Will You Marry Me?

On this day, 17 years ago, my dear, sweet husband asked me to marry him. We were home for college for Christmas and were at his parents' house when he proposed. He was so very sweet and sooooo proud of the ring he had picked out just for me! I was over the moon with excitement!

This picture is from that day! We were in his parents' sun room. Don't we look awful young to be planning our future?!?

It Might Just Be My Very Favorite Present!

Tonight I went out to eat with my special first grade friends to celebrate Christmas. We always have so much fun when we're together! It's rare to find 9 other ladies who you get along with so well in and out of work.

Mary and me poring over the menu at the new restaurant, Cheddar's.

Beautiful Petra

Debbie, Thea, Nakita, and Bekah--who is expecting her first baby in the summer:)

And Ashley, Beth, and Mary Beth

No, we did not make them sit over there the entire meal--we would have missed out on some good visiting! Right after we took pictures, the waitress brought us 3 more chairs, and we all squeezed together.
After our delicious meal, it was time to exchange presents!!! We always draw names so we only buy for one, not 9 others. Beth got my name this year, and look what she got me.....

Yes, that's right...a SNUGGIE!!

It's really quite comfortable (I have it on right now!) plus it came with a handy dandy book light! (I told them at the restaurant that I was going home to put my Snuggie to good use so I had to show them that I was telling the truth!)

Huntsville Depot

I had the privilege of accompanying Harrison's Pre-K class to the Huntsville Train Depot today.

Ready for some train action!

Harrison and his friend, Piper, who he previously asked to marry him, but then they called it off. (Whew!!!)

It was a little, no--a LOT cold and windy, but we survived!

First we went into a train car and saw the Grinch...

where he told us his story, and we played a game with him.
Then we went into a second train car...

and heard the story of the Polar Express.

WOW!!!!!
We then got to learn about reindeer...

and play some reindeer games. Thankfully no one laughed at us or called us names!

The Snow Village was up next.

This picture does not even do it justice!

There were so many buildings, people, and special things like a wedding gazebo, Wal-Mart, and even a reindeer eating a snowman's nose! Several children said this was their favorite part:) While we were admiring the village, we heard a sound...

a REAL, LIVE TRAIN went by!!!! Boy, was it loud!

We got really cold watching that train, so they led us to Aunt Eunice's Kitchen.

It is really the insides of the restaurant made over at the Depot. For years and years, it was such a Huntsville landmark. If you wanted to do any politicking, Aunt Eunice's was THE place to go! The kids got to make a Christmas card here.

Next they led us to the old gas station replica.

It was so cool to see and play on Huntsville's first fire truck...

and a Ford Model-T. (If you'll notice, there is a sweet girl "driving" Harrison--that's Mady. She and Harrison were attached to each other like glue today!)

Where's the fire?

So that was our day at the Huntsville Train Depot!

Do We Really Need to Do Any More Shopping?!?

Because apparently this cardboard box is all Harrison needs to have hours of fun!

Sweet Treats Anyone?

We spent this afternoon after church baking sweet treats to give away in goodie bags tomorrow. Edible Christmas ornament anyone?

If that doesn't suit you, how about a buckeye?

Or maybe a decorated sugar cookie fits the bill.

Caitlin, Harrison, and I had a lot of fun baking this afternoon (that is...after the arguing over who was going to get to stir or pour in the next ingredient got solved!)

Hope this hasn't spoiled your surprise if you live next door to us!!

You Saw Santa Where?!?

Yesterday we travelled to Nashville to go to Opry Mills to (hopefully) finish up our Christmas shopping. And yes, we were successful! While we were there we decided to take Caitlin and Harrison by the Bass Pro Shops to see Santa and make a Christmas craft.

There was a V-E-R-Y long line. So long in fact, that we had time for a popcorn snack break!

We had to wait even longer, so we took some cute pictures to pass the time. However, Harrison did not want to be in any of them.

Then finally....

we got to sit with Santa!! He rewarded our long wait with a candy cane treat. I was thinking that wait deserved something a little bigger!

Gingerbread Children

Harrison"s Pre-School class was looking for the Gingerbread Man all week. When Harrison got to go back to school on Thursday, they still had not found him. They even made cute little houses for him and his family, but he still eluded them!

Piper and Harrison hunting for the Gingerbread Man on Friday. They had found a clue in their classroom that he just might be in the lunchroom so they were headed there. And lo and behold! There was the Gingerbread Man in plain sight!

The children ran after him, caught him, and he was nice enough to share his gingerbread cookies with them.

Harrison with his cookie before he ate him all up.

The Gingerbread Man was even nice enough to pose for a picture with Harrison.

When Harrison came home on Friday, he told his Daddy that his class had found the Gingerbread Man. This was their conversation:

Daddy: Well, did you eat him after you caught him?

Harrison: NO! We ate his children.