Fumbly, Bumbly Angels

The kids at church performed our 2nd annual Christmas Pageant today at church. This year the play was titled "Fumbly, Bumbly Angels". Here are just a few pictures from the event:

Two of the cutest lil' cows at the stable where Jesus was born.

Two adorable lil' sparkling angels.

Angel Elizabeth and Shepherd Evan.

The kids and Ms. Windy.

Moooooooooooooo, Mooooooooooooooo

When I hear a song on the radio that I like, I have to listen to it over and over again. This is ESPECIALLY true when I hear a song that inspires me. I love listening to WAY FM. Music can truly influence the way you feel, and I want to feel God's love and peace daily. When I listen to WAY FM, I'm uplifted and find myself singing songs that I need to hear. My new favorite is by downhere called "How Many Kings". Read the lyrics and let them remind you this Christmas week of the Christ we serve.

DOWNHERE ~ "How Many Kings"

Follow the star to a place unexpected

Would you believe, after all we've projected,

A child in a manger?

Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl

-Just a child -

Is this who we've waited for?

'cause... How many kings step down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

And how many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior

All that we have, whether costly or meek

Because we believe.

Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure

And myrrh for the cross he will suffer

Do you believe?

Is this who we've waited for?

All for me... All for you...

Gingerbread Foreclosure

While shopping at my favorite store TARGET this week, I decided to pick up one of those Gingerbread House making kits. I don't know what it is about Target, but I have to make a weekly trip to this store??? Anyone else have that problem??? Target, however, failed to mention that the adorable Gingerbread House I was purchasing was in foreclosure. Isaac was chomping at the bit to put this house together (artsy things are his gig), and I told him MULTIPLE times throughout the day that we had to wait for Karson to get home. Note to self: next year keep the house in the van until Karson gets home. Once she arrived, we all put on our Extreme Home Edition shirts (HAH) and got to work. I immediately noticed that BOTH of the roof parts had cracks down the center (of all places). Major bummer. For a split second, I thought about taking the house back but simply could not do that to Isaac. He could've very well suffered from some sort of medical condition had I told him he had to wait any longer (seizure, aneurysm, convulsions).

So we pressed on and assembled our house. I guess with the poor economy, even this Gingerbread House needed some TLC. Speaking of houses needing TLC and on a completely different note, I am lovin' the new A&E show Hoarders. My sweet friend Karen mentioned it on facebook, and I've been DVRing it ever since. Being a minimalist, organized, type A kind of gal, this show makes my jaw drop much like the roof of our Gingerbread House.

Thank goodness our kids didn't seem to care one bit about the dilapidated home and kept decorating.

I had to divide all the candies out to each child.

Our finished product. I mean, really, what can you expect for $9.99. It's no mansion, but at least, it's edible.

And three of the happiest kids I know =)!

Programs are MY FAVORITE

I spent most of the morning helping to decorate for Isaac's Christmas program which was tonight at Greenwood Park. This program is especially tough for the teachers (believe me, I know from exPERience) because all the kids have speaking parts. When the speaking parts came home, I was thinking to myself..how on earth will I get Isaac to learn this? I then decided BRIBERY would most likely persuade him =). Isaac is obsessed with LEGO's so I told him he could have a new LEGO if he learned his part. He learned it that day, and said it perfectly tonight at his program. YEAH ISAAC!!!

I knew giving Isaac a bell would definitely be interesting. I like how he's staring at it in this picture...wonder what's going through that little noggin of his???

Thought 1: this bell makes the perfect monocle.

Thought 2: I can even wrap it around my nose.

Thought 3: look, it makes a great ornament for my ear.

I didn't get pictures of thoughts 4-20, but that bell certainly saw lots of action in those few minutes. Ms. Denise came up to me afterwards, and said, "What did Isaac have for dinner tonight?" I told her to go ask Matt. Matt decided it would be a good idea to give Isaac three powdered donuts around 4:00 this afternoon. Isaac has always been my HIGH energy child. He usually gets his 2nd wind around 4 p.m. each day, and I'm sure the powdered donut snack was just the boost he needed for the Christmas show tonight.

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Karson had her Christmas performance last Thursday night titled "A Place in the Christmas Choir". Long story short, it was about a dog who's howling/singing was so awful that he couldn't be in the Christmas choir and how all the animals and Ms. Claus rallied around him. It was super cute. Karson was a bluebird and sang her little heart out. Maybe you can spot her on the risers wearing a long blue sweater?

My beautiful bluebird!!!

A couple of hooligans they let in at Plano that night.

Christmas Pogue-Style

Jack Margaret Pogue, my sweet grandparents =).

I have a large family. My dad is the oldest of six kids which means I grew up with lots of lots of cousins. Growing up, we spent most of our weekend holidays at Nolin lake with the family, and our Thanksgiving and Christmas in Louisville. Our family is expanding by leaps and bounds YEARLY. Most of my cousins are married, and lots of them have children. Each year it gets harder and harder to get together.

This is just a handful of my cousins.

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About two years ago, the towel was thrown in all together~my grandparents have a place in Florida and had decided to spend the holidays there. I certainly didn't want Christmas to pass and not have a chance to see my beloved Pogues. A few of us put our heads together and decided to meet in Elizabethtown for Christmas. We celebrated in early December at Ryan's Steakhouse in E-town. From there, we decided to start rotating Christmas get togethers each year between the aunts and uncles.

