Christmas 2014

Christmas is always so jammed packed for us, it has been a little more low key for the past two years, but it is still a lot of running and a ton of fun!

Christmas Eve
We celebrate with Justin's mom and family on Christmas Eve.  We have Italian inspired food and a lot of loud fun.  The kids play and then open a few gifts.  After some of the extended family leaves we open gifts with Chris and her husband, Alan.

We got home right before 10 and still hadn't made cookies for Santa, so we did the quickest cookie bake ever!  Emma left carrots for the reindeer as well.

Finally, Emma was off to sleep and we awaited Santa's arrival!  Emma slept until after 8 the next morning! 

After gifts I fixed a nice little pancake and bacon breakfast.   My mom and dad always stop by to check out the loot.  My whole family lives on the same road so they go by all three of their kids' homes and see what the grandkids received!

For lunch we head up to my parents house where we eat and exchange gifts.  Mamaw Kat was able to come up as well. Since we had no other destination this year, we helped set up mom's new television, dad's new sound bar and their iPads. 

I didn't get pictures of may gifts, but Emma got a life sized Elsa doll. She was so funny she danced with it and then when we came home put on her Elsa dress and pretended she was a doll and we had to figure out which one was Emma!

Saturday we wrapped up Christmas with Justin's dad and family.  Emma loves playing with her cousins Ava and Adam (mostly Ava!) After lunch the boys played bocce.  (I've included the winner's picture.) Side note: this is my favorite part of the tour of food because there is always a guaranteed PEACAN PIE from costco. (YUM!!!)

Daily Catch-up

Emma has gone to spend the night with her Mi-mi so after a back to back adventure at the movies to see Into The Woods and Night at the Museum, I decided to catch up on the pictures from the #emma365 project! I can't believe this is the last week of the year!

Merry Christmas

I'm so behind here. I will try to catch up in the next few days.  For now, our Christmas card!  Merry Christmas! (late)

Thanksgiving Eve eve...

I know terrible title, but hey, it's a middle of the week post.... SAY WHAT?!?!

Today was my last day of work and Emma's last day of school before break!  Her school did a Thanksgiving story/feast and Emma wanted to be a Pilgrim.  (Firmly told me that she "DID NOT" like indians.)  Thanks to my sister-in-law, we made a SUPER quick, SUPER easy outfit.

I used this blog for the collar and apron and this site for her bonnet.  I was pretty excited about how it turned out.

We have some busy days coming up so I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and remember to Gobble until you Wobble!!! 

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

the Holidays! 

It's going to be a crazy month starting, NOW!  We went ahead and decorated trees.

I also celebrated the December birthdays of my Mom and both sister-in-laws. We enjoyed a nice girls dinner.

Saturday, Target had a Frozen event.  Justin took Emma dressed as Ana to meet "Elsa" and get a goody bag.  It wasn't a very big deal, but cute.  Emma was super shy as normal...

After the Target adventure, Emma and I went to see "your Santa" as Emma tells me.  He was at a local country shop and anyone could go by and say hello and  take pictures.  I was so proud of her, she walked right up to him, hugged him and told him what she wanted for Christmas.  I haven't uploaded the ones from my camera so here is the cell phone one for now...

I'm looking forward to a short work week and some time to see family and EAT!  

This week in review

This week we had very COLD temps and a tiny bit of snow.  I am praying for NO snow days until after Christmas break.

Emma and I both had our hair done this week and Ms. Dale always braids it for her after a trim.  Tuesday we went so see "Big Hero 6" it was fantastic!  We went to the after 7 showing, so Em got to stay up a little late. Tuesdays are a cheap price for all showings and there is usually a smaller crowd.  My friend, Ashley, came to visit this weekend.  We took her to our main attraction, Bass Pro!  She had a "date" Saturday night so J, E and I ate at Pizza Hut (using Emma's first Book It coupon) and goofed off in Target!

When I sat down to transfer the pictures for the day into the collage, it cracked me up to see the true sign of the weather, and time of year.  I struggle so much getting up and ready on winter days and it shows because I'm usually trying to get out the door before I take her picture.  No shoes one day, no socks or shoes another.  It's really just run a comb through her hair and get it out of her face that leads to all the crazy hair days! 

I mustache you some questions....

I was tagged by Johanna for this challenge! 

Four names that people call me, other than my real name:

     * TJ

     * todell

     * Mrs. O'Dell

     * Mom

Four jobs that I have had:

     * I worked as a sno-cone princess a few summers at a local sno-cone/putt-putt place.

     * ESP after school worker during college. 

     *Education/Program/Unit Director at the local Boys & Girls Club

     *Special Education Teacher at a middle school! 

Four movies I've watched more than once:

     * High Fidelity 
     * Empire Records
     * Scream
     * Frozen (haahaa)

Four places I have lived:

     * My parents house in Bristol, Virginia
     * Jefferson City, Tennessee for college
     * A house across the street from where I live now in Bristol, Virginia
     * My current house in Bristol, Virginia (on the same street as my parents!)

Four places I have been:
     * Ireland, all around the southern part of the country
     * Colorado Springs, Colorado
     * South Carolina (Greenville, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach)
     * Birmingham, Alabama

Four places I would rather be right now:

     * Somewhere warm! 
     * Disney World =)
     * Australia 
     * In bed! 

