25 Days of Christmas - Day 20

Today was my first full day of Christmas break and I am worn out! Ava and I stayed busy and she kept me on my toes today. Here is a rundown of events:

• Ava woke up around 8:15 and after breakfast, I made bon-bons while Ava watched The Backyardigans.



• We both took a small nap around 11:30 and at around 1:00 we ate lunch.




• At 3:00 I made corn flake candy while Ava watched Veggie Tales Christmas and jumped in her jumper.




• At 4:30, I was starting to make Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pecan Cookies when Ava came in carrying a small toy. I realized it was not her toy, but a Christmas ornament. As you can see from the picture, Ralphie's ears are missing. I was frantic! I looked everywhere for the ears and just knew she had eaten them. I called Bradley and he came home. He found the ears under a chair. Thank God!






• At 7:30 Ava and I made reindeer food.











• At 8:00 we made Christmas pretzels and Ava sprinkled a few.

Man, I am more tired now than I am when school is in session! But it was a good day and I enjoyed spending time with Ava and preparing for the holidays!

25 Days of Christmas - Day 19

School's Out for Christmas! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! So happy to be done with grades, paperwork, teaching, and kids that are not my own for the next two weeks. Sounds like heaven!

I got home a little after 1 today. Ava had fallen asleep during lunch so she was so peaceful for about the next hour. I got a couple of things done and laid down for about 15 minutes. I heard her wake-up, accidentally made eye contact, and then Bam! Peace time is over. She was in a playful mood and that included dragging all her toys out of her toy box. At about 3:30 we ventured out and about with determination to get the last bit of Christmas shopping done. Misson Accomplished! We are through! We met Bradley at Lowe's and then made a trip to Wal-Mart and besides food items, we are done! I picked up the supplies needed to begin making my traditional Christmas candy and tomorrow, Ava and I will be baking.

So tonight's Christmas activity was to get done shopping and then Ava opened her first presents of the season (that were really wrapped and not in gift bags). Of course she loved the tearing of the paper. Her gifts were from Stacy, Jonathan, and JonThomas. Thanks guys!

Thanks to all who have sent Christmas cards, we hope everyone is doing great. Please pray for my Mammaw Freeman who fell and broke her leg a couple of days ago. She had surgery today and is recovering right now.

{Bethany, we are thinking of poor Goody. Hugs.}

This picture was from Day 13 - DCHS Christmas party

25 Days of Christmas - Days 15 and 16

On Saturday we went to a Christmas party at Bradley's cousin, Johnna's house. Ava was a big hit and had fun being the center of most people's attention. She liked running around and just being a sassy, little, cute show-off. Here are the pics from that:


Ava with Zach and Nick
Candy thief
Nana and Aunt Helen
Ava with Robin
Blowing Kisses

Giving Kisses

Ava with Daddy

Taking her first pictures and she did indeed take one with Laura's camera.


Drinking coffee from Uncle Johnny (right before she spilled it all down her front and got a little freaked out!)

On Sunday, after church, Bradley and I dropped Ava off at Nana and Pop's so we could get some shopping done in Jackson. She wore her little plaid Christmas dress to church and at lunch we took the plaid part off and let her run around. Here is what Bradley calls "Baby Johnny Cash." Also her she is snooping in our bags when we got home.

Tomorrow is the last day of school so hopefully I can get back to posting regularly. Happy Wednesday!

Lollipop Lover

Okay, so I know I am behind on the Days of Christmas, but really we haven't done many activities that go along with our 25 Days. On the 13th Day of Christmas, Bradley and I attended the school Christmas party. On the 14th I was very sick, running a fever, and very grouchy. On the 15th we all went to a Christmas party at Bradley's cousin's house (I will post pictures later), and today we went to church and then Ava stayed with her Nana and Pop so Bradley and I could Christmas shop. So in one way, I am behind, but then again, I haven't taken many pictures. So as a cop out, I am posting outtakes from Ava's Christmas card photo shoot. I hope you all have enjoyed your cards and are having a great holiday season.

P.S. Tomorrow afternoon Ava is getting a flu shot and tomorrow night is my fellow teacher Christmas party, so don't expect a post! But who knows, maybe you will get a surprise...

So if any of you have seen the Joker for the new Batman movie, here is his twin. He is very scary. If you google Heath Ledger as Joker, I am sure you can find a scary picture of him. I found one at www. photobucket.com but I thought he was too scary! ;)