Black Friday Fun!!!!!

Our day started at 3 am this morning! Emily and I got up, picked up Grandma and Gramps and headed to our first stop....WalMart! Okay...how do I describe that experience....chaotic??? I wanted one certain thing and stood in line for 45 minutes to get it, then was told that it was at the other end of the store...so I ran to the other end, not there, and was told that it was where I had originally been....AAAAAHHHHH! Anyway, long story short, I got it...I can push and shove with the best of them...hahaha! Our next stop was in Knightdale where everyone went in different directions...I went to Best Buy (the best store I went to yesterday...great employees) and everyone else scattered to all the different stores. We had cell phones handy and coordinated our efforts to make sure we got what we needed! We even braved going into Raleigh and went to Penneys..what a madhouse but what GREAT deals! We had breakfast at IHOP and had a great time the whole day! We finally made it back home around 1:30 in the afternoon exhausted and glad we were able to get the great door buster deals! My shopping is now OVER! I have gotten all my major gift buying done, except for some little things here and there that aren't that big of a deal! Between Black Friday deals and the internet, I can say that I am truly done! It feels great and now I can sit back and enjoy the holidays! Now it is just time for baking and having fun with my family and focusing on what really matters...the real reason, our Savior Jesus Christ! Let the holidays begin......

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

We had a very good Thanksgiving Day! It was relaxing and peaceful! We slept in, had a big breakfast, watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, skimmed all the sales papers, planned for tomorrow, watched a movie and had a big Thanksgiving Feast! We are now all getting ready to get some sleep so that we can hit the stores bright and early tomorrow! We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are grateful for the blessings that this year has brought to them (and for some, try to find the silver linings in the challenges)! It has been a year of surprises in our family (some good and some not so good) but in all things we are thankful for the richest blessings in our life...our family! We still have each other and in the end, that is all that really matters! We hope everyone feels full and happy and blessed! Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Thanksgiving Feast!

Everyone around the table!

Momma waiting for one of the desserts!

Jeff's famous Sugar Free Apple Pie (looks to pretty to eat) but it is super yummy!

Poor Jeff spent the day resting...he has a really bad cold!!!

A fun Survey !

I got this from Libbi's blog so I thought I would do it as well!

1. Do you like blue cheese? Nope!
2. Have you ever drank? No!
3. Do you own a gun? No, but Daddy is going to give me one of his!
4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? I don't really like Kool-Aid but if I had to choose it would be Black Cherry!
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointment? Not usually!
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I love them..esp. Nathans Hotdogs!
7. Favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life...hands down!
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Milk
9. Can you do push ups? hahahahahahahahaha..NO!---same as Libbi!
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My Gold Locket with Noah's picture in it!
11. Favorite hobby? Reading!
12 . Do you have A.D.D.? I don't think so!
13. What's your weight and height ? 5'7" and my weight is going down!
14. Middle name? Carolyn
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? What I need to study for seminary tomorrow, what I need to buy for Thanksgiving, what I want to shop for on the day after Thanksgiving!
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, Milk, and Water!
17. Current worry? Making more money and make sure the kids are getting all they need in homeschool!
18. Current hate right now? I don't know that I hate anything right now...maybe the situation the country finds itself in but it is what it is...so, I don't think there is really anything that I HATE!
19. Favorite place to be? Myrtle Beach
20. How did you bring in the New Year? At home with Lauren and Michael (Jeff was at the church New Year's Eve Dance with Emily)
21. Where would you like to go? for New Year's eve? Actually, no where! I like staying home...am I getting old or what????
22. Name three people who will complete this? I don't know but I hope everyone!
23. Do you own slippers? Yes...I get some every year at Christmas and I love them!
24. What color shirt are you wearing right now? Fuschia
25. Do you like sleeping on Satin sheets? I don't know...I never have!
26. Can you whistle? No...and I have tried a lot...I just can't!
27. favorite color? RED
28. Would you be a pirate? No...they are nasty and smelly!
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't usually sing in the shower...sometimes I hum if I am in a good mood!
30. Favorite girls name: Olivia...I know....I didn't name a girl that but if Noah had been a girl that would have been her name! I change all the time...I loved Emily, then I loved Lauren..you know how it goes...whatever was my favorite at the time, that is what my kids were named!
31. Favorite boy's name: I always loved Jonathan David growing up because I loved their friendship in the Old Testament but I never did name my boys that because Michael and Noah were the names that came to me and they were certainly right!
32.What's in your pocket right now? I don't have any pockets!
33.Last thing that made you laugh? Something Jeff said!
34. Best bed sheets as a child? NO CONTEST HERE...Ninna's hand starched, 1000 count linen sheets and they always felt and smelled soooooooo goooooood!!! AMEN, LIBBI, AMEN!!!!!
35. Worst injury you've ever had as a child? Ummmmm...I have no idea!!!
36. Do you love where you live? Yes, yes, and yes!!!! I love my house, I love my town, and I love my neighborhood!
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 5...we love TV!
38. Who is your loudest friend? I am my loudest friend....hahaha...me too!
39. How many dogs do you have? One very spoiled puggle!
40. Does someone have a crush on you? Yes...and he has had a crush on me for the last 17 years...my sweetheart....ahh..just thinking of him makes me smile...still in love!
41. What is your favorite book? after the scriptures...I Believe in Santa Claus!
42. What is your favorite candy? Chocolate, Chocolate, and oh yeah, Chocolate!
43. Favorite Sports Team? Clemson because I grew up with them, my kids and my sweetheart all LOVE NC STATE WOLFPACK!!!!!
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? I Know that My Redeemer Lives.

