After starting our Christmas Eve off by eating Breakfast with Santa, we went straight to Urgent Care for Eric to get seen for his sinus infection that had taken a turn for the worse. He was in there for more than two hours, so Eli and I went across the street to Hobby Lobby and Steak Shake. Once Eric was out, we went to the pharmacy before heading home to get ready for my family. At one point we had a minor heart attack when I my sister sent me a text saying they were getting off the interstate. Turns out she meant parkway, which gave us an extra hour to get ready. By getting ready I mean me and Eric spruced up while Eli simply REFUSED to wear anything (including a diaper.) All my dreams and money spent on cute Christmas clothes went out the window when I decided that I would oblique in his nakedness since it was Christmas! When my family arrived we ate homemade vegetable soup before opening gifts together. We also managed to talk Eli into wearing a shirt. As always, my parents were

Our Christmas Eve started off at Chaney's Dairy Farm for Breakfast With Santa. Since this was our first year home for the holidays, we decided to make this part of our Christmas tradition rather than just an event during the month of December. As the name suggests, they serve a big country breakfast, which we enjoyed together as a family. Then the kids get to meet Santa. Because reservations are required, it's a small enough event that each child gets plenty of attention! I love how intently Eli is talking with Santa...be still my heart! Even when I decided to jump in the picture, he just kept jabbering away, However he finally looked up when daddy wanted a picture with Santa. I think Eli was just as excited to see the giant cow as he was to see Santa Clause! After breakfast and pictures with Santa, all the kids head upstairs to the "loft" where Farmer Carl reads "Twas The Night Before Christmas." Eli listened so closely. I was proud, until I discovered

The night before Christmas Eric and Eli were able to stay home and enjoy their morning while I went to work. I actually took off an hour early because there was so much to do before our families arrived. I was able to swing by the grocery store before heading home. Then I picked up a pizza for the boys. We ate that and got started cleaning. Eric worked on steaming the carpets while I put Eli down for a nap. The boys took a little break during the evening to watch the WKU v. Louisville game! I worked while they watched the game. Apparently at some point Eli saw a commercial for iHop. Can you guess where we ate dinner? We finished our crazy night with a trip to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things I had forgotten. Then it was home to rest up for all the Christmas celebrations!!

Wish you a Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Lord and Savior. "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.” -Matthew 1:21

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." - Matthew 1:23 I love this passage of scripture because Israel, a people in waiting, will finally see their Savior. The angel doesn't just tell Mary that she will have a son named Jesus. No, he tells her that her baby will be called Immanuel...GOD WITH US!! As a young mom, I am reminded of the naming process. Don't we all want a name that is strong? We want to give our children a name with meaning, and power, and identity!! That name becomes our child's legacy. Well, our Immanuel didn't have just one name. NO...he is referred to in more than 100 different ways in the Bible. It really bothers me that the English language has deluded the names of Christ. To the Jews he wasn't just "Jesus." He was and is, so much more!! Immanuel Deliverer Wonderful Counselor King Of Israel Prince of Peace The Son Of God Can you imagine

Let's talk about clothes for a minute...can we? I don't know about you, but since becoming a mom I feel like "Raggedy Anne in a Barbie Doll world." Please tell me you feel that way too sometimes. I mean I'm walking around with all these extra pounds for starters. Even with new and BIGGER clothes nothing seems to look so good anymore. I'm not saying I want to look like the Kardashians, but Rosanne isn't exactly the look I had in mind either. I mean this Saturday Night LIVE skit is so what I thought I would wear when I was "older." Were there any other choices for moms in the 90's? I guess we do have some modern day role models. Just look at this transformation....I JOKE!! So for the rest of us who don't exploit our children on television in order to get plastic surgery, what do we do? I want CUTE, modern, modest clothes for my changing body. Is that to much to ask? Pinterest has some inspiring ideas, but their models are missing one c

"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches" ... unless you belong to Eli !! Eli is very into Christmas this year which really surprised me. We need to work on the whole Baby Jesus thing because he things the babe in the manger is Baby Eli!! We're getting there. He does know who Santa, Frosty and Rudolph are, which I'm sure is part of hearing about it at daycare. He loves to sing "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town," "Jingle Bells," and "Frosty The Snowman." But hands down his favorite Christmas song is, "Oh, Christmas Tree!" Turns out, he really enjoys decorating this $10 tree we got on sale after Christmas last year. We put it in his room just before Thanksgiving and decorated it up with ribbons, candy canes, plastic red, gold and green ornaments, and a few baseballs. Apparently, Eli doesn't like our style because he has taken it up on himself to redecorate the tree on a daily basis. I thought you m

Saturday was an eventful day around the Watson home. We woke up and spent some time relaxing before getting started on a few chores. Well, we heard a knock on the door sometime mid-morning. It was our neighbor telling us that Louie (our dog) had killed their chicken!! Luckily, her husband informed us that Louie had only been successful in pulling a few feathers out. Nonetheless, we went straight to town to rent an edger to put in the underground fence. Sadly, the man at the rental center informed us that it was too wet...so back home we went. We did manage to get the wire laid out in the yard and watch the University Of Louisville game before heading down to Opryland in Nashville to see the lights. Eric and I went several times in college with friends and family, but this was the first time we ventured into the chaos with Eli. And I am so glad we did. He was mesmerized by the winter wonderland! Sadly, it was way too crowded to really enjoy ourselves. I think next year we will go on

This post is almost pointless with the exception of documenting that Eric and I do OCCASIONALLY go out on a Friday night...ha! Eric's work had a Christmas Party at the National Corvette Museum, so Tina and Owen came over to play with Eli. We snapped a few pictures before we left which turned out sorta cute since Eli was in a lovey/dovey mood! We also managed to get one picture of just the two of us!!

If ya'll are like me, you spend a lot of time and energy trying come up with inexpensive, yet meaningful gifts for virtually everyone in your life...and it can be stressful. I recently heard a story about "Gift Ideas For Your Garbage Man." Um, no thanks! I pay a heck of a lot of money for this service. Sorry, but I'm not buying a gift for someone I have never met!! I did however, want to get Eli's teachers something special. If you recall, we put him in a new daycare in January. Since attending he has never been sick, he's learned all of his colors, can county to ten, and sings his ABC's. The staff is amazing, and their love for children is evident. Although I wanted to do something big, it was almost impossible because he has NINE teachers. Luckily, I came across a Black Friday sale at Bath & Body Works for hand soap. I bought it up and stashed it in the closet for later. Next I searched Pinterest for "soap sayings." Once I found one I like