A "Trueville Whoville"

On Tuesday evening, Emma had her Christmas program for her school. It was really good. Basically, it was the Christmas story of Jesus' birth told "Dr. Suess style". Emma and the other kids were dressed as "Whoville" kids with crazy cute hair and bright crazy clothes. It was so neat how it all came together. Emma's class sang and did a little dance about the Wise Men...I don't think she missed a beat! We were very proud of her and her performance!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

What a great surprise yesterday with the snow! Wasn't it pretty? We really didn't get out and play in this one, but maybe God will give us a good snowfall of about 6 inches or more next time!?! Isn't it funny that this one was more of a surprise (I suppose...because I NEVER seem to watch the news), but when "they" say it's going to snow inches and inches...it hardly ever does. I used to get so upset when "they" predicted snowfall when I was a kid, and I had already planned out my entire snowday...then.....nothing :-(...and school wasn't cancelled...and it so bummed me out. That is bringing back some memories right there! The cool part about homeschooling is that I can just call a "snow day" any day that I so choose...even if it's in the middle of the summer?!? (SShhh, don't tell). :-)

Surgery day for Ian....

Well, today has officially been the longest day I've had in my life thus far. Ian had two surgeries this morning. One was on his umbilical hernia that he has practically had since birth. The other surgery was an adenoidectomy (removal of his adenoids). We had to be there bright and early (or should I say dark and early) at 6am this morning. We didn't go into great detail about what was going to happen this morning, but said that he was going to get a belly button like Emma's. He didn't like the idea at first, but I had thought ahead for that moment...bring out a new Batman toy and he was smiling again! So, things actually went really smooth. He even "drove" himself down to the operating holding area by himself with the anesthesia guy. That part was not the easiest for Adam and myself :-(. I knew it wouldn't be. But, he wasn't having a problem, so I didn't want to have a problem either! The worst part was when he woke up from anesthesia and had monitors and an IV on him that he DID not want on him. That freaked him out more than anything. But bless his heart, he was doing everything that me or the staff asked of him...even with tears flowing down his cheeks (and a scream here or there)! He is now recovering with pain medicine and rest. The first thing he went to do when we got home was go to Emma's room looking for her (she was at Aunt Amy's house). That was precious. When Adam picked her up and brought her home, she was so sweet to Ian wanting to help him any way she could. Another blessing for me.

I cannot describe how God gave me peace today. I have been so anxious about this day for a very long time, but when I was actually going through it, God through His spirit gave me His peace that truly passes all understanding. (Phil 4:7)

Amazing. I am thankful beyond words.

Trimming the tree...

Can you believe Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is almost here? I can't! This year seems to have flown by for me. We put up our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving night this year. I can't say that is is an actual tradition to put it up then, but it worked out for this year. Thanksgiving weekend was pretty busy this year! It is usually busy, but this year seemed more so. We went to Adam's parents for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with his family. That is a tradition! However, this year we were missing all of Adam's grandparents :-(. Adam's granddad was in the hospital with a couple of new illnesses, his grandmom was at the hospital with his granddad caring for him, and his Nanny was at her place with a cold! It did not seem quite right at all. So, after we ate, we all drove over to the hospital to see his grandmom and granddad and spent a little time with them. That made it seem more "right". After we went home, I got a call from one of my BFF's(smile) Melissa, and somehow we (me, Mel and Cassie...missed Christy though) ended up at Opry Mills Mall at midnight just to shop until 4:30 (after standing in LONG lines to win a $20 gift card...I was thankful though). Then I went on to Wal-Mart, then to Target...got home at 6:30am---wired up I might add and not able to even go to sleep until practically when it was time for the kids to get up! Well...then off we went again to my parent's to have ThanksgivingII on Friday afternoon. My sister and nephews came in from Memphis...so we were all enjoying each other! I had planned on getting a nap at some point, but somehow got roped back in to going shopping...AGAIN? with Trina my sister! At this point I was almost delirious--okay, I was very delirious...we were cracking up at everything! Then, me and the kids spent the night at my parent's house with everyone. The kids and my nephews made a big pallet(sp?) in the middle of the floor and slept. My Mama LOVES having everyone (all of her babies) at her home at the same time. It just doesn't happen often enough. It was a great time with my family, my wonderful friend and my big sister who I wish I could see and spend more time with. There were lots of memories made with my husband, my babies, my family and my friends that I'll never forget. I love spending time with those I love, and I thank God for giving me such people that I can truly share my life with.

A turkey treat day...

