operation christmas child

I put together Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes when I was little, but I hadn't done them with Ryder yet.  He helped my mom put hers together last year, but this year I wanted him to be apart of the process from beginning to end.

We grabbed two boxes from our local Chick-Fil-A one night, and that got the ball rolling!

Off to Dollar Tree to try and get as much stuff as we thought we could fit in to the boxes!  

We divided it all up and took the packaging off of it all so that we could fit it all in the box!

I loaded one up and he loaded one up!  I was happy they offer you the "pay online" option this year, so that is what we did.  Also, if you pay online you can print off a barcode and then they will e mail you and tell you where your box(es) end up going!

I got an e mail the week before Christmas that ours had made their way to Mexico!  I pray that the sweet boys who received our boxes may be truly blessed not only by these things, but by coming to have a personal relationship with The Lord one day.  

I hope this is something that Ryder looks forward to doing together each year! 

thanksgiving day with the fam

Like I stated earlier...my mom and dad hosted Thanksgiving, so luckily all we had to do was walk across the street for some family time and yummies, but we did put in some time before hand helping KeeKee get everything ready!

We were so thankful to have everybody here with us to celebrate everything we are thankful for!

Mom made a blessing tree for people to write their blessings on...

Who could say no to this turkey shaped butter?  (I think they actually still have them! :P)

Some people have a "ham family" or a "turkey family"--we actually are BOTH!  =)

...and three different types of dressing!  We've got your covered!  =)

And it felt like a good day to make smores! 

Uncle G playing trouble with his nephew and little cousins!

All the cousins (and R's first cousins) Me, Garrett, Cooper, Ben, Stuart, Dawson, Carson, Sterling, Karleigh, Devin, Aiden and Ryder.

We had a fantastic day and feel SO blessed for everything we do not deserve!  Thankful for time together with family to make memories and eat good food!  

thanksgiving week at home

I was so thankful for a full week at HOME to spend with my little guy and everyone else I LOVE!  Last year we were in GA, but this year it was our turn to stay here and mom was actually hosting, so I tried to helped her with all that as well!  

Can't deny my love for these dollar spot socks from Target!

What's a rainy Friday without a little Blue Sail?! ;)

So thankful for time to do things we don't always have time to do...

Helping Mimi decorate her tree.  She shared with him the story of the okra Santa ornament--their house burned down and they made these the following year to help have something to decorate their tree with.  Ryder even got to bring one home, which is so special!  

Lots of couch snuggle time!  

We went to R's Thanksgiving Lunch at his school on Tuesday.  It was hard to believe this was his last Snuggle Bug Thanksgiving Lunch!  This is Ryder with Sawyer.  They are the best little buddies.  Two years ago, the big kids were teaching Ryder how to fold his blanket and put it away in his cubbie, etc. etc. and now MY little guy is the one helping the younger kids!  This just makes me so happy, and so proud to see!  

We even made a trip out to the farm (a real farm...pigs, cows, goats, chickens etc.) to see the cousins! 

R decided to play in the feed for the animals and his navy pants ended up looking like THIS!  I was busy hammocking my life away for the first time on the back deck, which quickly prompted me to add a tie dye hammock to my Christmas list!  =)

Before heading home, I paid a visit to their coffee shop--Midnight Oil.  So, so good!  It was in an older house, so it had a lot of different rooms to visit which just gave it a good, homey feel!

This kid doesn't need coffee...just give him an Orange Crush!  

I loved the fireplace!  Made me wish I had more time to sit, relax, and read and work.  

Not five minutes into our drive home...

We stopped by KeeKee and Poppy's when we got home...and somebody still didn't want to wake up!  

Another reason we love being on break...is because it means we can go to lunch with our FRIENDS!  We hit up Pitza 4 2 with Allie and stopped in Barefoot to check out their 50% off sale.  and....I am officially in love with the American Apparel track t shirt. OMG.  I went back for more.  

powder puff football

My school puts on a Powder Puff game for the 7th grade football players and any 7th grade girls that want to play.  I semi helped put it on...and I thought R would enjoy it so he came along!  He loved it and got to meet a lot of my coworkers!

Pink vs. Teal!

He even got a shirt!!  He loved it! 

He was a GREAT helper at the concession stand, taking money, handing out candy bars, and even making hot chocolates!  He decided he wanted to be a robot with all the empty candy boxes! 

We ran into Ms. Essie at Hobby Lobby after school with her parents!  Miss that sweet girl!

AWANA, boat ride, halloween & youth hunt

AWANA has become something so special for us each week.  R loves it so much and does so good at learning his verses.  We tried this two years ago and he wasn't that into it.  I'm so glad we waited it out and that he loves it now! 

Poppy got a new motor and wanted to take it out for a test ride.  Most nights I would usually let him take R so I could have a few minutes to myself, but this night I decided to go with them, and I'm so glad that I did.  We almost missed the sunset, but we still had fun!

Halloween weekend (since it was on a Friday night) was the same weekend as Youth Hunt.  So...I talked to R and told him it was up to him to decide whether he wanted to go Trick or Treating, or go to the farm with Poppy to hunt.  He picked hunting.  I was perfectly okay with that.  He told me he could go Trick or Treating next year! ;)

Poppy's bank always goes ALL out for Halloween!  This year the theme was "Nerd Prom" and I'd say these guys did a GREAT job! ;)

First deer hunt with Poppy!

Who would have ever though you could FaceTime from the deer stand!  

Sunday, Ryder came home from the hunting farm, and went straight out to the farm farm to stay with his Mimi!  Caleb spent some time out there with them on Monday!

I try to remind R all the time that he is a blessed and busy little boy, and that he doesn't need to take any of it for granted.