Monday, December 5, 2011

Favorite Things Party!

For the past few months several ladies and 
I have been meeting @ Starbucks on Wednesday 
nights for bible study and fellowship.

For our Christmas party we wanted to do 
something different so we had a

 "Favorite Things Party"
(of course I found this idea on Pinterest).


I made the invitation using photoshop 
and glued it to a piece of 
brown cardboard box
and tied blue "satin" ribbon around it! 
(following the lyrics of the song)


Basically everyone had to bring 5 
of their favorite things ($6 limit)

That is 5 of the SAME item!


As soon as everyone arrived to Jamie's house
 (Jamie so graciously offered her house since 
she does not have kids to clean up after)
they were to write their names 5x and place them in the bowl!
 

They were then to grab a tag off the tree!


 The tags served two purposes: 
They each had a # and a question.

The number told what order each of 
us would draw 5 names out of the bowl 
and pass out our gifts.

The question was just a fun 
"ice-breaker" or "get to know you" activity! 

We had a fun time sharing 
our answers with everyone!

Everyone also had to secretly
answer a short questionnaire!

A few of the questions were:
Favorite Food?
Favorite Movie of 2011?
Favorite Make-Up Item?
Favorite Drink?

We then guessed to see if we could figure 
out who had filled out each sheet!

Again, just another fun way to 
learn more about each other!

I loved that we asked everyone to
 bring their favorite desert or appetizer!

Below is just a few of the favorite
 foods that were brought!


 Everyone was given a brown paper
 bag to put their goodies in! 
(my printer as you can see was running out of ink!)

The party began! 

Stacy, Donna, and Jamie

Laura, Candi, and Sheryl

Carmen, Jennifer, and Becca 
(I was taking pictures of course)

 Laura was excited about Candi's
 two favorite things.
A candle and fuzzy socks!

Stacey drew her 5 names as we 
anxiously awaited to see 
who she would draw!

Everyone really wanted what she brought!
 A cup that she had put polka dots
 on using her cricut filled with snickers!

 Everyone brought great gifts! 

Bath and Body Works hand 
sanitizers and car deodorizers!

Christmas Ornaments and Scarfs!

 More hand sanitizer, a candle, and travel 
toothbrush and tooth paste!

 Warm Fuzzy Footies! 
(this was what I brought)


Fingernail polish, remover,  
and foot scrubber! 

Chocolate!

And Becca brought a little bit of everything! 
(in some fancy wrapping I might add) 

I remember there were chocolate 
mints, planners and notepads!


Apparently several of us really love 
clean hands and warm feet! 


We had a great time! 

We missed those were not able 
to make it but we will definitely
 do this again next year!


It was a wonderful party idea!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Christmas Pics- Cartee Cousins!

While visiting Leroy all the cousins 
received Santa shirts that Gue made.

They are adorable!

We went out Thursday morning
 to get a photo of all 8 grandkids!

They actually did pretty good! 

I really like how Ellis is throwing
 up gang signs in this one! :)


Isla was definitely in "model mode"! 

She is such a little ham!

I guess this is her ninja pose?!

This is my favorite! 

Nixon was too busy playing with 
Reid but I did get a few pics! 


My favorite of Nixon!

Reid jumped in for a few! 

Sisterly love!


Roman refused to get in any 
pictures with his sisters! 
This is all I got! 


I'm definitely still learning 
how to use my new camera. 
(I need to take a class, hint hint Jared!)

But I am so thankful 
for being able to catch 
simple but special moments
 as each day passes!


Friday, December 2, 2011

Black Friday Fun!

My absolute favorite day/night is Black Friday! 
I love the crowds, the excitement, and the chaos!

Like years past we drove from Leroy to Tuscaloosa 
Thanksgiving afternoon so 
we could shop all night and day with my family. 

My sister and I were in the line at 
Toys-R-Us by 7:30 Thursday! 

There are very few days or nights we are 
"kid free" so we really enjoyed ourselves!
Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures from the night.

But it has become somewhat of a family tradition to
 go get the kids (and my parents) Friday 
morning and all go to the mall and to lunch.

Later we finished up our day of shopping.
 All in all we shopped
 for about 24 hours 
(minus a few hours of napping and a shower) 
I think we went to Toys-R-Us, 
Target, and Walmart all twice!

The kids:
JohnMark, Roman,
 Julianna Marie, JennaLeigh,
 Johnna Katherine, Isla, and Nixon 

The Girls!

They LOVED riding the train!

JennaLeigh is so cute!
 

JohnMark and Isla rode in 
the front and rang the bell!

After a full day of shopping the kids relaxed and 
watched the new Barbie Christmas
 movie while Jessica, Mom, 
and I wrapped all the gifts!

Even JennaLeigh and 
Roman enjoyed the treat for a bit!
 

Jessica's kids made gingerbread 
houses before we arrived. 
Roman has caught redhanded 
several time eating the houses!

We had to rush back to PC 
on Saturday morning so 
that Jared could watch 
the Iron Bowl (Roll Tide!)

But no trip to Tuscaloosa would be complete without....