Night of Lights and Winter Wonderland

So last night the kids and I, along with my aunt Robin and cousin Jeff, my sister, and nephew, we all went to St Augustine to "Winter Wonderland" at the Amphitheater then headed ton downtown to see all of the BEAUTIFUL Christmas lights.
It was such a GREAT night spending time with some very special people. I wish my mom could have gone with us!

Here are a few photos from the night, these are from my phone. I will post more from my camera later!

Luminaria in Riverside

Every Sunday before Christmas, Riverside Jacksonville has

Luminaria.

My uncle lives in Avondale, so we have a perfect place to go spend time with friends and family then enjoy the beautiful parts of the neighborhood during luminaria.

There are lots of hayrides traveling throughout the neighborhood with people singing Christmas carols and throwing out candy and marshmallows. We got tons of candy thrown at us!!

While driving to the Riverside Christian Church to see the live Nativity Scene we were riding behind Santa himself saying "Ho, Ho, Ho!" The kids were very excited to see him.
I'm so glad that we were able to be a part of it this year since the past two years we have been on vacation in the mountains and have missed it. Oh how I have missed it!

Here are a few photos from lastnight....

I took some more photos but they weren't taken in landscape, they were taken in portrait and they won't upload correctly....



I know, I'm a few weeks late on posting....

This year we had a WONDERFUL

Thanksgiving

We spent the night in Macclenny with Jesse's grandparents Wednesday night then woke up and all cooked together as a nice, happy family

I love Thanksgiving. Of course our day started of with the

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. We always watch it while we cook. Macy thinks that it is named after her, little does she know that it's named after the store, which however she thinks is also named after her! Gosh, I LOVE that kid!

Can you guess what dish I made???? I used my Ma's recipe for Sweet Potatoe Casserole. It was AMAZING!!!

Here it is!!



Here is my beautiful family at Mike and Michelle's

Me, Tracey, and Leah at Mike and Michelle's

Mike carving the Turkey

Jake being Goofy outside on the lawnmower

Macy and Ashley stunting in the front yard at Grandma and Papa's



Oh.....my.....goodness! Jake is actually eating!!

hold on, it's not healthy food, it's Grandma's banana pudding!!!

Bye bye curls.....

I'm sad.....Jake's curls are almost completely gone! While I was at work today my sister and husband decided to cut my sons curls without informing me! I was FURIOUS! He looks so grown up!

I needed to mentally prepare myself for his curls to be gone. I knew that it was time for a hair cut but not that much!

mY baby giRL is all Grown Up!

Oh my goodness! My baby girl is growing up so fast!

She was so excited to wear her "High Heel" boots today to school. She thinks she is

Hot stuff with those boots on!

I had to take a double take at her this morning when she walked out of her room ready for school.

She's so pretty!



Let's Go GATORS!

We had a great weekend.

Friday evening after work I headed straight to visit a dear friend, Loni. Oh how I love her!!

Afterwards I headed to Toys R Us to begin my Christmas shopping ......Yay!
This is the first time I have ever used layaway, and let me say, I love it! Now I don't have to figure out where I'm going to hide gifts. I always stress over the kids seeing their gifts.

Saturday, we headed down to the swamp for the Gators vs. Vanderbilt game with Jesse, Danielle, and Daniel. We had so much fun. We stayed at the game until half time then we headed down University Blvd to a restaurant/bar and had lunch and finished watching the game. I had fun even though we lost....Boo! Sunday we had breakfast at my mother in laws....yummy! We had the best homemade breakfast!!! Then of course, my Sunday ritual....a nap occurred.

Sunday afternoon Tiffney and I had my kids and my nephews photos taken (by Brandi Hill Photography) out at a park in Julington Creek. I cannot wait to see the final photos!!

Here are a few photos of us at the Gator game....

Danielle and I being silly....

Danielle, The GATOR, and I

This is Daniel and I with my SPIRIT FINGERZ!! I love them. I got so many compliments!!

We may not be in the running for the SEC Championship, but I still love my GATORS!!



HaPPy HaLLoWeeN!

Halloween was such a great time this year!

I was a little upset that due to the daylight savings time being in November rather than before Halloween, we couldn't begin Trick or Treating until  7:00, which put the kids getting in bed later than normal. We went trick or treating in Tracey and Ryan's neighborhood. We didn't go to too many houses, cause I didn't want the kids to get too much candy. I know, what is too much candy?

They got just enough, to last for a couple of weeks.

We sat out our jack-o-lanterns at the end

of the driveway. I was so impressed with the way that they turned out this year. I didn't get to take any photos of the carving of the pumpkins this year, cause I was still in the mountains while Jesse and Macy carved them this year. Macy's was the cat, Jake's was a Dragon, and Jesse's was a haunted house. The costumes that were chosen this year were, Macy was

a Rock Star and Jake was Spiderman.

They were too stinkin cute!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn in the Mountains

So this afternoon around 1:00 we arrived in one of my favorite places.....the mountains of Northern Georgia and North Carolina.
We started off with a wonderful lunch at a little privately owned Italian restaurant, "Mama G's." They have the BEST garlic rolls!
After lunch we came to the cabin, where we call home several times a year. It is like a second home to us, we are here so often!
This trip I made without Jesse. Tracey and I made a trip with the kids and Grandma and Papa Smith. My family is here at my parents house and at my grandparents mountain house too. We are blessed! Coming up to see the leaves change is absolutely, hands down, my favorite time to come up here. Here are a few photos so far.....

Strep Throat stinks!

Well that photo above is what I have looked like since Sunday, well for the most part.

I did go to work on Tuesday, but left feeling so yucky!

Tuesday night my mom brought home a swab and test strip and yes, I was diagnosed with

Strep A virus.

I felt absolutely horrible!

I went to see my family physician Wednesday and now I feel MUCH better.

I had both Wednesday and Thursday off of work, now I'm back and ready for the weekend.

We are going camping!! That is, if everyone can stay away from being sick.



Mr & Mrs Daniel McGowan

Saturday 10.15.11 

Danielle and Daniel became ONE,

Mr. & Mrs. Daniel McGowan

It all took place at the 

Hilliard Mansion.

I am honored that they asked myself as well as my husband and children to participate and be included in the bridal party. I feel so loved! (lol)

It was a gorgeous and fun wedding.  

 

This is the Hillard Mansion, where the wedding was held. It was beautiful!

 Macy is getting all dressed up!

 Macy and Riley, junior bridesmaids

 The cutest ever!!! My gorgeous ringbearer and flower girl.

 The Ceremony

 Ally Mac and Jesse

 

 Johnny B and I

Daniel and her Daddy

The awesome Grooms cake!

1st dance

Oh my goodness, my hubby is smiling!!!

 That's the back side of me in the red dress! Haha! I was having fun!

We REALLY enjoyed all of the dancing at the reception!

Congratulations!