Terrorizing your own child!!!

I couldn't figure out how to post the video to show at the top above the pictures so you need to go down to the video. And also know that I was recording with both the video camera and my camera at the same time so this is the short, not as good one, but you can still get the idea. I will try to figure out how to get the other one uploaded, too.

Anyway, Julianna has a small Grinch, which she found in our Christmas deocrations, that she lovingly calls "Grumpy" and has enjoyed him this holiday season. We asked her if she would like to see a big Grumpy and she said she would and then we asked her what she would do and she said she would hug him and kiss him. Well, unbeknownst to her, her Daddy has a Grinch costume from previous youth days and so he decided to visit her. Needless to say from the video, she didn't accept him as she indicated she would........ Watch the video if you haven't yet....

After a few days, and one other visit from Big Grinch, we convinced her to touch the mask and finally get close enough to it to see it is just a mask on her Daddy. From the next 2 photos, you will see that she finally adjusted and even put the mask on. But a day or two later, just out of the blue in the car, she said, "Daddy, I don't want you to be the Big Grinch again." :-) Just remind me of this one day when I'm wondering why she needs therapy!!!

After much coaxing

In this picture, I don't think she actually realized he'd put the mask back on!

Grumps & Gigi Visit

Grumps & Gigi (Matthew's parents) came to visit us the weekend before Christmas. It was a great weekend for them to come because Christian & Rebecca both had 2 basketball games on Saturday and then they were able to go to church with us on Sunday and see the kid's in the Christmas play. We love it when they visit us and we had such a nice time with them. We were able to have our own little Christmas with them on Saturday afternoon, too, which was a highlight for the kids.

(You know, I think about this blog when I take pictures, but then sometimes I walk away and really wish I'd taken some different pictures. So I"m sad that these are all I got.... I just feel like I had to say that!)

Here are some pictures:

Grumps & Gigi read Julianna a book at the basketball games

Waiting "patiently" (ha) for Christmas to begin

Christian's all into Bakugan this year and he got the battle arena!!!

Rebecca got an American girl - Ruthie!!

I've tried EVERYTHING to turn this picture - weird (this happened with a picture of her in my Thanksgiving blog!!) Anyway, Julianna got a Bitty Baby and has already named her Leah!!

Showing off Leah

Matching cuties!!!

Christmas program

The kid's put on a small Christmas program at church. It was cute - it was about the 12 Days of Christmas song and it's "other" meaning. Here are a few pictures of the program (the sanctuary is dark so they're not real clear but you get the idea!)

Christian was gift #1 (and he wasn't scared.... just goofy!)

Rebecca had a main speaking part and did a great job!

Christian & Eli
Grant & Molly (you'll recognize them from my Connect Group blog!)

At the last minute, we had one student not come, so our Administrative Pastor filled in!!

After the program, Matthew spoke to the kids. He did a great job and of course right in the middle of it, Julianna walked right up to him. Fortunately, she sat there quietly while he finished up. Whew!!! We had a wonderful service that Sunday morning.

Fun with Friends

Each Christmas, we get together with some friends and have dinner together and then a gift exchange. It quickly became a White Elephant exchange and we look forward to cleaning out our closets for this special night. I didn't take many pictures this year but I got a couple of funny ones. Maybe it was also that I didn't want you offended if you saw something you gave me in the exchange.... hee-hee!!! I'm kidding of course!

We played a game with the kids and let them open a gift and they each got some candy!

Aaron's big prize of the night - well, just one of many!!


Chris loved his "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" tie, but sadly, he didn't get to keep it!

Connect Group Christmas

In early December, our Connect Group from church had our Christmas dinner and party. We had a lot of fun and I got some cute pictures of everyone. The lighting isn't great in this room, but it'll give you an idea of our evening with our friends.

Here are some pictures of a game we played. Everyone sat in a circle and rolled the dice (actually, our kids lost one of our dice before we got to church so we had to use music instead, but the rule is...) and when you got a double, you ran to the middle of the circle, put on the hat and gloves and unwrap the gift (which is difficult to do with the gloves on) until the next person rolls a double. It's funny because some times, you have quite a while to unwrap the gift and yet sometimes, you hardly get the gloves on and your turn is over. Of course there are multiple wrapped boxes which you find out, too!

