Party, Party, Party

 We still have a week until Christmas Day, but we have already fit in so many holiday fun and traditions.

It would not be Christmas without our trip to Mellow Mushroom and the Garden Lights at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. It had been raining constantly all week, but it cleared up long enough for a beautiful night with the most amazing lights. It was especially good this year with new features.

Maggie and Jacob's elementary school hosted The Giving Tree program where the students presented toys to MUST Ministries for Christmas. Jacob was chosen as a gift bearer this year, so he was able to carry his class's gifts into the assembly to present in front of the audience.

Our three Beethovens performed their Christmas songs at their recital. Ms. Becky reserved the piano at Von Maur, so not only did the families get to enjoy the music, but holiday shoppers got a special treat, too!

Maggie traded cookies, decorated gingerbread houses, and played game with her Roswell Gymnastics team at the annual Christmas party.

I hosted the Foxhall ladies for a White Elephant home decor gift exchange and drinks/appetizers. I love our neighborhood and find any excuse to get together even if my gift got stolen by one of my closest friends. :)

Maggie had another gym party with her Level 6 team to exchange Secret Santa gifts. I did not take any pictures, but the girls headed to The Pasta Factory after Friday practice for dinner and to unveil their presents! Much to Maggie's surprise, her bestie, Alma, bought for her!

Our weekend morning started with homemade waffles for the family. Maggie made this festive breakfast all on her own!

Afterwards, we drove to Phipps Plaza to chat with Santa and submit final lists.

The boys were determined to be on the Nice List and even let me snap a sweet photo.

Jay and I were thrilled to fit in a holiday date night and enjoyed the YUMMIEST meal at Canton St. Social. The mussel appetizer still has us drooling! I loved reconnecting with my favorite guy during such a busy season. 

Today was our first official Christmas celebration with Gram and Grumps. While we always look forward to watching ALL the cousins open gifts, I was anticipating the gift I bought for my mom. There was a coat that she found in Paris and talked herself out of buying it TWICE. Two months ago I tracked down this special piece. Just last week she mentioned how much she regrets not buying it. I could barely hold in my excitement. Her reaction will definitely be the highlight of my entire holiday!

The kids still have another week of school, but it mostly will consist of theme days and parties. (Sadly Tuttle can only look forward to tests and final assignments). Christmas memories are just getting started!

Sugar Plum Success

 I interrupt our regularly scheduled Christmas program to make a huge announcement. MEET SEASON has begun for Maggie competing Level 6 with her Roswell team.

Her new optional leo arrived just in time on Friday, and I have finally figured out how to style Maggie's hair for meets without the fear of it falling during an event. 

When I explain that Maggie works hard, that is an understatement. She is focused, driven, and such a supportive teammate as she spends at least 16 hours a week training. If Maggie sets a goal, she is going to make it. I have no doubt about that. Honestly I went into this competition season with much less nerves than previous years. I knew she was ready and would show out for the judges.

We did set realistic expectations because the girls at her level are amazing, so we were hoping for an all around score of at least 36 to be close to the gym's requirements of two 36s to train the next level.

Maggie was ON FIRE! Not only did she achieve her initial goal of 36.925, but she placed 3rd on beam (9.35), 2nd on floor (9.4), 1st on bars (9.4) and 1st ALL AROUND in her age group! What a spectacular way to start the season! We are so proud of Maggie and her entire team. 

Maggie is ready to return to the gym this week to make corrections. She does not have another meet until January, but we are ready to see what she can do!

More Thankfulness

 We always get twice the celebration with our second Thanksgiving at Gram and Grumps's house. This year there were 30 people eating a delicious meal and cheering on the Dawgs to another victory!

I wish we got the entire family together more often because it is always so much fun!

To be honest we had already started decking the halls before Thanksgiving, but now the house is in FULL Christmas mode. Jay has been traveling a lot for work recently, so we made sure to decorate the main tree while he was home because it would not be Christmas without Daddy singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and putting our favorite ornaments on the tree.

