Merry Christmas

cookies, pies and cakes are made . . .

presents are bought and wrapped (almost) . . .

the stockings are hung by the chimney with care . . .

fresh greenery has replaced the dried out . . .

Christmas trees are glowing . . .

and . . .

the house is almost clean enough for Christmas guests . . .

so . . .

all that's left is to wish you a very

Merry Christmas!!

Maybe next week, Mimi can post the other fun times we had with all of you; but for now, I'm scurrying around like a little mouse trying to finish everything because . . .

it's only 2 days until

Santa comes to Mimi's house along with 5 sleighloads of very special guests

and

she can't wait!!!!!

Merry Christmas

from our home to yours!

While Daddy Worked . . .

We played!

The A girls daddy had to work in Nashville at the beautiful Gaylord Opryland Hotel the first week in December and Mimi and Granddaddy got asked to go along over the weekend.  Mimi had wanted that to be our family Christmas "trip" but with CJ's basketball schedule it didn't work out ~ ~ maybe next year . . .!!

As always the decorations were breathtaking.

Santa was so sweet!

Someone always has their eyes closed when Mimi's snapping the pics but you're still gorgeous!

Of course, we had to see the Rockettes!

What a Christmas treat!!

The Nativity at the end was wonderful.

You girls practiced your kicks the rest of the weekend.

Thanks, Daddy, for letting us play while you worked!!

More Christmas Fun . . .

On Thursday night before we left for Nashville, we watched the Christmas parade.

Your ballet studio had the best float with a rotating Mary and the beautiful music from the Nativity performance scheduled for this weekend.  Mimi and Granddaddy can't wait to see AG in her special performance.  AG, you're the one with the pink headband to the left of the ballerina base.

The Nativity performance is one of the most moving Christmas performances Mimi has ever seen.  I'm so glad Mommy chose this studio for your training.

More "Fun to Come" with little carolers, Christmas plays, ballplayers, and Christmas parties . . .

so much fun that Mimi's Christmas tree has very few presents under it with very few days left for shopping!

and then there's the baking . . .

and the cooking . . .

Oh, NO!!!!

Mimi needs some of those cute little Elves of Santas to come to the acre and help me get ready for my precious house guests!  Do ya'll think you could ask Lydious and Kidias to tell Santa Mimi needs some help?

Well, I'll go start making my "To Do" list for tomorrow!

Goodnight, sweet monkeys!!

The ABC's of Christmas Cookies

Since you girls have been here, Mimi and your Mama's make Christmas cookies over Thanksgiving weekend.  Three years ago, Mande decided to get creative and turn our pictures into a CD for us.  Of course, Mimi cried when they played it for us on Christmas Eve.  Pictures from all the years are great to look back on, but the CD is priceless!!  If Mimi knew how to add it to the computer and then to the blog, I would; but remember, Mimi didn't teach that part of computers!  Anyway, here's Mande's blog entry from that year.

The ABC's of Christmas Cookies 2008

Now to the 2011 version . . .

The new aprons . . .

pink and green ~ what else for Mimi's princess monkeys?

CJ and Kaleb finally join the baking fun!

With Thanksgiving decorations still up, no Christmas clothes (or red hairbows), and a hurried day, these pictures were certainly not CD worthy; but, we'll always remember the fun!!  It was great having Kaleb join us for our pre-Christmas activities this year!

Usually, the day after Thanksgiving always means new Christmas clothes from Mimi's sewing room; but this year all I whipped up were your "Magic Pillowcases" . . . but guess what????  NO PICTURES (maybe someone's mommy got one)!  I think ya'll are enjoying the magic they hold and sleeping soundly.  Mimi also hopes before you drift off to sleep, you look closely at the manger scene on the front of the pillowcase so you will always remember the real reason for this most wonderful season!

While You Were Sleeping . . .

on the day after Thanksgiving . . .

just like clock work . . .

THEY CAME BACK!!

Lydious

Kidias

and Clark

SANTA's sneakly little Elves

surprised ya'll with a breakfast of donuts, muffins and fruit that they prepared

while you were snuggled in your warm beds in the nest.

Surprises they left for each of you . . .

cute little Christmas headbands, Santa mugs and a special note

Mimi loves the centerpiece they made!

  

Sweet Ailee wanted to read her note Lydious left instead of getting her picture made

All your excited screams soon woke your Mommies and Daddies . . .

and Campbell's Daddy even stole a kiss under her mistletoe headband!

These funny little Elves have continued their mischief each morning when they arrive from the North Pole . . .

while you were sleeping . . .

Hope you're sleeping snuggly right now!!

XOXOXOXO ~~ Mimi

Final Farewell to Fall . . .

Most of the beautiful fall season was a blur . . . but the final week of Thanksgiving was a gloriously fun time of family, friends, food and fellowship ~ what more could one ask for?

Granddaddy and I were extremely blessed again to have all our babies home for the weekend.  We realized just how lucky and blessed we were when we were told that many of our friends' children were not able to be home for the holiday.  Thank you, sweet children, for the extra effort it takes each holiday to make this happen!!

