Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

We are such a blessed family! We had such a great time celebrating our Saviors birth! It all started with our new Sherry family tradition of going to the Candle Light Service. We have always gone one, Michael, Whitnee and I, but this year was different. Michael's mom and dad, brothers and sister in law all came with us. I'm so glad we got to do that and look forward to it in years to come! We would all go to different services so last year I was like hey lets make this a family thing, and since Michael is the pastor at Caudle ya'll should come with us. So after the Candle Light Service we all headed out to Michael's parents house to open presents with them. I love how excited Whitnee got this year when it came to presents and being with family. She is starting to understand everything so we are working more on explaining Santa, and the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Here are some pictures of our Christmas Eve celebrations.

This year I made Whitnee's Christmas Eve shirt. I think it turned out pretty well. She looked so sweet in it!

I sure do love her! She really is the best part of me!

I simply love her face in this pictures! Pure excitement!

Whitnee wanted her baby stroller put together ASAP so of course her Uncles and Pa got right one it. :D Everything stopped just for her. :D

When we got home that night Whitnee was already asleep in the car, but Mommy and Daddy made sure to put out the stuff for Santa. One cookie and a glass of milk.

Santa brought just what Whitnee wanted! A bicycle.

It was so sweet Christmas morning when we went to wake her up 'cause I told her Santa came and she rolled over and said ok and fell back asleep. When I finally got her out of bed we went into the living room and she asked where is Santa. :D It was so cute. She was very excited to see hre bicycle, and then to open her presents from mommy and daddy. We then headed over to my moms house to open presents, and enjoy family breakfast. I made a crock pot casserole. On the way to my moms Whitnee kept on saying something stinks it spells like dog poop. But thankfully the food was soo yummy!

While we were there we got some great pictures of Whitnee and my niece Bailey Grace, they were all dressed up and looked so pretty.

This is probably my favorite one! Whitnee sure does love Bailey Grace! It's crazy to think this time next year Whtinee will be 3, Bailey Grace will be 1 and walking, and then my sisters baby will be crawling! It's going to be a fun Christmas!

Three beautiful cousins! I sure do love these girls!!

After my moms we went to Church, then headed over to Michael's parents house again. His Grandma, and two Aunts from MO came over to spend Christmas with us. When we got there I made sure to do get family pictures.

I sure do love my little family!

Whitnee got a vacuum and vacuumed her little heart out. It was so sweet! She vacuumed everything!

Too sweet not to share.

After a long day of presents food and family we all settled in to watch Rio. Whitnee asked her daddy to lay with her and lay close. So I will end this very long post with one of the sweetest pictures ever. It's kinda blurry but I love that she wrapped her hand around her Daddys neck to pull him in close. I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and spent it with family!

Silver Dollary City

We have made a tradition in going to Silver Dollar City, with Whitnee. Last year we went with Stevie and Brian. This year we went with the Browns, Michael's family, and my niece Hannah. It was packed that day! Crazy packed like it usually is in the summer! We had fun any ways. I didn't realize at first that Hannah had never been to Silver Dollar City. When I found that out I was even more excited to take her! Michael's parents hadn't been there in years, and Daniel Michael's brother hadn't even been during Christmas either, so it was fun! We get season passes every year so we go multiple times through out the year. The weather was even perfect this weekend for it. Here are some pictures to show you how much fun we had.

Memaw and Pa. So so happy they got to go with us!

Ready to see Santa

Pa is one of Whitnee's favorite people in the world! She was so excited to get to ride the train!

So pretty!


We had fun, and I look forward to going back next year with Hannah in the spring or Summer when she can really ride the rides. Then of course going back next Christmas with our sweet little Princess. As she gets older it gets more and more fun to see how excited she gets with little things like this.

Christmas Q & A

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? - Hot Chocolate for sure!cYUMM!




2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Last year he wrapped some of them, this year Whitnee is getting a bike from Santa, so we will just put a big bow on it. I'm thinking from here on out Santa will not wrap the presents.


