Either we have a serious problem with a sock-eating monster or my kids know how to go through a pair of socks! Here's hoping Santa brings a sleigh full!

Go Cats!

To say that we are Kentucky fans is an understatement. Thanks to Stew I became a fan early on in our relationship. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have married me if I hadn't. Our kids have also been inducted into the fan club as well. The boys are, well they are KY Crazy! They love anything and everything associated with UK. In fact, the boys room is completely decorated in a UK theme as well as our basement and Stew's bar.

Macie is probably the least biggest fan only because she isn't a huge sports enthusiast. She gets into the big games and the big rivalries but doesn't follow the regular games as much. She does always seems to find one basketball player that she really likes. This year she is into Josh Harrelson. He's a senior who is actually from St Charles. He went to St Charles High and knows a friend of ours who coached Owen's football team.

Last week she was playing around on her ipod and started searching for email addresses for Kentucky players. She found them and decided to send Harrelson an email. She told him she was a huge fan of Kentucky basketball and so was her family. She told him that she was from St Charles too, what grade she was in etc... To her surprise he responded! They have corresponded a few times and she is thrilled! Secretly, I think she is excited because she is one up on her brother's who would do just about anything to talk to or meet a Kentucky player. Anyway, I thought it was very sweet that he even thought to write her back. What a caring and thoughtful young man. He has surely brightened Macie's world and speaks volumes to the kind of kids that play ball at Kentucky.

Go Cats!

Avery's Christmas list

1. Cinderella backpack

2. purple shoes

3. Skecher's

4. clothes

5. Mickey Mouse dance thing

6. Cinderella toy

7. shark toy

8. wand

9. Big Teddy bear with eggs in the Teddy bears' tummy

10. Princess phone so all of my friends can call me

11. purple dress

12. a computer like mommy's

13. Cinderella sunglasses

14. fruit snacks

15. oranges

If only it were always this simple.

A family affair

Scott and Laurie

All I can say is that it has been a long time since we attended a wedding with such heartfelt emotion. Such a small gathering but such a huge statement for how far Scott and Laurie have come to find each other. It was truly a family affair as a wedding should be. It was beautiful in every way and we are so happy to have Laurie as a part of our family. It feels like she's been part of us forever.

It reminded me of what life is all about. God, family and friends.

The Breath You Take by, George Strait:

Life’s not the breaths you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain’t what it’s all about
Ya just might miss the point
Try’n to win the race
Life’s not the breaths you take
But the moments that take your breath away

boogers

Avery's friend Ava was here playing. She was crying about something so she wiped her eyes on one of our couch pillows.

Her mom said, "Ava, don't wipe your face on Ms Susan's pillows."

Avery replied:"Yea Ava, you don't wipe your boogers on the pillow, you wipe them on the couch!"

EEEEEEEWWWW!

Comfort Zone

Anyone who knows Macie knows she is not exactly a girly girl. She doesn't do skirts, can't stand pink and thinks cheerleading should be illegal. Imagine then, my surprise when she told me she wanted to be in a beauty pageant! Her interest was sparked by our neighbor who was crowned Mrs Missouri, then Mrs America and then took second in Mrs World. We followed all of her pageants and enjoyed watching her success yet I was still blown away when Macie decided that a pageant was something she wanted to try. Although I was hesitant, I agreed, thinking it would give her good exposure in front of an audience.

We found the Miss O'Fallon pageant with the help of our neighbor. She had been a judge and told us that it would be a perfect "starter" pageant. Macie completed the paperwork and then we set off to find her a casual outfit and gown and work on her talent. The whole way through Macie was really into it. She shopped(which she doesn't particularly like to do) and rehearsed her song over and over. Finally, it was pageant day.

Macie competed in the Junior Miss category ages 11-15. She comfortably strode across stage to introduce herself to the audience and judges. She sang beautifully, confidently belting out her song and engaging the audience. She walked in her heels(yes heels!) and her gown and answered a question with more confidence and poise than I probably would now! To say the least, I was amazed with my daughter! Amazed at this young lady unfolding before me so comfortable in her own skin.

When all was said and done, Macie won the talent portion and was crowned O'Fallon Junior Miss! We were in awe at this girl who was so cool, calm and collected. People work a long time to become that comfortable on stage and here she was doing for the first time like she was a pro.

In true Macie style, she was more proud of winning the talent portion than anything else. So unimpressed by the crown, sash and prizes, she immediately put on her flip flops and plopped down beside us in the audience to watch the older girls compete. You could even tell by the end that she was sort of over it. The older girls told her she was sure to "catch the pageant bug." Macie coyly smiled at them and squeezed my arm as if to say "No Way!" Not to say she wasn't proud of herself but she is just not one to get all caught up in it. She simply wanted to step out of her comfort zone and try something new. I just love that about her.

Here are the links to her intro, talent and question. You may have to copy and paste them into your browser. Hopefully I did it correctly and it will work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwGf1UtHyPk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk2LrAtr7b0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKbS99jZjaM