Luke's Surgery...& A funny

On Tuesday, Jan. 19th, Luke had to have a little surgery. He was such a trooper and never shed a single tear...well, at least while we were at Children's Outpatient Surgery Center. While waiting to go back, he rode up and down the halls on all the different cars and watched a little TV. We were so thankful that Grammy was able to go with us since Daddy had a meeting he could not miss. (Mom forgot to check with him when she scheduled the surgery.)We also owe Poppa a big thank you. He took Eli to school and then he took Jill to breakfast at McDonalds and then to school. It was a treat for them to get that time with Poppa! The recovery has had its highs and lows. The day after the surgery, Luke felt great - running around the house being his usual wild self. Day THREE however was a completely different story! Luke woke us at about 5 am screaming and crying that he was hurting. We did not miss a dose of pain medication that day and he laid in Mommy and Daddy's bed all day watching TV. Day four was better and so far today has been good. He is napping now with only a dose of Motrin. Hopefully tonight will be a better night than last night and tomorrow a better day than today. He is definetly on the mend and we are all ready for him to be completely back to normal!

Riding in the car while waiting to go back to surgery.

Mommy's Little Man

Thank you, Grammy!

The sign on my door.

Just waiting...


Now, for a FUNNY. Thursday was PJ day at Jill's school. She wore her new fleece gown with some leggings. It just so happened to get up to about 65 on Thursday so by the time Jill got home she was HOT. She immediatly changed into cooler clothing and we got her situated with a snack and a short show. I went downstairs to check email and within a couple of minutes I hear her rummaging through my cabinets upstairs. I quickly finish my email and head up to find a very funny sight. Jill was sitting in her pottery barn chair in front of the TV soaking her feet...in a boiler of water. Apparently her feet were hot and the only way she could think of to cool them off was to soak them in cold water and the only thing she could think to soak them in, was a boiler (pot). I wish that I had thought to make a picture of her before I gave her a better basin to soak in. The boiler she had selected was one of the smallest pots we have. She couldn't even put her feet completely in it. She is creative!!!

National Champions - Roll, Tide, Roll!!!

We are so excited here in the Alexander house about Alabama's 13th National Championship! We watched the game from beginning to end, of course, and with about 40 seconds left in the game Jamie and Eli headed out to Academy to purchase our National Championship attire! The kiddos couldn't wait to put on their shirts this morning and Mom will no doubt have her's on soon too!

Don't know if you can tell but in the outside picture it is actually snowing - two days in a row with flurries here in Chelsea!

Our Super Star Student of the Month

Jill was selected as Super Star Student of the Month in her class. She was so excited and so were we! The Super Star Student has to make a poster about themselves to share with the class. Below you will find Jill's poster that she helped Mom make, complete with all her favorite things, Disney trip, Alabama football and cheerleading, grandparents, cousins, brothers, snow, swimming, the colors pink and purple, and lots of flowers!!!!

GNO - Fondu at The Melting Pot

Jill and I enjoyed a GNO at The Melting Pot with some of our sweet friends (Avery & Mrs. Lori)on New Year's eve's eve (Dec 30). We had such a good time and really enjoyed the fondu! Jill is a girl after Mom's own heart - she loves chocolate!


















This is definitely one of the perks to having a little girl. I love that Jill is now old enough that she and I can do stuff like this together! Now if I can just teach her to love shopping as much as I do - she likes it now but if I have my way, she will LOVE it before long!

Our Year in Review

What an amazing year 2009 has been in the Alexander home. Jamie and I are so blessed and thankful to our Lord and Savior from whom all blessings flow! As we looked back at our Christmas pictures from last year, we realized just how much our three children have grown and changed.





Christmas 2008














Christmas 2009












They bring such joy and laughter to our home and we must admit, sometimes a bit of temper and stong-will. But even for the latter, we are thankful - it just means they are normal children!

Eli turned 10 this year - the double digits. He is in the fifth grade and making all A's - even with very little help from the parents! He is our soccer champ and his U10 Chelsea Sting soccer team won the Division III Governor's Cup State Championship in November!























True to family tradition, he bleeds crimson & white! He can quote you the entire Bama starting line-up, offense, defense and special teams accompained by each players height and weight. I am sure it will not be long before he trades in his soccer cleats and shin gaurds for a football helment and pads. (Mom of course thinks he should be the kicker. At least then she will know that if her little man gets hit the other team will be penalized for it!)

Another major accomplishment for Eli came in November when he was awarded his black belt in Tae Kwon Do. It only took us four years to get there but Eli's hard work and determination finally paid off - he made it! We are so proud and feel safer with him around!




















What a blessing you are to our family! We are so proud of you!

