First Christmas...

This is the first of FIVE Christmas Celebrations we enjoyed this year.  It is so wonderful to have so much family in town.  It makes for a very Merry Christmas. 

This is our cousin Rachel with the adoring Sophie.  Sophie thinks Rachel hung the moon! 

Grandmama Helen

Can't tell here... looks like Trey passed out on Selah=)  Love those sweet innocent eyes.  Don't let her fool you though.  She's anything but innocent!  She's a wild woman.

Sophie enjoyed this Christmas more than any other I think.  Four is a very fun age!  She's wearing a dress my mom made for me when I was little.

The beginning of what would turn into about a thousand presents over the next week.

Sophie got a little fur cape, too cute!

Sophie and "Big Pop"

Selah with Nana.

This was too cute.  It's a book that turns into a car.  Selah hopped in the car quickly enough and she didn't want to get out!

One down, four to go...

Tacky Christmas

Trey and I had our First Annual Warren Tacky Christmas Party last night!  I called it the "first annual" in case we decide to make it a tradition every year.  I have to say, it was very fun and easy to roll with the tacky theme. 
To plan your own Tacky Christmas Party, you need to first watch Christmas Vacation a few times. 
Then you need to raid parents/grandparents closets and possibly make a trip to the thrift store to get you and outfit that's "real nice."  We spent about $10 at the thrift store and my sweater is a donation from my mil as well as my snowman earrings. 
Then you need to think of ideas to make your gathering extra tacky. 
Lastly, you need to take lots of pictures!  Hope you enjoy!

We got out all our extra colored lights and hung them loosely around the house.

I found this awesome "fireplace scene" on a dvd at target for $1.  We had the "fire" roaring the whole party=).

Of course, Frosty had to be front and center on the mantle.  Everybody needs a styrofoam snowman, right?

No Tacky Christmas Party can occur without some delicious Easy Cheez!

An assortment of mismatched glasses along with some fine "paperware" will help your guests feel classy.

Red dickie, white vneck sweater and seafoam green pants that are too short will help your hubby get in the spirit=).

Pigs in a blanket, always delicious.

My wreath wraped in colored lights and hung so beautifully.  Be sure not to hide any cords or plugs or tags.

Placemats with the tags hanging out, a centerpiece to die for, crockpot with rotel, finger sandwiches, more colored lights... need i say more?

Gotta serve the chips in the bag too!

Trey displayed the crackers for the easy cheese so artfully and elegantly.

Every tacky Christmas party needs a grown man in a santa suit.  Baby Wyatt also wore his Santa suit!

Colored lights add such ambience to your room.

A man in a reindeer shirt or a turtleneck will always fit in.

I love that all our friends were good sports and brought out their finest attire as well!

My centerpiece for the food table. 

I hope everybody is having a very Merry Christmas!  Hopefully we'll have a bigger house next year and we can invite lots more people to our Tacky party, so if you get a really "awesome" santa sweater this year, don't donate it to goodwill!  Hang onto it by all means!

Holiday Barter

If anyone is interested in doing a cyber barter where you barter online through email or an in person barter before Christmas, let me know.  I am trying to get one together so we can all get some last minute Christmas gifts for all those special little ones and big ones too!  Here's a sample of my HAVES to barter and WANTS list below.  This is a really neat way to see God meet needs in a powerful way!
Email me at abbytwarren@yahoo.com to get the full list and to be added to the official email list for the barter!  Blessings!


Abby's HAVES:


POT RACK - this is a shelf like pot rack that is made of wood and metal with metal hooks. would need to be mounted on a wall, not ceiling.

LIGHT FIXTURES (i think one small and one large dome light - white)

KNITTING SUPPLIES (several colors of yarn and knitting needles)

METAL SPICE RACK (wall mountable)

MICROWAVE (large white microwave barely used

FLAT SCREEN COMPUTER MONITOR (not sure what size but i'd say it's small/medium)

QUEEN SIZE METAL BED FRAME

SINGLE JOGGING STROLLER (i bartered for it last year and have not used it because i bought a double jogger)

HOTPINK GIRAFFE PRINT DIAPER BAG WITH ACCESSORIES (great condition)

DALE CARNEGIE BOOK ON CD- HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE

DRIVEN BY ETERNITY SERIES - TEACHING SET (never used, can be used to lead small group)

