My, My, My....

Hello my name is Drea. I thought I may need to re-introduce myself to those of you out there that haven't seen me (mostly just you at church) in a few weeks due to the fact that every weekend one of us has to be sick.... and the past TWO weekends that some one was ME!!! I had the stupid stomach bug again!!! This time it wasn't just me - it was half of JD's extended family. Though I do still have a small, dull headache (I am sure it is my body saying GO TO BED YOU DUMBY!) I am much better. Christmas program is this weekend.... lets see if we make it!!

We had a great Thanksgiving (minus the sharing of the cooties) We got up early and went to see my Maw Maw and Paw Paw. I helped cook (they have supper so we didn't actually get to eat...) I loved getting to spend time with Maw Maw in her kitchen. That is something we did ALOT when I was a kid- she would let me make whatever I wanted to- and she always knew what to substitute ingredients for if you were missing something- this was a plus since she couldn't drive to the store and I wasn't old enough too :) JD and Paw Paw chatted up some football (lets not speak of THE GAME!!) and the kids ran around like loonies- climbing trees , playing hide and seek..... and eating a WHOLE apple - core and all (that would be Kaden- if you haven't noticed he likes to eat :)

From there we went to eat lunch with JD's family. My bff's and their fams came to eat with us- I love it that they come to be with us- they are US!! We ate and ate and ate some more. We then headed out to Michael's for their pre-black Friday sale. We always get some shopping in on Thanksgiving- it is a tradition- but this year we skipped on K Mart and Big Lots. I got almost all of my wrapping paper and some cute pre-lit trees for outside my front door- oh and some glittery picks for my vase in my kitchen (that is already shedding red glitter dust EVERYWHERE!!)

I did to the Black Friday thing- ALL night long (11 pm until 10:30 am) Needless to say I was a ZOMBIE for the entire day- which was a good thing considering I missed most of that horrible game (the one we aren't talking about remember?) I got home and realized that most of the shopping that I did was for every one else (gifts from Granny, Granna, Nanny, etc.) Very few of my purchases helped me mark MY list off. That's ok though.... it was kind of like shopping with some one elses money- which we all know is WAY more fun than spending your own!

I reached death and back all day Saturday (exaggerated yes- but I was pretty sick) and have tried recovering today. ( A fresh coat of Clorox and Lysol has been spread over my entire house AGAIN) I did not feel like cleaning but could not stand not too all at once. JD was like " What are you doing?" but he never stopped me either. He did his version of "cleaning" Saturday- I think he saw that my version was much more thorough.... oh well.... he tried....

I will do a pic post later.... I am going to bed now.....

(and Heather this post is just for you- at almost midnight- because I knew I was going to be gone and super busy all day tomorrow and your Monday would not be the same without hearing from me :) lol.... just kidding.... now get to finishing those Christmas outfits so we can all be green with envy over your mad sewing skills.... :)

We might just need a bubble....

to stay inside of until the Spring gets here! We have been hit with the stomach bug (only Kyle and Mom this time Praise the Lord!!) Yes- I am thankful that it stopped at me and hasn't made its way to any other body in this house... if you recall my previous post about the last time we all had this..... you will see why....

Other than that- oh- and Kaden having to take 10 more (possibly 20 more) days of a new antibiotic for a major sinus infection- we are good. I hope to stay this way.

I haven't been to church but maybe 1 time in 3 weeks. THREE WEEKS. This is major for me. I find myself being super chatty with any adult that will talk back and I think it is from lack of a social life. I have even considered calling up a few of my "working" friends to go to lunch before I turn into Dora the Explorer and singing and dancing everytime someone picks up their toys, eats all of their lunch, remembers to put their shoes away, etc. This is a very small price to pay for staying home with the babies- but sometimes a good face to face convo is worth hundreds of dollars (the phone doesn't count) I am also thinking of planning a lunch at home with some Mom's that don't get out much either..... we shall see..... most of us are still too busy to do that either! (We that have a "none-job" of cleaning houses- we have to schedule our days around dropping off, picking up with an occasional grocery store/mall visit in between) Not complaining- not at all- I live a priviledged life and I am grateful for it- I just need out of the box every now and again....