The kids survived another year designing gingerbread houses. There was only one major sibling brawl, so I call that a win. Special mention goes to the glue gun that guaranteed stable houses to decorate.

We are done Christmas shopping, cards are ready to be mailed, and the elves have arrived to monitor behavior. Let's enjoy a memorable holiday season!

From the Tent to the Turkey

 The boys headed off for a camping trip at the beginning of the break. Jay had recently stocked up on new camping gear and was eager to put it to use with Jacob and Tuttle. They hoped for multiple nights, but since we are dealing with a master bathroom repair and delivery of a new dishwasher, the adventure was limited to only one night. 

The boys were able to check off a lot of fun in only a short time. Jacob loved hiking and chopping down a tree for fire wood. Tuttle enjoyed driving Jay's Jeep on the trail roads and cooking dinner for everyone. They are already planning another getaway!

We drove to Madison for our first Thanksgiving feast on Thursday. Grandmommy and Grandaddy hosted, and we gobbled up a delicious meal. The cousins raced the go-cart around the house, and I convinced my own children to stay in "fancy" clothes just long enough to snap some pictures....

We have so much to be thankful for this year. In such a hustle and bustle world, I am so glad that the kids appreciate what really matters.

Happy Thanksgiving 2022!

So Thankful

 We have so much to be thankful for this year....

a neighborhood full of great friends that celebrate each other (Happy 40th Birthday, Matt!)

family recipes that we can pass down to a new generation

the fact that I do not have to keep up with middle school fashion anymore :)

a little boy that still wants to snuggle in our bed every night

living close enough to Athens that we can easily head there on a Friday for an amazing concert

sweet holiday performances at an even sweeter school

and being reminded about what is really important to be thankful for...

Christmas decorations have already taken over the house, and Leo is clearly a fan of the new climbing toys

After traveling the last few weeks for his new job, Jay is taking vacation this week for Thanksgiving. VERY thankful to have my hard working husband home.

Happy Halloweenie!

 We competed in our annual pumpkin carving contest the day before Halloween while Grandmommy and Grandaddy were still in town visiting. This was the first year that everyone carved their own pumpkin independently! Jacob did not hesitate with his design or digging right in. Maggie stressed for perfection, but ultimately won the social media voting poll by a landslide!

For the record, the creations belonged to the following family members: Dracula (Mommy), Aunt Gladys (Daddy), Jack-O-Sparrow (Jacob), Owl (Maggie), and Gary, with the upset stomach (Tuttle).

Maggie also participated in her gym pumpkin decorating contest. We were sure that this was her year to win a free private lesson, but our rubber duck design did not place at all. A gym friend suggested that we enter Maggie into her real estate company competition, and Maggie won one of two $50 Amazon gift cards!

With Halloween on a Monday, we started our trick-or-treating early in the neighborhood. Unexpectedly Jacob started complaining of an ear ache about 30 minutes before we left the house. I encouraged him to try to enjoy the day, but he asked Daddy to bring him home after only a few houses. You know a six year old has to be hurting to forgo Halloween! Maggie offered to take his bag around to collect candy for him to eat later.

Jay was such a good sport with his mustard costume. Maggie found it at Target when she discovered the hotdog costume and wanted the duo to be matching. We took some fun photos, and then Maggie suggested that Daddy just wear regular clothes to walk around Foxhall. :) 

Soon after Jacob retreated home, Tuttle took off for the neighborhood across the street to meet up with friends. That left me and the Halloweenie to tackle as many houses as we could. Rosie joined us in our almost three hour hunt for candy!

Tuttle told us that this will probably be his last year trick-or-treating. I am not ready for this sweet tradition to come to an end with my babies! I am hoping he changes his mind when he realizes that he will not have a pillow case of candy to snack on for months if he quits! :)