Cameron unwrapping the present

Patiently waiting.....

Lily Grace's turn

Does Julianna look bored?

Harrison's turn

The Warren family (the other Warren's - which is now somewhat confusing to some people at church - especially when we sign up for dinner or pass out Christmas cards!!! :-)

Julianna wanted a turn but wanted NO part in the hat & gloves

Go Sara!!!

Even Kennedy took a turn and her big brother Grant helped out

Molly wins the prize - $5.00!!!

This next game was where the boys put on the clothes and their teammates took turns running and stuffing a balloon into the clothes. The team with the most balloons in the clothes won. They kids loved this one!

Christian & Brayden before the game began

Heather helping out (she couldn't help herself - I think she's got some competitiveness to her!!)

After the game

Love this picture - they had so much fun!

This is another game we played. It was a snowball race - you had your shovel and you had to scoop the snow and race down to the pan. This is funny - this is Lily Grace & Julianna!!

Tis the Season

Today, we decorated the house for Christmas. The boys actually put up the tree last night while the girls were at a birthday party. We waited until after our 4 basketball games and after Julianna's nap to put the ornaments on, however we did the other things (stockings, nativity scene, etc) while she was still asleep.

We found some old greenery that we haven't used in years and I was ready to toss it when Rebecca asked if we could put it on the porch. Well, much to my surprise, Matthew said we could actually put a few lights outside, which we've never done. We found 2 packs of colored lights and wrapped them around the banister and we are so excited because it looks good. We also put up some small wreaths on the windows and it looks great, too. I took some pictures (of course). Below you'll see some other pictures of our afternoon.

The big kids help wrap the front porch and banister

Julianna next to the 100 ornaments she hung all in one spot on the bottom of the tree (yes, her OCD mom has gone and distributed them some)
Matthew didn't feel well and was watching football so this is about the only thing I got out of him today
Christian was more interested in the football game, too, so I made him at least put on his Darth Vader ornament
The girls with my Willow Tree Nativity scene

Julianna later decided to incorporate the Veggie Tales nativity scene into the Willow Tree one - how funny

Julianna with her friend, Santa, which I got Thursday night at the PEO silent auction

Our home with the new wreaths on the windows and even greenery and lights

So excited - I know it's baby steps, but we'll take them!!!

A New Season....of Basketball

Today was the first day in the new season of basketball. Rebecca wanted to give it a try this year, so we decided to sign them both up locally with Greenbrier Jr. Pro. Rebecca has never played before and she got on a good team with a really good coach. It will be interesting to see how she does. Christian's team is likely to struggle a bit more - they only had 3 kids there today (the only have 5 on the team) but we borrowed 2 players for the first game and then just played 4 on 4 for the second game.....

Second game??? What do you mean??? Well, we didn't know when we signed them up that with this league, each team plays 2 games a day, so we are looking at 4 games each Saturday morning from now until the middle of February!!! Hindsight is 20/20.... oh well. So much for this being the "off season" but live and learn.

Here are some pictures of today's games. You know you never get good pictures in a gym, but you can at least see them a bit...enjoy!

Rebecca is in the blue in the middle

Go Rebecca

Julianna and Kye, a friend from church

Rebecca and most of her teammates (and Julianna, too)

Christian

Reaching in....

Rivalry Day

Well, for those of you who don't know (and that must mean you don't know me), I live in a House Divided. I am from a long line of proud University of Georgia fans while my husband is from a line of Georgia Tech fans. Our parents went to the respective school....so Thanksgiving weekend is always interesting for us, to say the least. The last 7 years (prior to this past Saturday) have been a bit more fun for me, but I had to turn over the reigns of victory when the Georgia Bulldogs were beat by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Here are a couple of pictures and hopefully even a video of what it's like to live in a House Divided.....

Before the game..

That's my girl!

Can you tell if this is before or after?

ARRRGGGG....

Oh how entertaining we are!