We did have Stacie's baby shower last week and it was AWESOME! She got TONS of the cutest little things. I actually went to her house yesterday and saw her adorable nursery all put together and let me tell you- all it is missing is a bouncing baby boy because she has EVERYTHING else :)





Her diaper cake made by me and Lindsey (who can make a bow which I CANNOT do!)



We went to a Gaither Concert in Chattanooga Saturday afternoon. This was our "anniversary" weekend. A singing and a trip to Sticky Fingers with everyone- some things never change. After 9 years of marriage (after 5 years of dating) we are still choosing being with friends over going somewhere alone. That is just us in a nutshell- always has been. We were in the car alone for a while (we actually rode with Chad and Emily to the singing) but it was like Ahhhhhh I can actually hear what you are saying- how nice :)

So that is it for now- Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and yours. And ba-hum-bug to those of you whom have put your trees up already.... I am thinking maybe Dec. 10..... I have yet to jump into the spirit of things..... maybe getting out at 4am on Friday will perk me up ;)-

Happy Anniversary.....

Here is the thin.. I mean THEN and now photos....





9 years ago today I married my one and only. I wouldn't change a thing about him (though I would have thought I would have had him picking up after himself by now ;) The Lord knows who we need before we do and I am forever grateful that he saw Joe David and said that he was the one for me. I have it good....great actually..... we haven't always had tons of money- but the Lord has blessed us so that I can stay home and be made crazy by all these babies who are growing up WAY faster than I thought they would..... we haven't always agreed on everything- but we know each other enough to know what the other is thinking and when to say "WALK AWAY- it is not that big of a deal if a naked baby whom has taken off their own diaper walks straight in front of you while you were watching TV and you see nothing..... " ...... then you laugh about it- after you decide not to strangle him :)

Joe David is a character (you all know this... I am being nice today so I won't say he is a dumby) He can seriously make me laugh when I am not wanting to. He tells me how much he loves me, adores me, is thankful to have me and couldn't live without me almost everyday..... and I make fun of him for it..... though I secretly think it is the best thing ever...... he even says it when I am all ugly after tending to kids, cleaning houses, etc...... he doesn't care if my hair is madness or if the house is in shambles..... as long as he has clean socks, etc.... he really doesn't care.... another thing I love about him- he doesn't require perfection from me (which is a good thing since he ain't gettin' it lol) I love him.... he really is the best. I am the luckiest person ever.

He is the best daddy too. Just ask the little ones around here... they will agree....

So Happy Anniversary to the sweet, funny, messy, loving husband of mine! I hope we have many more years together! Thank you for letting me know how it feels to have it all without having it all :)

Life is not the breaths we take, right???

Just thought I would blog....

I will be gone in the morning and busy the rest of the week and I sat down for lunch and decided to blog about all of my randomness..... :)-

January brings baby Chandler and we are all so excited to see him in person...
this is the preview we have of him.... so cute already.....


We are just hanging at the house today. Kaden has ran fever for 3 weekends in a row... I am clueless as to why... ears maybe (you would think all the antibiotics would have cleared them up) ... allergies with some sinus mixed in.... weather changing from 30 to 80 and back down to 30??????? Who knows... have a feeling another trip to Hsv. Peds. will help me find some answers.

Another busy week ahead - cleaning, babysitting, cleaning, baby shower, cleaning, shopping, honeymoon shower..... and it is my Anniversary. Maybe it is this weeks schedule that has me so stressed and I am just blaming the holidays (you know- 39 days until they are over... that isn't counting New Years... uggghhhh) .....
I hear the ocean calling my name (the ocean just south of us Steph... not the one that we would have to fly over to to get to Paris lol.....that one just doesn't sound as inviting.... :)

And here are pics....I am LOVIN this new camara....can you tell???

Kyle was hollering and we didn't know why..... until I walked in the bathroom....




I love catching my kids when they are really into playing something....




