Champs again!!! RTR!!!!!!!

I went to the Big Oak Ranch in Southside (near Gadsden) to watch the BCS National Championship game.  I got there around 4 and John showed me his office and the different homes at the Ranch. Then it was time to get ready for the game!

While John, Ethan and some of the other boys got the TV screen ready, I made hamburger patties.  The boys dropped a huge screen on the side of a box truck and used a projector to show game, complete with speakers for 'feal like the you are at the game' moment.

I met about 25 wonderful young men and I have been bragging them on ever since.  They were the most respectful and polite young men.  After blessing the food, they all insisted that I prepare my plate first, followed by John.  After the game, they jumped right in to help clean up the football party.

Alabama not only beat LSU -- they ROLLED over them  21-0!!!!!!  A complete shut out!  Alabama's powerful defense only allowed LSU across the 50-yard line one time during the entire game.  I love our boys and love ALABAMA FOOTBALL!

After clean up, John and I headed to get us a t-shirt to celebrate our win! We headed to Martin's first where we were told, by a drunk man, that they were sold out.  So, off to Sports Mania.  I must mention that mom and dad headed to Academy Sports after the game was over to get shirts.  I felt so bad for them b/c they were in the line the entire time I was looking for shirts in Gadsden and while I drove home.  As I passed Deerfoot, they called to tell me they just walked out of Academy.  So, I met them in Trussville and gave them their shirts I bought in Gadsden and they gave me my shirt from Academy.

I had a wonderful night meeting some very nice young men and cheering on our Tide with John.

ROLL TIDE!!!!  14 National Championships!

Our game view



The Spread

my cake

our shirts

New Year's Day and Linda's 50th B'day

As tradition stands, we celebrate birthdays in my family.  Nana, Uncle Larry, mom, dad, me, Linda and Richard all gathered to celebrate new years day and Linda's 50th birthday, all in one.  Nana prepared a great meal: roast, slaw, turnip greens, potatoes, carrots and Linda's birthday cake!  YUM!!!!!  After a great meal, it was present time!  Linda had received a Pandora bracelet as an early present-before Rochelle and Sushi left for London.  Nana gave her a neck pillow and a fleu di leis Pandora charm; mom/dad gave her a present Pandora charm; I gave her "The Help" DVD; Richard gave her new pots and pans.  Then it was time to break out Mexican train!!!  I think I remember 2 games being finished because there were no more tiles!

Happy 50th Birthday Linda!

Another great day spent with my family! 

New Years Eve 2011

I spent New Year's Eve with Blake, Angela, Sawyer and Sam. 

We munched on snacks and got to watch "The Help" until the Auburn football game came on.  During the game, we ate wonderful southwest soup made by Angela complete with mexican cornbread.  We finished our meal with brownies made by yours truly. We watched a little more of "The Help" during halftime.  After Auburn's win (yes, I actually cheered for them runnig for a touchdown), we finished "The Help".  A cup of hot chocolate and a glass of Sparkling Red Grape juice - we all cheered HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

I headed home after a great night with awesome friends!

HAPPY 2012!!!

Christmas Day 2011

It is tradition that Uncle Larry joins me, mom and dad for Christmas morning breakfast.  We have done this since Jade and I were very young.  The last few years we have been blessed to add Nana and Mike.  Recently, we even added Linda, Richard and Rochelle. 

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast complete with breakfast casserole, biscuits, bacon and gravy.  Nana and Mike went to Donna's after eating to visit with Brandon, Candace, Kaylee, Brielyn, Blake, Linsey, Paisley and Breagan.  Linda and Richard went back to McCalla to see want Santa had left for Cameron.  Rochelle and Sushi were in Huntsville with his family.

Mom, dad and I opened gifts.  We all received Kindle Fires and they shocked me once again.  I received a GORGEOUS master bath cabinet that was designed by Mr. Wentzell and everyone at the shop helped build it.  I also received 3 Pandora charms, Alien perfume (complete with my name engraved), Wii games, CDs and a 10x makeup mirror.  I gave mom and dad several joint gifts along with their traditional custom calendars and some individual gifts.

We headed to McCalla shortly after opening presents to meet up with Casey, Lindsay, Cameron, Nana, Mike, Uncle Larry, Linda, Richard, Sushi and Rochelle. We all received several nice presents and just enjoyed being with each other.  I surprised mom and Nana with hummingbird paintings (nope, I didn't paint them).  We all surprised dad with a "Prince Charming" t-shirt from Cameron. =)

On the way home, we stopped off at Wentzell Cabinets so that I could see my cabinet in person. 

I AM SO BLESSED.

Christmas morning

Cameron

Mom getting her hummingbird picture from me

Nana getting her hummingbird picture from me

Dad and his Prince Charming shirt

Me playing with Cameron's castle =)

New Master bath cabinet, granite top and framed mirror from mom and dad

Christmas 2011 with Presley Stephens

What a wonderful time of the year!!!

I got to see my niece Presley on December 18 to give her Christmas presents from mom/dad and me.  Mom/dad gave her Baby Genius DVDs - she loved them :)  I gave her footed PJs and a princess blanket.  A traditional gift for all my nieces and nephews is a Hallmark ornament for their tree.  I started Presley out with the Madame Alexander doll ornaments.  Below are some fun pictures of Miss Presley.

Christmas services

Mom, dad, Nana and I met Kathy Fish, the night before Christmas Eve, at Church of the Highlands for their "A Highlands Christmas".  It is a beautiful service complete with singing "Silent Night" by candlelight.  BREATH-TAKING!

I wanted to help get food ready this year for Christmas day, so I prepared 2 breakfast casseroles and a ham on Christmas Eve.  After packing mine and Roscoe's stuff for mom and dad's, I got ready for church service at GFBC.  I met mom, dad, Nana, Linda and Richard at church.  We enjoyed a beautiful service complete with fantastic music from my orchestra friends. =)

After church we headed to Nana's for dinner.  Dad and I took Roscoe to mom and dad's first.  We had salad, lasagna and bread for dinner. It was delicious.  Then it was time for a serious game of Mexican Train.  Johnnie and Donna joined us a little later for their dinner.

After a few rounds on Mexican Train it was time to head to mom and dad's to get ready for Santa, HA!
We were blessed to have Linda and Richard spend the night with us. 

I made stocking for mom and dad - a tradition I started several years ago.  Mom and dad (Santa) made stockings for me, Nana and Uncle Larry.

I am so blessed to have a wonderful family and I thank God each day for them!

Family Christmas 2011

Tradition is very important to me and mom/dad.  Mamma Mae and Daddy O started a tradition years ago that we all got together for Christmas.  This includes the Birmingham, Hayden and Huntsville families.

Mom and dad have carried on this tradition since Mamma Mae and Daddy O went to heaven.  This Sunday was the annual Family Christmas!  As usual, we had awesome food and desserts.  We have some excellent chefs in our family.

Family Christmas is even complete with Santa!  Enjoy some pictures from the day!

1, 2, 3, 4 (Cameron yelling)

Nana and Mom

love this picture!

Ro, Lindsay and Santa

Santa

This way Aunt Connie...

Cameron was so excited!

Santa and an Elf