The week before Thanksgiving, Millie Janalee's little preschool put on a Thanksgiving program one night.  It is a big event.  I had been told how difficult it is to get a good seat unless you camp out.  Grandparents and relatives of each student were invited, and of course all the relatives love to see a 2, 3, 4, or 5 year old stand on stage and perform.  My parents were in Disney World with my sister and her family, and Russ was working in Starkville that day.  So it was all up to me.  Step one...find a babysitter for Smith!  There's no way he would be able to go early enough for a seat...plus I needed hands for my cameras since I wasn't sure when Russ would be able to fly in.

So, I found a sweet sitter to play with Smith for the night.  And Millie Janalee and I headed out for her preschool a little before 5:00.  The program was a 6:00.  I've watched my mom all these years.  Finding the best seats is her specialty, and she doesn't care how early she has to arrive.  Ha!  We made it to the school along with all the other overachievers and managed to find great seats!

Millie Janalee was so excited!  She asked before the program, "Where's Pawpaw? Is Pawpaw coming to my school?" I nearly cried.  Y'all know our family doesn't miss anything.  Ever.  So of course, we Facetimed Pawpaw and Susu in Disney World.  Ha!  That seemed to satisfy her.

As the program started, the children walked down the aisle to take their place on stage.  This was probably my favorite part.  There was a huge gap in the line, and I couldn't figure out what had happened.  Ummmm...it was Millie Janalee.  She looked lost.  She was looking around at every single person she passed and walking sooo slow.  Then when she found us - priceless!  I love that girl!

Each age group sang two songs, and all the students 2-5 sang one song at the beginning and at the end.  They did such a great job!  Although I really couldn't take my eyes off the little pilgrims.

She was sitting next to two of her favorite little friends, and we just giggled as we watched them show each other where their parents were.  Millie Janalee was such a nosey little pilgrim.  She pretty much turned around watching the other children perform most of the time she wasn't singing.  Her teacher had to pull her down to her step and turn her around several times.

This picture cracks me up!  Oh, to be a fly on the wall in their little classroom.  We can't figure out what in the world is happening in this picture, but I'm thinking it's right before the little boy next to Millie Janalee elbowed her to the ground.  Hahaha!  I can't blame him.  Millie Janalee was elbowing him first!  What precious little ones!  I can't wait to watch them all grow together.

We were so thankful for the family members who were able to make it to see our little pilgrim in her first school program.  Roan and Leah stopped by between two other engagements.  They were able to see Millie Janalee's class perform before stepping out.  It was so thoughtful of them to take time out of their day to celebrate with us.

And, of course, Elle didn't miss it either!  Grace rode with Elle, and Millie Janalee was so excited to see them.  She actually shouted, "Hey Elle!" from the stage.  I think she actually said, "Hey Grace!" too.  Ha!

I am so thankful for our sweet preschool.  The teachers, assistants, and all the other staff members have been SUCH a blessing to me as a new preschool mom.  And they just LOVE on Millie Janalee like nothing I could have imagined!  They all know her name, and they greet her with such enthusiasm.  God had his hand in this - I have no doubt.  He worked out the details all along the way as we prepared for this transition.

Thankful.  We are thankful, yes sirree!

Turkey Day

Hello there!  I hope every had a very Happy Thanksgiving!  We sure did.  As my sister-in-law says, "There is always always always something to be thankful for."  Nine years ago, Russ and I could never have imagined how abundantly God would have blessed us.  Thanksgiving morning, I looked up and saw two precious answered prayers playing in the floor, the fire going, Christmas decorations and lights, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in the background.  Happy Thanksgiving to us indeed!

Russ and I were thrilled to not be traveling on Thanksgiving weekend.  This has never happened.  In nearly all the 10 years we've been married...we have always traveled home for Thanksgiving.  This year, we were home.  We hosted my side of the family on Thanksgiving Day.  My mom came early that morning to fix brunch for us complete with fruit arranged like a turkey, muffins, cheese grits, and breakfast casserole.  It was delicious!

Smith napped through the whole thing, but our spunky three year old was ready and waiting for her muffins.  She's pretty picky, so muffins was a success in my book!