There you have it....my survey...I hope everyone else does it so I can learn more stuff about everyone!

EMILY'S SWEET 16 PARTY!!!!!!!!

Emily is 16!

WOW!!! What a great party! At first we weren't sure it was going to be so wonderful...we planned a cookout and we woke up this morning to RAIN!!! We thought that it might let up but it kept coming down! Jeff, as always, came to the rescue...he got two canopies and put them right by the garage. Under one, he put the grills and under the other he put the fire pit that we were going to use to make smores! We cleaned out the garage, the rain let up and we thought all was well...until we came back inside and looked at the birthday cake...uh oh...Nero (our big fat black cat) decided to "taste" a corner of the cake! GREAT....again, Jeff came to the rescue...he cut off the corner of the cake and fixed it the best he could...we were so glad that Emily laughed about it! It could have proved disastrous! We just explained to everyone that we had a "little accident" with the cake...oh well! HOWEVER, the evening turned out to be a huge success! We put around 60 guests in the house...they were everywhere and Emily had a ball! She loved every minute of it from beginning to end. Jeff and I enjoyed visiting with everyone and all the kids loved the balloons and ran around and played and played! There was great food, music, tons of laughter and lots of love! It was the "perfect 16th birthday party" according to Emily. We could not have been happier that everything went smoothly and we were able to give Emily a birthday party she will never forget! She loved her book the most and all the comments brought several tears to her eyes! Thank you all for helping to make her birthday wonderful! We are so thankful for this bright, wonderful, and beautiful young woman whom we are so proud to have as our daughter! HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY...and we hope you will enjoy many, many more!!!!! Below are some pictures of the evening...

The Cake after Jeff fixed it!!

Some of the kids milling around!

Lauren and Hudson

Emily and Michelle playing "Dance, Dance Revolution"

Emily and her friends outside around the fire!

Emily and her friends around the fire!

Lauren is now 14!!!!

My how the time has flown....from a cute, chubby little baby to a beautiful young woman! I am so blessed to have this wonderful little girl who has brought so much joy to my life! We celebrated Lauren's 14th birthday on Friday! We went out to her favorite restaurant which is Texas Steakhouse and instead of a cake she wanted Mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies so that is what she got! I am so grateful for the strong, independent minded, creative, wonderful, spiritual, and loving young woman she has become! She makes us all laugh, think, scream (well just Mom sometimes), and count our blessings everyday! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN!

My last political thought!

Okay...this is my last political thought for this election year! While I am disappointed that almost EVERYONE I voted for lost, I am grateful for the opportunity I had to vote. Although I disagree with the policies of Obama and will watch closely these next 4 years to see how they unfold, I do believe in our 12th Article of Faith which states, "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, ruler, magistrates and in honoring, obeying and sustaining the law" so I feel at this time that I must abide by that and try to unite as an American and give President-Elect Obama a fair chance. It has always made me sad and incredibly disappointed at the way people have talked about President Bush (because I do still love him as a person, even though there have been things that I have disagreed with) so I will not do the same thing to Obama. I think that Heavenly Father expects me as a follower of Christ to show Christlike love and be respectful of the next President of the United States. I love being an American and having the freedom to vote. I am grateful for the scriptures which help to remind me that I should love everyone and treat everyone with kindness. I have not always followed that counsel but I am striving to do it better. As passionate as I am about my opinions, I am more passionate about my faith. I know that it is far more important for to me to be kinder than it is for me to be right. I hope over these next four years, come what may, that I can be respectful and in everything show by my actions that I am a disciple of Christ. I know the promises of the Lord are sure and I am grateful for the gospel. It gives me the courage to go forward with faith!

Michael's New Improved Room!

Jeff and I decided along with Michael that it was time to give his room a facelift of sorts so his dad got to work today and his room got all fixed up to represent him! He is so pleased with it and loves it. We are happy that Michael feels comfortable with his surroundings. Emily said she would like to have Mikey's room but...he gets that honor to himself. Below I have posted some pictures of his new room the way his dad did it. I am so glad that Jeff is handy because I do not know how to do anything when it comes to home improvements! Anyway...here are the pictures!