Happy Thanksgiving!

Today has been wonderful! Happy first Thanksgiving to Lexie Noelle- and a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone else, too!

This morning, the girls and I had breakfast with my parents. Mom and Dad had their holiday tradition of bacon, eggs, and toast- and the girls and I had Pillsbury cinnamon rolls! (I'm officially making this a tradition as it was a HUGE hit with the girls! They saved one for Daddy too- he had to work today at the animal shelter.)

When daddy got home, we all headed to Herdklotz Park across from the Shriners Center. We all enjoyed the fresh air and time to play with the girls. Lexie liked the swing, but got bored with it after a while- of course it was when I pulled the camera out to take photos that she started to not like it anymore. So the few videos I have are of her smiling..then a short "get me out" cry... Ha ha. Even Destiny got into the fun and went down 2 slides. (The kids at the park got a BIG kick out of Destiny running up there and sliding down the slide...she does this at home so we weren't as impressed ha ha). Jenna climbed up to the tallest of slides and ran all around the "big kid" playground until time to go. Today was a beautiful day for the park!

Once we got home, my mom and I started getting dinner ready. I was making the sweet potatoes and had picked out a new recipe on Monday titled "Sweet Potato and Pineapple Casserole"... it looked really yummy(and it was)! So I made it today, and learned something about the recipe that I'll be sure to take note of next time I decide to make it. It had sweet potatoes, pineapples, brown sugar, butter, salt, and a pinch of nutmeg; then topped with brown sugar and butter glazed cornflakes. The note I must take is that the dish has "best flavor if cooked the day before, allowed to sit overnight, and reheated before serving"... So, as good as it was tonight- next year it will be much better because it will have time to sit overnight. :) Yay for learning! ALSO- the biggest note I took is to READ the recipe all the way through a week in advance to prepare the dish when it should be! ha ha...

I also had the honor of decorating the new wreath for my parents new picture window. I used some of my ribbon for decorating purposes that I bought a few years ago- and also some snowy pine cones and decorative balls that my mom bought. Then mom and dad went and got a beautiful red bow to go on the bottom where my ribbon wasn't long enough to go all the way around- and its so pretty! I had a lot of fun doing it, too. Anyone else want me to design a wreath for them? I don't like to toot my own horn- but my parents wreath looks pretty amazing and their already beautiful picture window. =) *toot toot* ha ha..

Finally, tomorrow when I get off work we are all headed to Nana's for some more Thanksgiving family time!! We have so much to be thankful for- our God, our family, our friends, and all the moments shared between them all- Thank you Lord, for all the blessings, and a very Happy Thanksgiving to all!

"Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." Psalm 95:1-2

Waiting for Nana

There's a gas station half way between Greenville and Columbia that we meet Nana at so the girls can go spend the weekend with her. On occasion, we manage to beat Nana there and have to sit and wait a few minutes. This past weekend, the girls went to Nana's and we beat Nana to the station.

The girls climbed out of their car seats, of course, and just like daughters do...wanted to drive Daddy's car. We took the keys out and hid them under the seat, Daddy stayed put and made sure they didn't actually put the car in gear or anything...and let them pretend to drive. Jenna likes this..but Lexie LOVES this... to the point that she'll play in her yellow bus car and change all the dials and spin the wheel for hours without losing interest. But this, THIS was a real car! Lexie was so excited she climbed all over the place and turned every radio dial and pulled the windshield wiper shift up and down over and over!

At one point Jenna was pretending to drive and Lexie was just playing with the radio buttons... and I took one last picture before Nana got there- and Lexie's face was priceless. I can see her screaming "you're letting HER drive?!" ha ha ha... (see below! and enjoy..ha ha)

Wordless Wednesday

Jenna's 2009-2010 School Pictures

Jenna's Journey to Oz

The BEST Cast in the World...

Jenna had the absolute time of her life both back stage and ON stage of Greer Children's Theatre. She was a munchkin in the land of Oz. Every night for the past two and a half months, she and I have "journeyed to OZ" and sang all the musical hits from the show and rehearsed every move. Now that the curtains are closed, the set pieces were torn down, and all the costumes were sold or auctioned off at the shows end... we find ourselves looking back with tears in our eyes at everything we accomplished, and how quickly it all disappeared. Now, it may have physically disappeared... but I guarantee you that the memories and emotions will remain in our hearts forever. Here are just a few things Jenna learned- that I got a front row seat to watch her take these major steps in her life.

Jenna learned confidence. I've mentioned this one before and its quite obvious so I thought I'd mention it first. But I want to go into more detail of her lessons in confidence. Jenna has always had either mommy or daddy right there to give her confidence...but on the night of auditions, mommy and daddy were not allowed to be in the room. She had to stand before the director and panel of judges and sing her song, without a friend of family member anywhere in sight. She did it- and just before her first moments on stage, she cried and talked about her fears of being judged again--- she not only did it, but she performed on stage for 7 shows, 4 of which were sold out!

Jenna learned humility. In front of all her cast members- she had to stand and sing her song again and was voted into the Lullaby League. Also in front of all her cast members, she was told that she did the dance wrong or sang the song wrong, etc. She also fell while running out to bow at curtain call in front of a nearly sold out theatre of strangers.

