A Christmas Tradition

We have a small town nearby, known as Christmas Town, where all the houses, Churches, and businesses along Main Street decorate their houses and buildings for the Christmas Holiday. It is actually known world wide and many people come from all over to see this little wonder. Well, a few years ago, while my dear husband's family were over from England, he decided to take all of us to see the lights. Well, we crammed my hubby, his mother and father, our three young girls (one a mere baby), my mother and myself into the minivan and headed to McAdenville. We were warned that there would be a wait, but we had no idea what were in for. Well, it was an experience, for sure and one never to be forgotten. We waited well over an hour, all the while the children went from excited to see the lights to tears of having to sit in a too crowded car not being able to move!!!!! And after all the waiting it couldn't taken us more than 15 minutes to drive through the town! I mean it was pretty, but worth an 1 1/2 hours of waiting....umm...NO!
So next year rolled around and John asked if we wanted to go see the lights at McAdenville? Not really. But we decided to make it a yearly tradition, a fun memory for the girls. This time we got smarter, we headed down to Belmont, a small college town nearby, in the early afternoon. We found a small coffee shop and sat and played games, drank coffee and hot chocolate, and enjoyed spending time with each other. When it was almost dark, we climbed in the car and set off, once again, for Christmas Town. We were one of the first cars in line to see the lights. Thus a new Cullen Christmas tradition was born.
Every year now we schedule an afternoon to go to McAdenville. We go to the same coffee shop and enjoy some exotic coffee (something John and I rarely drink) and then head for the lights. Every time we remember something from the last year and we never forget the first trip to Christmas Town!!
Next year we might even park the car and walk the street so we can really stop and enjoy each decoration.
I've tried for the past two years to get photos of the decorations, but haven't successfully done it yet.

Grandma will give it to us!!!

Lately, my three little munchkins have been sneaking candy and chips without asking. A few days ago I caught them again and had had enough! So I told them I was very upset and would have to think about their punishment. Later we decided to go out for dinner and although I wasn't really angry anymore, I told the girls that after dinner John and I were going to have a dessert and they could not have any, b/c they had already eaten candy. They were all upset, but Reagan, putting her hands on her hips, explained to me "That is okay, because when we go to Grandma's house, we will ask her to give us dessert and she will!!!"

Another kid quote...

Today while out shopping, my six year old Peyton, made the comment that we should get rid of some of our old clothes and toys. "Mommy, we could give them to Old Will so that the poor people could use them." She has such a sweet heart and soul, but I couldn't help laugh at her say 'Old Will' instead of 'Good Will'. You gotta love them.

Christmas Card Photos...

aaahh yes, those sweet photos of our children we send to our friends and family every year at Christmas. Dont' they look like the sweetest kids ever?! But what you don't see are the threats we yell at them for not cooperating and then the bribes we offer for sitting still for one good shot. I love photography, it is a new passion of mine. And of course every photographer needs models. Which my children have been forced to be. Sometimes they will run when I pull my camera out "for practice". So when I pulled them away from playing one Saturday morning to take Christmas photos, I was not a popular Mom. But I was not to be deterred. I was going to get a great photo. Well, after lots of yelling and bribing (a piece of candy for every photo taken) I got a decent one. Merry Christmas!!!!!

Beach Trip with my Sis

This fall, my sister and I took our first trip together with our girls. Yes, we have all girls, and my mother couldn't be happier. So we drove down to Myrtle Beach, SC for a long weekend away. The weather was fantastic, it was October and the girls went swimming in both the ocean and the pool. It was a lot of fun. I also brought along a friend of mine and we just had the best time gossiping and just hanging out. In the past my sister and I haven't been very close, but I don't want it to be that way. She is my only sister and now that we have our own families I don't want them to lose out on knowing eachother because of our stubborness or differences. So this trip was a good start for us. Love ya, Sis.

Students of the Month

In October Bailey was chosen as Student of the Month at her school. This honor was given based on following the school's core values and was voted by the the staff of the school. We were very proud of her. Well, then, can you believe it, the following month Peyton was voted Student of the Month. Wow!!!! Talk about beaming with pride. John and I are so proud of our girls and they are doing so well in school. Unfortunately, I only have a photo of Peyton. We didn't know about Bailey's award until she came home, but Peyton's teacher gave us a head's up and we were able to come to school and watch. Just sharing a proud parent moment.

Halloween Photos

I am the worst blogger ever, I admit it. What, its now one week before Christmas and I am just now getting around to sharing some Halloween photos. Oh well, sorry guys. I will catch up, I promise.

