Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!

Another Birthday for James...

A picture and walk down memory lane from last year when James celebrated his first birthday home with us...

Fall 2009

Fall 2010

We celebrated James' 11th birthday this past Tuesday (a few days early since he is a Christmas baby) by roller skating with friends...

I especially enjoyed some time with some other moms as we watched the boys waddle around the rink...

Little sisters, Victoria and Angela got to tag along for the festivities while Jana and Eyasu were house ridden with the flu...

Such grace...

Another one of my ghettofabulous cakes...

Love these ladies... don't know how I would get anything done without Amy's help (pictured far left)... let me just tell you... she does it all...

James had a blast at his party saying it was the best birthday ever! Precious. As the evening approached I could see a worn out little boy... after a few more gifts at home...

including a small tool set from us...

and a little guitar from mamaw & papaw...

I took his temperature and discovered he was running a fever... hmmm...

And then Wednesday came... I too woke up feeling like someone was sitting on my chest and had filled my lungs with fluid... I finally got up and going on Thursday and took us to the doctor... Yep. We have the flu... My sweet husband, who had already taken these two days off of work (hallelujah!) just texted saying he'd spent more money on flu medicines than Christmas presents this year... It is what it is... now we are praying we are on the mend prior to flying to Virginia Christmas day... Meanwhile, we are counting our blessings of being together and celebrating Eyasu's first Christmas home... as he says, "Very Chritmas"!

What a Week...

I don't know about you but 'tis the season to be busy... I had to look back at my calendar for the week to remember what went on, ha... Monday was a beautiful blur with the actual birthday of Jana (so we had to have something a little special for the bday princess), as well as our staff Christmas party... by Monday night we all were exhausted... and it was only Monday... Then on Tuesday, this little rascal decided to eat nearly a whole bag of individually wrapped Dove chocolates foil and all! I'd have been sick too!

In addition to running him to the vet for a few hours, I was attempting to put a meal together for another family using a new recipe (number one no no in meal provisions)... it was a little comical at our house to say the least....

With Wednesday came church and Thursday friends and basketball practice... But the biggest and most exciting news for Thursday was the anticipated arrival of my nephew, Jude Edwin Smith who weighed 8lbs 12 oz and was 21 inches! Precious! Looking forward to meeting this little guy over Christmas!

Friday Tony and I enjoyed a double date with friends for lunch, then an evening of rest at home... preparing for a busy Saturday... "Let's go Upward!" as Eyasu marches around the house cheering... In between games we enjoyed a gift certificate provided by a generous person for our family at Foxes Pizza. It was wonderful... and then we were off again to games #4 & #5.

Saturday evening ended with gathering of friends and kids... love it! They all ate well and played hard...

'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house... much excitement, yet a couple under the weather... Please pray for two of mine who are cuddled up in their sleeping bags on our bedroom floor as I throw this post together... sore throats, coughing and one with a slight fever...

Thanks... wishing you and yours a wonderful, healthy week!

Happy Birthday, Jana!

Jana turns 8 years old on Monday!

(Above: Daddy-Daughter date. Below: We surprised her and the other four early with an afternoon of roller skating last week...)

Jana was a natural. Eyasu was quite the entertaining one of the bunch...

We had his wheels tightened so it wasn't as "scary" - in his words... :-)

James, especially, had a blast and wants to go back for his birthday coming up...

We enjoyed dinner with friends at Seasons Restaurant (Tuesday is "Kids Eat Free" which is absolutely fabulous) and then returned home for a few presents...

Jana Sophia, we are SO thankful for you! What a blessing you are to us sweet daughter!

2nd & 3rd Grade Christmas Musical at School...

Thursday evening, Jana & Angela participated with their fellow classmates in singing songs for Christmas...

Got to love redeye...

Aren't they all adorable?!.