January . . .

January always starts off big and busy for us because Zach's birthday is on January 3rd.  We barely get our blackeyed peas digested before I'm busy planning something special for our first born.  Speaking of black eyed peas . . .

We haven't had a birthday party for Zach since he was in K4 . . . I know . . . I know . . . I'm a bad mother! Here is Zach at his Backyardigans Birthday Party in his K4 classroom.  He had just turned 5 years old.

In my defense, I've been busy having a baby, building a house, and staying sane.

Before I share Zach's birthday party fun with you, I feel the need to write about our first New Year's Eve in our new home.  Last 4th of July, our sweet dear friends, Jason and Laycee Higginbotham, had our family over for dinner and fireworks, so we wanted to reciprocate with the same dinner and fireworks this New Year's Eve for them.

It was so much fun.  I got this great double crockpot for Christmas,

and I made a spinach artichoke dip to go in one side and some little smokies in barbeque sauce for the other side. I just had to use it.  I also made a pork tenderloin, baked potatoes, green bean bundles, and rolls for dinner.  Later in the night, we made ice cream sundaes for dessert.

The children all played while the Higginbothams taught me how to play a card game called Phase 10.  I am not a big game player.  I'm known for sitting on the sidelines and watching.  I get too stressed out and eventually get my feelings hurt when someone holds out on me . . . I know I'm pathetic.  But I actually had fun, although I did get stressed out a little while playing. 

We couldn't shoot fireworks outside because the weather was so bad.  We settled for sparklers on the covered back patio.

It got a little smoky, but the kids had fun.  Then Jason decided he could shoot Roman candles off the back patio and not get wet or muddy.  So he shot several of them.

A couple were loud.  Shane was asleep already, but Dave went and got him out of the bed so he could see the fireworks.  You can see Jason's arm sticking out behind Dave . . .

We had a great time and can't wait until the next time we get together with the Higginbothams.

The next day was New Year's Day, and we had plans to eat our traditional New Year's Day lunch in Carrollton, Alabama, at Michelle and John's house.  It was tough getting up and over there in time for lunch, but we had such a good time.  I got up early and made cupcakes for Zach's birthday.  Since we were all getting together, we decided to let him open up his birthday presents from Michelle and Nana and PawPaw at Michelle's house.  I thought cupcakes would be fun for him.

Michelle's granddaughter, Taylor Grace, decorated the cupcakes for me.

We had the traditional blackeyed peas for luck, greens (cole slaw) for money, and a smoked pork loin.

Plus a lot of other yummy foods.  One of the funny things about the New Year's Day traditions that we celebrate is how every year Dave tells me he has never heard of any of this until he moved to Macon.  On the way to Carrollton, Dave told me that when people in Pontotoc (where his family is) need luck or money, they just work more.  He said very smugly that they don't eat black eyed peas and greens.

Are those black eyed peas, Dave?  And Michelle had stuck to her refrigerator an article from Southern Living which told all about the New Year's Day tradition of eating blackeyed peas and greens.  So there!

After eating lunch, we surprised Zach with his birthday cupcakes.  I say surprised because even though Taylor decorated the cupcakes out in the open, Zach and Alex never noticed the cupcakes.  Wonder why?



Can you say Nintendo DS? 

Zach turned 8 years old this year. 

All the children enjoyed the cupcakes.  Michelle and John have 3 grandchildren . . . Taylor who is in Kindergarten and twin boys who are the same age as Shane.  The little ones were the most fun to watch eating the cupcakes.

This is sweet Shane.

This is Ford.

This is Peyton.

Zach got exactly what he wanted for his birthday.  What a surprise (She said with a hint of sarcasm).

Just what I needed.  Another apparatus on wheels for him to crash . . .

Gee thanks, Nana . . .  And as if one skateboard isn't enough . . .

Let's get him a skateboard with just 2 wheels . . . Great!

So we cleared off the carport and let him try the normal skateboard . . . the one like I grew up with that I could never do without busting my rear end. . . .

He handled it like a pro.  But wait, what about the ripstick . . . the 2 wheeled skateboard . . .

Nana tried to help him get the hang of it, but it is not an easy thing to ride.  When it warms up, I'm going to take him to the church parking lot and let him practice with it.  There wasn't enough room on Michelle's carport.  The funny thing was when Michelle decided to show him how to ride the ripstick.  She gets on while holding my hands with me promising not to let her go . . . . well she put her right foot on it . . . she picked her left foot up to push off and . . . down she went . . . and I didn't let go . . . and down I went on top of her!  We didn't get hurt so it's funny!  After that, we put that thing away.

This was the 1st of Zach's birthday celebrations.  I'll continue to the party at school in one of my next posts.

Have a great Monday!

Tina and the Ferrel boyz.