Closer to lunchtime, my dad and my sister arrived.  They stopped to visit my grandmother, who is recovering from TWO broken legs!  Bless her heart, y'all!  Russ and I may have been hosting Thanksgiving, but my sister (the gourmet chef of the family) prepared most everything for Thanksgiving dinner.  My parents were able to relax and enjoy family.  One of them may have even hid in Millie Janalee's room to take a nap.

Russ has not had many days off lately.  He's been working lots of weekends and had some night calls.  So he also enjoyed a day of relaxing and hanging out with family.  He served as our "lobby entertainment" at the Johnson Inn.  Ha!

I think everyone enjoyed a low key day watching football and spending time as a family.  The kids ran around and played together, napped, and fought (Ha!) while the adults ate and ate and rested.

Some lent a helping hand in the kitchen while Kristin slaved away on a delightful and traditional Thanksgiving meal...

We laughed a lot and tried to stretch out our full bellies from time to time.  We had to make room for more!

And at the end of the day, the main meal was served!  Kristin planned the menu and worked tirelessly all week helping me decorate for Christmas, making cookies, and then preparing most of this meal herself.  Thankful.

Russ and I broke in our dining room table for the first time.  It feels good to fill Nonnie's table with those we love most.  We even pulled out MawMaw's dining room table in the foyer.  We filled them both!  Such joy!

Russ and I have had a rough year.  But we have also had an amazingly blessed year.  We are forever thankful for so many people, experiences, and things in our life.  What a joy it is to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding...

From our family to yours - Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving with Russ's Side of the Family

After an enjoyable Thanksgiving Day, my mom, sister, and I enjoyed a spa day on Friday.  Instead of Black Friday shopping.  We spent four hours being pampered with facials, massages, manicures, and pedicures.  We also enjoyed a lunch between services.  If you have never done this, I promise you it will change your life.  Ha!  Or maybe it's just us.  I'm like a dog.  I'll back up to anyone who will rub. A special thanks to my dad for keeping Millie Janalee entertained with a playground, a trip to the depot, and whatever else they did.  And thanks to Elle who kept Smith at Russ's parents' house.  Divide and conquer.  That's how I handled childcare.  Ha!

Saturday, we spent the day celebrating Thanksgiving with Russ's family.  We all missed Russ, but we had a fabulous time.  Millie Janalee especially loves all the attention from her older cousins.  She went straight to her favorite spot in the house...the tea set.  Poor Sam!  Millie Janalee begged him for tea parties all afternoon, and he was so sweet to join her.  He was also glad when Leah and Grace took over tea party duty!

Pouring her tea so carefully.

Leah and Millie Janalee having tea

Roan took Olivia around to some downtown shops to Christmas shop for her friends.  They invited me to come along.  And the men of the house graciously agreed to babysit.  Millie Janalee was in good hands with all the younger kids.  The older girls went shopping with us.  Russ's dad and brother were in charge of Smith.  It still makes me giggle a bit.  Everyone was alive when we returned and the men seemed to have been okay.

Pop and Smith

Uncle Jimmy and Smith

We arrived in time for our "second lunch" (long story) and the big game.  You know the one I'm talking about.  We won't spend much time on the subject for obvious reasons.  But while I was busy watching the game, yelling at the screen, and nearly knocking the lamp over in the sunroom...the cousins were busy keeping my children.  It's so wonderful having built in babysitters who love my babies so much!

Julie feeding Smith

Olivia enjoying her coffee after some homework and a nap.

Elle and Millie Janalee

Once the game was over, all the adults began milling about.  Seth tried out his new camera while I tried to get my children to pose for an Egg Bowl picture.  Millie Janalee had NOT had a nap all day, so we took what we could get.  Clean up began, and we began to load our belongings.

Anna Kate and Seth

Roan taking care of the big bird!

Baby Bulldogs!  Win or lose.

It's always a joy spending time with my in-laws.  Of course we all like it best when Russ is there, but I guess they settled for me.  Or maybe I was just the mode of transportation for the babies.  Haha!  Either way...I'm feeling blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving indeed!