(L-R); dad Lindle, Jackie, Linda, Beverly and David. When I was a junior at WKU, my uncle Mark passed away after battling a rare form of cancer =(. He was the "life of the party" kind of guy. I was fortunate enough to be in Louisville the summer prior to his passing. I had an internship with the Courier Journal and was able to spend lots of time with him and his family. We still miss him lots!!!

I love the fact that we still try to get together (even if it's early in December). My family is SO GOOD to my kids and always get them so many nice gifts. I mean REALLY, the more people who can love on your children, the better, right. Kids need lots and lots of LOVE. This year my Uncle Dave dressed up as Santa and delivered presents to all the children. Their little faces just LIT up when he arrived. It was such a nice party.

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Prior to our Christmas-ing with the Pogues, we had our first Sparks game at Cumberland Trace on Saturday. I have to admit I was nervous about coaching =). We've never practiced/played full court -or- with opposing team members. We only have 6 girls so defense is a little hard to teach. BUT, it all went fine, and the girls had a good time, which is the MOST important thing in my playbook.

Miles ran out onto the court TWICE to get to me. I had to quickly swoop him up so he didn't get trampled and run up and down the sidelines with a toddler in my arms. He also had to wear his Kentucky jersey so he could be like his big sister.

Me and my basketball player #4.

A one, a two, a one, two, three, four

Happy Grand kids day to you

Happy Meme Day to you

Happy Birthday dear Nana

Happy Birthday to Matt too.

Here's how most of our November was spent. No wonder I've gained about 10 pounds this month.

Tis the Season

Why can't I simply learn to keep my mouth shut? Karson truly got her need for constant chitter chatter and back-talking from me. After our bout with the infamous stomach bugs last winter, I was determined this winter to keep our kids as healthy as possible. Our house stays clean, we Germ-X and wash hands, keep towels, sheets and blankets laundered, and have been loading the kids up with lots of vitamins. What does this have to do with my big mouth? Well, I was telling a friend at church Wednesday night that our kids have been spared thusfar from the winter sickness besides the nagging coughs and general croupiness (is that even a word?) that changing weather always brings. I also told her that I probably just cursed myself and WHAMMO, I did. Miles came down with Pink Eye on Friday morning. I posted this video of him applying his doctor skills. Dr. Pink Eye was informed by our pediatrician Dr. Chris that he missed his 2 year and 3 year check ups. Come on (warning: here comes my smart mouth), am I really going to bring a WELL CHILD in during the height flu season for a check up. Give me a break! I know he's been to the doctor since he was 2 because of all his breathing issues. Dr. Chris proceeded to tell me that Miles missed a follow-up booster (one of those gazillion shots they give children--seriously, who can keep track of all those). And, here's my dilemma, this booster is one that Isaac received--not Karson--and doesn't even go on their school immunization record. They get a ton of shots at age 4 prior to entering school, why on earth do they need one at age 3 (AND one that isn't even needed for school)??? I went ahead and made the appointment begrudgingly. It will be a rough day on December 2 for me and Dr. Pink Eye =(. For now, enjoy the video =).

Keeping Up With the Deaton'dashians

Oh my, it's been a while since a post. I thought I needed to get something on here but have no idea where to start??? November has been busy thusfar:

(1) I'm officially coaching Karson's basketball team the Sparks. We are composed of a whopping six girls and playing division I (which is 6 & 7 year olds). I had the opportunity to attend a coaching seminar featuring the Lady Toppers. Besides the team and Coach Cowles, I was the ONLY female at the coaches meeting =). The Tops were running all kinds of "plays", "defenses", and "fastbreaks" that you can run with your team(s). I was thinking to myself....hummmm, I doubt most of mine even know how to tie their shoes, much less set a screen, pick and roll, while cutting down the lane to the basket???? We'll be doing good to shoot on our assigned goal and not need a water break every five minutes. We had our first practice on Friday. The girls were so excited and did so well. I would have pictures to post on here, but being the coach and all, I can't multi-task that well =). Maybe Matt can snap some soon???

(2) Like October, November is full of birthdays in our family. My mom just celebrated hers on Friday, the 13th, Debbie, my mother-in-law will celebrate hers on Thanksgiving Day (the 26th), and Matt will celebrate at the end of the month on the 30th.

Karson and company at Ansley Vernon's fairy party this month. Karson was super psyched about applying her own make-up. She even attempted mascara alone causing her to have an ultra RED eye the next morning =).

(3) Karson finished up with her Super Saturday classes at WKU. She had a performance showcasing all the things she had learned this past Saturday. Her class was called "Molding Magic With Monsters" based on the book "Where the Wild Things Are?" She could HARDLY wait until her performance and got up at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, got her clothes on and was asking me at 7:15--"Mom, when are we leaving for my play?" (her play didn't start until 11:20).

Karson's cheering squad.

We are the SKY monsters, we are, we are!!!

After Karson's performance, we took advanage of the beautiful scenery on Western's campus and attempted some family pictures. (My blogger header is one of them).

(4) My cousin Jennifer got married at the beginning on the month to Andy Clark. It's always fun getting together with my family in Louisville. Speaking of weddings, I'm happy to report that I'm gaining a new sister-in-law. Matt's brother Andrew got engaged to MacKenzie White this month. They are planning a September wedding next year.

Andrew and MacKenzie

(5) Lastest obsession: I'm completely addicted to eBay lately. I've found the best deals on there for children's clothes and my new favorite Matilda Jane WOMEN's LINE.