Jenna learned criticism. This goes with humility, talked about above. At first, Jenna was get so upset when she was told she did something wrong. She learned that doing it wrong is what practice is all about- you do it wrong at practice and correct it so you don't do it wrong on stage. She went from crying at every criticism during the first few practices... to taking the initiative to ask what she did wrong and how she can correct it or do it better in the later practices. She now, at 4 years old, understand constructive criticism better than some adults.

Jenna learned respect. She followed orders, and listened as stage managers directed her where to go and what to do. She was responsible for getting help with her make up, her costume, and keeping track of her belongings without mommy or daddy there to help her. (Mommy was working the Microphone Switch table for the show and Daddy was home with the baby).

Jenna learned the value of hardwork. She rehearsed until 10 or 10:30pm every night the week leading up to the opening show and woke up at 8am every morning for school. Her teachers told me she behalved so well they didn't notice and that during play time, she was smiling and singing her music. ((This means she also learned responsibility- homework and practice on your own time))

Jenna learned the emotional lesson that people will come in and out of your life so quickly. She cried off and on all day when it was over. She hugged her cast mates and told them she can't wait to see them in more shows, and that she hopes someday to have the chance to be in a play with them again. This is a lesson she learned before...and hit home.

Of course, Jenna also learned the moral of the story:
"There really is no place like home." ~Dorothy Gale

Mommy and Daddy are truely proud of you Jenna. Congratulations on a job well done!

Gold Hearts for Lexie

Lexie got her ears pierced tonight. Same exact studs as mommy had when she first got her ears pierced... though, I had to wait until I was 10 years old....Lexie is only 10 months. (If it was only up to me, Jenna and Lexie would have also waited until they were older...but when Jenna was a baby- Eric and I had a super long talk and agreed that we'd go ahead and do it while they are young.)

Another thing in common with mommy- is my left ear lobe had a complication...and Lexie's did too. She is fine, however, just a little bleeding- completely under control and she only cried a few minutes. Jenna didn't cry at all- just pointed her finger at the lady and let out a yell...but Lexie completely let the "break your heart" tears roll...

Thanks to her silky and her new soft bunny from the toy department, the tears have stopped and I even got a few smiles from her tonight. :) And the soft bunny that she picked out- it says the bed time prayer when you press its tummy.

my camera was too blurry, but you can sort of see it...

Wordless Wednesday

Fall Photos

You all know my absolute favorite moment of the year is when the leaves have just changed color and all the mountains are painted in the most vibrant of colors... God gives us the best gifts- and Autumn is only one of many!

"The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing." Psalm 65:13

Local Celebrity

Jenna has performed 3 shows for the Greer Children's Theatre this past weekend and has 4 more shows next weekend. She is quite the busy little actress!! She is a munchkin in the Lullaby League for the production of "The Wizard of Oz"... she tells me every day how much she loves being on that stage- and if you notice, in her "God's Masterpiece" interview, acting was her favorite activity.


Her absolute favorite part of each show was meeting her fans after the show- they would take pictures with her and even ask for her autograph and she loved signing her name on everyone's programs. Friday night, she didn't get to do that- but both shows on Saturday and Sunday she was signing autographs and I literally had to drag her away to get her changed out of her costume. I'm so proud of you Jenna! (And WOW is it wierd to watch your daughter sign autographs... my little local celebrity!)

Like I mentioned above- there are 4 more shows. It is truely an awesome show and I encourage you not to miss it!! Find a sitter or just bring the kiddos along-- $13 for adults; $10 for students/seniors; and $6 for children under 6. more info at http://www.greerculturalarts.com/
and more pictures at www.dropshots.com/pilkentonpearls

Jenna with the lead characters! Dorothy was played by Lauren P.- Jenna has now named every doll in the house after her. :) Jenna standing with the Wicked Witch- played by Rachel- who did a FANTASTIC job- she and our Good Witch "Glinda" played by Janie had some truely amazing scenes together.The Good Witch Glinda (Janie) and Jenna Nana was first to get Jenna's autograph!

Jenna signing her autograph for her friend Emma...

Jenna signing away for everyone else that day... she had quite the crowd...and on Sunday- they were even asking her if they could take a picture with her... she was so sweet and always willing to do what her "fans" wanted, be it a picture or just her autograph... Jenna Jade- my little local celebrity!

Pumpkins for Halloween!

We trick or treated with Mike in his neighborhood. We love you "Uncle Mike"! :)

Lexie took Uncle Mike's remote control and pressed buttons...when he took it back from her- she made this face at the television! ha ha...Daddy went to a few houses... then took Lexie back to Uncle Mike's house to hang out while Jenna and I hit the streets... and of course we were at the other end of the neighborhood when it downpoured... Lexie and Daddy were cozy and warm...Jenna and myself were soaked to the bone by the time we got back. Jenna had so much fun though- and thankfully nobody got sick! :)

Jenna's hat kept falling off...and so.... I wore it. :) ha ha!

God's Masterpiece!

The past two weeks, Jenna was chosen to be on the wall for "God's Masterpiece".

This is something special her teacher, Mrs. Clough, does for each child throughout the year and teaches the class the Bible verse "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

Yes, my child said GOLD is her favorite color. Pink and Purple are 2nd favorites..close seconds she says. I asked "Do you mean yellow?"...her reply was "NO momma...gold. REAL gold." (she's going to be our expensive child I guess...)