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New Traditions

When we arrived home from Atlanta, Santa sent this to our house.

The Elf on the Shelf

Our job was to read the book.  The first part of the book is to name our elf

Ella named her Shirley.  Shirley has a special job.  She watches the house each day.  At night, she flies back to the North Pole and reports all the events of the day at the Weddine house. 

Each morning, she leads in a new place to watch. 

The sweetest part is to watch Ella whisper to Shirley.  She wants to be sure Santa knows many things. 

Coca-cola Factory

Everytime we travel for hockey, we try to tie in a "field trip" of some type.  The World of Coca-Cola was on our list. 

Ella and dad waiting for the movie.

The Weddine Family - all the Christmas trees in the entire place looked like this.  They were everywhere.

Can you find everyone?

3-D movie is a treat for us.  Our kids do not like 3-D.  Ella ended up taking off her glasses during the movie.  Garrett would not lean back in her seat since the seat had a knot in the back.  It's the World of Coke, it can't be that scarry.

All the different flavors of Coke in one spot 

The best part of the trip - we taste tested 60 different flavors from all over the world but our favorite is still

The mac daddy COKE

We ate lunch at The Varisty - Jeff remembers eating there as a kid when he visited Atlanta.

1st Thanksgiving at our house

Thanksgiving 2011 was our 1st time to host for Jeff's family.  I was a bit nervous and excited. The part that I was worried about was cleaning.  OH! how I don't like to clean.  I was worried about cooking, entertaining or any other part.  Just Cleaning - oh how I don't like to clean  AAHHH!!!!

We made hand print placemats earlier in the week. 

 Seth, my perfectionist, made 3 until he was happy with the way it looked.

 Each day for 6 days we added leaves to our back window. 

Each leaf filled in the blank of:

The _________________ I'm most thankful for

We did

* friend

*book of the Bible

* season

* drink

* color

* person

* school subject

*animal

*food

It was alot of fun to hear the answers

Ella decided to make place cards for everyone. 

I pulled out our china.  It was a sweet memory to look at each plate.  Some of the flatware was still in plastic wrap with the gift card of the person who gave us the gift for our wedding.  (That's really sad but I never had a reason to use all 8 place settings).  I think I need to entertain more often?!?

It was a blessed Thanksgiving.  It truly is a blessing to be surrounded by family that we see often.  We don't have to travel out of town to eat yummy food, visit with family, and enjoy the beautiful weather. 

I think that Thanksgiving will be a new norm for our house.  By the way, I did all the cooking except for the Turkey and Dressing and Gravy. 

Maybe I should post what we had so that next Thanksgiving I want have to rack my brain to remember the menu.

I made mashed potatoes, sweet potatoe casserole with marshmellows, green beans, crock pot mac n cheese, and pumpkin crunch, and pretzels dipped in white chocolate. 

We even made turkey cookies.

I really counted my blessings.

Christmas Parade for the Nutcracker

 Ella was able to ride in the Christmas parade for the Nutcracker 2011. 

We are on the float waiting for the parade to start.

What is this all about?  She is 5 right?!?

Ella and Anna Li riding on the float.  They are in the same dance class.  We got very blessed by both girls being in Cast B together.  That means we will be able to see both of them dance their 1st Nutcracker as Cherubs.

Watching the rest of the parade afiter we finished.  Sitting on Papa's truck was the perfect spot to see.

Only 3 more practices until the Nutcracker Performance.

Hockey Has Begun

 Well Garrett is back to playing the game he truly loves.  He has been practicing and playing metro games.  The pictures below are the the1st league games.  Two teams traveled from other places to play at  the Extreme Ice. 

The coach is making the team wear Khaki pants with their jackets.

The Back of their jackets have their names on them. 

Garrett is in the center of the picture.

Team huddle.  I laugh when I see this because Garrett is always at the back.  He is the tallest kid on the team.  But funny thing is - I bet he is close to the youngest in age.

This is how the little ones travel.  Too funny.

Another Field Trip

We had a couple in our Sunday School class last year.  The husband's job is running an egg farm.  Simpson's Eggs is right down the road from where we live.  We have talked about taking a tour for a long time.  Since Jeff was off, we decided to check things out.

Seth was the photographer of the trip.  Some of the hens.  In this house, one house, there are 79,000 hens.  Each hens lays about 1 egg a day.





The farm has 1.2 million birds. 

The egg travel from the house down a belt to the plant.  It is amazing the computers and technology that works on the farm.  The belt brings egg from the farthest house into the plant.

The white belts are bringing the eggs down from the cages to drop to the belt.

This is a farther picture showing two rows of hens.

After the house tour, we saw how the eggs are washed, separated into size, then loaded in the egg cartons.  All I can say is amazing.  It truly was a sight to see. 

We now have a new place to buy eggs.  So be on the lookout for Simpson's Eggs.  If you see the name in your area, then buy those eggs.  They sell to Sam's Club and Food Lion. 

It was amazing to see the process of bird to carton.

Field Trip to the Mountains

We decided to take a day trip to the mountains.  Our children had never been to Grandfather Moutain. 

We packed a picnic lunch.  What fun we had.  We enjoyed many laughs up the mountain.

