On the way to KY

Tonight we are making the long 8 hour trip from Ft Benning, GA to Kentucky for our Holiday visit. This trip always turns into a 12 hour trip for us. I don't understand why. We only had to stop once to eat, get gas, and let the KIDS play. Yes I said kids. Lylah had her first experience at play place today. She climbed up to the top, looked out the window, and slid down the slide with a little help from mom, but WOW my baby is growing to fast. Please slow down baby! Can you all believe how fast Christmas came this year?

******Lylah playing at mcdonalds for the first time*****

Christmas Party 2008

Well the company Christmas party has came and past now. The stress is off my shoulders. I must say it was one good party! Here are a few do's and don't when planning a Christmas party.

DO's

*Start planning early

*Delegate

*Check out the location before the event.

*Always have a Plan B

*Alway work close with your FRSA

*Have plenty for the kids.

*PRAY

DON'T

*Expect everything to go as plan

*Get discouraged

CRUSADERS KNOW HOW TO PARTY

Birthday gifts and final touches on the holidays!

**My birthday flowers**

I am sure everyone is curious how my birthday went. I must say it was amazing. Got off to a rough start, but it is one I will remember. What did I unwrap on my birthday you ask? Well I got tons of goodies. Keygan surprised me with some yummy sweet tarts, James got me the most beautiful flowers, a wonderful dinner and embarrassing desert at Fiji's Japaneses steakhouse, and the neighbors a delicious pie! I was very blessed this year...wanna see some pics, okay.

What am I doing today??? Wrapping gifts, last min. online shopping, cleaning, trying to stay home all day, and making gifts for everyone. What do you think of these?

Guess what came in the mail today. A camo sock;-) I won it while listening to army wife talk radio! Want to listen click here http://www.armywifetalkradio.com/

Here is our finished Christmas tree;-) Isn't it beautiful! Thanks again Trees for Troops.

Catching up

**Keygan decorating our FREE tree;-) **

It's my birthday....23 baby whoo! Gosh i feel old. Since the last time I posted so much has happened. Kicking off the week on Monday I drug myself out of my warm comfy bed early to stand in line with my amazing neighbors and a friend to get a REAL tree for free. Yes, you heard me FREE! Thank you so much Trees for troops. It was my first real Christmas tree. I am not sure if my family would have had a Christmas tree this year because right before we PCS'ed from wonderful Ft. Irwin , CA to our current location we sold our Christmas tree.

On another positive note our FRG recruited 2 members to fill a much needed position yaaaaa...Prayers was definitely answered there.

Friday was MOPS for the Abney mommas *including my mother in law who is visiting* and the Abney children. We had so much fun! I got the cutest little armed forces ornament for my tree. (STOLEN FROM MRS SARAH:-) Love ya girl) The children did a little parade with their Christmas bells and all dressed in red. It was adorable.

On a not so positive note the FRG Christmas party had to change ALOT...Still not sure about the funding, but keeping it all in my prayers. Instead of a mexican dinner we will now be having appetizers and a KEG! LOL. Luckily it is looking like we didn't have to sacrifice the kids craft, Santa, and presents and that is definitely a blessing.

Also during the week I *ALONE except for the main top of the walls thanks tall handsome hubby* painted my living room. What do you think? I LOVE IT....

Oh yes and more great mojo hit the Abney family. We went to see Mrs. Clause, elves, and the reindeer and won a surprise gift that is now wrapped and under the tree labeled to Keygan and Lylah from Mrs. Clause;-) Awww the joy of Christmas.

Here is lylah with the elves...she had lovely baby dreams that night...

And last but certainly not least we welcomed a new neighbor this week. Welcome to the world baby Maddie...We love you!!

A very busy day

I have been up since 7 AM getting Keygan off to school, preparing for a Company Christmas party, fundraising at the PX, supporting my solider who participated in the solider of the month board, and last helping Crusader Company with a Food drive for a family in need. I am very grateful for all the ladies that helped physically and supported the FRG emotionally today! I am so grateful to have each and everyone of these ladies. The FRG is something really close to my heart and I know that this one is going to be great because we have a great group of good hearted, smart, talented and just amazing ladies! This FRG is so blessed. Here are some pictures from today;-)

**Here I am standing by my man. I will always be by his side to show him support for the rest of my life.

**Another picture of my man. Gosh I love this man.

**The box I wrapped for food donations;-) I also got four of Keygan's presents wrapped

AND.... after all was said and done we still found the time to enjoy a nice dinner with family;-)

Below is James and his mom at our Favorite steakhouse in Columbus called Berts! We love the food at Berts. Go check it out. Its across from the Peachtree mall. Take exit 7 and make the first right and then an immediate right and you will see it on the left. Bert's saying "You might beat my prices, but you can't beat my meat." They have amazing specials on Thursday's night. If you go let me know how what you think.

GOODNIGHT!!!

Family Game Night

**Keygan counting his spaces**

Last night Keygan played his first game of monoply and he kicked our butts! He is growing up way to fast. James's mom will be visiting us for the next month. It will be nice having someone around on those nights when James has to work. How did black friday go for everyone? We slept the morning away. Let me know if u got any good deals. It is crazy I haven't even started reallý shopping yet. The budget for christmas is a little shabby this year. Lylah said her first word on november 28, 2008 sitting at mamaws table eatting sweet potatoes and the word was mama. Wow how time just flies. My wonderful husband gave me my birthday present early this year. Guess what I got...A PINK BLACKBERRY! Wow how did I ever live without it. I am taking the LSAT on sat. I'm really nervous abou it. I think it is to early. All you other momma's u know about mommy brain?? Well I got it bad.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure!

Today lylah got her second set of shots. I know it is a little late and I really struggled with this decision. If we wasn't a military family exposed to so many people coming in and out of different countries then I would have decided against it, but because of this I chose to get her up to date with the shots! She received a total of 2 shots in her legs today. Due to the national shortage of DTAP she was unable to get that one which would have made 3. She took both shots like a champ. She didn't even cry. I'm so proud of my baby girl. To reward her if daddy gets home tomorrow I will be taking her to get her toes done. We're starting bad habits here early. Speaking of bad habbits what do you think of this? She loves her starbucks

Signs THe Holiday Season is close if not here.

*This is Keygan Christmas 2006*
I listened to Christmas music on the radio while cleaning up our breakfast mess.
Walmart already has extra cashiers working the checkouts.
A few select neighbors already have their christmas trees up.
Secret Black friday links are posted around the net.
T.V. commercials are being hogged up by what looks like the newest and coolest toys ever.
While visiting the mall or outlet centers empty parking spaces are hard to find.
Every store is sold out of the latest video game system.
My son runs around the house singing "I wish it was a merry christmas" over and over!
You just bought your turkey a week ago and the commisary has them today for .25cents a pound.

What did I miss?? let me know