Day 18 of being Thankful: Hilly

This is my cousin Hillary!! I just love her to pieces and so do my boys!!  Just Look!!

Binky loves his Hilly!!

 

This is her prom night!! They keep talking about how "pwetty"she was!!

She's just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside!!  When she was 9 years old she was my maid of honor in my wedding, now she's a college freshman!!

 I couldn't be more proud!!

We love you Hills!!

Day 17 of being Thankful: Christmas Parade

Yesterday was our town's Christmas Parade and because Jackson was this year's Mighty Mite Homecoming King he got to ride on his own convertible.(provided by the homecoming queen's family)....He was beyond excited...The homecoming queen and Jackson looked adorable...I bought candy for them to throw so Jackson loved that....Here are a few pictures of the big day:

(These were taken by my phone camera....I have got to get a decent camera)

We went to the mountains yesterday and the boys picked out a tree and we had it cut down....They love actually picking a tree from a farm rather than a lot....Then we did the parade and then last night, the boys had their Christmas program at church...

So yesterday was CRAZY busy....but such a good day!!

Just so very Thankful for our day!!!!

Dear Santa, 

Jackson decided that all he wants for Christmas is Super Bowl Tickets!! HELP!! HELP!!

Day 16 of Being Thankful: Football and Friends

Tonight I am thankful for Friday Night Football!! Tonight the high school that I work for and happened to also graduate from way back in 1997 WON a major football game.  It was the fourth round of the state playoffs and it was a huge game...We beat a team that was 13-0...We play for the state championship next Friday night at UNC....which just happens to be Jackson's 7th birthday!! He is beyond excited...He is a huge Charger fan and cant wait until every Friday night to go and watch the game...

We also go eat with some great friends before each away game and tonight was no different.....We had a ball and stuffed ourselves AGAIN!!! lol

We enjoy being together and love cheering our team on!!! They did great tonight and we are super proud to be going back for another championship!!! So Proud!!!

Day 15 of being Thankful: Dear Olivia...

Dear Olivia,

Today is Thanksgiving and you were so missed.  I pray you are well and the orphanage caretakers are taking good care of you.   Today I am truly thankful for you.  I am so very thankful that God worked in our hearts and opened the doors for us to be family.  I can not wait to hold you, kiss you, snuggle with you....So many can't waits....I love you with all my heart all the way from our small community called "New House."  Dont worry most people haven't heard of it...But we do have some good ole livermush....You will find out what that is one day..Your brothers cant get enough of it. 

We started the day off running the "Turkey Trot."  You will find out what that is soon enough.  Your Daddy said we may walk it next year and push you in the stroller.  We had lunch at Mawmaw's today and you were talked about.. You were prayed for today.  As I looked at my huge plate, I wondered what you were eating today. 

Jackson and Benjamin talk about you a lot....They can't wait to love on you.  They dont understand the process and why its taking this long.   The other day in the car your Daddy told me he thinks you will be a Daddy's girl.....Silly Daddy!!  He said, " I am just so ready to go and get my girl and bring her home."  He sure as come a long way!! Thank you,  Jesus!!

Olivia Grace-Happy Thanksgiving!!! We love you!!!

Your Mama, Daddy, and Brothers!!

Day 14 of Thankfulness: Olivia's Doll and My Necklace

Okay!! I am soo sorry I haven't posted in a few days... SUPER BUSY!!! But that's no excuse...I promise I will post 30 things I am thankful for because...well...I am not a quitter!!  I said I would, so I will...

Today I received an awesome package in the mail!! I had ordered Olivia Grace a handmade baby doll for her birthday.. The lady who makes them is actually making them in the province Olivia's orphanage is in in China (the Hunan Province)...Its absolutely beautiful...amazing...awesome... Can you tell I LOVE it!!!

Here it is:

(I took this picture with my phone)

I have already put it in my china cabinet so the boys cant get a hold of it!!  I cant wait to give it to her!!

I also ordered a sterling silver charm and necklace made in China.  Here I am wearing it:

It says "Daughter" in Chinese!!

Every few minutes I kiss it....somehow praying that she will somehow feel my love, my kisses from across the world....

I am sad because she is not here for Thanksgiving...but happy to know this is her last Thanksgiving without us!!

I ordered these two awesome treasures from a company called Jiayin Designs:  Heres what their website says:

The Chinese word jiayin means “good and beautiful news.” What a wonderful way to describe when you first receive your child’s referral and see his or her face and read his or her Chinese name for the first time. Jiayin Designs was created to provide a lasting treasure of that good and beautiful news through custom sterling silver charms made by a jewelry artist in Beijing, China just for you. This artist hand cuts Chinese characters from a sheet of sterling silver and makes them into charms that are one of a kind and stunning.!!

Here is the link:

http://www.jiayindesigns.com/JiayinDesigns/Home.html

Go order something!!  You will NOT be disappointed!!!

Happy Thanksgiving EVE!!!

 

Day 13 of Being Thankful: Girls Night and Breaking DAWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night I went to the Breaking Dawn Premiere at 12:01AM!!!! I am normally a 9 hour asleep kind of girl!! So this was a step out of the good old comfort zone!!  About two years ago when my cousin was 16 she left the book, Twilight, at my house...After about two to three days of staring at it and thinking I was waaaaaay too old to read it...I opened it and thought, "What the heck."  The next day I went to the local bookstore and bought all of the Twilight Books....I read them all in about a week!! I couldn't believe it...I was HOOKED!!! I have went to the theater to see all of the movies but not the night it comes out....And not on a work night!!! I met several friends there.....We had an amazing time...We ate popcorn, candy, diet coke.... and laughed our hineys off!!!   I do have to admit it was so nice not to watch a G or a 3 D movie (although I do love those).....!!!

So even though I am about to fall over from the lack of sleep,  I am sooo thankful for my friends and the much needed GIRLS NIGHT!!!  The movie was awesome by the way!!!

Me and my boys!!!

They were so upset about not getting to go to the movies!!! Jackson said,"Mom, seriously, I LOOOVE Vampires!!!" 

Day 12 of Thankfulness: My Mama

Today I was to dedicate this post to my Mama!!! I am definately a mama's girl!! My mama has been through so much in her life and she has never given up.. She is tough as nails!!! She is amazing, beauiful, kind, smart, determined, tough, .....I could go on and on!!!  She is my best friend!!  I am super proud of her... She did everything for us as we grew up...She taught me I could be anything that I wanted to me....When she turned 40, she decided she would finally go to college and get her college degree.. Now she teaches high school history and is currently 54 years old.  And she is getting her masters degree....She is doing all of this and raising my nephew... I am thankful for her and everything she means to me...

Mama and Binky!!!

The boys ADORE their Mawmaw!!

I love you Mama!!