Christmas Chaos and Remodeling

     About two weeks ago, I asked Ryan, with much trepidation, "Do you want me to do Christmas cards this year?" His immediate response was, "No!!" I was quite relieved! I feel guilty as I get other families' cards in the mail, kids smiling, grown so much from the year before! We had decided to be an every-other-year Christmas card family, but even though this was the year to send them out, we had too much going on at our house to do one more thing.
     So what do we have going on? Well, several months ago, I told Ryan that I would really love to get laminate flooring put down upstairs in all the bedrooms -- eventually, at some point down the road. My grandmother Jan Jan just had her whole house done earlier this year, and it was so beautiful that it started my wheels turning. We had carpet upstairs that had been installed probably when the house was built, so between several owners, kids and pets, it was pretty nasty. (We have an ornery, old cat who didn't use the litter box at all times, so you do the math!) This fall, Ryan was asked to coach the 8th grade girls basketball team. He already coached the 8th grade football team, as well as varsity baseball, so this put him busy year round. When he asked what I thought, I, in turn, asked, "Could we get the floors done if you agree?" And here we are -- we had the bedrooms redone in laminate, and the hall and stairs redone with new carpet. The floors were started Monday and finished Wednesday. We had packed up everything except the furniture, so we have been busy unpacking and rearranging since then. I finished wrapping presents last night (Wednesday), and we will be opening them tomorrow (Friday) before leaving for Mississippi. Our floors are such a blessing though, and I have been thanking the Lord that we could actually do them. They were a huge investment, but at least we can enjoy them for years to come, Lord willing! Oh, and the ornery kitty -- due to all the commotion, her tummy was not quite right, and she vomited twice on the floors. The clean- up was so easy that I cannot complain, only sympathize with poor Kitty.
   Merry Christmas everyone!!

Dining Room packed up with stuff from the bedrooms

Crazy, but more stuff in the garage!

All the quarter-round that I painted :{ My neck and arm are still recovering!

The finished stairs!

Girls' room

Will's room

Play room

Is it Thanksgiving already?

Where does the time go? It seems like we were just starting the school year up, then trying to fit soccer into the schedule and keep the peace, and now soccer is over and Thanksgiving is next week! In the midst of all the fall events, my girls have had birthdays. Maggie is 10 and Meredith is 5! We no longer have a baby or even a toddler in our home. There is a sadness that comes with that, but also a joy as we see the three blessings that the Lord has given us. As I watch our three children grow, I am often reminded -- on good days and bad -- of the verse that a dear friend often quotes, "For they are His workmanship." I can take none of the credit for the good in our children (though in my pride I do)!
Fall is truly my favorite time of the year. Seeing the beauty of the changing season reminds me of the faithfulness of my Father in heaven. I have been so blessed by Him, both materially and spiritually, and I deserve neither. He has given me so much, and yet I have to constantly remind myself that should He take it all away, I must still praise His name for He is good! His goodness has nothing to do with what He gives me or my family. He is good no matter what happens to us here on earth! May we all praise His name as we come into this time set aside for thanksgiving; and yet may we thank Him year round for His mercies to us!

Attending a Memphis Lady Tigers soccer match -- I was amazed at how good they are and how intense the game is at that level!

Riding Cate on the green machine at a family "reunion" this fall

Meredith loved seeing and playing with her cousins!

Beautiful picture of Ava with Maggie

The two Porter great-grandparents

Playing solitaire with Gigi -- one of the kids' favorite things to do with her

Will and Reese

Riding in Papa's new combine

So huge and nice -- what a blessing for Papa!

Celebrating Maggie's birthday in Cruger at Jan Jan's

Jan Jan and the birthday girl

Nana and Maggie

Family birthday supper

Mama and the girls -- Will didn't want to take a picture with Mama : (

Maggie with her new camera and her pumpkin pie

Making homemade pizzas at Maggie's party

Hutton Grandparents

Porter grandparents

Grandparents' Day at ECS Ridgelake

Meredith's big birthday present -- her own American doll Ruthie

Maggie and Ms. Tina Ballard, her knitting buddy

ECS Clown Parade

Will and his buddy Sam Shelton at the ECS fall fest and clown parade

Will's clown parade job -- pulling a wagon of Jr. Kindergartners

Fun Fall pic

Will and Meredith's favorite thing to play together -- riding piggy back!

And of course, Maggie has to join in the fun!

Happy Birthday to our 5 year old! Meredith told me exactly how she wanted her cake decorated.

At the Ennises' for a small birthday cookout

Due to some illnesses, Meredith only had a couple of friends at the party, but it was great fun and really a perfect sized group since were were roasting marshmallows and doing sparklers!