3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? - Both! We have colored lights on the tree with twinkle white lights, then the yard has colored lights and the house has white icele lights.


4. Do you hang mistletoe? - No, but I totally want to next year!


5. When do you put your decorations up? The day after Thanksgiving. I wanted to put them up early this year but the hubby wouldn't let me break my rule. :( I love Christmas decorations!


6. What is your favorite holiday dish? I really have no clue, I enjoy it all!



7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? The years we teased my sister by doing something with her presents. One year we put them in the dryer. :D She was the one who passed out all the presents so she would not have any in her pile. :D I know we were so mean.


8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I have no clue at all! Whitnee LOVES to talk about Santa but she knows that Christmas is really about that Sweet Baby Jesus! She will even tell you his mommies name and where his mommy put him (the manger) :D


9. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? Yes, we go to Michael's parents house and do gifts with them. Then usually Whitnee gets to open one small gift when we get home.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Family ornaments, then normal ornaments.


11. Snow! love it or dread it? I enjoy one good snow.


12. Can you ice skate? umm kinda.. but not really. :D


13. Do you remember your favorite gift? a pair of Abercrombie and Fitch jeans! I felt soo cool!! When Michael and I got married it was my chi, and now it's seeing the excitement on Whitnee's face!

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Knowing the true meaning of Christmas, with Jesus birth and celebrating his birthday. Also taking time out of our busy schedules to spend time with family, take pictures, and fellowship together.



15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Right now it's Cinnamon Popcorn!



16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? The Candlelight Service, and taking Whitnee to Silver Dollar City


17. What tops your tree? A Star



18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Giving, 'cause I enjoy seeing the excitement and happiness on there face!


19. Candy canes: yuck or yum? Yum!


20. Favorite Christmas movie? White Christmas


21. Saddest Christmas song? ???



22. What is your favorite Christmas song? "What is Christmas" or Casting Crowns Christmas CD.

December is here!

Well December is here and it has brought along freezing cold weather and a busy life. Not really busy actually but busy enough. It started with a fun filled craft day with my sis in law Makisa, I was busy making my door wreath as well as her wreath while she was busy making ornaments. Here is a picture of my fab wreath. I'm so in love with it! It turned out just as I had hoped it would!

We also went to our town Christmas parade, thankfully it wasn't to cold and the rain held off till after the parade. This was the first time Whitnee has gone, she really enjoyed seeing all the different floats and waving at everyone.

Eating a snack and waiting for the parade to start.

So when I found out I was prego with Whitnee I joined the site What to Expect When Expecting, you have probably heard of the book, well I have become friends with a great group of women and we now have a fb page to make it easier to talk to and keep up with everyone. Well this is my first Christmas being part of the group on Facebook, well we did a Christmas exchange and Whitnee got her gift this week. I couldn't wait for her to open it, I check the mail when she was taking a nap so I was so excited when she got up. :D Here is the awesome presents she got, and then a silly picture of her with one of the presents.

She is such a hoot!

I'm so thankful my child isn't a picky eater! This was her choice of dinner the other night

How many 2 1/2 yr old wants pickles, tomato's and salad for dinner. :D She eat it all up and wanted more. Sure do love that little girl!

She is growing up way to fast! I love how much like a little lady she looks in the picture, with her legs crossed, looking so intense on what ever she is playing with. :D

Every year we get a new family ornament, this is the one I got us for this year. I'm so in love with it! I love being able to do special things like this as a family tradition. I look forward to being old and having our kids and grand kids come over and help us put up our tree like we do with Michael's parents and being able to have them see all of our "old" ornaments!