Thanksgiving with My Side of the Family

For Thanksgiving, I drove Millie Janalee and Smith 5 1/2 hours south to my hometown.  Unfortunately Russ had to work every day of Thanksgiving and the weekend after.  I debated back and forth on whether I felt guilty leaving him for the first time on Thanksgiving...and so far away.  In the end, we decided to go.  It was a win win.  Except that we would miss each other on Thanksgiving.  He would get to actually sleep and have uninterrupted rest.  I hoped for something similar since my mom usually helps so much with the kids.  Ha!  Russ actually ended up celebrating and having two Thanksgiving meals with different groups of friends and coworkers.

Thanksgiving morning, we woke up and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as we always do.  Millie Janalee and Pawpaw sat on the floor to watch it while eating breakfast, and I sat in the recliner snuggling Smith.  After the parade was over, we all got showered and dressed for the day.  Just in time for a little casual lunch.  Millie Janalee enjoyed her Thanksgiving lunch of grilled cheese!  Surprise surprise.  Ha!

I spent the afternoon helping my mom decorate her Christmas tree while Millie Janalee and Pawpaw spent the afternoon outside playing with Brodie (my brother's chocolate lab).  It was a freezing cold day, but she didn't seem to mind.  Smith rested and did his fair share of sleeping in the swing while we decorated.  He's thoughtful like that.

Kristin offered to host Thanksgiving dinner for us at her house.  Usually our extended families join us as well.  However, this year it was just our immediate family and my grandmother.  It was a nice low-key Thanksgiving with LOTS of yummy food.  My mom did most of the cooking, and Kristin made a side or two.  Let's see...we had ham, twice baked mashed potatoes, corn, green bean bundles, dressing, rolls and the like.  So good!  Kristin had set the tables so nicely...

The adult table

The kids and their parents table.  Ha!

We arrived early to visit a bit, and we enjoyed catching up, laughing, and watching the big babies play.  Millie Janalee and Hughes are just now getting to the age where they will actually play together.  Or rather, Hughes is able to at least sit up long enough for Millie Janalee to crawl all over him. Ha!  While we sat around waiting on the food and visiting, we also had some football on in the background.  Because, what's Thanksigiving without football?!

Hughes, Maw Maw, Millie Janalee, Smith, and Sheila

She loves Hughes!

Bless his heart.  Just trying to do push ups while Millie Janalee pushes him.

A little supervision helps

Sweet cousins!

We didn't bring in all the extra tables and chairs since the extended family couldn't make it this year.  Just with our little family, we still run out of seating.  Lee used Maw Maw's wheelchair.  It's probably quite comfortable actually!

We don't see She She and Buck very often these days.  My brother just bought a house in Starkville and they have been busy getting things taken care of.  We spent a lot of time that night discussing all the Black Friday deals on refrigerators and dishwashers.  Ha!  This makes me laugh because of how "adult" it made Dustin look.  Sheila was our Black Friday shopper, and she was able to find a dishwasher and fridge for a good deal!  We spent all night on the phone with her getting the specifics and Dustin bought them over the phone.  Bless her!

She She, Smith, and Buck

After eating our delicious meal and loading up on desserts, we gathered back in the living room to "play" and enjoy our time together.  Sheila had to leave to meet her Black Friday shopping group in Tupelo, but the rest of us hung around.  I remember when we did Black Friday shopping every year when we spent Thanksgiving in Jackson.  I'm not sure I could handle it right now.  Plus, Russ and I cut way back this year in the event of surprise adoption fees...so I'm pretty much finished with my shopping anyway.  I spent my Black Friday early hours snuggling my babies!

My greatest blessings!

Buck, Smith, Susu

Kristin, Nana, and Hughes

Millie Janalee loves wearing her sock gloves!  She pretends to be Miss Patty Cake.

Cousin love

By the end of the night we were all tired and ready to climb in bed.  Some more than others...

I am more thankful this year than ever as I look down and see my lap so full!  My heart is full too.  Thanksgiving did not pass without me giving thanks for the four people who gave life to my sweet babies and loved them enough to make a sweet plan for each of them.  What a blessing!  We missed Russ terribly, but I am glad he was able to rest and celebrate with friends.

God is good.