A trip to Bethlehem

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.

He is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

This year our awesome church held a Village of the Nativity! When we heard that our church would display the birth of Christ in such a way, I couldn't wait for our family to be a part of such a blessing. When Mommy found out that we would be moving just a couple of weeks before the Nativity, I knew it would not be possible for us to join in the making of the first Christmas. We were definitely able to experience it by walking through Bethlehem as a family and what an awesome experience it was for Mommy, Daddy and our girls!

We heard, as we were traveling through, that if we followed this bright star we would find a family in a manger who just gave birth to a baby. The town was very crowded from everyone coming in to be counted for the census. We made a few stops along the way as we followed the North Star.

We passed a kind little lady warming bread. Ella and Alexa stopped for a warm snack!

(Thank you Mrs. Michelle for sharing some of your nice warm bread!)

Addi Grace and Ella found a sweet little place where they could enjoy a quick craft. They decorated a dribble that they took home to play with after our visit.

On our journey we passed some animals that were on their way to the manger

to keep the new baby warm on this cold night.

Mommy and Daddy wanted to stop and get a sample of freshly made soap! We were able to see a kind lady making the soap and she let us know that we were getting very close to the manger where the baby lay.

Right before we arrived at the manger, we stopped and visited with this sweet man weaving baskets to sell. He couldn't believe how many people were coming to see the baby!

Choirs of angels sing

  Glory to the new born King

3 Wise men opened their treasures and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Before we left Alexa signed the census for us to register with the town.

After our long journey through the town we stopped to get cookies and hot chocolate!



Thank you NOBC for being so amazing! What a beautiful story to act out for so many to enjoy!

I knew this experience would be so much fun for my sweet girls but Mommy and Daddy had no idea how amazing it would be to go back in time a couple of thousand years and follow such a beautiful bright star. Mommy loves every season, holiday, and birthday but nothing compares to the true magic of Christmas!

A baby changes everything~

An Angel Singing

Pause Mommy's play list before listening!

Ella Jo, Your preschool put on a Christmas program this year, and you sang this song with your class. You were so brave and stood at the front and sang your sweet little heart out celebrating the birth of Jesus! Mommy will post pictures of all of your Christmas parties very soon.
You were helping mommy one day, put the star on our tree (I will be posting that sweet story very soon) and you were singing bits and pieces of this song so I thought you must be learning it for your program...
On our way to get your big sister, Lex, that same day mommy started the song, but let you finish. And when you finished your beautiful song, Away in a Manger...mommy was crying by the time Lex got in the car!!
I told Pop Paw and Mims about your sweet song. When Mommy ran to the mall to get your beautiful Christmas dresses....I came home to see this precious video that Pop Paw captured! I love listening to your sweet voice sing Ella, but Addi Grace sure made Mommy laugh while she's just sitting there playing cut the rope on Pop Paw's ipad!!!
Thank you Pop Paw so much for giving us the opportunity to save this on our blog so we can listen to Ella's sweet angel voice praising Baby Jesus for years to come~

Rings on Fingers and Bells on Toes

Honey Bear Christmas Dance



We had just moved in our new home a few days before your Christmas dance and of course, your Mom had to take your picture in front of our tree even if I hadn't put any decorations on yet!

I was so busy with all the moving and everything in between that you went with a group of friends to find your dress for your dance. I was worried about the dress you would choose and wanted to meet you there but you graciously declined my offer and wanted  to try alone with help from friends. After several text messages and encouraging words...I finally received the text that read...I Found It! It's Perfect!! I wanted a picture sent to me but you wanted to show me in person and wow!! As usual, your Mom had no need in worrying! Even more perfect, your Aunt Madeline, gave you a beautiful pair of golden glittered shoes she wore in a wedding and my beautiful golden Lex, that completed the outfit! You accessorized with gold jewelry and nails with gold tinted makeup...you looked just beautiful!

Now, in case you forget why you brought not one, but two dates, Mom will explain...

Blaise is your very best friend since you've known him in Kindergarten. You also decided to bring another friend Keaton. Since y'all are all friends I knew you would have the best time!



Lex & Blaise

Lex & Keaton



Mom was right (again) and you had so much fun! Y'all danced until it was time to leave! The Honey Bear Booster Club gave each Honey Bear a gift certificate to Victoria's Secret for Christmas!

I did receive text messages begging for a later curfew of 12:30 but I held strong and you arrived home on time at your normal curfew of 12:00!! You will understand the importance of curfews when you get older.

When you were a little girl, I knew the time would come for you to go to all the high school dances. It is just so much fun watching you choose your dress and get everything just perfect for your special night! Dad informed me this past summer that you will be able to attend this years Junior/Senior Prom....(Thanks Dad)

I'm looking so forward to all the preparations but your Mom will definitely need some tissues near by at all times! I love you so much my beautiful teenager and thank you so very much for all these precious memories~

Colors Are Changing

Scarecrow Festival

Every year our botanical garden puts on one of the largest scarecrow festivals! This year we went a couple of times...Once mommy brought Ella with a play group and then we went with Dee Dee. Alexa was with friends the day we went to the festival so mommy wasn't able to get any pictures of her with us.

