Book It

Now I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention that BOTH of my babies got all A's on their recent reports.
{insert cheers here!}
But I have to tell you, Micah is very uninterested in what his report card says.
I mean he looks...briefly.
But then his excitement really begins as he digs through his report card envelope to see what other rewards and treasures lie in the depths of that blessed envelope.
Ribbons....great
Certificates...wonderful
But what he's really hoping and searching for is the all coveted "Book It" ticket that you can redeem for a free personal size Pizza Hut pizza!

It doesn't get much better than having your very own pizza, ya know!

Painting With a Twist

Notice the lovely new canvas painting atop my hutch?
Well, it was done by none other than my very favorite 12 year old artist!

She had so much fun with her friends at a local painting studio that we have already been to the art store to buy brushes, paints, and more canvas' for future creations!

Looks like I am going to have to clear out some wall space for an at home gallery!

Deer in Headlights

We've all heard the saying "it was like a deer in the headlights" ~ Well, that saying now takes on a whole new meaning for us since we LITERALLY had a deer in our headlights and have the deer fur stuck in it to prove it. I am choosing to PRAISE GOD for the $1,000 deductible on our car vs. deer incident. Were it not for the grace of God and Brian's quick reaction, it COULD HAVE BEEN a $1,000 car deductible PLUS an ER visit and medical co-pay. Fortunately the extent of the damage is minimal ~ only the front headlights and the driver's door that got smashed in a bit. We had to force it to open, but all in all, it could have been so much worse.

Now... that being said, I would like to encourage all my hunter friends to go out there and shoot them some deer! After this little suicidal deer incident, I now have a whole new appreciation for hunters!

New Year's

Lots of fun with family and friends ringing in the new year!

Tyson reminds me of the puppy in 101 Dalmations that has a fixation with the TV.

Brian was the 'keeper of the flame' and tried to keep the candle from blowing out so we could light our sparklers.

Poor Carly Belle just couldn't make it past 9:00!

You really can't appreciate how fun these glasses actually are because the flash on my camera takes away from their 'glow in the dark' features. Although I took a lot of ribbing from my super sweet brother (are we the only siblings who still tease each other like we were still 8 years old?), we had fun celebrating this new year with great anticipation for all that the Lord is going to do!

Gutiar Lessons

I am so happy that Santa brought Micah a guitar for Christmas.
He has really taken up a love for learning how to play and really needed one that was 'more his size'. Forever now, my favorite thing to do is to just sit and listen to the BIG Calhoun boys play and sing ~ the only thing that is going to make it even better is to add a LITTLE Calhoun boy to the mix.

As sweet as the music is to my ears, the interaction between them is even sweeter to my heart!

Love this one of Sweet Grandma in the kitchen finishing dishes while listening to her boys.
If we offer to help, she always refuses and insists that we just sing for her.

Savanna and Grandpa snuggled up and enjoyed their 'concert'.

Miracle of the Manger

My precious friend Heather leads the Women's Ministries at her church and asked me to come and speak at their Christmas dinner. I should have known something was up when I asked how many people would be there and she just laughed and refused to tell me!
Although the final head count was somewhere over 250 and I was WAY intimidated, I just couldn't resist when she told me the theme for the dinner and my 'talk' would be
THE MIRACLE OF THE MANGER.
I mean, seriously, who wouldn't want to talk about that and share about what that miracle means!?

Ladies volunteered to 'host' a table and decorate with all their own dinnerware and goodies. I just had to snap a few pictures of these beautiful tables. It was a lovely evening that was filled with the GLORY of the LORD!
I was honored to be a part of such a worshipful experience!

Christmas Loot

It's impossible to remember or even photograph every single gift that our children get each year, so I though it would be fun to group all their goodies together. We combined gifts from grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, great-aunts & uncles, friends, and Santa to make one huge pile of loot!

Here's a run down of Micah's treasures:
guitar, skateboard, helmet & pads, two Star Wars Lego sets, Battleship, Nerf Weatherproof football, dominos, Air Hog Sharpshooter, Lego book, Bible Cover (just like Daddy's), comic strip Bible, sock, gloves, hat, Uno, Tony Hawk shirts, drawing book, pellet pistol and rifle, transformer, Axe cologne set, hotwheels, Nike belt set, Amazing Bible Fact Book, Sock Monkey, Spy Gear Night Vision Goggles, Cowboy Nutcracker, Airhogs Split Shot Rocket, Football Desk Set, Boots, DS game Phineas and Ferb

Here's Savanna's highlights:
Bike, silky pj's, Aeropostle hoodies, gator girl shirts, yoga pants, tons and tons of nail polish, makeup set, jewelry, seven pairs of shoes, zebra sheets, scrapbook, zebra tote, hairdyer, straightener, curling iron, printshop card maker, laptop desk and light set, cozy socks, cookbook, sunglasses, hairbands, sock puppy, camisoles, ballet picture frame, water bottle, bible cover, DS Nursery Pet 2 game, computer skin and computer case

Santa

No better sound than the pitter patter of little feet running down the stairs Christmas morning mixed with excited giggles and squeals!

The stockings say it all!

P.S. You can see MY Christmas gift in the background. A new canvas wrap of my two favorite kiddies.

Brian's 'biggie' gift from me was a bound memory book of his trip to the Holy Land. Ten million pictures later... it is really something to behold!