decorating.

Cole wanted EVERYTHING to do with decorating the tree this year. She didn't want to miss a thing. I couldn't do much on my own without her. I was supposed to wait until she got home from school :) What a big helper!

This is how Camden wished to help :) He wanted to try on Cole's hat and gloves! What a cutie!

school christmas party.

One of my jobs as a "room mom" is to organize the class Christmas party. I'm still in denial that our daughter is old enough to be in school, however, the best way for me to deal with that is just to be there whenever I can. :)
We had a wonderful party and the kids had a ball!

Doesn't she look so grown up? She was so excited about this craft. We made gingerbread ornaments...she worked on this one for about 20 minutes...can we say perfectionist :)

The kids also made Christmas tree ornaments...I can't tell you how excited I am to have these as her first school ornaments!



The kids got to play Christmas Bingo...with M&M's!

We collected money from the parents and got together to surprise the class with 3 trikes. What a fun surprise.

I think she looks so tiny in this picture. Is she really old enough to be there?!

Yummy snack time!...along with the "MOM, stop taking pictures of me" face :)

I am so grateful to have been a part of a CHRISTMAS party in a public school! How cool is that?!

christmas party.

Our dear friends Jeff and Judy hosted a Christmas party a couple of weeks ago of their favorite things. It was such a fun party with their favorite people, favorite food, and they even did a gift exchange with their favorite gifts! It was such a fun night! The kids made themselves quite at home as usual :)

Getting them to both look at the camera at the same time is literally impossible.

This is Camden's pretending to be shy face.

The kids checkin out the fun toys!

Camden and Darren were playing "ball" of course.

Thank you Hendrick's for a fantastic evening! What a fun party!

aware.

So I am fully aware that I have 716 pictures to be exact to go through and blog about. It has been a VERY busy month and I have a lot to catch you up on. Hang on. I'll get there.

merry christmas.

jolly christmas tree.

We went on our annual Christmas Tree hunt the weekend after Thanksgiving.

I would love to report that this was a monumentally joyful experience. That would be a lie!

The first few pictures are deceiving :)

She was helping her brother with his hood. That was nice.

That was a sweet moment!

She was almost happy in this picture--it only took me 5 shots to get one with her smiling. Her hands were freezing, her legs were tired, and her feet were cold :)

Camden was happy...in Daddy's arms...FOR THE MOMENT!

So...the rest of the story.
Daddy and I put the kids in the van. Turned on the heat, handed out snacks, and started a movie.
Meanwhile, (in view of the childen) Daddy and I went ALONE to pick out our tree. It took about 5 minutes and that included cutting it down and pulling it back to the van. We returned to happier children.

However, when it came time for a family photo with our 2009 Christmas Tree...this is all we got. They don't look so thrilled.

Merry Christmas...from the Talty's.

christmas tea.

A few weeks ago, the kids had a Christmas Tea at church. What a way to kick things off :)


Cole and her friend Emma enjoying some yummy snacks.

boy, oh boy, oh boy!

I'll have to scan in the other pictures, but Brian took this one with our camera of the screen.

We have a very healthy baby boy! He would hardly hold still for a second and clearly didn't want his picture taken :)

We can't wait to meet you sweet boy!

name.

Brian wrote this article for the church newsletter a couple of weeks ago...

Name

“Okay Cole, put a brownie mix in each box,”
“Who is all this food for?” my daughter asks me.
“Well… for the people who need food this year for Thanksgiving.”
“Who are they?”

Last week leading into Thanksgiving, our youth group and several FCC families participated in the “Judy Mason Thanksgiving Project.” Together, we were part of the 400 plus volunteers who put together 4,000 Thanksgiving food baskets for those in need in Macon County. The “Amen” of the opening prayer is the starting gun of a race as young and old scatter like mice to collect dozens of food items for the baskets. It is a breathtaking event that lands flat here on paper in comparison to actually being there, as is the case with most of life’s great events. And after 90 minutes of organized chaos, the race is over—the boxes are full, closed up, stacked on pallets, and ready to be delivered to those in need. So…

“Who are they?” she asks again.
“Well… Ummm… people who are hungry or could use some help.”
… “But, what are their names?”
“I don’t exactly know who they all are.”
… … “What’s the first person’s name?”
… … [sigh]… … “I don’t know honey.”

In no way do I intend to spin this beautiful event into anything that falls short of what it was. Yet my three-year-old daughter “unknowingly” spurred me on. What does it mean for me… for my family… perhaps for you? I was convicted of the safe distance I place between my hands and the hands of “these” (Matthew 24:45). And as I think on what it means to be the hands of Christ—the tangible touch of Christ to others, I am left awkwardly holding her question,
“What is the first person’s name?”

-Pastor Brian






I am so humbled by a little girl that really does love others! She is teaching us so much!
Who is the first person's name for your family this year?

christmas at the mall.

I took the kids to the mall a couple of weeks ago to see Santa.
We have pictures of everything EXCEPT with Santa...BUMMER.
We had fun, you'll have to trust me :)

The kids also enjoyed the playground!




Cole always wants to stop and listen to the person playing the piano at Von Maur...and Camden was anticipating the flash of the camera :)

Also, note the cookie residue left on their faces. I told ya we had fun!

Santa's lap update: seeing that I don't have pictures of the big event, I thought I'd give you a play by play of the time there. Cole sat on his lap, but refused to talk. Camden wouldn't sit on his lap. He just held on to me, but when Santa asked what he wanted for Christmas, he yelled "BALL" and also said "vroom vrooms" aka cars. It was pretty funny, but not much of a photo op.

photo shoot. cole style.

Our last morning there, Cole decided to have a photo shoot with everyone on the deck...she wanted to make "silly" faces in every one of her pictures :) Nana and Papaw...great sports!

baby august visit.

We all love it when baby August is around! I think we're ready for another one ;) I'm just not sure I'll be able to let Cole go to school...she's WAY too much help!

busy mornings.

There's hardly a dull moment with these kids. And the kids didn't let Nana and Papaw down that weekend either.
Cole still LOVES to be read to. She would do this all day long if someone would read to her all day long!


And Camden...well, he'd play ball all day long!


And what visit would be complete without a bull ride from Papaw?!

williford thanksgiving.

The day after Thanksgiving, the Williford side of the family came over. It's definitely becoming more and more entertaining with each child added :)


Cole LOVES baby August! She is going to be such a big helper once again for me come May!

Aunt Trish, aka G-Mama was REALLY loving her August time!

Look at that face!!!

Silly Uncle Bruce!

Aunt Trish showing Cole her special book for Christmas.

Yummy! Thanksgiving leftovers!


Camden loved the "baby sissy" as he called her. That made me smile :)


Nana had to work hard to keep up with this guy!--he's always busy!

Cole and Daddy were once again relaxed!

Uncle Bruce...aka Pops...one happy guy with that cutie in his lap.

Aunt Lou showing Camden how to work the electronics.