As we were looking for our family ornament Whtinee saw Santa and wouldn't let us leave with out saying hi to him. Thankfully the people there were nice and you can go talk to him and take one picture with your phone free of charge. Whitnee was so excited! As long as the weather is nice we will take Whitnee to get real pictures with Santa at Silver Dollar City. We go there every year to see the lights and see all of there shows. We are going with Michael's family this year, and I'm so excited! His mom and dad haven't been there in years so I look forward to them seeing how amazing it is, and then them making this memory with Whitnee! God really has blessed Whitnee with a great set of Grandparents, on Michael's side as well on my side. She is so lucky!

Well that is all for the story via pictures. :D LOL Life is pretty good in this Sherry house! Just thanking God for the many blessings He has given us this Christmas season! Hope you all are staying warm and enjoying the season!

It's Beginning To Look..

A lot like Christmas! Thanksgiving has come and gone, and it was a great one! We spent the day at home, and then went to my moms. We split Thanksgiving every other year 'cause it's just easier for us. That and since Christmas is spent with both sides of the family. We had some great food, and some great football! I always enjoy spending the day with my siblings. It's crazy how close we have all gotten now that we are all older.

Now that Whitnee is older I'm beginning to do more crafty stuff with her. We have made cinnamon ornaments this year with Aunt Kisa, Whitnee really enjoyed it.

We also made Handpring ornaments this year. I always get us a new family ornament and then get Whitnee an ornament. Well this year to save money I thought hey why not make her ornament. She enjoyed doing this as well, here is a picture of our sweet princesses hand.

We have a holiday buddy with a group of girls that also have May 09 babies, and I'm going to send one to them with there gift. So excited about that!

We are also doing and advent calender of sorts. I found this idea on Pinterest you get 25 Christmas books and every night they get to open one and read it. Well Whitnee already gets 2 books read to her every night and LOVES books so I thought this would be great, and it would be a good addition to her books. When I first started collecting books I didn't think I would be able to get 25, but hey I did. :D I want to do this every year, and now that I have them I won't have to buy any more in the years to come. Here is a picture of all her books.

Next year we will add The Elf on a Shelf,, I feel as if Whitnee is to young to really understand that concept so we will try it out next year.

Here is my favorite part of this time of here, the decorations. I LOVE decorating for Christmas it makes the cold weather worth it. I was so excited that we were able to get a new tree this year. I will show you a picture of our tree last year and our tree this year, it's like night and day and makes me so happy! I love big trees and our first one just didn't cut it. So here you go.. the first tree and then our new tree..

Now here is our new tree

It's half a foot taller, and so much fuller. :D Funny thing is I think we spent less ont he new tree that is better then we did on the old tree. :D

We also got new decorations for the mantel thanks to Michaels parents

Well I thought we would be able to see it better, but I guess not, we got some rope light with some white star garland on it. It looks really pretty all lit up.

So I went Black Friday Shopping for the first time with Makisa, and Hannah, it was so much fun and yet soo crazy! We had a blast and I think I have finally caught up on sleep. I will say some people are so rude and if you are going to be rude during this time of year you need to just stay home.

Whitnee got a video of Santa and she was soo excited to see him! I can't wait to go to Silver Dollar City and see him in person.

Yet agian as Christmas gets closer I'm so excited to see how Whitnee reacts when she sees her bike from Santa, and to see just her pure excitment about everything. I am also thankful that we have such a great family and they all live close, and they choose to spend Christmas day with us and with our Princess. I'm always amazed at how much they all love Whitnee and how much they choose to spoil her. We are so blessed!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and are looking forward to Christmas as much as I am!

