A peek at our Christmas

Here is a little peek at our Christmas holiday. We had Christmas with my family on the 19th, because my parents were going out of town. It is always so fun with all of the children. I love to see them open their gifts and they are so grateful for anything they receive. My dad did a lot of baking and I took Rice Krispy treats and sausage balls. We all haven't gotten together for so long. It was great to play with the kids and just hang out. Everyone is so excited about Baby Mack. I think all the kids want it to be a boy, since we only have two boys and there are six girls.

Christmas Eve we had Christmas with B's immediate family. We always have a good time laughing and joking! His mom made this great pie with pecans and coconut and some other yummy stuff. Baby Mack got the sweetest gift from Gimme and Papa John (that is what they are going to be called). It is a bedtime prayer bear. You can hold it's hands and it will pray or put its hands together to pray...so sweet.

Christmas Day Brett and I opened gifts after his big hunting adventure! We tried to keep our selves on a strict budget this year and I think we did pretty good. Each of us got lots of thoughtful gifts. I especially like my new phone...yippee...the Razor wasn't staying charged anymore. That afternoon we headed to the Mack family Christmas hosted by B's mother this year. I helped cook a little and just whatever she needed me to do. We had fun with all of the family and the food was delicious!

Friday night I headed to Prattville to exchange gifts with some friends. We decided to draw names this year, which I think worked out great. We all brought a dish and enjoyed catching up. I got some great maternity clothes. Thanks Michelle, you did an awesome job. I love them. It was hosted at Leslie's new house. What a beautiful place!

Saturday was the Whaley family Christmas hosted by Brett's Mawmaw. It was great to see everyone and enjoy everyone's yummy recipes. I know I am new to the family, but it was almost bittersweet because of the trials that have hit this side of the family this year. B and I make sure to thank the Lord for all his many blessings and for being our Savior. We also pray for his healing hands to bring comfort to our family members and for them to know that he will never give them something that they can't endure. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and even if it wasn't your best, make sure to thank him for all the little blessings each day.

For our neices

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

This is for our sweet nieces. They asked for it when we were at my mom and dad's for Christmas. Sorry it's a little late girls. I hope you enjoy!

We've been elfed!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

All I can say is I was laughing until I was crying! I especially love the one with Brett's parents. I hope they don't kill me for this! Merry Christmas! Oh yeah, the two at the top look the same, but they are not...enjoy at our expense :)

Getting settled...

After returning from Mobile on Monday afternoon, we have been trying to get back into somewhat of a routine. It's been really hard though with all of the extra activities. I had a my last final for the semester on Tuesday. I am really proud of my accomplishments since I have returned to school. My Troy GPA is 3.226. I am trying to make up for my slacking at AUM. This semester I made 2 As, 2 Bs and a C. The C was a 79...boo...that makes me mad that I missed a B by one point! Brett and I have also been working on his display board for the national competition. It was due yesterday and we got it turned in just in time. The pictures are a few that we submitted for the poster. We also had our 12 week doctor's appointment this week. Dr. G started with the Doppler. The heartbeat wasn't easily detectable. He asked if I had any bleeding...no...then of course all the horrible thoughts are running threw my head. Then, there it was...the amazing little heartbeat. It was 170 beats per minute...wow! It was a very quick visit. Next time I will have blood work and the following time we will find out the sex of our precious little child. From what we have calculated, it should be February 5th. Last night we had our Sunday school Christmas party. I think just about everyone was there, which is about 30-40 people. It was so good to catch up with everyone. We see each other every week but it's hard to be able to talk to everyone. I am so thankful B and I chose First Baptist. We have truly found a church home full of love. Today I am off to the Capital City for a Christmas Brunch with the ZTA Alumnae Group. I am very excited to be able to see all my friends and do a little shopping afterward. This should wrap up our Christmas shopping, yipee! I really don't think I have ever been done this early...not that it's early.

Young Farmer's Discussion Meet

Over the weekend we attended the Alabama Farmer's Federation Annual Meeting in Mobile. Saturday night we attended the General Session which included a talent find. It was great to see so many talented young people. B participated in the Young Farmer's Discussion Meet on Sunday afternoon. We practiced and practiced his opening and closing statements. I got so nervous sitting in the audience and just as before I sat near the back. All of the competitors did a great job. I was happy to see the President of Alfa, Mr. Jerry Newby, talking to B after the meet...that had to mean something!!! He did a wonderful job and I was proud because he did his best! We went out to dinner with our local chapter that night to Wintzell's. We rode with our county president, Russell and his lovely family. We had a great time getting to know them and their precious girls. His wife, Kristin, is pregnant also. I loved being able to trade pregnancy stories with her.