And Grandaddy came by for lunch so I snapped a shot of Kaden not being a spaz when being held by anyone other than me (of course Grandaddy was sharing his food lol).....


Have a great week!

Thank you Lord for one more hour today:).....

Whew! That extra hour I (seemingly) got this morning (though I could have used about 3) was very needed! I had to get up with the birds this morning to get Ms. Allie - whom I am babysitting a couple of days a week now- and I have decided I am thankful today for 2 things...... coffee (we all know i am thankful every day for that one) and HEAT! It is FREEZING! This is good ole' Bama weather- 75 and sunny one day and 30
degrees and frosty the next. So here it comes- let the runny noses begin!!! (Not that we have missed out on that already..... we have a theme of random fevers over the past 3 weeks.... yes.....3 weeks..... and it almost always happens on Saturday and I know everyone thinks I like football so much I just want to stay home..... I will let you guess which I would rather do a)stay home with a whiny, sick baby or b) go to church.... take your time- that is a hard one :)

NH had a great singing Friday night. They sang with some friends of ours that we have grown closer to in the past year or two. It was loud- very loud- thought I would come out of the church damaged- but the people were so hospitable and they fixed good food for us and the other visiting group (Wright Family) and we got home about 11pm which is unheard of- we hardly ever get home before 12-1am.

Saturday was an adventure for sure- CHRISTMAS PHOTO SESSION (dum duh dum) Last year we had these adorable pics made at Strasburg and Granna insisted we do it again (JD nearly FORBID me to have any pro-pics made because I HAD to have that camara and I was to use it like I had all the photographer skills in the world :) Well- all was fine and dandy- the kids smiled- Kaden was fairly cheery considering his thing is that he likes NO ONE other than Mom and Granny these days- Santa snuck up behind them - they were all surprised- Kaden kind of frowned at him but then warmed up and smiled...... until..... we put him in Santa's lap..... then he decided that Santa was NOT ok- especially if it meant he had to touch him. The remaining shots were taken with Kaylee and Kyle sitting in Santas lap with me sitting really close by with Kaden on my knees and me doing a back-bend type stretch to stay out of the picture and the photographer laughing because I was shaking and sweating like I had been through an arobics session by the time we said FORGET IT! I think he may have gotten a good one PRE-Santa.... but we will have to wait and see....

and that is that- church and Christmas program practice (dum dum dum......lol) yesterday and here I am today.... new week.... another day (Thank you Lord)....
and 5 more minutes until it is time to get ready for school/work..... my coffee is half gone (and it is painful to drink it since I whacked my funny bone on the bench at church last night and that is my coffee-drinking-elbow..... I am guessing no one else has ever had this ailment.... it is serious I tell you..... )

Oh-and by the way- it is 45 days until Christmas.... just in case you weren't spazzing about it.... because I am and I thought I would share this wonderful feeling with you.....

Here are pics I made of the kids out in my yard. This is the reason I wanted the camara. I love to do my own photo sessions when I get them all ready for church and I have a little spare time. ( You know that does not happen often!)






Happy Monday!

Happy (2 days later) Halloween

OK- this is a quick recap. We went to Granna's house as we do every year. Granna and I worked on putting lace sleeves on Kaylee's "wedding" dress for what seemed like forever (don't look too closely- they are pretty messed up.) She wanted her dress to look just like my wedding dress so we got it as close as we could.




Kyle was "Hulk Smash" (this he came up with because that is what Hulk says on the Super Hero Squad) most of you know him as Incredible Hulk.

Kaden was Big AL. I know- you are shocked that we have a mini mascot in OUR house.... like we are fans or something...... hmmmmmm......

Tanner and Clay brought Heather, Tim and Holly :) over and we went trick or treating to about 10 houses because NO ONE was doing trick or treating hardly in Madison County. The kids got about 2 lbs of candy each (yes- they weighed their bags at Publix when we stopped by to trick or treat there) They got to dress up, they got candy, we walked about 3/4 of a mile..... it counted in my book :) .... but as for next time it falls on Sunday - we are a)going to a trunk or treat of some sort or b) going on Sunday with all the other people instead of looking like dumbies.