Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...

Merry Christmas!! Just thought I would give a little peek into some of the holiday traditions and goings on at the Ross house...

Christmas decorations!! Bry only blew out one outlet this year! Woo Hoo!

Lots and lots of shopping!
This was another shopping trip. Bay and I were being silly, taking pics with the Christmas decor at the mall. I love this pic, it looks like they're having a little chat.

Pictures with Santa! Or as Presley calls him- Hohoho.
School Christmas parties... Bay's class made money trees for families in need. They also decorated cookies and played games.
School Christmas programs... Bay LOVES her music teacher! She is the sweetest lady and does an amazing job at getting Elementary School Kids to make beautiful music.
We have breakfast on Christmas eve with my sibs and their fams, Mom and D. This is one of my favorite traditions. We have so much fun together.We draw names for the kids, usually in November, and they get to exchange gifts with their cousins on Christmas eve. I love how close our kids are, I pray that they will stay that way!
New pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve. I actually found matching ones this year!
We always make some type of cookie on Christmas Eve. This year it was Gingerbread Men. Bay made a cute little beach babe.
Presley had so much fun decorating her little guy. (or girl. I guess there is too much pink going on there for it to be a boy.)

Luke had a blast adding the candies to his man, but he wanted to eat it as soon as he was done!

Mom wanted to start a new tradition this year. She had each of her kids and their families over separately for dinner and to open gifts. That way she had more time for each grandchild.

Bay brought some cookies to make with Grammy for dessert.
And of course there are presents to unwrap!!
Grammy and Grumps usually try to come over on Christmas morning to visit. The kids can't wait to show off all of their new stuff to them. Bay talked Grammy into making this gingerbread train with her.

We visit with Gammy and Papaw (my Dad and step-mom) in the afternoon on Christmas Day. Presley got a high fever around lunchtime so Bry kept both babies at home while Bay and I went to Dad's. I was visting with everyone so much I completely forgot to get my camera out! Gammy sent the babies gifts home with me and I told her that I would take pics of them opening them. They loved their gifts. Especially the blankets with their names on them. Gammy makes the best stuff!

Usually, at some point during the day, someone passes out. I guess their little bodies can only take so much excitement in one day! My sweet Luke tried his best to stay awake but finally fell asleep in his Daddy's arms. So sweet!

We had a wonderful Christmas. My favorite thing about Christmastime is being with my family. After Jesus, they are my most precious gift.

I wish the same gifts for everyone reading this, Jesus in your heart and a family to love. Merry Christmas!!

Toddler's 12 days of Christmas

Bryan and I had this great idea. We loaded the kids up in the car last night and went to look at Christmas lights. This has been a tradition since Bailey was born. Only this year, Luke is sick and Presley has an attitude. Luke was screaming the whole time because he just didn't feel good. Presley was screaming because she wanted her window rolled down and Bryan refused. (It was like 12 degrees outside!) Bailey and I switched seats because she was getting a migraine from sitting in between two screaming toddlers. Bry was frustrated because he was trying to drive with all of this going on. I sat there and just started laughing hysterically.

I love my life, as crazy as it is. I know that makes me a little crazy too but I wouldn't trade these times for anything! Anyway, as I sat there in the madness, a new version of The Twelve Days of Christmas came to me, so I thought I would share it.

Maybe I really have lost it. But it goes a little something like this...

On the first day of Christmas

My toddlers gave to me

A husband in a bad mood!

On the second day of Christmas

My toddlers gave to me

Two clogged toilets

And a husband in a bad mood.

On the third day of Christmas

My toddlers gave to me

Three Christmas lists

Two clogged toilets

And a husband in a bad mood!

ON the fourth day of Christmas
My toddlers gave to me
Four stained shirts

Three Christmas Lists
Two clogged toilets
And a husband in a bad mood!

On the fifth day of Christmas
My toddlers gave to me
*Five Poopie diapers
Four stained shirts
Three Christmas Lists
Two clogged toilets
And a husband in a bad mood!

