A Rockin' Good Christmas

Christmas has been good to the Thomas family! We went to the Christmas Eve Service at church with mom and came back to Dad and Scotty's to eat dinner. It has become a Christmas tradition to eat baked oysters and they were yummy...all 50 of them! The presents were a plenty. I got a new crock pot, bath towels, a subscription to Rachel Ray (yay), an Auburn coffee mug and more.

Here are some pictures of my sister Teri and I posing around the tree. It doesn't take much for us to entertain ourselves.

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree


Springville's Next Top Model


the yummy oysters!

Then it was on to Teri's to spend the night with mom. We snuggled up in our PJs on the couch and watched The Holiday (one of my favorite movies). After failing to convince them we should open presents since we were still up at midnight we all went to bed so Santa could come. We decided to spend Christmas Day with Mom and not be rushed this year. We finally ate breakfast at 10:00am when I got the homemade cinnamon rolls finished. They were so good and it was a good thing because they were a mess to make and I even set the smoke detectors off cooking them. Oops! After breakfast it was present time. I pretty much got a new wardrobe from mom and Teri and mom pulled the ultimate surprise after convincing me I wasn't getting Guitar Here World Tour. As you can see in the pictures...I was just a "wii" bit excited! Mom layed down for a Christmas nap while Teri and I rocked out in the living room. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

this would be the reason I didn't see a Rock Band size box under the tree...tricky!


Watch out Paula Dean..

The Kid in Us All

So I truly believe that Christmas brings out the kid in us all. Obviously some more than others. I am the only one in my family who still begs to open present early. In fact when I roll into town for the holidays I inspect all the presents under the tree to see which ones are mine. I just can't help myself. This year the kid in me was looking for a particular shaped box...a Guitar Hero World Tour box to be exact. I knew it wouldn't be under dad's tree. I love him but he doesn't understand my love for such games and thinks they are a waste of money. That's okay because I have the life changing gift of TiVo under his tree. I haven't seen a box big enough under mom's tree either but am hopeful it might appear for my birthday.

With or without Guitar Hero...I absolutely love the anticipation of Christmas. Lots of good stuff under the tree, lots of good food on the table. And this year I plan to spend most of the day in my PJ's...hopefully behind a drum set :) I am even attempting to make homemade cinnamon rolls Christmas morning.

I hope this Holiday Season finds the kid in you! Have a very Merry Christmas and I pray that 2009 holds nothing but blessings for all of those who follow this blog!

New Haircut

I always get a wild hair right before the holidays to do something different to my hair. Not sure why because my family can be a little critical when they don't like the new look. Usually it's a do it yourself color or cut by my roommate but this time I went and had it done. I think it turned out pretty well...we'll see what the critics at home have to say.

City of Lights

Tucked away in the state of Louisiana is a city called Natchitoches. You may recognize this place from one of my favorite movies of all times...STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Natchitoches is known for its Christmas Festival which was featured in the movie when Arnell said, "no body move, I lost my contact!" The festival runs every weekend in December. Vendors line the Cane River selling gator on a stick, chicken fingers, meat pies, funnel cakes, etc. The river bank and all of downtown is decked out with lights. Its a quaint little place. On Friday and Saturday nights they have a fire work show. Last year was my first experience at the Christmas Festival so I insisted that Elizabeth and I take this kids this year. We had a great time walking around, eating and watching the firework display. Bailey was a little frightened at first but she got used to the loud noises and enjoyed all the pretty colors. It's been a great tradition that will carry on if for no other reason because I love gator on a stick and its one of the few times a year I can get it. The lights are great too though!

Christmas Card Photo

I will preface this post with a confession that I am a ridiculous pet owner. Ever since I got Matti I have treated her like a child which means that I feel compelled to send Christmas cards with her photo in them. I know its crazy and I am not sure why I even do it because she never wants to cooperate in the process. Here are some attempts we took at Thanksgiving. I have also included a photo of me and my Christmas tree. As part of the embracing of my home in Louisiana I have a Fleur De Lis tree...I love it!

for good or for bad...this was the winner!


this was attempt number 1....not sure what to think about being on the table!


this was our final attempt and she did not like being on this bridge!

GALA 2008

Every year at Christmas, Union Board hosts our GALA extravaganza! It is a time honored tradition for students because they get a catered meal...they get to dress up...and if they have had their eye on someone all semester they usually work up the nerve to ask them to Gala. It's lots of fun for the staff to sit back and watch. This year GALA fell right in the middle of finals so it was humorous to watch students walk around for days in grubby clothes with bloodshot eyes and then come to GALA in suits and formals. The entertainment is always a treat and this year was no exception. This year Dr. Aguillard, Dr. Guilbert, Dr. Quarles, and Tim Johnson sang in a quartet and they were fabulous. In fact I have been walking around for days singing their little number.

My first GALA I was asked to emcee the event so I had to go all out with my attire. My second year I just sat back and blended into the background. So for year three it was time to make a grand entrance again! I must say we accomplished our mission and I had the funnest date of the night. I was escorted by none other than Alex the Wildcat...our mascot. Peoples' faces were priceless and everyone wanted to know who was in the suit. Sara and I were Beauty and the Beast of GALA. Here are some pictures of the evening.



Me and Alex


Amy and Cory


Sara and Peter...they got engaged that night!

The Greatest Show on Earth

I have finally embraced life in Pineville. One thing that has helped tremendously is doing things in the area when they are in town like the Pecan Festival and the CIRCUS. The Ringling Brothers Circus came to Alexandria last week for the first time in 35 years and needless to say I was a little excited. The other great thing about living in Pineville these days is getting to experience life with Bailey and Jesse. I feel justified in doing things like going to the circus when I have a child escort. Elizabeth and I had a girl's night out and took Bailey. Of the three of us I definitely had the most fun and I am okay with that. I hope I never lose that kid at heart spirit. There were two things I was disappointed with....the three ring circus was scaled down to a one ring circus. The price you pay to be a small venue. And the second was the high priced cotton candy. I paid $10 for a bag of cotton candy...I guess they thought that was a deal since it came with this great hat you see above. Made for a great photo opp and it was a sweet treat that isn't on my diet these days (don't tell Rob).