Thank you

Thank you for all the emails and phone calls. I just haven't felt like blogging. I still don't really. Sherry had been my best friend since age 11..I am 36..she recently turned 37. I miss her terribly..and I am not sure if I will ever shake this pain. I hadn't spoke to her in two years..it was a case where she thought I was mad at her and I thought she was mad at me. But it wasn't the case at all. Why didn't I just pick up the phone? I ask myself 100 times a day. Since her death..there have been things that have happened..honestly I know it was God or Sherry..not sure which..but it has brought some closure for me. A simple misunderstanding turned disastrous..but I know that she is at peace and no longer in pain. But the selfish part of me wants her back!
I urge you to make amends with someone that you love but haven't spoken to in a long time..you never know when it will be too late..and you can't go back and fix it..ever. Please pray for her husband..Charles.

I have opened the comments back up..I had closed them purposely for Sherry's post on the 9th.

Shirleena Ann Johnston-Allen

** In Loving Memory**
November 24, 1971 - December 9, 2008

Day three...

This is what I found earlier this evening..a sweet 11-year old with 2 sleepy dogs! Toto and Wizard are such cuddlers.

This is where our Elf on the Shelf was hiding today..he still doesn't have a name..Trae and Izabelle are having a hard time agreeing. Ugh! I am going to start calling him EMANON. Renee and A.C.T.G.F. will understand:) It is NO NAME spelled backwards. Sounds like an elf name doesn't it?


We took Izabelle iceskating again today. Home schoolers can skate for $4.00 on Wednesday & Friday mornings! Rich was so impressed with Izabelle today (her 3rd time on the ice) that he snuck off to find the head coach to discuss lessons and fitting Izabelle for her very own iceskates!

Rich put Mattie on the ice right before we left..she had just spilled Diet Coke on her jeans. She screamed when it was time to leave! Glad Rich was there to handle her:)

P.S. Her {goose-egg} from Sunday is now green..can you see it?

*Ice Princess* Izabelle....
Ice Princess came on television tonight..and guess who watched it?

then lunch at Neely's Bar-B-Que!

Day two...

The next 2 photos were taken outside at the Belle Meade Plantation..we were waiting to go into the mansion..where no photos are allowed. It was extremely sunny outside and COLD..so this was the best I could do. I speckled them a bit..whatever that means..it just changed the look a little.

P.S. This is the dress Mattie wore on Sunday A.C.T.G.F. I put it on her again today just for you!

xoxo

The children were brought into the barn to make crafts. They made an ornament shaped like an old-timey car and a party hat made out of newspaper!

Inside the gift shop..waiting to start the tour of Visions of Sugar Plums: A Magical Children's Party (The Holiday's with the Jackson Children) Tickets for home schoolers were only $5.00, I got in free..because I am her administrator and Mattie was free! Cheap entertainment. We purchased our 2008 Christmas ornament in the gift shop..Izabelle picked it out. Actually we bought 2 ornaments..I found a little tiny glass pickle ornament..it is so sweet..I bought it for baby #4..Trae, Izabelle & Mattie already have their own pickle ornaments.

P.S. We still haven't decided on a name for our {elf on the shelf}..but we have narrowed it down to Bernard or Buddy..like on the movie Elf.

Day one..

Rich read *The Elf on the Shelf* to us tonight. What a cute..cute story! We are going to name our elf tomorrow..so the kids are thinking of some cool elf names. We also rented a movie and had popcorn..that was the surprise in the Advent box #1..see #4 photo below.
I had the timer on the camera set..it is funny how Mattie has already figured it out..after it takes our picture Mattie screams outloud..she thinks it is so funny!





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Renee invited us to go ice skating last Wednesday with her church group. Izabelle and Page had too much fun! Izabelle wants to be a figure skater when she grows up. This was her second time on the ice..she can now skate backwards..turn beautifully with both skates aligned one in front of the other..jump..and skate and turn on one foot!

My Advent in a Box..the idea came from Ali Edwards. I messed up #19..I glued the 6 upside- down..so I have to re-do that one..oh well! I will put a prize in each box..like RedBox movie rental and popcorn on Monday's..I get a free code texted to me every Monday. Play a game/board game and drink hot cocoa. Bake cookies. Take a drive to see Christmas lights. Stuff like that. I thought it was a cute idea!

And last..but not least..Andi has given me an award! Thanks girl..I love it!

Now I am to pass this award to 6 other bloggers:

1. Lianna Knight

2. Renee Graham

3. Hollye Cross

4. Chelle Greene

5. Doris Sander

6. Jersey Girl (private)

12 weeks

Can you believe I am 3 months along? Can you believe that I actually blogged? *wink*
Lots going on here..cleaning my house..getting ready for the cookie swap..Christmas shopping online..so easy (BTW I am just about finished)..working on my Ali Edwards December journal..organizing the kitchen..cleaning the pantry out..junk drawers, etc. fun huh?

So here is my first official pregnancy photo (carrying baby #4)..I have taught Mattie to say, "Baby in there", when I ask her, "What is in mommy's tummy?" So sweet!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

450th post!

I will be emailing personal invitations out today. If you don't receive one and would like to attend please email me: tiarasociety@netscape.net

Thanks!
(Please click on invitation/rules to enlarge)

Sweet sounds

I had a Dr. appointment this afternoon at 2:15pm.
We got to hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time.
I am still amazed..even after 3 children..that you can pick up the heartbeat at 11 weeks.
It still takes my breath away.
175 beats per minute.
Strong.
I am again in love for the 5th time..
*Trae
*Izabelle
*Rich
*Mattie
*Baby #4
I am so very thankful for another wonderful gift.

Vera Bradley

Lianna Knight is doing another giveaway to raise funds for her 3rd IVF procedure. If you love Vera Bradley..then you should enter! There are several ways to enter: leave a comment on Lianna's blog, post about the giveaway on your blog, donate $10.00, $20.00, $50.00 or more to her IVF fund.

Please help Lianna by spreading the word about this awesome giveaway!


Sincerely,

What we have been up to..

The first photo..is what I have been craving for breakfast. Jilly's B.E.C. Sandwich..num yummy!

Photo taken 10/26/08 before trunk-or-treating at church. Izabelle is a spider witch..Mattie is a St. Bernard.

There was a dunking booth, freshly made cotton candy, pony rides, bunny and chicken petting, games and music!

Photos taken on 10/28/08 the night we carved the pumkin(s). Mattie decided that it was just to messy for her royal O.C.D.-ness..ha:)

This is where we spent Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It is sooooo beautiful there right now..it looks like heaven.

I am seriously considering using this photo for Christmas cards this year. I am 10 weeks along here.

The view from our hotel (photo below).

Rise & Shine baby girl....

I had to take a picture..she had twisted her hair all night..it looked like she got it caught in a fan or something.

The fireplace in our hotel room that we got for 1/2 price..cause my husband is just that good:)

This is the way we brush our teeth..before we eat a free continental breakfast..biscuits and gravy and fresh bear shaped waffles.

We visited Ripley's Believe It Or Not..before we left town..Izabelle and Trae visited Zoltar to get their fortunes read.

Then we had lunch here..they serve a foot long polish sausage on a bun with grilled onions, peppers and tomatoes (Rich and I shared one)..num yummy!!!!

Ok..I am off to Moss' for their open house (9a-4p)..so I gotta go or I will miss it:)

Don't be a "jack-ass"

Vote Republican..Vote Republican..Vote Republican..Vote Republican..Vote Republican..Vote Republican..GO VOTE!!!!!!