Marley and Me

Well, David and I decided to take the girls to see a movie tonight. They've been wanting to see Marley and Me ever since they saw the previews and even more so now that Santa brought them a puppy for Christmas. I had even asked a couple of people who had already seen the movie if it was ok for kids to see. They said sure...just have some tissue handy. I thought...oh, I'll just tear up...I won't need any tissue. WRONG! CAUTION!!!! Do not take your kids to see this movie...it has an extremely sad ending. I was crying so hard I had tears literally running down my neck. Lauren was sitting next to me and kept looking at me...then she started crying. Next thing I know, Morgan is balling. David had to console Lauren and I kept thinking...Lord, please let this movie be over soon. I honestly don't think there was a dry eye in the theater. On the way out, people kept saying "is she gonna be ok?" Actually, what they should have been saying was, "are they gonna be ok?" David couldn't help but laugh a little because he was walking 3 crying females out of the movies. When we got home, the girls went straight to our new puppy and Lauren kept saying, "I want to keep him Daddy...I don't want to sell him...I don't want Santa to come back and get him". Needless to say, it took a while to get them both calmed down. I just hope they don't have bad dreams tonight. Goodnight!

AAAHHHHHH!!!

Finally...my house is clean (with the exception of the girls' end of the house). I have dusted, cleaned bathrooms, cleared all the junk off of my bar, etc... David vacuumed for me...it just makes me feel so much better when my house is clean. For those of you that know me well know that I like things to be neat, clean, and organized. Well, I'm not quite as organized as some...I won't name any names (Shannon Henderson, Elizabeth Nowlen, and my mother). But I do like for things to look good and smell good. I've got candles burning in every room. I even have two or three different fragrances burning in the same area of the house! Who cares...it smells good! OK...I haven't cleaned the girls' end of the house because I've spent the last two hours cleaning out and going through toys. I have 3 garbage bags full of stuff to take to The Other Way and I'm still not finished. I thought I would finish tonight...and I still might...but I had to take a break. It's amazing that as I'm going through their toys, I know exactly what goes with what. I was finding things and telling Morgan, "Hey, these go with your Barbie house or here's the purse that goes with that Barbie." I know you're wondering how the heck I can keep up with that...I don't know...I guess it's just the kid in me. I'm just glad David is here while I'm doing this so he can see just how much stuff I have bagged up. I've cleaned out their rooms before, but he never thinks I get rid of much. Well, I'm here to tell ya...my hallway is lined up with bags. I better get off here and get back to work. The girls are probably in there now destroying what I've already picked up.

Christmas dresses from Nana

Every year, my mom makes the girls' Christmas dresses. She's done this since Morgan was a baby. I have every dress that she's ever made them. I usually pass clothes down to Kristi for her daughter Lainey, but I keep the dresses that my mom made. Lauren just had to hold her new LSU tiger that we bought her. She named it "Tiger Millie". I know you're wondering where she got Millie from. Well, remember her "Uncle" Mel's dogs, Jersey and Millie. That's where.

"Supper with Santa"

Morgan and Lauren in front of the Christmas tree at the country club. I bought these shirts for them at Giggles and Grins. Lauren's is solid sequins on the front. Oh, and those aren't her antlers. She swipped them from a table as soon as we got there.

Morgan and Lauren with their friend, Amelia Ward. They met Amelia at the pool this summer and Lauren just loves her. They're the same age. Hopefully they'll be in the same class next year when they start kindergarten.

Calling up Santa!!!! Each child had a set of keys (provided by their parents) to jingle and call up Santa. I never knew keys could make that much noise. They were having a blast.

Lauren does this every year. She cries on Santa's lap. I don't get it! She loves getting toys from him, but he scares the life out of her every year. You should have seen her when he walked into the room.

Patiently waiting to open their gifts that Santa brought. Well, Morgan is patiently waiting...Lauren is being silly. That's what she does best, but we sure do love her!

Lauren's happy now that Santa gave her a present!

MIS entertainment

Hey, they didn't tell me when I signed my contract at MIS that I would have to perform in front of the whole school!!! Just kidding. It's tradition at MIS for the teachers from each grade level to perform a skit, dance, etc... for the students the day we get out for the holidays. It was so much fun. We danced to "All I want for Christmas is you" by Mariah Carey. We only danced to the first 30-45 seconds of the song maybe. The kids loved it! I know I don't even have to tell you which one is me!

Christmas with family

Me and David at the Cassels' Family Christmas.

David's mom and dad at the Cassels' Family Christmas singing Christmas carols with the other grandparents.

Our future "plumber". I just had to put this on here. This was taken at Mom's. She has no idea I took this picture.

My big "bubbas". Hey look!!! Another LSU fan! Heath is on the left and Eddie is on the right...in case you don't know them. Do you notice something? My hair keeps getting longer, but I can't say the same for them. Just kidding! I know it's hereditary. Actually, Eddie shaves his so it won't be so obvious! :-)

David's new LSU golf bag. I had to hide it at the neighbor's house so he wouldn't find it. He was surprised, but at the same time thought I would get it. I noticed him admiring one while we were in Baton Rouge when we went to the first game of the season. I told him to go ahead and get it, but he said no. I said, "Ok then, that'll make a good Christmas present." I guess he remembered me saying that.

Finally...Christmas pictures!

The girls made sure to bake some cookies and put them under the tree for Santa...along with some milk too. They were so excited...we let them put out their reindeer food in the back yard that they made at the country club the night they saw Santa.

I decided to take a picture of what all Santa brought before the girls got their hands on everything. Actually, we had to wake them up. I figured they'd be up by 7:00, but David woke them up around 8 a.m. David's mom, his brother, and my parents all spent the night so they could be here when Santa came.

Santa had to move my snowmen out of his way when he came down the chimney. He even left the fireplace door cracked!!!

Forget the toys!!! Daddy heard a noise in the laundry room and guess what it was??? A PUPPY!!! Check out the looks on their faces. Well, Lauren doesn't exactly have a "look". She's ready to run for him.

The girls were so excited to get a new puppy from Santa. Look at Lauren's face!! Santa even put a bow around his neck...gee, I wonder what we'll call him. Does the name Tiger fit? Of course it does...he'll be a true LSU fan!

Here's Lauren trying to coax Tiger in his new dog house. David's parents bought this for the girls for their new puppy.

Tiger is thinking, "I'm not getting in that thing, Lauren."

Tiger is worn out from the excitement...well, mainly worn out from Lauren!!