Elena has been busy...

Elena has figured out how to use the camera...and believe it or not, most of the pictures are really good! Case in point...

Happy Thanksgiving!

And this is what it looks like to have Turkey Coma...hehehe!

Almost Thanksgiving and Starting to Celebrate...

Awww...the holiday shows are starting and I'm getting all nostalgic and misty-eyed as I see Elena enjoying what we used to as kids. Last night Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving was on. I used to think that his "Thanksgiving Dinner" he made for his friends with toast and popcorn was the coolest thing ever...hehe. Here's Elena ready for bed watching intently. Can't wait for the Christmas Specials to start!

We have MUCH to be Thankful For

As Thanksgiving approaches...

http://www.cpmsglife.org/tg/2006tdm1.html

Philippians 4:5-7 "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

1 Timothy 2: 1 "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—"

This video was sent to me, and we pass it on...

Enjoying the hard work...

Speaks for itself...I'm that tired after I cook, too...hehe!

Cookies!

We...and I think you know who I'm talking about...had an urge to make some cookies. Good weather for it! So Miss Elena was "Miss Paula Dean" for the afternoon and had a good ole' time making cookies. And Eric had a good ole' time eating them...By the way, there's a tribute picture to Betty Crocker for Dad, part of the General Mills Peeps... ;)

Snow...and Preparing for it!

We had some more snow and Elena was thrilled to get dressed for it...well, sort of...

I think that there's a fine fashion statement, don't you?

SNOW!

Yep...ya see those white flecks in the picture?!?! You got it, SNOW!!!

Squirrels!!!

Apparently we are not only feeding the birds now, but also some neighborhood squirrels. This one was funny because every time I took a picture the camera flash would make the squirrel stand with his paws up like I was holding him at gun point. "Freeze, you bird seed thief!!!" Unfortunately I couldn't get another shot of him actually doing it fast enough. Apparently the food was more important than standing cute for very long.

Merry Chris...WHAT?!?!

Ok, we all love Christmas around here...some of us REALLY, REALLY love it...say, ERIC...who seems to be rubbing off on Elena. Tradition for my family was have Turkey Dinner on Thanksgiving and then the guys watch TV and the girls decorate for Christmas. On Eric's side, his parents would have the house all done up when they got home from school for Thanksgiving break and visiting. For some reason, that time frame keeps backing up earlier and earlier, little by little for us. This weekend Eric said we should "shop" for a little tree for Elena's room. Translation: Let's start decorating now!!! So far, it's still just her tree in her room. We bought a cute little tree that would look nice pretty much anywhere in the case she grew out of that sort of thing or mayhem by a 3 year old would possibly ensue once it was there, and we went without decorations for safety. Elena was overjoyed with the new tree. We put her down for a nap and after some time checked on her to find that not only was she not sleeping she had taken all of the marker caps off her Color Wonders and decorated her tree with them. Those, and a couple of stuffed mice, a cell phone holder, a post card, a miniature My Little Pony from a Happy Meal, and wooden back massage balls, I'm sure there's more you all can find...how, um, festive! So here's shots of that...Elena also put things to hang on the tree first in her Halloween basket, and then transferred them onto the tree.

New Bird Feeder and Birdies!!!!

Elena enjoys watching the birds...actually anything animal is a joy for her...so we got a bird feeder for the back porch to feed our feathered friends. It took a day or two for some to come, but now we are a popular bird haven.

Elena calls to them through the windows..."Here, birdies! Come eat!! Not too much, now!" Very funny! And today on our way home from the gym Elena saw a flock of birds and called out, "Come over birdies! Come to our house! We have food!" I think this is the beginning of bringing out the hostess in her...hehe! Enjoy!

RAINING!

First big Fall rain, which meant taking out the rain coat and slickers for a test run...I'm not sure who had more fun, Elena or me! :)

One More Reason...

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/types-36003-5.html http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/reference/myBiopsy/BreastInvasiveDuctalCarcinoma.pdf

The results are in and Billye will be leaving today for records, and then on to her specialists to start immediate care for her.

Please be in continued prayer for peace as Billye begins this journey, pray for wisdom and kindness in her care givers, and pray for healing. Love you, Billye!!!

2 Corinthians 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,"

Why there's ALWAYS room for more shoes...

We have been active participants in Operation Chirstmas Child for a while now, and since Elena's birth we have designated a shoe box specifically from her for her age group. We make a point to shop together for that little girl and as we pack it up and wrap it we talk about the importance of sharing and giving, and what God says about that. As she grows we hope this will make an impression on her, that this will be another opportunity where she will learn to love others and to want to give to those in need, and to be thankful for what God has given us. Most important; we remember the best gift is the birth of Christ Jesus who came to earth to save us through His birth, death and resurrection, and that in doing for others we share and glorify Him.

Below is a link you can go to in order to learn more and possibly join in as well. We hope this post will inspire others to be a part of this. The more the merrier!

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/

"Operation Christmas Child is a great way to bring joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ to Children in need of Hope." - Franklin Graham, President of Smaritan's Purse

Praying...

Meet my friend Billye, a true Texas Beauty Queen and a Beauty at Heart. I met her in 2004 as she was preparing to compete in the National American Queen Pageant and we have stayed in touch ever since. She is an absolute darling and one of a select few I admire and aspire to be like. I am dedicating a post to her so that anyone who reads this will think of her and pray for her and her health. I'll share more on Monday when I hear from her (I am hoping it is good news). Until then...

Psalm 31:24"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD"

Psalm 119:116"Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed."

By the way, do you notice the sweat pouring off of us? This was at finals, outside, in the rain storms of FL...and Billye still looks fab! Me, not so much, but hey!, we all know who the real beauty is here, right?!?!? :) It was still a great weekend and a great night, and I was so proud of her!

More Blessings!

Guess who else is going to have a baby?!?! Jon and Shannon! We've been praying for a VERY long time about this for them...this has been a very long, hard road for them, but God has graciously blessed their patience and perseverance. And they are only a few weeks apart from Jaimie and Tony...BABIES!!!

We are continuing to pray for you guys! Congratulations!

1 Samuel 1:17 'Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him." '

Fairies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn2nc-x1rZs&feature=related

I LOVE this trailer...especially the part where Tink gets mad at her backside shot in the bell...I think that's how I feel every day! ;)

We got the Tinkerbell Movie as part of a potty training reward this week...still working on that, but there are more potties IN the potty than on the floor or in panties, so we're in a positive direction! However, I think that I will be more than thrilled when we are not visiting the lavatory...makes my upstairs bath sound interesting doesn't it?!?!?!...every 30 minutes!

So now I segway into the photos...Elena put on her sparkly Cinderella shoes and one of Daddy's shirts and said she was a fairy, twirling about downstairs...and then a photo of her as Tinkerbell last year for Halloween...should have flip-flopped those, huh? :) Enjoy!

Cheers!

Just some funny photos from the other night in the tub...Elena cracks us up. Now, don't you wish that you had this much fun in the tub?!?! I do!!!! :)

By the way, mopping up the floor was SUCH a joy!!! Guess that's an excuse for me to clean the bathroom, huh!