. I cherish each time I hear them say," Thanks mom, for helping me study."
What an awesome feeling to have, that I have really gotten them to understand their work, and for them to appreciate the time I spend with them! They are so humble, and it blesses my heart!
Caiden got a ribbon for A-B honor roll.
Bailee got a ribbon for B average.
I am so proud of them! My heart is so quickly twinged when I hear the principal call out my children's name! I get so excited seeing them receive an a ward that they so well deserved! Great Great job, Caiden and Bailee, I am soo very proud of y'all! I could not ask for better children!!

AND, Of course, let's not forget about their prizes that they get! Caiden so had his heart sat on getting Bakugans. They are so cool, and he loves playing with them! I had originally went to Sam's and we saw them there, but he said that we could wait and go to Target, for they would be cheaper! Bless his heart, he wanted to save money, I love him!! LOL. We went to Target and they were sold out, of course, its close to Christmas, so I went back to Sam's and bought him the deluxe set, which came with many of them, plus a huge mat, and cards. He was so happy, I cannot tell you how many times he thanked me for going back to Sam's and getting it for him! That means more to me than giving it to him, I love hearing them tell me "Thanks!" SOO, we know what is on his Christmas list....LOL
My Bailee Grace, had a hard time deciding on what she wanted. She wanted a Barbie doll, but then she thought that she wanted the Alvin and The Chipmunks Cd, For she loves to listen to her Cd's and sing , I love to just peek in her room form time to time, watching her sing and dance, it makes me feel so happy, to see her enjoying herself!! But, when we got to Target, she said"Oh. mom, I just gotta have the Cheetah girls, you know how I love to sing and dance to it!"So My Bailee decided on it! I don't know what I enjoy more... Seeing them receive the award, or seeing them receive their gift...hummmm. BOTH!!