December 31

Happy New Year!!!

We had a couple girls over to ring in the new year. We had a lovely time of CatchPhrase and food!

December 30

I picked up this little book over Christmas. It is a 52-week weekly devotional. I started it today. I think it will be a nice way to start my weeks this year.

December 24

You would think I actually enjoy baking from the looks of all this... chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, coconut bars, peanut butter cookies, brownies. Seriously, does anyone need that much variety when it comes to Christmas sweets? And tomorrow, I think we have lemon bars, orange cranberry bread, peanut butter balls, and cinnamon rolls. Sugar coma here we come!

December 23

This is Leo, my mama's poor little gay rescue yorkie. He's the most effiminate creature I think I've ever seen. We have two female dogs, and he out girls both of them. Anyway, I've been home for three days now, and have no one to play with, so the poor dogs are the recipients of my creativity. And poor little Leo, he's the smallest and easiest to mess with. I took his Christmas neck scarf and tied it around his head to make him look like a little old Russian lady. I think he's quite adorable! He was none too happy.

I get a chuckle everytime I look at the picture... heeheehee!

December 22

After all of yesterday's shopping, today we wrap!

December 20

We're moving tomorrow (again!) so I had to pack everything up today before I left, since I'm flying home tonight. My cubicle was so sad looking when I left, no Bamm-Bamm, no Tinsel Tim, not even any sticky notes anywhere...

December 19

Ashley found out about a week ago that she was going to be directing the Christmas program at school. It was tonight, so Amanda and I went. It was hilarious! The kids did a really great job and were so funny, especially my new friend Trey and Amanda's new friend Derek. We went to Dunlay's for dinner after. What a fun family night!!!

Ashley directing the choir

December 18

Meet Tinsel Tim! I found him in my stocking last Sunday...

December 17

It snowed on Saturday. Today, there are still massive heaps of snow all over Hyde Park. They don't do much plowing down there, not sure why. I ended up wedging my car into a snowbank because the parking lot was so poorly plowed. I had to crawl out the passenger side! I sure hope no one saw me...

December 16

Tonight was the Christmas concert "Concert of Carols". It was a lovely evening of music celebrating Christ's birth. They also had a little bit of drama between some of the songs telling the story of how "O Holy Night" was written, by a non-believer! It was really nice. Ashley and Amanda both sang, and I was a penguin for the opening song!

Our Christmas Finery!

December 15

I bought shampoo today! So this may not seem like a big deal, but I haven't used shampoo since February. So for me, it was a pretty big deal. I was in Lush doing a little Christmas shopping and saw that they carry shampoo. They have these great little solid shampoos which don't have a lot of chemicals in them. The one I went with is "Squeaky Green" and has rosemary, nettles and peppermint. I guess we'll see how this goes...

December 14

Poor Bamm-Bamm, I had to take out the stalk that had turned yellow. It was very sad. This stalk has a little bit of yellow, but hopefully it will be okay and won't turn completely yellow like the other stalk!

December 13

Nothing too exciting going on today... I went to prayer meeting, which is always wonderful! I took this picture of Shelly. I really like the fleece she's wearing.

December 12

Today was our office Christmas party. Everyone I work with is really great, so we always have a great time together. We did secret santa and a cookie exchange; this is the plate we made up during the cookie exchange. So festive!!!

December 10

Amanda left today for a conference in Atlanta. She's gonna kill me for putting this picture on here... heeheehee!!!

December 7

We had our office party tonight. It was at Fulton's on the River. I didn't get a picture.

December 6

Tonight I got to chat with Honey after church for a little while. She's so wonderful... I love hanging out with her. She's always so encouraging!

December 5

Tonight I went over to Pastor Armand and Julie's to spend a little time chatting with Julie. She's not due until 12/30, but I don't think she's gonna make it that long...

And on another note... HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN-PAUL!!!!!

December 4

We've had a lot of snow lately. Mama wanted me to take some pictures to send her, so I took this one from our front window. I liked the reflection of the Christmas lights in the window.

December 3

My desk looked dead and boring, so a while ago I bought one of those little bamboo plants that's not really bamboo at all. I bought it at Jewel for a dollar. I was very proud of my little non-bamboo; I named him Bamm-Bamm. Well, today I realized I have been a terrible mother. I thought the little stick in the pot that tells you what to do with it said it needed little water and little in-direct light, so he's been on my dimly lit desk and I've watered him about once a week. Today he looks terrible and sickly. The stalks are wrinkly and turning yellow, some of the leaves have turned yellow... he looks so sad. So, off to the internet I go, looking for info. Apparently these things need lots of water. They can actually grow in just water, with no soil. I've been starving the poor thing; he's completely dehydrated! One website I looked at said that by time they turn yellow, there is usually nothing you can do for them, they're just too far gone. Please join me in prayer for little Bamm-Bamm, as I am believing for a full and complete recovery despite my failure as a mother!

December 2

Tonight we decorated our house for Christmas. Yay for Christmas trees!!!!!!

Us under the tree. Yes, Ashley is wearing snowflake garland on her head...

December 1

Today we went to a surprise baby shower for Julie. She was very surprised! It was a lot of fun and she got a lot of great things for Sofia.

Later, we went to Lindsay's for a Christmas Decorating party. This is her tree after we decorated and made cookies... lots of cookies!