PREGNANCY LUMBAR SUPPORT PILLOW (from physical therapist)

MY FIRST STORY READER WITH 3 BOOKS (slightly used condition)

MY FIRST TEA PARTY - SOFT TEA SET FOR SMALL CHILDREN

SANDISK 1.0 GB MEMORY CARD (MEMORY STICK PRO DUO) brand new in package

3-6 MONTH HALLOWEEN PEA IN THE POD OUTFIT

ASSORTED MENS/WOMENS SCRUBS

TRICYCLE (RED AND BLUE FROM TARGET)

2 BEDSIDE TABLE LAMPS FROM TARGET, IRON WITH WHITE/CREAM SHADES(I WOULD TRADE THESE FOR MOUNTABLE WALL SCONCES)

3 BR 2 1/2 BATH TOWNHOME IN HOOVER AREA (WOULD TRADE FOR SLIGHTLY LARGER HOUSE WITH YARD IN BIRMINGHAM AREA) - HEY, YOU NEVER KNOW!!

2 PR BLACK RIDING BOOTS (ACTUAL RIDING BOOTS) ONE PAIR DRESS BOOTS AND ONE PAIR FIELD BOOTS - WOULD BE HARD TO PART WITH, BUT FOR THE RIGHT THING I MIGHT COULD LET THEM GO

POTTERY BARN COFFEE TABLE - I LIKE IT BUT I'D TRADE FOR THE RIGHT ITEM=)

SEVERAL! $5 OFF BRUNOS COUPONS THAT EXPIRE DEC31, 2009


ABBY'S WANTS LIST-

4T OR 5T CHRISTMAS DRESS - PREFERABLY RED
matching 18 mo Christmas dress too if possible

VEGGIE TALES OR CHRISTIAN DVDS

LITTLE GIRLS RIDING HELMET, RIDING PANTS AND BOOTS

MONOGRAMMING FOR CHILDRENS CLOTHES

3 OR 4 YARDS OF BLACKOUT FABRIC FOR CURTAINS

LARGE PHOTO ALBUMS

4T OR 5T PINK LONG SLEEVED LEOTARD AND PINK TIGHTS - PREFERABLY NEW

MRS GOODBEE ACCESSORIES - ALREADY HAVE THE DOLL HOUSE

toys for 15 month old girl and 4 year old girl

SMALL TODDLER PLAYSET INDOOR/OUTDOOR

SMALL TODDLER SLIDE THAT COULD BE USED INDOORS

PICTURE FRAMES FOR WALL- 10 X 20 OR 8 X 10 MAINLY

KOALA LOU BOOK GOOD CONDITION

SIZE 4 OR 5 DIAPERS

TODDLER TOYS IN GOOD CONDITION

TRICYCLE OR RIDING TOY THAT CAN BE PUSHED BY PARENT

ANY OUTDOOR PLAY TOYS

JAR SPAGHETTI SAUCE

CAMCORDER - DIGITAL

ROSE PETAL COTTAGE OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

LEAPFROG LEAPSTER GAMES FOR GIRLS

Merry Christmas!

Is everybody else getting really excited about Christmas!!!  I am trying to soak it all in because every year it's over too fast. 

Top 10 things I am excited about this Christmas in no particular order.

1.  Brunch with my family Christmas day.  Can anybody say "Christmas Casserole!"  As Dora says, "Delicioso!"
2.  Watching Elf, Christmas Vacation and Christmas Story over and over again.
3.  Church of the Highlands Christmas Eve Service.
4.  Helping Sophie learn Luke 2:10-14 and hearing her recite it at her Christmas Program.
5.  Taking Sophie to the Nutcracker Ballet for the first time.
6.  Trey has vacation the week of Christmas!  Woo hoo!
7.  Christmas Eve at Mimi and PopPop's.  I am thinking we need a revival of Captain Nemo...  Lindsay and Elaine know what I mean ;)
8.  Talking with Sophie about the real meaning of Christmas and knowing she really does understand (on a 4 year old level).  Today I asked her what Christmas was really about and she enthusiastically replied, "Sss... Jesus' Birthday!"  Good save baby=)
9.  Turkey dinner with the Warrens'  Yummy!  You can never get enough turkey and dressing!
10.  Seeing my girls' faces on Christmas morning when they see their presents!