She's a Big Girl

The hubby has been off work this week. So I have been doing a lot around the house that I usually don't get to get done when he is working. Well one of those was when Whitnee was at MeMaw and Pa's house I went through her clothes and her toys. Well I got the crazy idea of changing her crib to a toddler bed/daybed. Whitnee has never tried to climb out of her crib, or climb in it. I feel that she probably would have stayed in it forever if we would have let her. Well in the midst of cleaning her room it seemed like it would give us more room if we moved it and bad it her "big girl bed". Well thankfully Michael didn't fight it and well my little Princess is no longer so little. :( Thankfully she has done really well sleeping in it, we haven't had to put her back in it at night yet. She does her normal fight sleep act that she did when she was in her crib. We however haven't taken a nap in it yet. I feel that will be the hardest one. She will probably get up and play. Mommy and Daddy will just have to be strong and help her remember who is boss. :D Oh yeah, it was the sweetest thing, when I showed her the picture of her big girl bed she said "So I can get in it all myself" I said "yes ma'am" and she said "oh mommy thank you" It was the sweetest thing ever and just melted my heart! Here is a picture of her sleeping in her big girl bed the first night, as well as the secound night.

Sorry the pictures look so bad. I'm amazed every day by how big she is. She is so smart and such a blessing to Michael and I.

Today we got the pleasure of going to the mall with my brother, Bailey Grace, and Brittany. It was so much fun and I look forward to many more outings with them especially as Bailey Grace gets older and when my sister has her little girl.

With Thanksgiving comeing up I have become more aware of the many blessing God has give my family. I am truely blessed and don't thank Him enough for what He has done. I can't wait to spend the day with my side of the family, and then spend Friday putting up our Christmas tree. I say this all the time, this really is my favorite time of the year. I don't like the cold but I LOVE Christmas. I enjoy it even more now that Whitnee is getting older and gets so excited about the little things. I look forward to seeing her face on Christmas morning.

Hope you all have a great weekend! We will spend it cheering on our Hogs! Woo Pig Sooie!

Life Of a Sherry

Our life has been pretty low key recently. We have been going through a trial, but with God we can get through it. Just praying and keeping faith!

So before my birthday I dropped my phone. :( Well thankfully I was planning on getting a new one with my birthday money, well I was finally able to get a new one and I'm so in love with it! I'm so thankful that my hubby lets me spoil myself with my birthday money! 'Cause I know there is other stuff I could have used it on.

Well Arkansas weather cracks me up, it went from one day being have jacket weather to now wearing short sleeves and it being really nice outside. I am not a winter type of person so every little nice day we get I enjoy every min of it!

Whitnee said a funny thing the other day, I was in my room and she was in her room and said something to me, and I said HUH, and she said "Mommy I didn't stutter" it was so funny I couldn't get on to her. Oh the joys of being a mommy and your child saying something they really shouldn't. I just couldn't not laugh.

This past Friday night we went out to Michael's parents house and spent the night. Michael's brother and his wife also came with us. It was really nice to spend the night with them. Then Saturday we had my late birthday celebration since we were all so busy during October.

Michael is off work this week, and I'm so excited 'cause that means I can hopefully get the house deep cleaned so I can put up Christmas stuff the week after. For some reason this year I've been soo ready to put them up. I think it's because Whitnee is bigger and I look forward to seeing her excitement.

Well I hope you all are having a great Nov so far and that your Sunday has been all that you wanted to be!
God Bless!

Day Book 110311

From my pictures... The quilt Michaels mom has been working on for Whitnee. It's all finished and at my house WOO HOO!! :D I can't wait to put her in her big girl bed and put this on her bed!




Outside my window...... baby it's cold outside! A cold front has come in and we even got some flurries this morning



I am thinking.... that I've got to find an activity for Whitnee and I to do this winter or we will go crazy!



I am thankful..... that God has brought my closer with my sister in law and my mother in law!



From the kitchen.... I need to start the dishwasher. I was busy this morning before Whitnee went to down for a nap.



I am creating..... a list of Christmas idea's for Whitnee and I need to figure out what we are gonna get the hubby.



I am remembering.... that I havn't made the bed. I have pleged to make the bed every day for a month. So far so good :D



I am going...... to make a grocery list. We have NO groceries. It's bad!!



I am reading..... blogs haha does that count?



I am hoping.... not hoping.. praying that God will countinue to give me peace and understanding



I am hearing...... the tv



Around the house.... the living room is a disaster that's my next room to tackle.



