what makes me {smile}

the kids being home for a week for Thanksgiving break

lazy days with them at home

spending a whole day baking: pumpkin cream cheese muffins, sugar cookies & pecan pies

thanksgiving at my parents house where it will always have to be

my family

Bob and Roseann (our dinner guests)

a delicious turkey dinner

the correct spelling of the word happiness (thanks to Cody)

the boys laughing at an inappropriate birthday card my brother received

Summers baby bump

the families favorite new past time (Just Dance 3)

the boys really get into it but Heath couldn't watch any longer when Matt had them

dance to Britney Spears, Baby One More Time 

 My dad even gave it a try

the boys bustin a move 

  the running man

 online Christmas shopping (lots of happy mail will be coming my way)

Luke pushing a shopping cart and knocking down a large display of expensive razors

the boxes and cardboard display were all over the floor, I was so embarrassed I couldn't help but smile. 

not one person walking by offering to help however did not make me smile.

Helping Brooke and Ricky move into their new apartment

we gave Brooke this chair which is the same chair that I nursed and rocked each one of my boys in

we don't quite fit in it the same anymore (sniff sniff)

a play date with friends down by the creek

decorating our Christmas tree

seeing the boys excited over all of the old ornaments and the new one that I surprised them with

finding out that Cody really wanted to play basketball this year

a DVR full of Christmas movies from the Hallmark channel

finishing the book "The Help" and having two new Christmas books to start

having ninety five percent of my Christmas shopping done

the kids going back to school (a few of the days got to be a little long with them at home)

the month of December starting tomorrow

past due

Really, I haven't given up on blogging not even close.

My intentions and things to get accomplished list always seems much more do-able at night

but then come the next morning I don't know what happens or where my day goes.

So since I have no new pictures to share, here's a blast from the past.

This picture screams 1989'ish

The perm, the New Kids on the Block t-shirt, friendship bracelets,

stone washed jeans, un-waxed eyebrows and bandanna headband.

Anyway here is another little recap of what's been happening with us.

We found out the great news yesterday that Matt and Summer will be having a baby GIRL! We of course would of been happy with anything but we haven't had a girl in our family since Hailey-16 years ago, so this should be fun and even up the numbers a little. Girls {three} Boys {four}

Last week I attended a Veterans Day Program at the school which I was happy that I went to.  I almost didn't go but it felt good supporting our troops and seeing all the past and present military members stand up and be applauded, it really makes you feel proud to be an American. It always makes me wonder if the boys will follow in Heath's footsteps and join too.

Also at the program they handed out awards for the first quarter and Cody and Luke both received one (in Ryan's defense they didn't hand out awards to the Kindergartners).  I had to laugh though at the awards that they did receive.  Luke received Most Disciplined Student which is a great thing but I can't believe the self discipline and control he can show at school and then fly off the handle at a moments notice here at the house with us.  The teachers always tell me how well mannered and good he is in class and I just have think (wow, are we talking about the same Luke? Luke McMullen right?) Now Cody on the other hand received Most Improved Student which is just hilarious because you wonder what he had to improve on because he is such a smart kid, he should be getting straight A's. Well halfway through the quarter I found out Cody had a little problem turning homework in on time or turning it in at all and was getting an F in reading (an F in reading coming from the kid who reads everything just doesn't make sense). Anyway he has since worked hard on being more responsible and has his grade back up to an A.  I really am very proud of my boys and think that they are wonderful kids and I was happy to be there to see them be acknowledged with an award, I hope they keep up the good work!

Over the weekend Heath and the boys Luke and Ryan hung up our Christmas lights (Cody once again opted to help me with some yard work and then hurry and sneak back in the house as soon as he could).  Luke was all talk to Ryan about getting up on the house and getting to help but once he got up there it was a different story and he was a little scared (which I would be too).  The funny thing was that when Ryan made it up there he showed no fear and kind of put Luke in his place for always picking on him.

Today I almost did what I swore I would never do (just ask Amanda): take our pet lizard to the veterinarian. We've been a little worried about Desert the last few days, he stopped eating and pooping which aren't good signs but just last night he finally pooped so we were able to celebrate and cancel the appointment.  Hopefully the little guy is doing good now because we had one little boy and his momma who was quite worried about him.

Lastly, it feels really good to finally have started some Christmas shopping.  A few things have been bought, mostly online, but I at least have a plan in place and a list of ideas to get me going. My goal is to keep it simple and have fun-no stressing.

I'm so happy that the kids have all next week off and we have a wonderful holiday to look forward too!

a sick day

So yesterday I got that dreaded call from the school saying I needed to come and pick up a sick kid. It was Luke, he wasn't feeling well. Thankfully the "symptoms" didn't last too long but when Cody got home he had different "symptoms" of his own so I didn't know what the night was going to bring. Anyway, we had a good night of sleep but that still meant a stay at home day with me today to make sure they were healthy. Today consisted of watching a Christmas movie (we had to start early this year because we always run out of time to get through them all), a trip to Moxie Java for hot chocolate, a stop at the redbox for a movie, lunch, watched the redbox movie, ate Halloween candy, worked on homework, drew pictures, ate more candy, watched tv, dinner, one more piece of candy and another Christmas movie, then it was off to bed. The boys didn't think it was too bad for a sick day!