Christmas 2010

Christmas was so awesome this year!! As usual, we made our rounds to see most of the family and had a blast doing so. Each year I marvel over the fact that God has allowed us to all be together again and continue to build strong bonds. He is to be praised!!

We were elated to see the snow falling (and sticking) on Christmas morning!! We had planned to see some of Hutson's family in a nearby town but decided it was best to stay off the roads and keep Ginger B at home. While we were sad not to get to see them, I have to say that the best part of Christmas just might have been those precious hours that day that we spent as just a family of three.

The thought of taking down the Christmas tree bums me out completely, but I have to say that I will be glad to have my house back to (somewhat) normal. I have one more week out for school, so I plan on being completely useless :) Hope your CHRISTmas was wonderful, and in case I don't get on here again this year, I hope your New Year's is fantastic!!

WARNING: lots and lots of pictures to follow and if you aren't a close family member then you will probably lose interest two or three snapshots in!



Ginger and Dandy (MeMe's new baby)


This was G's response when I asked her if she liked what Santa/Frosty brought her.


Santa came!!


Ford Clan: Nikki, Tripp, Preston, Ginger, Logan, Bo, and Trace


She was a pro when it came to ripping open the presents.


Ginger and her sit-and-spin. I wish all of you could see her in action on this thing. Hiiilarious!!


Me and the SIL, Haley


Aunt Haley, Ginger, and Uncle Brad


Precious apron from close family friends (and glasses from her Mrs. Potato Head)


Ginger and her first white Christmas! (Doesn't she looked thrilled? Ha!!)


Ford Family Christmas 2010

Move over Santa...

Frosty's back in town!!

We were very close...

to using this picture for our Christmas card this year!



Thankfully I got a better one and will be heading to Walmart later tonight to print. Whew...that's one more thing I can mark off my list.

Two Posts in Two Days...Wow!!

I can't believe I have made two posts within two days of each other. Must mean one thing. I'm almost out for Christmas break, so I've neglected all important duties around the house and my classroom. It can wait, right? Surely I need to be more attentive to the blog!!

Ginger met Santa last Friday and absolutely LOVED him!! She was completely infatuated with him until Saturday night when she saw Frosty on t.v. Now everything is Frosty this and Frosty that. I believe we've created a monster by letting her watch the old version. Don't ask me what's happening on Grey's or Desperate Housewives because I won't know since I will probably be on my 7, 845 viewing of Frosty the Snowman. Lovely!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Please pray that I will find the time and patience to take a picture for our Christmas cards. I know! I know! It's December 13, and I haven't even started. Trust me; I'm well aware. I love the Christmas cards I get in the mail, but I swear this year they are mocking me because I haven't even taken a picture, much less bought stamps or addressed envelopes. It will get done. I work well under pressure and hold the title for "Procrastinator Extraordinaire...Who Still Gets the Job Done!!" Just ask Hutson!!



True Love!


I can't explain this face, but she made it in every "forward-facing" picture I took.

Catching Up

I've decided to quit my job and blog full-time about my child. Ha!! Don't I wish!! It seems like we are constantly on the go, and I've been convicted lately of not slowing down to enjoy the moment. Christmas is going to be such a wonderful time this year because Ginger is somewhat comprehending things. She loves Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and lights. I recently found a book about the true meaning behind Christmas and am going to start reading it to her every night. She has the cutest shirt with an appliquéd nativity scene (thanks, Lindsey!), and she is so sweet and innocent when she points to the manger and says "baby Jesus." I want her to know that He is the true reason we are able to celebrate!! I hope that you are all getting into the spirit of the holiday and remembering that He is the reason for the season!! Merry Christmas!!!

And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

Thanksgiving 2010

I've gone to extreme measure this year to protect the Christmas tree, but I know my child all too well not to take such precautions.

Breakfast with Santa at school. I believe she's saying, "I wan see Shanta Caus!!" (FYI- she was not scared of Old Saint Nick- at all! She embraced him like a member of the family and did not want to leave him. What can I say? My child does not meet a stranger!)

18 Months

Ginger Belle will be 18 months on November 6. Time flies!! It seems like yesterday that I was mixing up bottles every four hours. She is a delight. She is hilarious. She is a pure example of God's love!!

Halloween 2010

(I can't get enough of the sweet gap!)

Did I mention that she is silly? This is what I turned around to find one night while driving home.

18 Facts about Ginger Belle...

1. She loves to eat. The apple didn't fall far from that tree.

2. She loves to point out her body parts and will proudly find your bellybutton for you.

3. She calls her pacifier "Patsy." Love it!

4. She loves to have her teeth brushed. Every morning after she gets her clothes on and every night after she gets out of the tub she hollers, "Teeth! Teeth!"

5. She can name many family members and loves to tell everyone that she is "Ginger/Ginder."

6. She can say her ABC's. Well, kind of. It goes something like this: "ABCDDG." It's a start!

7. She loves to dance!!

8. She tells everyone (and I mean everyone) "Bye Bye" as we are leaving any establishment. Her "bye bye" has a huge stress on the long "e" :)

9. She can throw a temper tantrum to rival all others.

10. She laughs when I whip her. Not a good sign for the future, people.

11. She points to the sky when you ask her where Jesus is.

12. She knows many animal sounds: turkey, duck, dog, tiger, horse, cat...

13. She follows commands wonderfully! I use this to my advantage when cleaning up the living room. I also love to have her pound on Hutson's office door until he comes out when I need something.