Anyways, we had a very busy Halloween this year. It seemed like pary after party, and we still have some left over candy hidden somewhere. Bailey dressed up like a Geisha and even used her costume later for a World Celebration Parade at her school. Peyton was a Diva, but in the photo John says she looks more like the Queen of England with her big hat!!! Reagan on course, our princess. Ooops, I stand corrected, not just a princess, but Rapunzel (is that how you spell it?). Where is her hair??, well, maybe this was after the witch had chopped it all off.

A Day At Patterson's Farm

Today I went with Reagan and her preschool class to Patterson's Farm. We had a great time, it was a perfect fall day. We got to pet and feed some goats, bunnies, and horses. We even fed an Emu!!! Then we all made a scarecrow for the class. And afterwards we all went for the hay ride. At the end of the ride we were dropped off at the pumpkin patch and we searched for the perfect pumpkin, which Reagan took very seriously. She picked a great one. Mommy got one for herself, too. Next week Bailey and Peyton will be going to the Pumpkin Patch with their class and hopefully Dad and I will be able to join them as well. I know there won't be too many more Pumpkin Patch trips with our children so I want to cherish these times while I can.

Thinking of my Dad today...

and missing him so much. There is never a day that I don't think and miss him, but there are some when it just seems like he is every where I look. I miss him most in the fall. I'm not sure why, I'm guess partly because these are the days before he died. I step outside and the sun is shining brightly, skies crystal clear blue, with a slight breeze blowing and I think of the day that Tish and I had come to visit him in the hospital. He wanted to go outside and I was so glad to see him looking okay. It was such a beautiful day and it was almost half normal sitting outside with him in the warm sun, forgetting just for a second that a terrible disease was killing my Daddy. We talked and laughed and it was nice. But that isn't the only memory of my Dad in the fall. I remember going to his house on the lake on days like today. Lazy Sundays, taking the girls down for a ride on the pontoon boat. The lake was gorgeous in autumn, the sun reflecting in the water, everyone out enjoying the last few warm days on the lake. Watching Dad as he let the girls take turns driving the boat. Priceless. But go back further in my book of memories and fall still stands out with my Dad. We grew up in the mountains and many a fall day we would just pack a picnic (sub sandwiches of course), load up in the van and drive up the Blue Ridge parkway and hike the trails until we found a place to lunch. We would just sit and talk and enjoy the beauty around us. Nothing extraodinary, but those were great days just being together. The thing is, I probably took all those days for granted back then. Never realizing what meaning they would hold for me today. Yeah, I always miss my Dad, but on days like today, the pain of him being gone tears at my heart and soul and I would give anything to have one more day like today to share with him. I love you, Dad.

A few more to share...

Some photos to share...

Just posting some photos to share with all of you who haven't seen the girls for awhile. Enjoy....

Another tooth gone....

Yes, Bailey has managed to pull another of her front teeth within days of losing the other. She came home Friday afternoon announcing proudly that her tooth was bleeding because she had been pushing it all day. When I had a look I could see that it was just hanging. I told her to try pulling instead of pushing, and when she did it fell right out. She was, of course, thrilled. That night, she neatly placed her small tooth in a ziploc baggie, so that it wouldn't get lost. Under the pillow it went. But, disaster, the next morning when Bailey awoke, there was her tooth, still under her pillow. THE TOOTH FAIRY HAD FORGOTTEN TO COME!!!!!! Ahem... well just as I was preparing a story as to why the toothfairy didn't come, I was saved by Bailey's own explanation. She had decided that it was because she couldn't sleep very well the night before and the tooth fairy would not come while she was awake. Phewwww!!!!! SAVED!!!! The next night the Toothfairy came shortly after Bailey fell asleep,leaving a small note explaining the very reason for not coming the night before as well as a small token for the tooth.

Catawba College Soccer Reunion

Well, we certainly got a fill of soccer this past weekend!!! Catawba held a Soccer Reunion in which all players past and present were invited to attend a luncheon and cheer on the teams as they played in front of a home crowd. It was fun, the girls were great troopers considering they had to spend most of their Saturday on a soccer field. But really, they had a lot of fun, because there were loads of other kids to play with and they just wore themselves out running around. Both the men's and women's teams got wins. Later in the evening John and I had a chance to join some of the alumni players for dinner and drinks. I think John really enjoyed himself, getting to catch up with his girls. I'm sure he's pretty exhausted from two early mornings in a row (poor fella), but I think it was a success. I,on the other hand, have had enough soccer talk to last me for quite awhile.

