Preparing for 'Evening with Santa' by Andalusia Coterie Club

Tomorrow night Santa will be making a visit to the house. So today, I've done nothing but prepare for his visit. When Ivy goes to sleep, I'll get her gift wrapped. She wanted Santa to bring her Donald Duck and I was running around crazy trying to find her one. I could only find a little figurine, so I threw in a Mickey Mouse DVD, Coloring Book and book. Guess it will give me a couple of more weeks to find a big one. I did see one in Young's in Opp..... which I recommend everyone to go to for Christmas tree decorations. They have an awesome selection!!!

I can still display my Auburn snowmen!!!! War Eagle!

Ivy Cate's B'day

Two Ivys, How can that be? Well, our friends Michael Paul and Allison Youngblood have Ivy Cate and we have Ivy Rose. These two have been buddies since probably 2 months. They were both at Dimples until I made the BEST move and put Ivy at Guardian Angel. I do miss all her little buddies. Anyways, here are a couple of pics from Ivy Cate's birthday party. Ivy and Ivy are one week a part in birth. I have a feeling that as they get over it will be Ivy from Pleasant Home and Ivy from Andalusia. I hope they still get along then.

Gatlinburg Vacation

This past weekend we went to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. It was a great mini vacation that was much needed for our family. Our lives seem very busy the last few months, so we needed some rest and relaxation together with no phones or internet. All being said, I could not wait to post some pics on our blog and catch up with others on their lives. As we arrived we only saw Pigeon Forge (I was thinking this is the most "redneck place"), but it got better when we traveled through the mountains and got to play in the snow!! Gatlinburg was more of what I had pictured as a mountain town. This was Ivy's first time in the snow. She caught on to snowballs quick. I hope soon we can start traveling west and see the rockies for some ski trips. We took Ivy horse back riding. That was her highlight of the weekend. We ate lots of great food and cooked several meals at our cabin in Sevierville. Ivy enjoyed the huge bathtub. I was too scared to let her in the hot tub. The temps outside were in the teens and I was scared it was too drastic for her to get in the 105 degree tub. Overall, the trip was fun and I'm glad we were able to do something as a family.

These are a few samples from Ivy's last photo session with Leigh Anne Ralls.

Well, the day is finally here....... Ivy and I went to vote this morning before daycare and work. As the day went by, I kept hearing my students making comments on who they wanted for president. As I listened, I became really angry. These kids are images of their parents and are only pushing for what they hear at home. I teach a special education career skills class and today my lessons were thrown out the door because I felt it more important to talk about the candidates for president. I did a mock election in my class. Kids were saying they were voting for Obama because he was going to give them money. After our election (McCain did win in my class), we read about the issues our country is facing right now. I had my kids go online and research what their candidate supported and did not support. It was amazing to watch my kids realize who they were wanting for president may not be who would be the best for the job... It really scares me that he may be our next president because of people voting only because they think he's going to give them more money or because of his race. If I did anything today, I hope it was to help these students make their own decisions based on research and not from what they hear at home. Go McCain / Palin!!!!!!!!!!!!

My friends Lynn and Lisa had gone to pumpkin patch the weekend before where they saw corn in the sand box. It was the greatest idea... NO MESS! We may have a corn field in my back yard, but we did have a clean child!!

Ivy and I jumping on the trampoline. This is the best work out. I might add it to my weekly workout schedule!!

Ivy got a trampoline for her birthday! She loves it, but the morning of her party, I think Scott was ready to chunk it as he was trying to put it together. It does help to read the directions........ but I did not tell him that.

This is Ivy and her friend, Madison, blowing out the candles.

I swore I'd never have a character party...................but, what do I say when my little girl loves the Care Bears.

Ivy posing for the picture is extremely rare, but she did for this one and I just think it's the cutest smile!!! This is on Halloween night before Ivy's birthday party. Ivy turned 3 on 10/29/2008. I'm loving her growing older because she's so much fun at this age. I do miss her as a baby, but the times we spend together at this age are sooo fun.