The clean up crew - the girls

 Up the mountain to the bridge - across we go

The boys in the middle.  Jeff was not thrilled to stop and take a picture.

amazing how the temperature changed at the top

There is a peace about the mountains.  I realize how amazing God is.  These are the things he created for us to enjoy.  We feel so small in the middle of the mountains.

On our hike under the bridge

After finishing the mountain, we could only head about 30 minutes over to Boone- 

Home of Appalachian State University.

I feels like just yesterday that Jeff and I were in school together.  After visiting the campus, I realize how many years it has been since we have been in school.  The campus is amazing.  It is fun to drive around campus and show our children a piece of what started this family.  Many memories were started right on this campus. 

It would be amazing if one of our children decided to go to ASU. 

We had a fun day in the mountains together as a family. 

A little behind . . so here is the details

 Happy 40th Birthday to me.  Yes!  It is hard to believe but Nov. 8, 2011 came and so that makes me 40.  We went to eat with my family at Olive Garden.  Seth and Ella were loving the chocolate cake.  It is so nice to have the love and support from your family.  I am very thankful that we all live close by so that we can see each other often.

 Garrett dipping his ear in the water.  Science experiment call for the unthinkable sometimes.   He needed the kitchen sink with spoons on a string.  Sound really does travel through water.  I love his face.

Saturday was a day that we have all been looking forward too.  Well, Jeff especially.  

His BIG MARATHON date was upon us.  The kids and I decorated the house with crate paper and motivational signs.  Each one made 4 signs.  It was incredible to see the thoughts that each one of them put into their signs.  We laid hands on Jeff Friday night and prayed over him.

 So sweet.  I was very uptight Saturday morning.  I prayed very hard for his health all day.  I could not wait to hear that he had crossed the finish line.  The race began at 7:45 am.  He left home at 5:00.  It was a long morning.  I was in tears once I heard from him.  So thankful he accomplished something that he worked so hard.  An incredible task.  He ran for 4 hours and 53 minutes.  

Clara's Tea Party was Saturday night.  Ella could not wait.  It is hard to believe she is so big to participate. 

 Heading out the door all dressed up.  She wanted to be "fancy". 

 Yummo!!

Ella and Anna Li with Clara.  Both of the girls are cherubs in the Nutcracker.  

Gabby

We really should say that we have 4 kids.  Gabby really does count for a kid.  I have to post this picture.  I was getting ready to go to bed last night.  I walked into the bedroom.  This dog had her head on Jeff's pillow sound asleep.  Too funny!

She thinks that she is human most of the time.  We laugh because each night around 9:00 she is on our bed snuggled up sleeping.  Usually it's on my side because my side has the electric blanket.  She loves it to be warm.

This dog is a great part of our family.

Happy 13th Garrett

Garrett was excited all week.  13 was coming and he couldn't wait.  We did the countdown board.  Starting at day 6, he was able to pull from the birthday bag.  His favorite present from the birthday bag was PopTarts.  He was thrilled.

 Eating a Pizza Hut with meme and Papa.  A New Phone!!!!  WOW!!!  Really!!!  He didn't think there was a phone in the phone box. 

 Spent the day with dad.  The boys shot guns at a shooting range, ate Showmars, shopped at Bass Pro Shop, stopped in for a Milk Shake a ChickFilA for dessert.

He enjoyed shooting guns.  Must be a boy thing.  He planned the supper menu all week.  We ate some of his favorite meals. 

Our favorite part was watching Garrett Movies from the time he was born until he turned 2.  Boy did we laugh.  Even Garrett was rolling on the floor at some of the silly things he liked to do.

"And the boy(Garrett) continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men."  1 Samuel 2:26

This is our prayer for this young man.  We are not worried about having favor with me but that the LORD finds favor with Garrett as he grows. 

We are blown away with how big you are at 13.  We are thrilled with you and your choice (sometimes).  You are an incredible young man to hang out with each day.  We are very proud of you.  We can't wait to see how you use your gifts and talents to serve the Lord in years to come.

Ahh! Still friends

Garrett decided that yesterday was the day for climbing trees.  I love when he goes outside to just play.  Somehow when kids turn 12, 13, 14, the play inside of them disappears if you let it.

I knew Garrett was outside.  Then I heard the door shut.  Seth joined him.  Ella and I look out the window.  Garrett is in one tree, Seth is in the other.  They were just hanging out, talking.  I love when they still want to hang out together.  I hope they never stops.  So thankful they can just "chill".

Look hard - can you find them?

Halloween 2011

I didn't now if Rapunzel was going to appear or not.  She had only worn the hair for 2 seconds each time we put it on.  Well, she was very excited.  The hair stayed on all night.

   Cooper decided to come and T or T with us.  We were so excited to have him and Lori.

 Papa brought the trailer and golf cart again.  It is amazing when the grandkids ask, the answer is "yes".
Cooper, Seth peeping in the back, Ella and Cash.

 Ella's candy stash when she got home.  Her bucket was so heavy.  She would always ring the doorbell, say T or T, and then thank you.  She ran to every door and back to the trailer.  She was one tough Rapunzel.

Seth and Cash decided to put their candy together.  Each one picked out their favorite kinds. 

We had a fun night.  The little ones were exhausted.  Cooper said, "He was puffed out".  Thought I would never stop laughing when I heard him.  Lots of fun and memories made.

This starts the holiday eating, right?  Glad I am running again.