Wii Love Christmas

Ok Ok a gooby title, but stay with me. Papa Sid got Tripp a Wii this year for Christmas. He absolutely loved it. He is a master bowler. He has even earned his pro status (those of you in the Wii world know what that is) The video of him opening it is priceless, but the face in the picture is just as good. Papa Sid also bought Tripp a Chia Pet. Yes a Chia Pet. Tripp told him that he wanted one, so of course we had to get one. It is now growing in my kitchen. The funny thing is, I had a Chia Pet when I was little, but I think that it grew one sprout the whole time. Maybe we will be more successful with this one. On Christmas day, we had all of the grandparents over for brunch and Stephanie and the boys even joined us this year. I absolutely love Christmas Day. I love having everyone together enjoying each others company. I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and will have a happy and blessed new year.

Christmas Cookies 2008

Every year we decorate Christmas cookies together as a family. We usually have Gavin with us as well and they make a total mess and have lots of fun. Most years, I am Martha Stewart Jr. and I make cookies and icing from scratch, but this year it was break and bake cookies with canned icing. Amazingly, the boys didn't know any different. I guess I felt extremely adventurous this year, and decided to have Gavin and Jay (our nephews) join us. Somehow, we also ended up with Hughes (our other nephew). Thank goodness I had Charlie to help me!! The boys had a great time and ended up eating more that they decorated. Check out the top photo - that is Jay in the orange. I am not sure what that face is all about :}

Almost a White Christmas

Well I have been dreaming of a White Christmas all of my life. Instead it came on December 11th. In Mississippi, we take what we can get. It was absolutely beautiful to look at. Tripp and Charlie got out and built a snowman and had a snowball fight. They snowman actually lasted for 2 days. I am so glad that Tripp got to experience this while he was young, but old enough hopefully to remember it.

The Big 5!!!

On October 22, 2008, Tripp turned 5 years old. It is amazing to me that his life is going by so fast. On the 22nd, we went to Cracker Barrel to eat with all of the grandparents. On Tripp's first birthday, we started a tradition to have dinner with all of the grandparents on Tripp's birthday. This year, he decided that he wanted to eat at Cracker Barrel instead of me cooking. This was great for me since we were right in the middle of football season and had so much going on. For his party, we celebrated at Pizza Hut. He had lots of friends that came to his party and they played in the PlayHut, ate lots of pizza and cake, and opened lots of presents. Tripp even had a cake that was decorated like a pizza. Tripp got his first bike for his birthday. He loves riding it and loves it even more when he can ride with a friend.

One more Jackson

Ok - so I know that I am a complete blogger failure and I have not blogged since the fair in October, but that is what pregnancy does for you. Yes I said it. For those of you who did not know, we found out in October that we are going to be blessed with another child. This new addition will arrive on June 1oth. Needless to say it has been a long first trimester - sickness, exhaustion, and worry all wrapped into one. We had a sonogram on October 30th and heard the wonderful sound of a heartbeat. When we went back in November, the doctor could not hear the hearbeat with the doppler. Of course, complete and total worry set in. She took me in for a sonogram, and got a hearbeat of 180 beats per min. (I will take this up with this little miracle when he/she gets here and let him/her know that it is not nice to make your mama worry!!!!) Our last appointment, was Christmas Eve and we heard a heartbeat on the doppler of 151 beats per minute. We are so excited about this addition to our family and cannot wait for him/her to get here. Tripp is also very excited about being a big brother. He says that this is his little sister. I am sure that either way, he will be very excited and will be a wonderful big brother. We find out the sex of the baby on January 19th. As long as it is healthy and happy, we do not care if it is a boy or a girl. Although, everyone needs a little girl in their house right?

Fun at the Fair!!

Ok, so our yearly tradition of going to the fair continued on Saturday. Ronnie Pops and Mama Sig joined us for this family tradition. Mama Sig loves to go to the fair and eat. While I think that Ronnie Pops would be just as happy at home or in his deer stand, I know that he enjoys the time with Tripp. This year, Tripp was a little braver than last year. He rode some of the more "thrilling" rides by himself and stepped out to ride some of the big boy rides. One ride in particular was especially entertaining. It was the one that lifts you up and then drops you over and over again. Tripp was just fine while the ride was going up, but the look on his face when the ride was dropping, was priceless. I think that he left permanent impressions on the metal bars from hanging on for dear life. Of course, we all enjoyed the food - funnel cake, free biscuits, roasted corn, and ice cream. What better than nasty, greasy food to really top off the fair experience.

"You'll always be my friend . . . you know too much"

I read this quote the other day and it got me to thinking - isn't that the truth with my friends. Ya'll are in way too deep now to get out :) Hillcrest 202, USM bookstore, FCC -Atlanta trip, 'the cul-de-sac', car sick trip to Mobile, beach trips, bunko, PPCA (need I say more :}) You know who you are if one or more of these items brings a smile to your face. They definitely bring fond memories to my mind. I feel like so many times, we take our friends for granted - I know I do. Your friends are the only ones there to love and support you next to your family. They are the only ones there to tell you, "that dress is way too tight" or "that is a horrible shade of lipstick". Without friends, we would be walking around looking pitiful and lonely. As I was pondering this thought, I considered all of the different kinds of friends that I have been blessed with: old friends, new friends, high school/college friends, church friends, teacher friends (the ones who can truly appreciate your "school" story), and those friends who know just what to say and when to say it. I am overwhelmed at the outpouring of love my friends showed me this summer. I have truly been blessed with friends that would roll out of bed at 4:00 in the morning if needed and never ask questions or complain one time. Thank you to my friends that are reading this. I love you all. My goal for this year is to become a better friend. To be the friend to you that you have been to me. I added some pics of me and some friends. I wish that I had one with all of you, but these were some that were saved on my computer (yes, for those of you who were not around yet, that is me in my wedding dress). I love you all!!!