Christmas Cheer

Hope, peace, joy and love - the themes of advent.  I pray that my children experienced these gifts this holiday season.  Our Christmas festivities kicked off on Thursday with a relatively new annual tradition - dinner at the Shreveport Club.  I can remember going pre kids so it's something we've been doing at leas 7 years.  Since having kids, I think we've had the same Santa Clause in attendance so it's been fun to see their reactions to the big, jolly man evolve as well as how much bigger they get sitting on his lap each year!

On Christmas Eve, we went to church for the traditional Lessons and Carols service.  Again, something I've done since I was little but I was struck how far we've come in the past few years from crying babies to a couple of six year olds that can read the words out of the hymnal as we sing.

Our annual Christmas Eve photo - missing Rebekah and Dave

Christmas morning began very early with Haley bouncing into the living room around 3:30 a.m.!  It was slightly endearing to hear the excitement in her voice as she called for others to join her to see Santa's goodies, but that was entirely too early so we wrangled everyone back to bed and we were able to sleep for 3 more hours, thank goodness.

After opening gifts we went to church for what was a beautifully wonderful celebration of Jesus' birthday. 

Following the service we headed to my grandparents house where we met up with my parents, sister, aunt, uncle and cousins to eat brunch and commence the gift giving/receiving fun!  After a morning full of fun, everyone departed ways for a few hours to rest and to recuperate.  We went back to my grandparents' house later that evening to enjoy dinner together as well.

We are a very blessed family in that we are close by the proximity of our homes (our house, my parents' house, my aunt & uncle's house and my grandparents' house are all with in a 1 mile radius - we could walk if need be!) and we are close by virtue of our love and the family tie that binds.  I have experienced the last 34 Christmases in that very same den and look forward to many more to come!  We certainly missed my sister and brother in law but so look forward to this time next year when they and their new baby girl will be there to join us (Avery is to make her debut in February!!)!

4 generations of Talbots

Santa had a long morning - checking out my cousin's new bottle of whiskey!

Make a Joyful Noise!

We are making progress!  Last year the girls wouldn't even stand on stage; this year they put on the robes and stood in front of the congregation with the FBC Shreveport Children's Choir.  They didn't sing but I'm proud of them regardless.  There is a very good chance that I wore the same robe they had on as I sang on the same stage at that same age! Whether they wear the robes singing hymns of old or wear jeans, clap their hands and sing about taming the tongue, I pray they may understand and appreciate the beauty of worshipping the Lord through music and song.  While I may not be a gifted singer, I love to lift my voice in highest praise and sing to the One to whom all glory and honor be given.  (and I apologize to Sarah Sherry who has to sit next to me in choir as I belt out many of the wrong notes as we sing...I'm thankful she is my friend and loves me anyway!)

Photo courtesy of Candace Chaney

What's so special about a baby



Gracie left, Haley right - early 2006

 I've been going through a lot of photos lately in attempts to come up with fun photo gifts for the family.  I've been getting sidetracked in Shutterfly looking at older albums.  Maybe it's the season and the impending celebration of our Savior's birth, but I keep looking at the pictures of my babies and getting teary eyed remembering those moments.  Moments which were often difficult, often wrought with exhaustion,  yet
moments that I look back with pure amazement, joy and thanksgiving.  Wow, sometimes I can't believe we've survived and the time has slipped by so quickly.  I hope and pray during this hectic holiday season that I take the take to slow down, soak in the moments, hold fast to old memories while making new ones. 
There is a line in the upcoming children's Christmas program at church that I keep mulling over.  The angels learn that God is coming to earth as a baby and one angel says, "...a baby!  What's so special about a baby?"  I ask, what's not?


Sam's birthday 2/23/07



So much to say...

I have been absent for quite some time but 2011 has proven to be a year of change and transition.  Much more on that to come but for now, my three little turkeys!  I will be forever grateful for being given the privilege of being called their mama.

the SSG turns 4!!

Hard to believe my little 5 pound squirt is now my big 'ol 4 year old!  He had a great day that started out with Southern Maid donuts (he ate 2!  ironically, not eating is what kept him in the NICU for a few extra days!), got chocolate cupcakes at school to celebrate with his friends, and ended the night with breakfast for dinner.  While last year he was obsessed with all things "Cars", he has moved onto the Toy Story franchise.  Oh he still likes his cars, but Buzz and Woody rule right now.

What joy his life has brought into our family in these four short years.  Happy birthday baby boy and here's to many more to come!

Birth day 2007



birthday 2011



showing off his birthday party invite






Potato Heads from Toostie & Pop...of course part of Toy Story obsession

 



celebration at school

friends and hearts

A totally random title for a few of last week's goodies!

Bethany loves to craft and paper crafting is her outlet of choice.  So far she has taught several of us how to make these cute little paper boxes that can be used for gifts, to store random trinkets or just as little pretties to leave sitting around.  Last Thursday we had a craft night complete with the best homemade gourmet popcorn, Bethany's famous chocolate cookies and an impressive arsenal of embellishments!!


