Gal pal birthday party!

Friday night, some of my girlfriends came over to my house to celebrate my birthday! They brought appetizers and dessert galore! Susan surprised me with this amazing birthday cake!

Here I am showing off my "birthday girl" shirt! :)

Thanks girls for making a gal feel special for her birthday! I loved all my gifts but especially loved the great company! Thanks so much for celebrating with me!

An update...

I realized that I have not written a general update on our family in awhile---how the boys are, what Jim and I are up to, etc. So here it goes...

Christian...

1st grade picture

Christian is really enjoying 1st grade! I am amazed at what he is learning already! He has become an excellent reader---reading two levels above where the average 1st grader reads. He is now reading chapter books and does great! He also loves to read to Andrew. His current favorite activity is to do Lego kits and play with trucks and trains. He is the best big brother and I am so proud of him!

Andrew...

What can I say about this sweet little stinkpot named Andrew??!!! HAHA! He is truly the cutest little man though much more of a handful than Christian ever was! But we can't imagine not having Andrew in our family! He makes our family complete! He is really the sweetest thing! Andrew is 20 months old and weighs 26lbs. He loves to give kisses and be tickled. He loves stuffed animals, board books, and anything that plays music. He is talking more and more every day. He says fun things like "bathtime" and "snack" and "boooon" (meaning balloon). When we ask, "What does the puppy say?" He replies, "bark bark!" (except with a heavy Brooklyn accent-weird, I know). Now he thinks all animals say "bark bark". Too cute. He loves his big brother and sometimes thinks he is just as big as he is. He eats VERY well, almost as much as Christian. ;)

Jim...
My wonderful hubby is in his 13th year with Wal-Mart Information Systems Division. He is now a Systems Analyst and deals more with managing people and projects than writing straight computer code anymore. But it is still his passion and he is good at what he does. Jim's true passion is golf and he is already teaching Andrew how to play golf. Seriously. ;)
Most of all, Jim is the best husband and father I could ever imagine! I love him more and more every day!!!


me....
Most of you know that I went back to work part time back in August at ARVEST Asset Management. It has been going great. Just 3 days a week/15 hours a week is just enough to get me out of the house and back in the swing of things on the investment trade desk! And Andrew is enjoying his time at Mother's Day Out with other kiddos! I still get to pick up Christian every day after school and they boys really enjoy their playtime together every day. I am still director of the Mom's Ministry study group at our church on Thursday mornings and it still an amazing blessing in my life! I love these ladies! We just ended our most recent study "What Happens When Women Pray" and I begin leading "Date Night in a Minivan" in January. This is a marriage based study and should be a lot of fun! After being on the Board of Child Development for our children's programs at church for 2 years--Central Childcare (the daycare), Tiny Tots (the preschool program) and Mother's Day Out-- I was recently nominated to become the next Vice President for the Board. I will serve two more years as VP, then step into the President of the Board chair. I really enjoy dedicating time to this board that oversees the financials and management of these programs. As you can see, I like to stay busy! ;)
I feel so blessed to have so many amazing friends and family in my life that fill my life with joy!
I truly have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season!

Sharum Christmas 2010

On Saturday, we headed to Fort Smith to celebrate Christmas with our extended family!
Uncle Rob and Aunt Janie always host a wonderful breakfast and gift exchange each year at their home. Santa also makes an appearance. ;)
Here are some of my favorite pictures!

Christian and Uncle Rob

The boys in their matching pajamas!

Uncle Will and Christian

Uncle John and Christian

Robert!

Time to open presents!!!

Andrew thought it was a little early for all the craziness. ;)


but he got into it! He loves opening presents!

Pops and Christian

Rob and Janie with their grandkids!

Getting to spend some time holding my sweet nephew!

Will and GoGo

Santa stopped by for the party!

Andrew was not wanting to sit on Santa's lap this year, but he did not mind getting a goodie bag from the white bearded man in the big red suit!

The boys enjoying their goodies!

After Sharum Christmas, we went back to Pops and GoGo's house to celebrate my birthday
with family!

Christian loves to help me blow out the candles!

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful and thoughtful gifts!

Letter to Santa...

Winter Dreams Tour of Homes 2010

I have a tradition of going on the Junior League Winter Dreams Tour of Homes with my wonderful mother-in-law, Ann. We always have breakfast at Uncle Gaylord's then go on the tour all day. The past few years, we have had some of our friends join us as well! It is becoming such a fun activity to get in the Christmas spirit! This year we decided to do "ugly" Christmas sweaters! We saw a couple groups of people doing it last year and thought that might be fun to try! This year Susan, Dara, Ann and Nancy joined me!
Thanks ladies for such a fun day! Can't wait to do it again next year!

ARVEST1 Christmas party 2010!

Saturday night, I hosted the ARVEST1 Christmas party! It was so much fun! Yummy food, white elephant gift exchange and we all got a workout playing Dance Central!

Kathy and Charles

Rachel and Jamie

Candace and Trent

Jim enjoying the great food!

Trent and Ty thinking something is funny...

Let the gift exchange begin! Charles opens the first gift...adult size footed pajamas!

Trent tried them on but they were too small but he did not mind showing off the "easy access" bottom flap! haha!

One of the best gifts...Rachel brought a framed picture of Jamie dressed as a girl when he was in the 7th grade....

and Jamie's old basketball picture. Or is that Michael Jordan??? I can't seem to tell the difference. ;)

Guess who ended up with the footed jammies???

The best part...the doggie feet!

We played with the new Kinect games for XBox360...Adventures and Dance Central. It was so fun and we laughed until we cried!!! Can't wait to do it again next year!!!

Deck the Halls!

As soon as I felt better after being sick, I was busy, busy, BUSY this weekend decorating for Christmas! Check it out!!

Christian was so excited to help this year!

Our mantle

The side table in my dining room

I continued the greenery up my light fixture in the dining room. A new touch of Christmas decor this year.

My dining room table Nativity as my centerpiece

A nativity I place on top of my fridge. ;) It lights up at night!

I made this wreath for the wall in the boys bathroom. Just a prelit wreath and a wooden sign from Hobby Lobby. Less than $10!

Christian's Razorback tree! (He wanted to display his Charlie Brown Christmas CD as decor under the tree).

Andrew's tree in his room

and his little nativity he can play with too!

My beautiful Willow Tree nativity set

Another new touch of decor this year! I made this wreath snowman out of three different size wreaths and put a scarf around his neck! A super cute touch on the door to the garage!
(I saw it on the Junior League Tour of Homes last year)

Our Christmas tree! I added some gold mesh around the tree (hard to see in pic) and glittery flair at the top coming out of the plaid bow. It is a smaller tree than we have had in the past, but it gives us more room for Andrew to run around in the downstairs living room.

Hope all of you are enjoying decorating for Christmas! Don't forget the egg nog! ;)