My Middle Eastern Family

There's nothing important in these pictures, except that they are Hi-LAR-ious and I cry-laugh everytime I look at the succession! This was at Epcot in Turkey or somewhere like that.

The Place Where Dreams Come True 2010

Waaaaayyyy back in February, we took a family vacation to kid (and parent!) paradise. Can you guess where we went???
My M looooooves Snow White and can actually quote almost the entire story for memory. So she was pretty pumped to meet her idol. Snow White said to her, "why hello, I'm Snow White, what is your name?" And M replied, "Snow White." She lives in her own little Fantasyland.
We were so excited that Mimi and PopPop got to go with us. Besides really enjoying their company and making great memories, they helped so much with M, because really, besides meeting the princesses and riding Dumbo, M was NOT a fan. NOT AT ALL.
Because Disney World is really a honeymoon when you're there (Ha! Note the sarcasm!) Drew and I just had to get a kiss in at Minnie's house. The kids were either really disturbed, or falling asleep, I'm not sure. And no, I have no idea why my booty is sticking out. Just a bad decision.
The best stuff is free, of course, so trying on different hats at the millions of kiosks was one of our favorite daily activities. We liked to joke with O that her teeth look exactly like Goofy's. She thought it was funny, don't get mad at me!!
Through all the rushing around, over-stimulation, and exhaustion, we all truly had a memorable, fantastic time. I'm hoping some permanent memories were made!!

Winter Snow

I have a new favorite Christmas song. The words are incredible. Enjoy!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgU2YC0pnbI

The Christmas Card That Never Was

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm one of those mothers. I take zillions of pictures of my children around Christmastime, just so I can get that one shot that showcases my beautiful, perfect, pristine little girls. Because as you know, the purpose of a Christmas card is to show off the beauty and perfection of your children.....right? NO? Okay, well, perhaps I strive a little too hard for perfection. However, my children are NOT perfection. I had 5 different photo shoots with the girls this season. Some of them were planned, some of them were captured in a special moment. But try as I may, I cannot get the perfect picture! The girls either make crazy faces, M starts to cry, O and E start to fight, and inevitably, one of them walks off. In the meantime, Drew and I are doing every little song and dance that we know just to get them to give the slightest grin. Not happening. This year, we are sending out an "ok" picture. Though they don't look angelic in it or anything, in artistic black and white, or in beautifully smocked dresses, they at least are captured in a truly natural moment. So I'm pleased. So when you get your card, YOU be the judge. Perfect? Not at all. Perfect in their imperfect expressions of laughter and goofiness? Absolutely!
Alas....shortly after ordering my cards from Shutterfly, I snapped this impromptu picture the other day before church. And here it is, the perfect picture of my perfect little angels. Ain't that just the way it goes?

Gingerbread Creations

Last weekend, we spent some great family time together participating in some activities provided for us by our city. After the Tupelo Christmas parade, we headed over to make gingerbread houses. After we finished our creations, we got to make banana octopuses. As you can see, M was concentrating very hard, and I must say, did a fantastic job!

My little Panda Prize winner

It's talked about from week one in school. Panda Prize. The illustrious, exclusive award that rewards those students who excel, endure, and inhabit qualities like good attitudes, hard-working, and mannerly. And my E received it for October. Oh, the joy! Oh, the look of sheer rapture on her face, knowing she achieved her goal! Oh, the look of........

Boredom.....

Ho-hum.....

Yawn........

There it is! Happiness!

Congrats, E, for getting Panda Prize this month. As you told me on the day you received it-You are Positive, Impaired, and Polite.
Uh....I think you meant Positive, Prepared, and Polite.

Happy Halloween!! 2009

Well, Halloween was fun, but exhausting, as always, since my girls like to change their costumes mid-week. And the activities for Halloween crammed all in one week will take a wear on your costumes, I'll admit. So, you'll see below, A Dora Princess, A Geisha girl, Nancy Drew, Alice in Wonderland, Supergirl, and my most consistent child in the house, Nancy Drew (again). Thursday night we went trick-or-treating downtown, and ended the night with E throwing up in some bushes. I got a little worried, but she bounced back after a couple of days, and was hot to trot down Morning Glory to get her candy loot on Saturday. We ended the night with a hayride with friends. I'll have to update later to see the cavity damage that has been done to our youngest. M loves candy even more than I do!