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)