Thursday - February 10,2011
















I did not get a chance to snap a photo on Friday but Jason were able to have an early Valentine's Day date thanks to PNO (Parent's Night Out) at church.  We had a lovely dinner that involved adult conversation and an adult beverage or two.  It was a well needed outing!

Saturday was one of the most glorious days we have had in quite some time.  The skies were blue, the sun was shinning and I think it topped out around 70 degrees.  Me and the trio met Candace and her three at the church playground for some lunch and playtime.  I was able to get this self portrait with baby Asher!  Really, this is one super cute kiddo!!

Saturday - February 12, 2011



On Sunday morning, Sam woke up early as per usual and in an effort to let the girls keep sleeping (and daddy too) we headed out for some coffee and donuts.  As it was the day before Valentine's Day, Southern Maid was offering these ginormous heart shaped donuts with hot pink icing.  Hmmm hmmm!  Kids got those while me and Jason got Starbucks.

Sunday - February 13, 2011

 

Monday, Valentine's Day!!  When we got home, Tootsie had left these fun heart balloons along with several other fun goodies.  Dinner was topped off with cupcakes I made for the day.  I'd say we all had our fill of sugar!  I don't know what kind of crazy face Sam is making but this is as good as I could get!

After almost 8 years of marriage, my husband has finally embraced my love language, acts of service, and had dinner cooked for everyone, bathed the kids, put them to bed and did some laundry while I enjoyed an early evening run.  He's the best and I really do appreciate all of the gifts he bestows on my daily!



Monday, February 14,2011



First Sam wrote his name!!  We have been practicing "S" a lot but he usually gets frustrated and throws the crayon but yeah, he did it this time!  He has the "A" down but it looks like his "M" could use a little work so his name doesn't read Saw!  Regardless I'm proud!  Not too bad for a 3 year, 357 day old!!



Tuesday, February 15, 2011



 

 

 Look what my husband surprised me with last night!  I heart Samoas!  What a treat after a long Wednesday.

Wednesday - February 16, 2011

I'm having lots of fun with my little project and it is making me much more aware of life around me and how quicly it passes.  Looking forward to more gems throughout the year ~

it continues...

Monday - February 7, 2011
Getting the girls to hold their fists out...this is for the V-day cards at school.  I printed them out and in the process of putting a sucker to make it look like they are holding it for their friend.  "I'm a sucker for you"!!

Tuesday - February 8, 2011
My first baby's birthday!!  Lily turned 9...I can't believe we've had her for that long!  She still has the energy of a one year old, good and bad.  If nothing else, she is a loyal companion and I love love my puppy!

Wednesday - February 9, 2011
A non-snow snow day here in Shreveport.  After spending the morning with their daddy, the trio went to Tootsie's.  This event will require a post all on it's own!

365

Two plus months...knew it had been a while but time sure did fly quickly!  Too much has happened during this lapse of time to recap but a little lesson I learned involved goals.
Back in late summer, I got in my mind the crazy idea to run a half marathon and I managed to convince Candace that it would be a fabulous idea to do it together!  Several months of training ensued...there were hot, humid runs and there were chill you to the bones runs, but we had a training schedule and we stuck to it.
We are now right at 2 months post race and I've run some here and there but without a goal to work for, I haven't been as diligent.
All of this to say, I read on a blog about a Project 365 involving photos.  There may be more formal rules/guidelines in place but I've boiled it down to one easy thought...take a picture every day for 365 days, a full year.  I didn't discover this little gem until a month into the new year but I'm going with it.  So a) I have a goal b) I have a blog that no one reads BUT these a & b are going to hold me accountable!
I haven't really decided my format...post a pic each day, a few times a week, weekly, etc.  For ease and sanity, I think I'll just do it when I have a free moment (which is not right now but I've been putting it off for a week), so here we go!!

Day 1 - Saturday, January 29, 2011
Beautiful springlike day in the middle of winter so we took a family outing to our church, had a picnic and played on the playground.  I have lots of cute ones from this day so this is going to be the really hard part for me...just one!!

Day 2 - Monday, January 31,2011 (yeah, I skipped Sunday, don't hate, I'm new at this)
This is usually how I start my mornings, not too bad, well most of the time!

Day 3 - Tuesday, February 1, 2011
My first king cake of the season...yum, Julie Ann's praline & creme

Day 4 - Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Our first fire...it was a cold evening!!

Day 5 - Friday, February 4, 2011 (yep, Thursday was a no go)
Snow day!  We got a pretty good coating of the white stuff...here me and the trio are walking to Tootsie & Pop's house for a little entertainment.  Schools were closed and so was my office...whoot whoot!

Day 6 - Saturday, February 5, 2011
While we were at my parents' house the day before, Haley found a little stuffed doggie that came from a McDonald's Happy Meal, circa 2003.  She then became emphatic that we have some McD's...this was their first happy meal!  I'm not opposed to fast food for them, but we tend to stop by Wendy's as our weekly choice! 

Day 7 - Sunday, February 6, 2010
Super Bowl!  I made a cookie cake for our friend Paul who celebrates 30 something on Tuesday.  He and Jason threw our youth group a church a little super bowl party so I thought it would be a fun addition.  Happy happy Paul!

So there is week one!  Here is to the next 358 days!!