It's Official...

I'm the worst blogger in the world. I don't have a lot of time today for a long post, but I do want to share a few pictures. Ginger is growing up so fast, and it feels like we don't have a baby anymore :( She's hilarious and witty, and I hope to post some of her Ginger-isms soon!! Happy Spring!!

Such a big girl!

Spring Break! Ready to swim!

Hamming it up for the camera during spring break :)

Strollin' around Eureka Springs

Yesterday was Hutson's birthday. Ginger wanted to wear her Cookie Monster shirt because he used to be her daddy's favorite character. The funny things is I completely forgot about her school pictures, so this is the ensemble she was sporting for spring pics. Sigh...

1 Day Until...

I'm free!!!! Woooooo hoooooo!!!! Christmas break is almost here!!! I saw a sign on Facebook that says, "Stay calm and wait for Christmas break." Well, I've been about as calm as I can be. Bring on the two week vacay from seventh graders!!! All of my decorations are up and all of my gifts are bought. My plan is to simply enjoy the time off with my family!

I have a couple of random pictures from my phone that I uploaded. I wish I took more pictures, but it's near impossible with a toddler who gets into everything!!

Last week, Ginger's school had Breakfast with Santa. She loves the ol' bearded man. Her request was fruit snacks. He said he could handle that! :)

I turned big 3-0 right after Thanksgiving. Hutson's gift to me was a weekend of pampering at the Peabody in Memphis. It was fantastic!!! I was rendered completely useless when we returned. We ate, shopped, ate, and I enjoyed time at the spa. Did I mention that we ate??? I had the best steak at The Butcher Shop. It was like cutting butter. Yummy in my tummy as G says!!

The Christmas tree in the hotel lobby. Absolutely beautiful!!

The ducks!! Part of me wishes that Ginger could have been there to see them; the other part is glad that we weren't fishing her out of the fountain and paying to replace ducks! :)

10 Days Til Christmas!!! Hope your season so far has been merry and bright!!

It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this time of year, and I find myself questioning why I'm running myself to death to have the perfect decorations, send the perfect Christmas card, find the perfect recipe for a side dish, or buy the perfect gift. It hit me the other day that the only thing perfect about this season is Jesus. My sweet child reminded me the other day that it's almost Jesus's birthday and he's watching her (two random thoughts but so very true!). I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and celebrate baby Jesus- to put it in "Ginger" terms!!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:14

Rudolph

I posted this video on Facebook yesterday and thought it was too funny not to share. She is very passionate about Rudolph "going down in history"!!!

For your listening pleasure...

Not So Traditional

Hutson hates that we have colored lights on our tree and that I put it up before Thanksgiving, BUT he helps me year after year to get it all done before it's "traditionally" okay to do so. Love him! (I'm Team Hutson!! Have you seen Breaking Dawn? This statement will make him cringe and roll his eyes so hard he will probably hurt himself.) I'm off for the week of Thanksgiving (woo hoo!!), and like any other "mother of the year" type, I sent Ginger to daycare so that I could tackle many projects that I have been putting off. Before you go to judging me :) please know that I used the time to get our tree up so that I could surprise G with it! She LOVES it and keeps asking, "Mommy, you put the tree up for me?!" Preciousness!!

Completely enthralled in all of the different ornaments!

I purposefully put these ornaments side by side. We are a family divided! I love the Rebels (that's right, I said Rebels...pooey on Black Bears!!), and Hutson loves those stinky bulldogs (as G calls them when her father isn't around) :)

Ginger Belle

For this child I am thankful!!

Miss Me???

I know you have worried yourselves sick over my absence in the blogging world :) Well, you can now breath easier. I'm back...I think. (I almost forgot how to use Blogger. It has been about 7 months since I last blogged.)

Not much new here:

• Ginger Belle is two and a half. Quite the character she is!!
• I'm still teaching middle school. Oy vey!!!
• Also, I'm just a handful of days away from the big 3-0. (Some of my 7th graders are so sweet to point out that they can't believe I'm ONLY 29. Scallywags!!)

Ginger Belle is:

• completely potty trained!! Praise the Lord!! I thought she was going to college in pull-ups!!
• obsessed with Dora the Explorer. I fought it for the longest and then found it in my best interest to give in :) She also loves Tinkerbell, Caillou, and The Little Mermaid.
• unbelievably stubborn and hard-headed. She has already been sent to the "office" at school for fighting. These surely are not my genes! Have I mentioned "Oy vey"??? Hello, terrible two's!!
• always repeating, "God loves me. I not be afraid." Seems like a stark contrast to the above statement, but that's my girl :)
• very fond of the following song: The Wheels on the Bus, Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and This Little Light of Mine.
• a pro at dodging bedtime and finding reasons to get out of bed. I've dreaded this for a while, and she's finally reached that stage. Any and all helpful hints are welcome for keeping her in HER bed at night!!

I'm horrible at taking pictures these days because all my time is spent running after her. Here are a few I have on my phone though...

Ginger the Fairy and cousin Kyle on Halloween night

Ginger and Santa

I posted this one so you could see just how big she is getting :)

Gnawing down on a rib!

I love this one because it shows off her "ever-so-pinchable cheeks." Love that girl!!