"Are they going to learn about Jejus?"

A kid quote from my three year old. This past Wednesday, Bailey and Peyton began faith formation classes in our church. After dropping them off, Reagan, my sweet baby girl, looked up at me and asked me "Are they going to learn about Jejus?". Of course, living in the south, my children have picked up that wonderful southern accent, so 'Jejus' sounded more like 'Jeaaajus'. Oh, too cute. Sometimes you just want to stop time and keep them at that sweet innocent age forever. Now, ask me tomorrow, and I will be asking when will they be 18 and ready to leave this house?!!

She's Beautiful

What the fffff.....?

This is the new saying with my two youngest children. The "fffff" is the sound they make when saying the colorful statement. And where did they learn this....that would be their Daddy. Yes, Daddy, who stops himself just before pronouncing the full out f-bomb, has tainted our precious children. Reagan has recently added her own "What the heck?" instead of the 'f' sound at the end. We have always been careful not to swear in front of the children, "stupid" and "shut-up" have gotten the "ooooohh, she said a bad word!!!!" But my husband being the great man that he is always lets a few good ones slip out, especially when talking with his freinds. When he actually heard little Reagan say it this morning, what do you think he did? After holding back his laughter, he stated proudly "That's my daughter!!!!" MEN!!!

The Tooth Fairy better watch out!!!

This child is on a mission...to pull out all of her baby teeth. Bailey has always been about the money. She searches for $$$ on the streets everytime we are out. And she finds it!! So when her two front teeth became loose, she was determined to pull those babies out because they were worth some dough. Well, finally Sunday while at Grandma's house one finally fell out. She had messed with it so much it was literally hanging by a root. Grandma actually pulled it with a string!!! Bailey couldn't wait to go to bed that night, with high hopes of waking up to a small fortune under her pillow. That didn't happen, but she was happy enough with her earnings. Now onto the next victim, I mean tooth.....

Celebrating 9 years together

This Wednesday my hubby and I will have been together as Husband and wife for 9 years. We've actually been a couple far longer, going on 16 years. Whoa!!!! Where does the time go??? We aren't going to be able to celebrate on the 20th because, of course, DH has a soccer game. So we made a day of it today. Bailey was with Grandma and Jess, our very favorite babysitter, came down to stay with Peyton and Reagan. It was so nice to spend some time together w/o the munchkins. As much as I love them, I miss my individual time with my love. We didn't do anything super special, but it was still great to be together. We ate lunch, and then did some damage at the mall. Well, we actually walked a lot and spent a little, thinking more about Christmas shopping for the little 'uns. My, how things have changed. We enjoyed a nice dinner at our favorite Indian Restaurant before picking up Bailey and going home. Back to the mad house. But I'm so thankful I've got it.

Let's Go To The Fair...

Bailey is spending the weekend with Grandma soJohn and I decided to take Peyton and Reagan to the Cabarrus County Fair. It was your typical County Fair, complete with Pig Races, Horse Rides, Ferris Wheel, and all sorts of people!!! I tell you what, they all come out to the fair. We had fun, though. The girls got to ride some rides (none too daring because Mom wasn't in the mood to ride), play some games and win small prizes, and of course, eat cotton candy. How come food we wouldn't dream of eating on a day-to-day basis looks and smells soooo darn good at the fair??

"The Good Work Award"
Thursday, my oldest, Bailey, came home with this award from school. Two emotions came to me...excitement because I am so proud of my daughter for working hard in school and doubt. The second feeling requires a little background. We decided last year to keep Bailey in the 1st grade again. She did okay, but struggled with some key issues last year. I had many tearful nights last year with coming to terms that both my daughters (I have one who is repeating kindergarten as well) were failing kindergarten and first grade. I thought this was the easy part of school. But finally I came to terms with it and my hubby and I both agreed it to be the best decision. So when school began this year I have high hopes and a knotted stomach. Will they do ok? Is there something wrong with them? What did I do? So Bailey's award is great, but did her teacher just give her that to boost her confidence? We both want a great year for her, so did she truly deserve it? Terrible I know, but I so want her to do well this year. My doubts were even more when I received a note from the teacher saying that she wanted to personally tutor Bailey every week. I should be thrilled of the personal attention she is receiving and I am. I am all for the tutoring, but the pride in me is questioning, "Is she already struggling again?" Her teacher hasn't shown any concerns and maybe just wants to make sure that Bailey's year is successful. I just want perfection for my girls, its wrong, I know, it is impossible, but I don't want them to struggle with anything. I love them more than anything. Enough of my rambling...