Merry Christmas 2010!!!

This years Christmas was absolutely wonderful!!! We all had a hectic, cold, busy, fun-filled time. My Dad arrived on December 21st to begin the festivities. It was such a great treat to have him here!! All the the grandkids (and adults) LOVED that he was able to spend this Christmas with us!!! We had so much fun on his visit. The six days he spent with us flew by!!!!!! We visited Michael, Nicole, and Will's new house. The kids couldn't wait to show Papa their rooms and new home! We also visited Momma Joe's Christmas cabin. Dad got a chance to go watch Skyler and Alyssa at gymnastics/tumbling. It was a great time for him to be there......SKYLER DID HER BACK HANDSPRING ALL BY HER SELF!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go Skyler!!!!!!!!! We ate WAY TO MUCH yummy food, had great conversations, played fun games, and enjoyed every minute that we had!! Can't wait until he returns for the next visit!!!!!!

Christmas Eve was fantastic! We had all of our family here with us. We had the following able to come celebrate with us: Rusty, Matt, Skyler, Alyssa, Momma Joe, Papa, Michael, Nicole, Will, Great Grandmother, Grandmom, Grandad, John, Michael, Michelle, Sean, and Emma. WOW...what a house full, but it was a great time! It was very special to get both Matt and I's families together. Again, on Christmas Eve we had tons of yummy food, fun, and presents! I don't think I would have changed anything about this day if I could.

Christmas Eve night was filled with our traditional activities. We set out cookies/candy out for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer. Matt read "Twas the Night Before Christmas", and we sprinkled reindeer food in the front yard. The girls struggled a bit trying to go to sleep, but they eventually drifted off. We all awoke to great surprises from Santa. The girls woke up a bit too early (6 am), but they were just too excited to sleep!! We followed stockings by the opening of gifts. As always, it was way too many. We are a very lucky family!!!!!

And one of the best gifts of all...........a white Christmas!!!!!

I can't forget to mention that Skyler was SUPER cute this Christmas........

"All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" :)

December 2010

Hey Everyone! This month has just began and we are already BUSY!!!! This is one of my favorite months of the year!!!

On Saturday we went to a Christmas parade in Kennesaw. It is always so much fun! Great floats, good music, live reindeer, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Rusty, Matt, Skyler, Alyssa, Nicole, and Momma Joe all went. Will and Michael were at Will's super bowl game - which he won!!!!!!!!!

After the parade we headed to Momma Joes to do our annual Christmas Candy baking!! She made lots of yummy candy and had lots of fun!! The kids love to help (sometimes a little too much :) ) This is one my most favorite times of the year!!

On Sunday we did our annual Harrelson Family tradition and went to Marietta Square to see Santa. We were a little worried about how Alyssa would do! She was adamant about NOT sitting on Santas lap!!!! She told us that she was NOT going to do it, and she didn't want candy from him because she already had some. We were prepared for the worst. Skyler did a great job of talking to her before and during the process. To our amazement she walked right in, gave Santa a high five, and sat on his lap. Skyler told Santa that she wanted a camera that can go underwater (who knows where that came from?????) and another American Girl Doll. Alyssa told him what she has been telling us for weeks..........CANDY!! :) After Santa we had brunch - Matt's favorite part :) Skyler and Grandmom then went to the Nutcracker. Skyler absolutely LOVED it!!!!!!!!!!!

October 2010

It's been awhile since my last post! A lot has gone on!! We've been super busy so get ready for a lot of new pictures and news on multiple events:)

Skyler had her homecoming game. The got to play at the high school stadium so the cheerleaders and football players were very excited! They won and the cheerleaders did an awesome job! If you notice in the picture Skyler is captain this game so she has a different bow on:) Skyler has truly loved cheering this year!! Her team is entering the playoffs this weekend - GO WOODSTOCK!!! She plans to keep on with this!!

Alyssa has started gymnastics, while Skyler does tumbling. They are both loving it! Alyssa wasn't too sure the first time, but she LOVES it now!! I don't have any pictures, but they are soon to come!!

Skyler also got to participate in a school long tradition at Sixes. The first grade does a cattle drive every year. They learn about the wild west and each student (with A LOT of the parent help) makes a cow. On the day of the cattle drive all 1st graders dress in western wear and bring in their homemade cows for the drive. The entire school and most all the parents of the 1st graders come in as they "round up their cattle" through all the halls of the school. It was very cute and all the kids (including the other grades) were so excited about it! Skyler won best cow in her class and got to go to the Principals treasure box!!!!

We had a wonderful Halloween. Everyone was here this year, except Nicole and Will. They will be here next year!! We had lots of good food, great weather, and LOTS of candy!!!! Michelle and I enjoy making making different and spooky looking Halloween food!! We had lots of great stuff this year! Skyler dressed as Jasmine, Alyssa was a witch, Sean was a Ninja, Emma was a Ladybug, and Pepe was a Hot dog!! We weren't sure if Alyssa was going to wear her costume, but at the last minute she decided she wanted too:) All the kids looked great!!!!!!!

These are our creations!!!!!!!!

Corn Maize at Cagles Dairy Farm

Today we took the girls to the "Corn Maize" at Cagles Dairy Farm. It was a blast. They have the "Corn Maize" that goes for miles. While in the corn you come upon signs that give you clues on which way to go. The clues didn't help us very much:) However, we eventually made our way out. Skyler got to ride a horse. She originally wanted to ride on the pony, but luckly the guy working there talked her into a big horse. She thought it was pretty cool. The dairy farm has what is called "jump pillows" on the ground. They are huge trampolines for the kids to jump on. Both girls really enjoyed this. We parted with an awesome pumpkin for Halloween!!!!!

Alyssa Dancing to "Thriller"

This is my first attempt at putting a video on here. Hope it works..........SO FUNNY!!!!!!

The past couple of weeks have been very busy!!!! We have already completed the first seven weeks of school. It's crazy how fast it has gone by! Matt is really enjoying his new PE position this year!! Basketball tryouts will be starting for him within the next few weeks. Hopefully he will love that as well!!

Skyler and Alyssa are doing great!!! Skyler is loving 1st grade!! She is doing so great. She loves reading and taking the AR (reading comp.) tests, computer lab, PE, and having more freedom than she did in Kindergarten. She has met so many new friends, and has started having sleep-overs!! Alyssa is LOVING going to Nancy's. She has such a fun time everyday! She is totally resisting potty training right now. So I guess we'll take a break and visit it again at a later date :) She will do it when she is ready.

This past week has been absolutely wonderful! I left on Friday to go to my best friend Sommer's wedding. I have been friends with Sommer since 2nd grade. It was such an honor to be in her wedding. I also got to catch up with two of my oldest friends Heather and Kristy. It was so much fun to catch up and meet their families!!!! My how time flies!!!!!!!

On Sunday Dad drove to Texas to pick me up and take me back to Oklahoma. Matt drove the girls out there on Saturday/Sunday. They stopped in Little Rock to stay the night on Saturday, then finished the drive on Sunday. He said the girls were absolutely wonderful for him :) We got to spend 3 nights with my Dad and Mama. It was awesome!!! The girls had the time of their lives. I also got to see Darla, Bill, Terry, Sherry, and Nate. It was nice to catch up, reminisce, and share new stories. We also got to see the Shawnee War Veterens Memorial in downtown Shawnee. It is so beautiful. Papa has a stone there. The entire memorial is not done yet, but it is looking good! Matt and the girls got to see hay being plowed and rolled. They were totally entertained by this:)