We had a great time today with our friends on this...Thanksgiving Eve! Our friends came over today and we made these fun turkey goodies with oreos, candy corn, butterscotch morsels, and chocolate icing! The kids (and Melissa and myself:-)) were in sugar heaven! They loved making their little turkeys and then "gobbled" them right down. It was fairly messy, but well worth it! After the kids were finished, me and Melissa made some more to take to family tomorrow. I sorta felt like a kid for a minute making a craft with my friend. Good times. Well, thought I'd post these cute pics...but also wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

Introducing...King Ian and Queen Emma!!

Skating...

Last Saturday, we went skating!! It is funny how just walking into a skating rink can bring back memories of childhood! It's almost like taking a step back into time (other than the Miley Cyrus songs being played instead of "Beat It" or "You dropped a bomb on me")! I didn't skate this time, but watched Adam and the kids skate. Ian went one time around and he was through...so we hung out playing games and stuff. Adam was such a good Daddy with Emma. She must have fallen 1000 times. Every time he'd help her get back up again and then off they'd go. He held her hand almost the entire time. Seeing them reminded me of God our Father...and how He holds our hand...and when we "fall"...he patiently helps us back on our feet so we can keep on going....even if we "fall" 1000 times and even more! It was a great family time. I'm thankful for my Father and my family.

Love the fall

I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again...I just love the fall! I wish that fall could be year round! I find it amazing how beautiful the colors of the trees are all together...some red, some yellow, some orange. My kids are getting sick of me saying how beautiful the trees are every time we get out...I guess I say it a lot. It makes me sad when all those beautiful leaves fall off the trees, then they eventually are gone and we're left with the bare trees for the wintertime. But, I love to then look forward to the spring when God made it to start all over again! I thank God for the seasons of the year that we can experience. He truly made a beautiful world! As I think about how much thought He must have put into the beauty of the seasons, trees and world...how much more does He love US...and how much more did He spend in our design and purpose?! I am thankful for His love.

It's a bird, it's a plane...no, it's The Heltons??

As you can see, our family went as "The Helton Super-heroes" for Halloween. Yes, even the Reg-meister was Super-weinerdog! It was lots of fun! Emma was Super-girl and was just beautifully heroic in her costume! Ian was Batman's best friend and side-kick "Robin" and played the role to a "T"! Adam was the famous Batman and was the cutest Batman I've ever seen. I was Super-woman...pretty embarrassing, but I couldn't let my family of crime fighters down! We really enjoyed our time together at Church Trunk-or-Treating and later going to a few houses that still had their doors open. Since Ian ALWAYS is in "costume" (and I do mean "always"), I think that he looked around at everyone on Halloween dressed up and said "Finally...what has taken everyone so long to get with the program"? He was in Super-hero heaven! Emma was in candy heaven when she got her 3 tons of candy home and went through it (there is only slight exaggeration in that comment :))...

Punkin' Time...

The kids had a great time with their pumpkins this year! They always pick out thier own and then draw the face that they want on a piece of paper, then Daddy carves the face for them! I am always curious to see what face they want each year...sometimes it's a happy face, sometimes a silly or scary face. Emma's pumpkin is the one on the left. Ian wanted for Daddy to do the face that is on his halloween lantern light (his is on the right). Daddy is always the carver and I am the official photographer and videographer (I know...it's hard to believe :-))...the pumpkin guts always makes my hands itch SO bad!

I've been tagged??

Okay seriously, I don't know how to do any of the things I'm supposed to do when you are "tagged". Go ahead and get your laughs out, because I am not the most "blog saavy" blogger and I know it...

I don't know how to put the cute little box that explains the directions to the game, I don't know how to add links to other people's blogs that I should be "tagging", I just don't know how to do much, but the very basics. :-)

So, I thought that I'd do at least the part that I can do which is tell who tagged me and tell "7 interesting facts about myself" to all of my 3 or 4 readers :)...

A very sweet and intelligent Christian named Jill tagged me...which I am very flattered by (I think??:-)). Thanks Jill for giving me a task in which I am underqualified for (ha)...

Here goes my "7 semi-interesting facts about myself"...well, that I'll leave up to you to decide...

1. My maiden name was Abernathy, so I was ALWAYS the first for EVERYTHING while in school, the first name called on the roll, the first desk in the front of the classroom (because they always seated you according to ABC order), the first to graduate from high school and college, etc., etc. (I also remember practicing on my "A's" in cursive in swanky ways so it looked really cool when I signed my name).