One of my favorite things.... the smell of Whitnee's lotion on my hands after I have given her a bath and put lotion on her



Pondering these words...... the lyric to it is well...



A few plans for the rest of the week..... hmm I don't really think we have much right now. The hubby has to work Sat morning and then there is a Hog game on so we will of course be watching it. Woo Pig Sooie!

Busy October!

We have been so busy! We havn't had one weekend this month where we didn't do anything. Let me catch you all up via pictures :D

I was invited to go to a Razorback game, well Michael was busy so I took one of my fav people. My brother. I wasn't sure if he would be able to go with since him and his wife just had a baby, but he has an amazing wife and she let him go. :D OMG this was one of the best games I have ever been to, we played Auburn and KILLED them! I was so thankful that we got to go and was so happy to celebrate with the people I was there with.

We took our youth group to a corn maze this past weekend. It was a great group to go with. This is a great place to take a family, it is Christian based. It's very family friendly the theme for the maze thanks to our military.

On the 24th I turned 25. So we got a group of great friends and family togeather to go bowling. We had so much fun! I'm so thankful for all the people in my life! God really has blessed me!

My sister and I.. I think as we are getting older we are starting to look more and more a like.. if only I was a skinny as her. :D

One of the most important people in my life. I have no clue what I would do with out her! She is one of the people I can always trust and know she will always be there. She is more like a sister then a friend. So thankful for her and her hubby!!



One of my sister in laws, this is Michael's brothers wife. Recently our relationship has grown so much! I have learned to appreciate her more and I am so thankful for her! Her and I are more a like then what I thought we would be. Sad that has taken what it has to bring us closer but God does crazy things!

This is Laurie, me, and my Mommy. Oh how I love her so much! She has brought so much happiness and love into my life! I couldn't ask for a better mom! I am the luckiest girl ever! I pray every night that Whitnee and I have the relationship that my mom and I have when she gets older.

Last but not least my hubby and my Whitnee. I'm so thankful for them both! God has given me the best support system with Michael, then He has given me the best bleassing with Whitnee. She really is a joy and I'm thankful God has blessed us with her!

I hope everyone else has enjoyed there October. Crazy it's already over, we are hoping to get pumpkins carved this weekend. If we do look out for pictures and a blog about it 'cause Michael and I have never carved pumpkins. :D


 

Day Book 1013

From my pictures...The life of having a 2 year old. I fell like the living room is always a mess, but according to my friends who also have 2 year olds this looks clean compared to some of there living rooms. :D
Outside my window...... it's sunny and beautiful! I love fall 'cause of the cool but yet still warm temps plus it's so pretty here in Arkansas with the leaves changing.

I am thinking.... that I really need to be productive today! I also need to get back to exercising ever day. I've slacked sooo hard core!!


I am thankful..... that I have a tender hearted daughter. Granted it makes it to where I have to word things differently when getting on to her so she doesn't completely break down but she is sooo sweet!


From the kitchen.... oh it's a mess

I am wearing.... black comfy pants and a red shirt

I am creating..... the idea of making Whitnee's costume.. I should probably get on that. :D

I am remembering.... to be thankful for even the little things in life

I am going...... to really hard to not take a nap today LOL

I am reading..... nothing right now still hopping to get a NOOK soon then I can read more often
I am hoping....Look above hehe

I am hearing...... Over The Hedge, Whitnee's fav movie at the moment

Around the house.... it looks like people live here :D

One of my favorite things.... curling up with Whitnee first thing in the mornings.

Pondering these words...... yeah I don't heave any great words of wisdom right now

A few plans for the rest of the week..... we have an appointment for Whitnee to get the flu mist today. Praying she doesn't get sick from it. Tomorrow we may be going to the craft fairs, then Sat we have a birthday party, and friends comeing over WOOT!

