Jackson's 8th birthday!

My Jackson requested his two friends have a campout in the backyard for his birthday.
I thought that was perfect!
Ryan, Jackson and Lane
They all started out in Kindergarten together :) 

A camouflage cake to complete the evening. 

James built a fire and they all roasted hotdogs for dinner...
s'mores to follow [my fav] 

8 years!?  Where did that go? 

Singing to Jackson...lots of silliness going on! 

He made out a loooong list of Legos that he wanted for his birthday and gave it to his Grandma...
She delivered.  ALL of it.
Sheesh!
Here we have "big ben" clock.  talk about tiny pieces!
Took him two days to do it. 

Georgia photo bombing with the infamous tongue... 

He wanted to go to George's Mexican restaurant for his actual birthday...so that's where we went! 

instagram effect. 

We went to Destin to see my mom the following weekend and she had a cake for him too! 

pingpong tables make a great present for the whole family too!
Fits perfectly in the playroom :) 

Grandma and Jackson working hard on Legos!

Jackson you are a super smart kid.
You are stubborn [just like yo mama]
you love playing out in the creek with your trucks and boats and getting super dirty.
School is easy for you and you enjoy learning.
You make friends easily and are such a sweet boy.
I love you with all my heart :)

Mardi Gras 2013

Apparently kindergarteners who live in the state of Louisiana make mini Mardi Gras floats this time of  year... 

Well, Charlie and I certainly had fun with a hot glue gun [and several blister burns later].
Here's his finished product! 

I also had a 'first' this Mardi Gras season..
I got to ride in my first Mardi Gras parade!
My cousin, Stephanie and I climbed on board our float and loaded all of our "throws"...
 

Now all I needed was my "costume and mask".... 

Done.
ohhh what a fun night that turned out to be!
I would LOVE to do this again! 

My man, Charlie, also got to ride in a Mardi Gras parade of his own.
His Kindergarten does one every year in our little town and the streets shut down and people gather on the roadside while the 6 year olds pummel beads and such at innocent bystanders.
 

I walked alongside to make sure no one fell off the trailer..

And the Gilmores are off to Destin for Mardi Gras break!
Happy Mardi Gras ya'll!

Christmas: part deux

Saturday afternoon we made Christmas cookies!
Mom had all kinds of fun decorations for the kids to decorate cookies with.
Jackson had requested that we make cookies so we waited until we were at my mom's and had lots of help :) 

Cori [Steve's nurse] and her daughter came to join in the festivities. 

Sage and Jackson rolling out the dough. 

Me and my momma :)
I was slowly going downhill at this point, but I kept truckin' 

Charlie's Kindergarten class had made bags of "reindeer food" to sprinkle on the lawn Christmas Eve....here he's doing just that! 

a mixture of glitter and crushed peppermints and sequins :)
think I also saw some honeycomb cereal in there... 

He had been looking forward this all of Christmas. 

Beau, Ryan and Jeffery the dog :) 

Getting ready for bed.
wipin' noses and downing tylenol 

cute little photo op
The boys were so excited it was Christmas Eve.

We had just gotten home from a yummy dinner at Cuvee Bistro for Christmas Eve.
 

Goof ball!! 

the flash is sooo bright! 

Jackson thought Santa needed a little guidance in the cookie eating department... 

He wrote a note to the big guy and fixed him a plate of cookies and milk. 

our sugar cookies we made :) 

Mom told the boys if they behaved at dinner they could open one gift on Christmas Eve.
Jackson got a vest....
not exactly the gift he was hoping to open, I presume... 

Georgia got a tea set! 

I got Just Dance 4 for Christmas!!
We took it all upstairs to the Gilmore Floor. 

Jeffrey the dog was over it. 

I whooped these girls.. 

gee, my pictures are out of order and I don't know how to fix that!
Surprise! 

JWG gettin' fresh with the camera.
He's a dancing fool just like his mamma!

Man, the Gilmore Floor is messy!!!! 

Lana ignored the fever and just danced... 

fun times on the gilmore floor. 

My bro taking a break from the dance floor.
 

But not for long!
This game has some fun songs on it!

Jackson said to me, "I can't wait for Dance Party 5 to come out mom!"

me either son! 

And that concluded our Christmas :)

Christmas 2012

Georgia got a tree for her room this year!
Hello Kitty but of course :)
She loved going and sitting on the floor by her tree and looking at it...
then unplugging it and trying to plug it back in, etc... 

Mr. Charlie called me into her room one night and said, "Hey mom!  Come see.  I look like Elf on the Shelf!"
hahahha..he really did! 

This Christmas spent with my side of the family.
The kids had a 1/2 day on Thursday.
We loaded everything in the car [presents and all] on Thursday night then got up Friday morning and drove to Destin to my mom's.

Everything started out grand.
Then fever hit Charlie.
Then throwing up.
Next thing we know, Georgia is running fever.
I came down with it next.

Lana ended up with it.

It sucked.
We drove back home the day after Christmas.
I took all of us to the Dr.

Charlie had pneumonia.
Georgia had croup and flu and ear infection.
I had bronchitis and flu...

yuck.

So needless to say, we had a low key Christmas.
Lots of handwashing and not touching each other...
Jackson never got sick.
Him and Uncle Beau were into Lego building. 

I cooked all day on Christmas and we had a really nice meal that evening.
It was our first time eating at the dining room table!
Roasted Turkey
Carrot Souffle
Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Cheese Ball
Cheese Platter
Artichoke Dip
Veggie Tray
Pumpkin Pie
Key Lime Pie 

The Sunday before Christmas my mom, Lana, Ryan and I went to Vintij for a girls lunch.
It is our favorite place to go! 

Jackson enjoyed a fun game of War with Cori [Steve's nurse]. 

Christmas Morning!
Looks like Santa came! 

Georgia was inspecting her 4-wheeler. 

Poor thing was running fever.
Charlie was feeling much better by today. 

It took some coaxing to get her on the thing! 

Pappa unwrapping gifts. 

She was so intentional with opening her presents....it took FOREVER! 

....one strip of measly paper at a time!
We didn't all wake up till 8am Christmas morning and were done unwrapping at 9:30! 

a new dress from Uncle Beau and Ryan! 

Yes, the fat cat was with us.
He got a catnip filled tray of sushi toys.
 

Legos of course! 

And a Nerf gun that I hate already... 

Taking her sweet time with this one! 

Babies.
Two twin cabbage patch dolls.
That should keep this little mamma busy :) 

Uncle Beau unwrapping... 

they were ripping into everything. 

 

Ms Ryan  

out of focus Nonna and Georgia 

Aunt Lana was excited to unwrap her Keurig she's been wanting! 

Texas girl :) 

 

Me and Mr claus :) 

Daddy always gets the biggest gift under the tree! 

Mom's beautiful Christmas tree 

Lana and Ryan putting together a puzzle on Christmas day. 

I know I've explained my Mom's tradition of the "pickle".
She has this tiny pickle ornament, like 2 inches long.
She hides it and whoever finds it gets $100!
I found it two years ago :)
Beau found it this year!!
It was soooo hard to find this year!
It took us a good 10 minutes!

Despite the sickness that we passed around, it was a great Christmas!
We enjoyed Beau and Ryan's company and just being all together.

Dance Party 4 competition commenced not too soon after dinner :)
I own everyone.