ON the sixth day of Christmas
My toddlers gave to me
Six aching ears
*Five Poopie diapers

Four stained shirts
Three Christmas Lists
Two clogged toilets
And a husband in a bad mood!

On the seventh day of Christmas
My toddlers gave to me
Seven sleepless nights

Six aching ears
*Five Poopie diapers
Four stained shirts
Three Christmas Lists
Two clogged toilets
And a husband in a bad mood!

On the eight day of Christmas

My toddlers gave to me

Eight doctor visits
Seven sleepless nights
Six aching ears
*Five Poopie diapers
Four stained shirts
Three Christmas Lists
Two clogged toilets
And a husband in a bad mood!

On the ninth day of Christmas

My toddlers gave to me

Nine migraine headaches
Eight doctor visits
Seven sleepless nights
Six aching ears
*Five Poopie diapers
Four stained shirts
Three Christmas Lists
Two clogged toilets
And a husband in a bad mood!

On the tenth day of Christmas

My toddlers gave to me

Ten nostrils running
Nine migraine headaches
Eight doctor visits
Seven sleepless nights
Six aching ears
*Five Poopie diapers
Four stained shirts
Three Christmas Lists
Two clogged toilets
And a husband in a bad mood!

On the eleventh day of Christmas

My toddlers gave to me

Eleven breathing treatments
Ten nostrils running
Nine migraine headaches
Eight doctor visits
Seven sleepless nights
Six aching ears
*Five Poopie diapers
Four stained shirts
Three Christmas Lists
Two clogged toilets
And a husband in a bad mood!

On the twelfth day of Christmas

My toddlers gave to me

Twelve temper tantrums

Eleven breathing treatments

Ten Nostrils Running

Nine migraine headaches

Eight doctors visits

Seven sleepless nights

Six aching ears

*Five poopie diapers

Four Stained Shirts

Three Xmas lists

Two clogged toilets

And a husband in a bad mood!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope that life offers you a little craziness this season and that you enjoy every second of it! :)

Dancing in the rain

So many things have happened this week. Some great things and some, not so great. I told my mom the other day that I actually feel like I am under attack sometimes! :) Here are a few of the things, good and bad, that have happened.

The good...

Bry sent me on a shopping trip to Nashville with my Mom.

The bad...

On the way to Nashville, I noticed that my car sounded like and airplane about to take flight.
The good...

We had and awesome time on our trip and made it home without my car breaking down.

The bad...

After having all of the fluids replaced, we took the car to the dealer. My whole rear end has to be replaced. Axle and all.

The good...

It's still under warranty.

The bad...

I am having a horrible time with back and neck problems right now. The only relief is my nightly bath. On Wednesday night I ran my bath water and couldn't wait to get in. I put my foot in and realized that it was ice cold water! Come to find out, our water heater quit working.

The good...

Again, under warranty. We had to go without showers for a few days but it's working now!

The bad...

The day after the water heater fiasco, Bay came downstairs complaining of it being cold in her room. Yep, the HVAC upstairs quit working!

The good...

God bless warranties!!! (It's still not fixed but hopefully once the part is replaced, we will be back in business.

The good...

We celebrated my Dad and Bubs birthday at our house on Saturday. Happy Birthday to the first two men I ever loved! :)

The bad...

Presley got sick and puked on the floor. Oh, and Bama lost to Florida. (Can't get much worse than that!)

The good...

Bailey was baptized on Sunday night. Bubba was able to baptize her which was so awesome! They have always had such a special relationship so I was really excited that they were able to share that. A ton of our friends and fam were able to be there. Bailey did amazingly well when it was time to share her faith story. She was really nervous beforehand and was worried about speaking in front of everyone. You wouldn't have known it though. She spoke clearly and honestly about how she came to know Jesus. I was so proud of her. I'm sure having her Bubbo there with her helped a ton!

The bad...

I'm sorry. After watching my little girl publicly displaying her faith in God, it is hard for me to find anything negative to say!

(We gave Bay her first cross necklace so that she would always remember this day.)

It's been a crazy week but it's helped me to realize that no matter what life throws at you there is always a way to find the positive. I read a quote when we were shopping in Nashville and it has stuck in my head ever since. It was...