Every time I walk into the gardens it just takes my breath away! So many beautiful things to look at and I love the atmosphere throughout all of the gardens. Fall was at every turn, with all the changing colors and pumpkins laying around. I can't believe all the creativity that came with the scarecrows! It was amazing to see what all the different groups in our area came up with to capture a scarecrow! We took so many pictures but mommy will try to put our favorites on our blog! The garden had a drawing for a scarecrow winner but of course both of you little girls wanted to vote for the honey bear scarecrow, in honor of your big sister. (can't blame you) The Cat in the Hat won and that was mommy's favorite!

Our play date with Henry

These beautiful trees were all along a long walkway through the gardens and they were filled with pumpkins...now girls, I have to tell you a story...one day when you are older you will understand that yes, your mommy is totally blond underneath this black hair...the story goes like this....
We were walking down the walkway looking at the scarecrows with mommy's good friend, Mrs. Sara and Mommy said to Sara.."Wow! look how beautiful those trees are!" Sara replied.."Yes..they are pretty cool!" Then as we got closer to the trees mommy...said..."Oh Gosh...they hung all these pumpkins on these trees...they didn't grow on here!?!?!" Sara then replied..."Um NO JESSICA...they don't grow on trees??" Oh yeah...that's right ...mommy knew that didn't look right but couldn't imagine that sweet volunteers would go through that much trouble to make our visit at this garden so breath taking, but yes, they do! And, thank you to everyone who makes this place what it is! ....beautiful.
Such an awesome trip it was to Shangri La and so exciting to get us in the mood for fall! Alexa, around this time when we went to the gardens you said to me..."Fall is here mom, I can smell it..." That's true! Our summers here are so hot and when colors begin to change along with the weather it gives us so much energy and excitement of all that awaits us with this time of year! Thank you Jesus Christ, for such a beautiful place to stay in until we meet You in Your Kingdom! All the seasons you have given us and beautiful things to capture in our hearts! We are forever .....Thankful~

Trunk r Treat

Happy Halloween

My sweet girls, you absolutely LOVE Halloween! How much fun could one little girl have? Hot dogs, cookies, popcorn, and cotton candy just to mention the food. Big blow up bouncing and slide for when your finished playing games trunk r treating and getting Halloween candy! All of this at our awesome church and you girls get so excited every year! Y'all played and jumped and got your face painted and had so much fun with all of your friends! Mommy and Daddy didn't think we would be able to leave but at the end of all the fun I think y'all were ready for bed! I hope our sweet pictures that Mommy took will remind us how much fun y'all had. Ella...as we were pulling out of our church parking lot you asked me when it was going to be Halloween again...so precious, my angel! You have to wait a little while but the fun of this Holiday Season is just beginning!



Emily & Lex

We all had so much fun on Halloween and even though Lex didn't dress up she helped out with friends! When we got home Mommy separated all of your candy and combined it into one big bowl and then I hid the bowl so little fingers couldn't eat the whole thing in one night!
Halloween is always so much fun! I don't know if it's because of the creativity of dressing up, candy, the cooler weather approaching, or the start of all the holiday fun? Maybe it's all of those things combined. Thank you for such an amazing night with family and friends NOBC~



Our Big Move

More Answered Prayers

Mommy is going to have to explain why I wasn't able to post anything in our blog for November! November is one of my favorite months of the year and I was looking forward to all the exciting things I could share and post on our blog but God had other plans for our whole family! I will post our stories but they will be in December...

Mommy and Daddy got a phone call back in October regarding a house that would be for sale if we were interested! We got excited and drove to the house (which is just a few miles from where we were all ready living) and we instantly knew we would love to live here! Several weeks of planning, purging, and packing we moved the day after Thanksgiving!! Everyone else was shopping for Christmas and we were moving! Your daddy told me a few weeks before the move that he would be working an annual shutdown at work and be put on straight days for a few weeks starting December 2!!! This means that Mommy would be moving all by herself with Daddy's help when he got off work. It took about a week of moving and another week of unpacking but we are finally moved in!

There are a few updates that we will have to do but we have all ready started with all the bedroom floors! I couldn't be more excited! This house feels like home and smells like home and all of you girls couldn't be any happier at our "new house"!! 

Mommy has been so busy and still has a few things left to make perfect for our new home but I wanted to take a break and update our blog that I miss posting on! I will be posting pictures and sharing our sweet memories very soon!