My Best Friends Wedding

Wow I haven't blogged in FOREVER! Why? 'Cause my best friend got married! Between showers, other party's, and just every day life, it has been so crazy for us! I guess I will get everyone up to speed via pictures and will end with a perfect day for a wedding.




I made our own dish shop. I was tired of buying it so we started making it. Just another way to save money. So far we really like it.











My niece was also born! I'm so happy for Stephen and Chas they have prayed for a sweet baby for so long! This little girl will be very spoiled! She has an amazing set of parents!

Oh my best friend! I sure do love her! She looked so stunning on her big day! I'm so blessed that she asked me to be a part of her big day! We have had such a great past 14 years we have been through some ups and downs but we have always come through the downs. God has truly blessed her with an amazing man, and I'm thankful that him and Micahel get along so well! I know that God has brought us all together for a reason and I'm so glad he has! I don't know what I would do with out them and it's very rare to have a friend for this long and it be a true friendship! I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures from the wedding!

Well September is over and it brings on October another busy month. I'm getting to go see NEEDTOBREATHE on Friday and I'm so excited! I love them so much! Then we are going to a corn maze with our youth and then my birthday is the 24th. Life is a crazy ride for us but we just hold on and enjoy the ride! I hope you all had a great September and are looking forward to your October.

Day Book 0916

From my pictures... Me, LOL I recently got my hair done, and I'm so in love with it! It's a change from what I usually do Michael can actually tell I've done something different with it. It's crazy how getting my hair done can make me feel so much better about myself, not only that but I've lost 4 lbs in the last 3 weeks!


Outside my window......It's raining and cold. I'm so not ready for it to be winter time. It's so much nicer to get out when it's warm outside.


I am thinking.... that I've got to get back to my better me routine, I've slacked on excersising, and eating really good. Must get better!

I am thankful..... that God has blessed Michael and I with such an amazing life.


From the kitchen.... water is calling my name, I'm thirsty but I have such a hard time drinking water


I am wearing.... jeans and a pretty blue shirt

I am creating..... nothing.. bummer..


I am remembering.... nothing at this moment Whitnee is in bed and mommy brain is turned off at the moment

I am going...... to a Princess Tea Party with my mother in law tonight


I am reading..... The Shack.. I know still?


I am hoping.... it warms up again before it gets to cold


I am hearing...... the tv


Around the house.... are Whtinee's toys.. :D


One of my favorite things.... hearing Whitnee laugh


Pondering these words......  no pondering here..


A few plans for the rest of the week..... Tea party tonight, doing Michael's cousins hair tomorrow and then cheering on the Hogs

Labor Day Weekend

Was a busy one for us, but a fun one none the less. I will fill you all in by telling about our weekend through pictures. :D

The weekend started off Saturday with the first Razorback game of the season! Woo Pig Sooie! We also went to one of Michael's family's 40th wedding anniversary! 40 Years is amaing!

For the game we invited Stevie, Brian, Daniel, Brittany, and Maik over for a get togeather. I made some really cute chocolate Razorbacks they were a hit. :D

Then for Labor day we went over to Michaels parents house, and Granny lives next door so of course we had to go see her. Whitnee sure does love her Granny!

This is one of my new favorite pictures! Michaels great Granny Whitnee's Great Great Granny is still alive, so cherish every time we get to go see her and try to take a tone of pictures, but I love this picture 'cause you can truely see how much 100 years makes.

Whitnee with her Great Great Granny Aud. So sweet, she just kept saying how sweet and pretty Whitnee was. :D

 

I was able to get a newer picture of Whitnee's quilt Michaels mom is making for her. It's almost done, and I'm so beyond excited to get it in Whitnee's room! I'm in love with it and soo beyond thankful and greatful that his mom has taken the time and money to make the quilt. It's so much better then any set I could find online!

The fabric that is on the back

We had a very fun filled weekend. I'm so thank to God for all the people he has put into our life and the great family we have around us. God truely does care for us. He's such an awesome God!