Jill, our little princess, turned four in April this year and she is really growing up! She is in her third year of pre-school and loves going each day to see her friends! She is into all things "girl" - Barbies, baby dolls, nail polish and lip gloss, and of course Hannah Montana!!!

Halloween 2009







She also loves changing clothes at least six times a day just to make sure Mom doesn't run out of laundry to do! She started taking gymnastics earlier this year and looks forward to Friday of each week for her class! She especially likes the bars because they get to use the "chalk." Somehow she manages to get it all over her - she says this makes her look like a real gymnast!

Jill also played one season of soccer and enjoyed that as well, who knows, we may have another soccer player in the family!

But as for now, she informed me that she wants to try dance, but ultimately, she wants to be a Crimsonette. She loves to play with Mom's old baton and of course she must do that while wearing a two-piece swimsuit because that is as close as she can get to a Crimsonette uniform. One thing is for certain, with Jill, if she wants something, she WILL get it! This little girl has enough drive and determination in her little pinky to move mountains! What a blessing she is to our family! We are so proud of you!

Our "baby" Luke turned two in August and he is truly the laughter in our home. It amazes me how much personality such a little fellow can have! He has a smile that can light up any room!













Luke is the last little one at home with Mom now but come August 2010, watch out Little Lambs Mom's Day Out! He begs to go everyday with Jill but Mom just isn't ready for that step yet! We have made other big boy strides though. As I mentioned earlier, he turned 2 in August and by November he was fully potty trained. No more diapers in the Alexander home. I am sure Huggies feels the loss! Luke also moved out of the crib and into a "big boy" bed.

All three Alexander babies used that crib so it was a little sad taking it down for the last time but Mom has moved past that now and is happy to know that her little ones are growing into such precious independent children.














As for Mom and Dad, we are doing great as well. Mom has finally been able to pick up running again and Dad has been back on the bike too! Getting back into shape really is a great stress-reliever!

Jamie's work can be stressful at times but he really enjoys his job. God has blessed him in Southern Company and we are so proud of him. He works very hard to provide for our family and give Mom the opportunity to be just that...Mom, the best, most rewarding job on the planet!!! I am blessed by my amazing husband and wonderful children everyday!




















Bring on 2010 - the Alexanders are ready!

An Alexander Christmas

We had an amazing Christmas here in the Alexander home! We love this time of year and this year all three of the kiddos got into the Christmas spirit! Luke only wanted one thing...A John Deer Tractor! Jill said she only wanted one thing as well..."39 Barbies and a DS and an I-Pod and some Twinkle Toes and"...you get the picture. Eli wanted an IPod touch and a bow and arrow but little did he know Santa had a much bigger, more exciting surprise in store - an Alabama Football helment autographed by the entire team including the Coach! Here are a few pics of Christmas morning...

All the gifts beneath the tree - BEFRORE the little ones had a chance to "dig in!" (Boy do I need drapes on those windows. Jamie may wish he hadn't taken this photo!)
Santa must have been full by the time he got to our house because he only nibbled at the cookies we left - or maybe he is counting calories :-)

Luke on his John Deer!

Jill's docking station for her new pink I-Pod!

The Helment!!!!

Santa was good to all of us this year! Mom got a beautiful ring that she cannot wait to show-off from her "Santa" - he is the BEST! Dad got a new chimenea for roasting marshmallows and I guess you could count the new truck he got a week before Christmas - he gave that one to himself!

Christmas at Grammy & Poppa's

This past weekend we loaded up the Suburban and headed to Tallassee for a little Christmas celebration with Grammy & Poppa, the Giles family and the Bryant family. Yes, if you are counting that means all 7 grandchildren under one roof and that means LOUD! It also means lots of laughter and fun sprinkled with a few hugs and kisses! While we were in Tallasse we were able to enjoy Dalton and Dylan's birthday party at Pump It Up! I cannot believe they are now 6 and 3. It seems like yesterday they were itty bitty little babies. How time flies! (Pictures of the party will posted a little later - haven't got that camera in hand.) For now, here are a few pictures from our Christmas celebration.

Mom and Dad managed to sneak in a picture - alone!

Grammy and Poppa!
The Girls

We tried a family picture - Jill & Luke were not too thrilled with the idea!

Opening presents - An Alabama football helment with jersey, shoulder pads, and football pants. "Hang on, Nick, I comin'!"

Dylan and his new Bible Man sword.

Eli's set of books - 39 Clues.

Jill showing off her Hannah Montana video camera.

Dalton and one of his many gifts.

Anna Beth and Katie waiting for the "GO!" so they could start!

A fun time was had by all and we all made it back to our own homes safely. We love and cherish the time we have to spend together with our family! Donna, Ashley and I look back with such fond memories on the time spent with our Aunts, Uncles and cousins and we want our little ones to grow up with wonderful memories of their own. Merry Christmas to all - We love you!