14. She can identify some landmarks while I am driving. As we are pulling into my parents' town, she starts shouting, "Papa Cool! Papa Cool!"

15. She loves to tote around a cell phone and talk on it. Once again with the apple and the tree.

16. She wears 2T clothes now, a size 4 diaper, a size 5 shoe and weighs 25 pounds.

17. She is fearless! This is definitely not passed down from me.

18. She loves to give sugar! She will kiss anybody on the lips, so if you ask for kisses, just get ready!

Happy Birthday, Mama!

Happy happy birthday to my sweet, loving, kind, self-sacrificing, generous, God-fearing, and beautiful mama!!! We love you!!!


Mama with her favorite grandchild.
(I can say this because there are no other ones to compete with!) :)

Sweetness!!

lazy Saturday morning

One Year Later

It's amazing the difference a year makes. Ginger Belle has changed so much since this first picture. Unbelievable!

5 months

17 months

Lots of Pictures

I had lots of pictures to download, so I decided I would put them all in one post. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

She is so silly!

Papa and Bella got a new piano, and Ginger is smitten with it.

(That's an Ole Miss paci in her mouth. Don't tell her daddy!)

I love my girl!

Playing at the park with her cousin Jaxon.

Ginger, Jaxon, and Jacob. This is the best group photo we could get. Ha.

She's fearless when it comes to sliding!

Waiting to see cousin Nikki on the homecoming court

Nikki (sophomore homecoming maid) and Ginger

(They are the only 2 girl granddaughters on the Ford side.)

Wedding Day

My baby brother married his high school sweetheart on September 25. It was a beautiful ceremony on a beautiful day. Here are just a few pics to highlight the lovely event. (I regret that I don't have any of the bride. Haley was so busy having professional pics made that I didn't want to bother her with my flash! She was absolutely stunning!!)

Our little family of 3.

The flower girl

Ginger and Uncle Brad

Ginger and Papa Cool

Ginger and Bella

We are still here!

Who knew working full-time would leave little time for blogging?! Life is great, and we are enjoying watching Ginger grow up. She has the best personality...lots and lots of spunk!

Carrying mail and her "giddy-up" horsey

Too cool for school!

Close-up!

Ode to Sophie

We like to call Ginger's latest art project "Ode to Sophie" since we had to send the poor dog to live with MeMe and Poppy. Sophie couldn't handle G's wild ways. My daughter continually tried to ride her, pull her ears and tail, and poke her wet nose. Sophie showed the young child what she thought of her shenanigans by kicking her across the room one night. It was then we knew that she had to go. We miss you, Soph!!

Pictures to Share!

I took G for her 12 month pictures (although she was actually 14 months...oops!) a couple of weeks ago and they turned out fantastic!! Juanita and Leslie (Sister's Photography) do a great job! Click on the link and enjoy! Let me know which picture you think I should have made into a 16X20!!

http://lburton1.photobiz.com/cart/gallery.cfm

Ginger's First Day of "School"

Ginger started "school" yesterday. Sniff, sniff!! My time at home with her flew by!! She is doing great, and I know she will learn so much. I also went back to school. I'm teaching 8th grade at Lee Middle School in Columbus and love it. I worked there two years ago before we moved to the Delta and was able to get my position back, so I'm on the same teaching team and have the same classroom as well. So awesome!! I ask that you pray for Ginger and me (and Hutson because he has to "put up" with me) as we adjust to this new lifestyle. It will take some getting used to, but we will survive :)

"...if anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ..." 1 Peter 4:11 (This verse has gotten me through this very, very strenuous week!!)

Snack Time!

Me: Who wants a snack?

G: Me! Me! Me!

I hate to brag, but she is going to be every teacher's dream with her arm-raising abilities!

Hollywood in Mississippi

Have you read The Help?? It is a MUST read!! It is set in Jackson during the 1960s and focuses on recent college-graduate, Skeeter Phelan, and her desire to give a voice to the black maids who work in the white households of Jackson, MS. She wants to publish their stories in order to shed light on the unjust race relations. It is funny, sad, and thought-provoking!! Please read it!!

I am telling you about this book because I am so excited!! A sweet friend of mine got me a ticket to meet Kathryn Stockett, the author, and the cast of the up-coming movie, which is being filmed in Greenwood. I am pumped to say the least!!! I believe the night entails a reading from the author and a chance to meet the cast. Here are a few people that I will be rubbing elbows with:

Bryce Dallas Howard- Ron Howard's daughter and the new Victoria from Eclipse. I might be most excited about this encounter :) Howard will be playing the rich, snobby Hilly Holbrook.

Viola Davis- She has been in movies such as Doubt and Law Abiding Citizen. I cannot wait to see her as Aibileen.

Emma Stone- She is known most for her roles in Superbad and House Bunny- obviously not the deepest movies, but I really think she will make an excellent Skeeter!!