Now, just a little recap of our wonderful time together . . .

tables ready and waiting

The A girls arrived early to help with dinner preparations ~ a great big THANKS to Mande, Beth, Carolyn, Danielle, and Michelle for all the great food you brought!!  Mimi felt like she wasn't doing anything this year but it sure felt good to be able to relax.

the "littles"

the "middles"

the "bigs" ~ at least the female variety

a "big" and an "oldie"

Then Friday night it was party time all over again as Mimi and Granddaddy hosted the annual "K and D" reunion.  Only problem with "annual" is that it had been 11 years since the last one.  Gran and Pop would have been so upset with us but at least we were able to start again!!  Thanksgiving weekend worked much better than trying to work in a Christmas event ~~ all the college kids were home but we were so sorry that Charlsey couldn't make it home this time.

A few pictures to make the memories last . . .

Uncle Bob and Aunt Lynda

Sorry Mimi didn't get pictures of all the little cousins but you were so busy getting to know each other and playing that I just missed you ~ maybe Sherry has some for the scrapbook!!

Good night my sweeties! Hope visions of sugarplums are dancing in your heads!!

XOXOXOXOX ~ Mimi

Being Thankful

As I sit here going over my "To Do" list for Thanksgiving morning, my mind keeps going over all the many wonderful blessings my Father has granted to me ~ my precious, beautiful family; friends who love and support me just the way I am; a home that provides safety and echos little giggles long after they have faded; a vehicle with good tires for traveling "north and south"; a 31-year career that I loved and secretly do miss; a caring, loving church family and the best Sunday School class ever; a sweet Miss Gigi and great neighbors.

But this year of 2011, the greatest blessings He has provided for me are knowledgable, caring doctors and supportive, praying friends and family.  Thank you, Father, for the little valleys of the past few months because it's in these valleys that my need for You grows and my faith in how great You are is strengthened.

These were my "leaves" on our 2011 Thanksgiving Tree which is standing patiently by the front door for the rest of the family to arrive tomorrow and adorn it with their Thankful Blessings for this year.

God's Blessings on all of you as you pause to Be Thankful to the one who provides on this Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Two Turkeys . . .

are having birthdays this week . . .

Sweet AG is 8 today!!

Not sure how that could be possible!

Happy 8th Birthday to our prima ballerina!!

and . . .

Our beautiful daughter-in-law, Beth, is having a birthday tomorrow!!

Here's my pretty girls celebrating last year on Tom Turkey Day!!

Happy Birthday, Beth!!

We love the birthday girls all the muches!!!!!!

Of course, Mimi couldn't let the opportunity to brag on her DAWGS pass so . . .

How 'bout them DAWGS!!!!!

SEC Champs ~ Way to go!!!!!!

These two cuties were celebrating the victory.

Think they're more excited, though, to be home for Thanksgiving with their families!

I know their families are sure excited!!

Now a little update on Mimi ~

thyroid surgery went well and for the most part the pathology report was good ~ nothing malignant in the nodule that was removed but pathologist found a small malignancy in another part of the lobe that was removed.  Hopefully, it was the only one.  But, for now, it's a wait and see game plan.  Only 4 months until another CAT scan on the lung to check on that nodule.  I know God has a plan in all of this and that whatever the plan is or the results of that plan, His name will be glorified.

Veteran's Day Birthday

What better way could Granddaddy have celebrated his November 11th birthday than with all his littles?

We decided to make a quick trip north for the weekend after first detouring to the south to pick up the A girls for a "Cousins Weekend" to celebrate Granddaddy's birthday.  It was a late start on Friday since we were leaving after AG's ballet class; but there was plenty of time for fun on Saturday!

As always, anything that involves the girls is busy, busy!  Saturday morning found us at Cybie's last soccer match of the season . . .

Getting her "Great Job" speech from Daddy before he left for his "Wiley Cup" golf tournament.  Isn't he looking good in his Saturday team uniform of white shirt and black pants?  Of course, his mommy thinks so!!

Celebrating the win with our little soccer champ!

Sorry about no bows in their hair but Mimi had them all bundled up in boggin's and gloves cause it was cold in those hills.

After a birthday celebration lunch for Granddaddy at Frank Allen's it was home to play for a while.  Haven't heard that many giggles since Cousins Camp ~ sure sounded good, though!!

The afternoon brought CJ's first basketball game of the winter . . .

AG made a "Go Campbell" sign for the middles to hold up.  They yelled for her so loud that she finally looked up and saw the sign ~ a big grin from her then quickly back to business.  AG even wrote a cheer that can be seen on the back.  After CJ saw the sign, the girls got busy cheering and clapping their hands.  Sweet Baby A got a little confused and started yelling "Go Georgia" but that was okay because the DAWGS were playing after all.  Mimi almost dumped Baby A in the floor when CJ stole the ball and drove down for a layup.  Way to go, CJ!!  You may be the youngest on the team, but you sure don't play like it!!

Speaking of the DAWGS, the A girls Mommy and Daddy represented us at the game cheering those DAWGS to the best victory yet!!  Way to tear it up between the hedges and answer the question of "Just how good are those DAWGS?"

Well, Monday morning is THE BIG morning.  While ya'll are getting ready for school, Mimi will be having her thyroid surgery and she sure could use lots of sweet prayers!

Good night my little ones!  Mimi loves you all the muches in the whole wide world and even to the moon and back!!!  To keep me calm while I'm waiting on the doctor, I'll keep replaying those sweet giggles over and over in my head.  Can't wait to hear them again in person when Mr. Tom Turkey comes calling!!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO ~ Mimi