2. I took dance for many many years (even into college believe it or not). My favorite was hip-hop. I used to could "bust a move" on many of stages at recitals or other venues...I still find myself wanting to break out in dance every once and a while especially when no one is looking. ...once a dancer, always a dancer I suppose. (Melissa, can you relate?)
Can anyone say "Go Hammer"....uh oh

3. I had a dog Bootsie for 19 years. She was the very best dog in the absolute world (no offense to our sweet Regmeister). I got her for Christmas when I was 6 years old and Adam and I had to put her to sleep when I was pregnant with Emma. She was black with a white belly, and while feet which ofcourse is why I named her Bootsie! I still miss her...

4. Adam and I were prom king and queen in high school (I know this is probably known by all who read this, but I am running out of ideas here)....He wore a white top hat a cane with his tux...he was a "cool dude" all right...handsome <3...

5. I haven't ever had color on my hair. I'm a very low maintenance kind of girl...I just don't want to have to keep up with the roots and stuff...besides, it would probably turn orange or something!

6. I can't stand bikes!! I had a couple very bad bicycle wrecks when I was young and I have a very difficult time "watching" Emma ride hers. Thankfully, Adam is not a bike-o-phobe like me and is Emma's bike-riding partner. I'm trying to overcome this "fear" with the Lord's help and smile and be happy when Emma is riding her bike! :-)

7. I DID have big hair in school....lots of hairspray...LOTS! I totally followed my sister's footsteps and she actually taught me step by step how to lift, spray then blow dry...lift, spray then blow dry. HA!

Well, there ya go...pretty interesting, huh??

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

Last week we went on a fun field trip to the pumpkin patch at Gentry Farms in Franklin. It was lots of fun. It was a very educational place! There were lots of things to do...a corn maze, a barn that had a "spider web" that the kids had to crawl through and NOT make the bells ring on the"webs" or they'd be spider food, a place to build log houses with Lincoln logs, amazing tree tire swings that I REALLY wanted to get on myself, and ofcourse...the Great Pumpkin Patch! I have learned over the years that decisions are not the easiest for me to make, and unfortunately, this less than desirable trait has been officially passed on to my kids as well :) or should I say :(. We were the VERY last people to get back on the hay ride to go back to our van after the pumpkin patch. The funniest part is that we had come all that way and talked about the pumpkins that they were going to get, and after NO decision had been made and everyone was on the trailor, we were actually trying to BRIBE them to just get on the trailor and we'd stop on the way home and get pumpkins at Wal-Mart!! Funny stuff. Well, as you can see in the picture, they ended up making a last minute decision (in a panic I might add), and picked these cute little pumpkins. I bet the people on the hay ride were excited to see a decision was made too!

10 year anniversary <3

Adam and I will be married 10 years on the 10th of this month! I really am finding this hard to believe! October 10, 1998 seems like just yesterday to me. It seems like we have been in love forever though. I am so thankful for a husband as great as Adam. He is truly my best friend. He loves me on my good days when I am easy to love, but most importantly, he loves me on my bad days when I even find it hard to love myself! He always reminds me of God's promises when I need it and makes me laugh when I feel like crying. (This part can actually annoy me at times "Let me see those wittle wippies and see if I see a smile".....this is one of his classics for me and the kids (he learned it from his dad who is wonderful and also very funny). Anyways, just wanted to share that I love Adam on our almost 10th anniversary.....

Wedding beauties...

While in Chattanooga this past weekend, we went to Adam's cousin's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding. The best part for me was our "wedding beauties" (my babies). At the reception, they danced their little hearts out! It was one of THE most precious times as a Mom for me. They were so sweet and lovey to each other, it just melted my heart! They refused to dance with anyone else (including Adam and myself) :-(...but, they loved dancing with each other! I just love my family and I am so thankful to the Lord for them all! We had a good time visiting with Adam's family (the kids just love Uncle Alex). It was one of "those" times that I know will always stay close to my heart and be in my forever memories!

Rock City!

This past weekend we went to good ole' Rock City! It was a fun time, but VERY nerve wracking! Adam and I both were having one panic attack after another with being up so high (I mean SSOOOO high)! We both later talked about our "visions" of nightmareish things happening while we were up on that hill! Whoa, I almost think that kids should be made to wear some sort of sturdy body harness to be able to go. If you have ever been there, you know what I mean. The fact that Adam and I both have a fear of heights should have been our first clue that this might not be the BEST idea of fun for our little get away :). But, the kids enjoyed it and we did try and contain our "watch outs" and "hold on tights" and "get back heres" and "do you have their hands" and "don't look over the edge too fars" (you get the idea). AND that shaky bridge!! I just can't even go there! Well, we survived (thank you Wonderful Lord)........

Strolling through the zoo...<3 <3 <3