The awards ceremony was Monday morning. The Young Farmer awards were near the end of the hour and a half presentation. Being the pregnant woman that I am, I had to use the restroom...but I couldn't get up. I would have just hated it if I missed their awards. This time I sat near the front. They brought all four competitors out and placed them in order by height (guess for the photos) and then announced the first runner up. I got a little confused, I didn't know they had a runner up. Then, Brandon (the coordinator for the meet) was holding the winner's plaque. I tried and tried to read the name on it while he was holding it. It looked too long to be B's name. Then again it looked to long to be the other competitor's names too. Then they announced the winner....B Mack!! I was so thrilled, I said YAY! outloud and clapped and forgot all about pictures! So now B will compete in the National Competition in San Antonio, Texas. I am so proud of him. We're back to the grindstone studying each of the four topics. I know B will do his best, because he always takes great pride in anything he does. We are also excited to visit San Antonio. I have never been. While we're there, we're going to visit a feed operation with over 16,000 head of cattle. It's going to be a fun trip! We have our 12 week visit on Thursday, so I am sure I will have some news to share then! Oh yeah, and that name I was trying to read said Young Farmer...ha ha.

11 weeks

Yesterday was my 11 week mark. I felt a lot better yesterday. I actually cooked dinner, something I haven't done in several weeks, maybe even a month. It was very hard for me to open the refrigerator because the smell made me sick. I couldn't stand the smells of food when I cooked or washed dishes. B has been my life saver these last few weeks. He has taken over kitchen duties, laundry and any thing else that needed to be done around here. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband. I was talking to my sister on the phone yesterday and she was cooking greens. So of course, I then craved collard greens. Glory has fresh greens in a bag in the produce section. I have a friend named Renaye whose mom owns a soul food restaurant. She would bring me a lunch plate to work sometimes and her mom made these awesome greens with jalapenos and sugar...sounds nasty, tastes delicious. So I got online to find a recipe, it was my first time making homemade greens. Usually, I'll buy the Glory canned collards. My greens were so good...I hate to brag, but they were good!! B said I had his mom beat...but don't tell her that :) (Mrs. Donna if your reading, we decided they weren't necessarily better, just a totally different flavor). So anyway, hopefully this new found energy and loss of sickness will remain. I have finish shopping today for our Christmas Angel. I am very excited about this! I am volunteering with several other Junior Woman's Club members handing out the gifts. Maybe I will get to see the sweet girl who gets our gifts. That would make my heart so happy!

Above is a belly shot at 11 weeks...not much of a change. Oh yeah, and that is the same sweatshirt...Wednesdays are school days...what do you expect? B and I both think my booty is getting smaller and moving around to baby. I never thought I would see the day my booty got smaller, it's hereditary and I've had the bubble since toddlerhood.

Time flying by...

I can't believe another week has passed without a post! We spent three great days with my Memaw and Papaw in Kentucky and stopped in Nashville to spend the night with B's aunt. We had a great trip (thanks in part to heated leather seats)! I did get my Cabbage Patch doll back! I'll have to find her, B has been doing some major house cleaning, so I'm not quite sure where she is now. I'll have to dedicate a whole post to that bag. We got our first baby gift from my Memaw. It was labeled to Little Mr. or Miss Mack...how cute! She got the baby a supply of bottles and hangers. We got home just in time to watch the Iron Bowl. I actually fell asleep. There was absolutely no excitement! I'm not a Bama fan, but I do hope they whoop Florida this weekend. Monday night we went to the Farmer's Federation Christmas Dinner. This was the first time my schedule allowed me to go. I was so glad, because they recognized B for his accomplishments at the debate and for his state debate this weekend. We enjoy a delicious dinner of steak and potatoes and one of my absolute favorite things...Dean's Cake. I have been wanting it, but hate to buy a whole cake or even half a cake, because I would eat the whole thing. These delicious cakes are made fresh daily in our hometown and are sold all over Alabama. If you haven't tried it...it's well worth it. My favorite is the Caramel Cake...delicious! Also, Kristin Wiggins, of the Women's Committe made these adorable monogram ornaments with corn, peanuts and cotton inside...how creative!

Click here to find out where to buy Dean's Cakes in your area.

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