Quick trip and lots of toys!

So, I took a quick trip to Birmingham yesterday! I took my sister's Christmas decorations which she had stored at my parent's house last year. I had my mom's minivan packed to the brim with Christmas! First, I had to cut down the Christmas tree Ivey had picked out at Thanksgiving and load that in my mom's van. I wish I had taken a picture of my mom and I in the pouring rain tromping through the mud wearing our rain gear and carrying umbrellas to cut down a Christmas tree!!! We were quite a sight!! :)

Here's the tree she picked out on Thanksgiving:

 We had a wonderful time together running around town and visiting with each other! After dinner, Ivey wanted to try to get a little photo shoot in to try to capture a Christmas card picture of the family...since the weather was so yucky, we tried to think of a place indoors that was decorated for Christmas. We decided on the easy/close-by option of Samford University...we felt a little out of place in the library with all of those students trying to study for finals! :) Once we started, we realized just what a challenge it is to capture everyone looking in the same direction and smiling with a 16 month old little boy!! He kept wanting to walk off...

Or crawl up the stairs:

Or put his hand in his mouth:

Tom and Ivey kept seeing students that they knew from their church...Ivey asked one of them if he would mind standing behind me while I took the picture and play "peep-eye" with Thomas to get him to smile. The guy looked confused and asked "What's that?" We laughed and asked him if he had ever heard of peek-a-boo? Seriously, what are they teaching students these days?!? :) He was a good sport and we got a few good shots (which I will save for the Christmas card reveal...).

I drove back this morning in time to get ready to go to work for a few hours to help out with a huge toy drive that benefited our Child Life Department...we rely so much on toy donations at Christmas and throughout the year...we give gifts to the children who are in the hospital on Christmas, or birthdays, or other special holidays. We also celebrate monumental occasions like "No More Chemo Parties." Even just the day in and day out procedures sometimes need a little reward! We have a constant need to keep our closets full of craft supplies and prizes!! This year, different departments throughout the hospital collected items from our "wish list" and presented them on floats during a "Parade of Presents."

 Once the parade was over, it was our job to take all of the items to a room where we will sort through everything and get it all organized! We were TOTALLY overwhelmed by the generosity! I almost teared up several times just thinking about how these toys will help to brighten the lives of the children we serve!

 Sorry this one is so blurry...not sure what happened!

Christmas cheer is definitely in the air, and I can't wait to get the house decorated!!!

Thanksgiving 2011!!

Thanksgiving is such a special day to remember God's faithfulness in each of our lives over the past year! I love being able to take a day to reflect on all of God's good gifts...

I am so thankful for the family members that were able to be with us to celebrate today! Ivey and Thomas came, but poor Tom had to work! Robby was in the same boat, and we missed them both! Most of my mom's side of the family came today as well as some special family friends. We had a wonderful time of food and fellowship!

My mom is an amazing cook and southern hostess! She did an amazing job getting all of the food ready! 

 One of God's amazing gifts to me: my sweet sisters!!

 Uncle JonJon and Thomas:

 Our sweet family friend, Martha with my mom:

 Sisters:

 Thomas and Ivey ready for some food!

 Nathan and Laura:

 One of the tables:

 Another one of the tables (we were actually missing several family members this year...love a big crowd!)

 Auntie Kat with her buddy:

 Aunt RuRu with the most photographed member of the family today!

 Fun picture right before Grandmother had to go...

 We were sad to see everyone load up in their cars and head home...looking forward to Christmas celebrations together!!

Dinner Party!

 I had so much fun today cooking and getting ready for a dinner party tonight! One of my friends who also lives a couple of streets over has a new roommate who just moved into town, so we had a little "welcome to the neighborhood" dinner for her. We thought there could be as many as 18 people coming, so we planned the food accordingly! I love cooking for a crowd! :) We ended up having 12 actually make it, and we had a wonderful time of good food and fellowship. We had some good 'ol comfort food on the menu tonight: oven fried chicken, squash casserole, creamed spinach, macaroni and cheese, and hash brown casserole, and chocolate torte (the last three other people made).

Squash Casserole:
3 lbs squash
5 Tbsp butter
1 onion chopped
1 c. cheese
2 eggs
1/4 c. mayo
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp salt
crackers
Boil squash 8-10 minutes and drain:

 Melt butter and saute onions.

 Mix all ingredients together and bake at 350 for 30-35 mins (top with crushed crackers first)

 Creamed Spinach:
3 Tbsp butter
4 Tbsp flour
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 c. whole milk
1/2 c. sour cream
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp onion minced
1/4 c. water
20 oz. frozen spinach
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese

Defrost and drain spinach:

 Melt 3 Tbsp butter, stir in flour and salt until creamed.

 Slowly stir in milk and whisk until smooth and thick--remove from heat.

 In another pot, saute onions in butter (I add minced garlic to taste)

 Add spinach and cook

 Add white sauce, sour cream, and cheese

 Put Parmesan cheese on top and bake at 350 until bubbly...(I tripled the spinach recipe, so it made a little extra)

 Oven fried chicken: Skin and rinse the chicken, coat with flour (with salt and pepper).

 Spray non-stick spray on pan, place chicken, and put a small pat of butter on each piece

 Bake at 400 for about an hour. Yum!

 While everything was cooking, I decided we needed a little fall foliage on the table, so I just ran outside and cut a few branches off the trees in the front yard and threw together a little centerpiece. I LOVE fall, and loved seeing the beautiful colors on the tables...

 Here are a few friends at the table (several others were in the kitchen). I should have done better taking pictures during the night, but I was a little preoccupied being the hostess!

 Today was sweet Ella's birthday (which we didn't know until she got there). We couldn't find the birthday candles, so we improvised with 4 votives on a plate and sang happy birthday! This is the only shot I made it in (well, at least half of me! :)

Such a fun night! Food always tastes so much better in the company of others!! Thank God for good food, friends, and fall foliage! :)

Visiting B'ham Fam

My mom and I went to B'ham yesterday for a little visit. Thomas has started walking since we saw him last, so we had to go see his new little trick! :) I just can't get enough of my little buddy!

My cousin Ashley and her husband just had a new baby, so I also got to meet my new second cousin! He is so precious! What a little gift from God...now I will have two B'ham babies to keep up with!

 Grandmommy and Thomas:

 Meeting the newest member of the Dameron side of the family:

 Sweet little one:

 Cousins:

 This little buddy keeps me laughing!

 The Ireland clan at dinner...so glad Robby and his roommate could make it too! Fun times together! We are so blessed to live close enough were we can be a part of each others lives! :)