"Life is not about living through the storm, it's about learning to dance in the
rain."

Different, but Nice...

In our attempt to make sure that we were able to have a Thanksgiving meal with all of our family members (by hosting an early dinner), we somehow ended up with nothing to do on Thanksgiving Day. My Mom spent the day with Bre's fam and her in-laws, Jo and Bubs are in Florida, we're seeing Dad on Friday and Bryan's family all live out of town.

We decided to make the best of the day and just spend quality time with our kiddos. First, I got up and made their favorite breakfast, chocolate chip pancakes. Then we all got dressed and went outside to rake leaves. I know that probably doesn't sound like fun to most people but my kids love anything outside. So we were able to get a chore done and they got to play in the leaves and hunt for acorns. They were making a Thanksgiving Feast for the squirrels. So cute.

After lunch and naps we surprised them and took them to see a movie. We saw Bolt. It was really cute and the kids did awesome. They hardly made a peep except for when Presley got up, did a little ballerina twirl and then announced to the lady in front of us "I pooted". Bailey and I just about fell out of our seats laughing!

After the movie we decided to go to Perkins for dinner. We let the kids choose what they wanted to eat and then they all had a big chocolate chip cookie for dessert. We were all so tired and stuffed that we went home, put on our p.j.'s, vegged out and watched The Grinch.

It was different than what we are all used to for Thanksgiving but it was actually really nice. I am so thankful that God blessed me with Bryan and my precious babies. There is no one that I would rather have spent the day with than them.

My beautiful Bay helping pick up the leaves.

They were throwing the leaves and letting them fall on their heads. :)

Even my Sassy girl helped out!

Bry was blowing the leaves. Presley picked up this attachment and tried to help by blowing into it. Hilarious!

No make up again! I'm going to start hiding the camera. :) Me and my sweet babies at Perkins.

Bry and Presley. She was being so silly that night!

Early Thanksgiving Dinner

We had an early Thanksgiving dinner at our house so that Bubs and Jo were able to celebrate with us. (They travel during the Thanksgiving holidays.) It turned out really great. We had a houseful! Mom and D, Bre, Bubs and their fams were there. Nana and Pop (the Kelly's), Jason and his fam and Robin and her boyfriend (D's kids) were also able to make it. We had such an awesome time with everyone! The food was ridiculously delicious!! And it was actually pretty tame considering that there were 11 kids under the age of 9 (and Peyton) in my house!! :)

I was so busy preparing food, I forgot to put on any makeup! Ugh!!

Peyton was entertaining as usual. :) (Joey, D, Heather and Jason)

Jo was forcing Brandon to be still for the picture. No one can say no to sweet JoJo.

Bay and her Bre-Bre. Bre stunned us all when she walked in with a beautiful new haircut.

The twins are perfect for Mom and Nana. They don't have to fight over who gets to hold the baby! There's one for each Grandma. :)

Caroline (Jason and Heather's beautiful little girl.)

Jo and Bubs. She was trying to make him behave for the picture. He's her most difficult child. :)

Ella, Bay and Presley. Our girls.

Robin, Chris and Bre. (I don't know what they were discussing but apparently it was something that Bre felt very passionate about! )

Pretty Pilgrim

Bailey's class hosted a Thanksgiving Feast for some the ECS "honorary grandmothers". The students dressed up as Pilgrims and Indians. Bailey was a Pilgrim. I thought she looked adorable. She thought she looked like a dork. (Her word, not mine.)
The kids did a short program for the "grandma's" and then sat down for some yummy food. I was really impressed by how beautifully the tables were decorated. All the Mom's brought food-turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, rolls...all the yummy traditional Thanksgiving food. And I won't even talk about the dessert table. It was painful for me to resist. :) I was one of the Mom's who volunteered to help serve the food. They made us dress in white shirts and black pants (waiter wear). Bay loved the fact that I was there to serve her. I didn't understand what the difference was between what I did there and what I do at home. I guess the outfit made it feel more official for her. :)