Four things I won't eat:

     * Sushi, it scares me
     * Tomatoes 
     * If I can't pronounce it I won't eat it. 
     * Beef that isn't well done

Four of my favorite foods:
     * Steak, well done that is
     * Chicken.  
     * CHOCOLATE
     * Japanese food

Four TV shows that I watch:
     * Dancing with the stars (Vote for Sadie!)
     * 19 Kids and Counting
     * House Hunters
     * Disney Jr. not always by choice!

Four things I am looking forward to this year:

     * Holidays 
     * My mom's 70th birthday! 
     * Disney in 2015
     * Summer break! 

Four things i'm always saying:
     * "Listen up"
     * "I love you"
     * "EMMA!"
     * "Your Face!"

Four people I tag:
Sarah @ Our Journey
Megan @ The Brick Bungalow
Becca@ Dinner, a Dog & a Blog
Sonya@A Day in the Life

Novembrrrrr

The cold is here!  But the weekend was nice!  We traveled up to Christiansburg, VA where we stayed with Justin's cousin and his uncle and aunt came to visit as well.  We enjoyed some good food, fun, a nice walk, and some baby shopping for K &D

Rock the Vote!

We voted! I hope you did too!

Emma has went with me to vote almost every year.  I hope she learns how important this civic duty can be!!  

Picture pages

Just wanted to update the weeks.  This picture a day has been a true labor of love!

Halloween 2014

Thursday, Emma and I carved an Elsa pumpkin.  Justin got home in time to lean up the mess!

My Belle.  Emma's Grandaddy and Nana had gotten her this dress last year while we were at Disney so we put it to good use!  I took this picture a few weeks ago when we were still having super warm weather! 

Belle on Halloween.  This was at one of our first stops, my mom's house.  We NEVER use the front door so it is so funny to see Emma walk past it to get to the regular door.  We went to a few family homes that are on our street, as you will see below, my mamaw's, both brothers', then we headed to trunk or treat at our church.  It had pretty much rained all day and they moved it inside and it was PACKED.  We got our candy and headed north to our last stop at a friends house.

Homecoming

Carson Newman was my home from 1996-2000.  I loved everything about being at CN especially my dorm. Sarah Swann Hall was old,  not air-conditioned but full of fantastic girls who I still love getting to see. Ashley and I were able to go this year and the day was gorgeous!

We met up Friday night in Pigeon Forge for some shopping and Steak and Shake (Emma's favorite!)

Posing in front of our house on wheels

FYI the Salted Carmel Pretzel is AMAZING, Emma likes Birthday Cake

Saturday morning we got ready then headed Jefferson City.  We took a quick tour of our updated dorm and then caught up with two friends.  We headed to the new Chick-fil-a on campus and then found a spot to watch the parade.  Emma got a ton of candy and had a lot of fun!!

TeA selfie

Emma took our picture!

Emma and I in front of my door in Swann (on the left)

These eagles were painted by some friends of mine during my first year at CN

The band!

Emma and Ashley wave to President O'Brien

I loved the security car! 

Somebody is 4 and somebody is 36!

Emma turned 4 October 10th!  We had her birthday party the weekend before and Justin and I took the 10th off to take Emma to Pigeon Forge and we headed to Dollywood and the Aquarium!

She had a Frozen themed birthday (imagine that!)

I got her an upcycled dress from okeedokee kids. 

Thanks Sam's Club for the awesome cake/cupcake mix. It was so much cheaper and didn't fall apart like Emma's past fancy cakes...

Emma had a ton of friends there.  I was shocked that everyone we invited showed up.  She had a great time with everyone!  We rented an inflatable jump house and we had a friend that did balloon animals for the kids.  

Emma had a lot of help opening her gifts, there was a group of five girls that were all around she opened! 

My sister-in-law got Emma this scooter she had wanted forever, I think that was her favorite gift of the night! 

For Emma's actual birthday we went and spent the weekend at my parent's camper in Pigeon Forge.  It was SO crowded because of all the fall decorations and the changing leaves (and apparently schools have fall breaks. Not my system!)

We started the morning out with a birthday biscuit (chicken minis from Chick-fil-a)

Then we headed to Dollywood.  Emma rode the low key rides and we enjoyed the decor.  We met up with her friend Lauren and they played at one of the play stations before we headed home for a nap.

After dinner and a nap we headed over to where Lauren and her parents were staying for some night swimming.  They actually were able to swim outside, crazy for middle of October, but they enjoyed it! 

Lauren's mom mentioned that Ripley's was letting teachers into the aquarium for free over the weekend so on Saturday we headed to Gatlinburg and the three of us enjoyed the aquarium for $3.40! I was pretty excited to actually see the sea turtle swimming, he is usually hiding when we go! We took Emma to this aquarium for her 1st birthday trip!

When we finished up we walked the area that is Gatlinburg (look it up!) We ate at a popular BBQ place and stopped at our favorite arcade.

We also did some shopping and just enjoyed a few days away from the house.  It was a great birthday!

This week Emma had to go in for her 4 year check up.  Oh my gravy those shots were by far worse than any set she had as a baby!!!  I think it will take me years to recover from that experience!!! 

This weekend was my birthday!  We kept it low key, I got some yummy cupcakes from my favorite bakery and I spent time with some friends! Next weekend is Carson Newman's homecoming so Emma and I are going to travel back down to the camper for the weekend with one of my college friends! 

Fall is here. It is cold and the leaves are covering everything!