Mommy's Birthday!

On Friday, I wore a purple "Today is my Birthday" button to work. Of course, Saturday (today) is really my birthday, but I never seem to be at work on my birthday and for some reason, I really wanted everyone to know it was my birthday this year! Someone at work asked me what was my best year ... 21 ... 25 ...29 ... I said this year! To me it would be sad to think that my best year was in the past ... what would I have to look forward to? This has been my best year ever and I expect next year to be the best ever too! We had a great family day today. Al attempted to be sneaky and let me sleep in. I knew that he would, so I actually set my alarm. I didn't want to miss one minute of the day that I would be spending with my husband and my children! After a leisurely morning spent at home, we loaded the kids up and headed to Grapevine Texas for lunch. We ate lunch at one of my favorite places ... The Cracker Barrell! Then we headed over to the Gaylord Texan. It is a huge Hotel, Visitors and Conference Center. The following pics were made inside the Gaylord. It looks like we were on vacation somewhere! Thank you to my family for the best birthday ever!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Well, Merry Christmas to everyone! We had a wonderful day hanging out around the house ... just the 5 of us! The stockings were hung by the chimney and Santa visited overnight ...

Mom made out the best! Look at all the fun food she got!

And here is proof positive that Mom really can cook!

We opened gifts at 9:30 this morning and we were joined via the internet by all 4 grandparents! How's that for technology connecting households across 3 different states and hundreds of miles!

Here is our tree and gifts before the chaos!

And here are the 5 of us after opening gifts!

I think the kids liked opening the gifts better than playing with their new toys!

After lunch we went to the park to play. It was a beautiful day! A little windy and a little chilly, but bright and sun-shiney!

At snack-time this morning ... Jackson said "I know I put that fish somewhere!"

Jackson at the park! His favorite part was the slide!

William and Addison enjoyed the slides too!

All-in-all, a wonderful day! As I sit here posting this blog, all 4 other members of this family are sound asleep ... taking their Christmas afternoon naps! In a few minutes, they will all be up. It will be the hustle and bustle of dinner and then an hour or so of playing before bed-time. How blessed I am. It is so easy to count your blessings this time of year ... the time of year that we stop and reflect on what we have. A time of year when families spend more time together, folks attend church, and good cheer prevails. A time of year when we think back on what the past year has been like and think forward, in hope, for the new year. My resolution is to live each day like it is my last. To thank God every day for the blessings He has given me. To not waste one minute of one day worring about what could happen ... but to spend time in prayer, in praise and in worship. After all, Al and I have 3 precious souls that God has entrusted us with.

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family ...

The Pollards

THEY ARE GETTING SO BIG!

OK, once again, I turn around and almost a month has gone by ... well, at least 3 weeks. Three weeks in which we have had 3 sick babies ... just the sniffles, but we did have a good four nights in a row where someone wasn't sleeping well. Then to top it off, Al and I got it too! So that added another 2 nights where I didn't sleep. You know it is serious if I break-down and actually go to the doctor! By the way, they have some GREAT prescription cough syrup these days!

These pics range from the week of Thanksgiving to last night. Enjoy!

So, really, I only put this first pic in here because I look kinda skinny in it. That makes me HAPPY!!!

Mom and William

Mom with Jackson and Addison--it was COLD that day in AL!

Addison and Jackson looking like a GAP ad!

Thought this one was too cute to pass up!

Mom and Addison.

Addison

Jackson

Jackson again! I thought we were going to have a little Christmas Story of our own!

Jackson too cute!

I really don't have any favorites! The camera just loves the boy!

The Munchkins!

Jackson with cousin Kate in the background.

Cousin Michele with Jackson at Thanksgiving.

Sweet little William

Caught 'ya Aunt Barbara!

The triplets watch the twins eat lunch!

Jackson got a horse for Christmas from Grandmom and Rhonda! He looks a little worried!

William!

Smiley Jackson!

Mom and her boys!

Did everyone but me realize blueberries were this messy?

The kids were blue for an hour after they ate them! That stuff does not want to come off of skin! And don't even ask about the clothes!

Addison with her first pony tail! Pebbles next year for Halloween?

Jackson clowning around in the kitchen!

Did I mention we are selling product placement now? Just kidding! This just happens to be their new favorite toy! They love to shake'em! Mom with her boys again ... is this the same pic?

Jackson sitting still for about 30 seconds! A rare moment. It was bed-time and we had just finished saying our prayers. All 3 wanted to be held by Mommy and they didn't push each other away. We rocked for at least 5 minutes! Long enough for Daddy to run downstairs and grab the camera!