Thank you God for always answering our prayers. They may not be answered as fast as we would like but we know it's Your will and understand You know what is best for our family! I pray that we can trust this and wait patiently knowing that when it's Your will it is perfect!

In Your Precious Name

Amen

Lex, You said that you never wanted us to move out of this house that way when you get married and have kids you will always feel like your coming "home" when you come back to mom and dad's!!

Girls...Mommy and Daddy have started a new chapter for our family in our new home and I just can't wait for all of the precious memories to unfold~

Rainbows of Fun

Happy 5th Birthday Addison Grace Russell

My beautiful Addi Grace, your mommy just can't believe I'm even typing on our blog about your FIFTH birthday party!! Your birthday was at the end of August but because of it being at the very beginning of school and football craziness we decided to wait a little bit for your rainbow party! Mommy wanted you to have a Pinkalicious party like your sister, Lex, had her favorite color purple party when she was 3! You had planned on a Pink party but then decided to have a Rainbow party! It was so much fun to plan!

We of course decorated with lots of rainbow colors and we planned a couple of crafts for your friends to make! You helped me make bags for your friends to thank them for coming...we put pieces of a rainbow in a bag (skittles) and attached a sweet note that said taste the rainbow, then tied it together with a rainbow ribbon. Mommy appreciated all of your help the day of your party! Ella went with Daddy to fill the balloons and you stayed with Mommy to help me and I just don't know what I would have done if I didn't have my sweet 5 year old to help me! Addi Grace, you were so sweet to all of your guests! You had friends from church and school come and I know that you enjoyed them so much at your party.

We had bowls filled with rainbow beads and made rainbow bracelets for your friends to wear! Everyone made such unique bracelets. Some lined up each color and others mixed all the colors! It was so sweet to see all your friends wearing their colorful rainbow bracelets at church the next day!

We also decorated cupcakes with white icing and sprinkled rainbows of sprinkles!! All of your friends did such a good job on decorating their cupcakes! Some friends used one color and some piled on all the colors!! I think Ella Jo just worried about how much icing she could fit on her one cupcake...We also got an ice cream cake for anyone who didn't decorate cupcakes! It was the first time we ever got an ice cream cake and it was such a big hit at your party!!

When your friends wanted a break from all the bracelets and cupcakes they jumped on the moonwalk!! Thank you Eric Plunkett for bringing the awesome moonwalk!! They had so much fun and what an awesome thing to have at your party for your friends to enjoy...I think it's a must at every party!!

Your Mommy remembers very well just last year and all the years before, I had to hold you to open presents! You were so shy and would barely open them! Not this year Addi Grace, that's just another way you are showing your Mommy and Daddy that you are growing older sweet baby! You were so thankful for all of your gifts and made Mommy so proud how you would thank each person after opening their gift they brought you!!

Okay...Mommy will need to explain what happens at the end of your party!!

Mommy and Daddy have sweet friends they hold so very dear to their heart and they prayed for many years just like we did to have beautiful babies bless their lives! Just like us, God answered their prayers and wow he blessed us just about at the same time! (isn't our God awesome?) Miss. Lexi Tubbleville came into our awesome lives just a few months before you did and y'all have grown up together! Mommy needs to work on a photo album because I have tons of pictures of y'all together before either of you had any hair...

When Lexi was leaving your party she was crying at the door not wanting to leave! I offered for her to stay and I could bring her home...but wait...better yet...let Lexi stay the NIGHT!! That is how both of your very first sleepover happened! So, after the party we picked Lexi up and you will see from the pictures how much fun you both had! Lexi kept saying..."This is going to be the best sleepover Ever!!" and it was my angel!! Addi Grace, your big sister, Alexa, would like to stay the night at her friends house too for your next sleepover!! We had church the next day and Mommy got all 3 of you ready and we were there on time...yay Mommy! All 3 of y'all giggled and giggled and that was the most precious sound to your Mommy's ears! I thought to myself...how precious little girls are! Sweet angels sharing giggles, cupcakes, and friendship! Thank you God for such sweet giggles between two best friends! I'm sure y'all will share lots of giggles as the years pass! 



The TuTu Crew
I just love those bare feet!



What an awesome way to end an awesome day! We had so much fun at your party! I wish we could celebrate every 6 months...but the 12 months seem to sneak it's way back too fast!
When Mommy was turning out all the lights from your party after cleaning up I just stopped and looked at the room that was put back exactly how we found it and I said a quick prayer thanking our Father for such an awesome party! I also thanked Him for giving me 5 years of Heaven on this Earth. You have blessed our lives so much my beautiful brown eyed girl! Mommy whispered in your ear when you were a baby..."I don't know how my heart was beating before you??" You have brought so many beautiful blessings to our lives and there isn't a day that doesn't go by that I don't thank my Savior for answering my prayers. Thank you God for loaning me Your beautiful children! I promise to cherish every breath, memory, and all the giggles for all the years to come~