building blocks

One of the neatest things about Emma that I have observed as of late is that her imagination has really come alive.  She pretends constantly, make up songs to sing on the fly and she loves to build things.

Her latest creation she has worked on to build with her blocks is what she calls "Barbie's Diamond Castle".  She saw it on a commercial recently and wanted it.  Quickly realizing that she wasn't going to get it (especially before Christmas) she decided that she was going to make it herself.  The funny thing is that I think she enjoys making it more than having the actual toy.

hanging out by the tree

They look like that are up to something!

Around the House

We are really getting into the Christmas spirit around the Stockdale house! Shopping is almost done, Christmas parties are in full swing, and we finally have all the decorating done around the house. This is just a little taste of what things look like. Merry Christmas!

the christmas parade

Saturday morning we got up and headed to the Tupelo Christmas parade. The girls were all decked out in their winter paraphernalia. The girls love a good parade. I didn't even mind the 30 degree temperature after seeing how still the girls sat in their stroller during the parade.

The start of the parade... we got to be right up close in the front row as it came by.

All bundled up

The Beverly Hillbillies... only in a small town

Uhmm yeah... this is supposed to be Jesus and the Fishers of Men float (very interesting)

Emma was so excited.  She had to point out everything that came by.

Ava liked the parade, however, she was just a little bewildered by it.

See- Jason does exist in our family!

This baby monkey was too cute!  We were able to get up close and personal with it.  It lives at the Buffalo Park, which is Tupelo's answer to a zoo:)

The grand finale... Santa Claus!

I love living in a small town:)

closet fan

Although I have yet to get to a couple of other posts, I had to go ahead and blog about tonight.

Tonight Jason and I had date night to the Casting Crowns Christmas Extravaganza. A sweet lady that serves on the worship team at church works for the local Christian radio station and she got us free tickets and backstage passes. The lineup was Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant, Avalon, Michael English and Denver and the Mile High Orchestra.

I will have to admit I was always a closet fan of Natalie Grant and Avalon. We even had an Avalon song sang at our wedding. I might also become a Casting Crowns fan considering how incredibly nice there were backstage!



I had to meet Natalie Grant and get my picture taken with her. You see, Emma loves Natalie Grant's music. However, she thinks that I am the one that sings her songs. I tried to tell her repeatedly that it was not me singing, but she kept insisting it was. And hey, who am I to spoil her dreams? I just pretend along with her now and it gives me a little bit of an ego boost:)

So now I can show Emma that mommy got to meet the woman that sings "What are you waiting for?"


On a side note, a guy that Jason used to play drums for (he played drums for 16 years before he started leading worship, my husband is so multi-talented) is now in the group Avalon. Small world.

Christmas Cookie Time!

Tonight, I decided to get out the icing and sprinkles and let the girls have some fun. The girls love to eat cookies, and they LOVE to make messes. Emma did pretty good at staying clean, Ava on the other-hand, well, see for yourself. And as always, Daddy had his camera close by to "capture the moment"




Emma, "painting" her cookie


Ava, of course, went straight for the icing!


Trying to eat the whole thing in one bite?





Some of the creations...

random cuteness

I love this one of Ava. Ava has some kind of strange sense of exactly when I am doing my makeup. As soon as I start to apply it, I can hear the pitter patter of little feet. I have 2 makeup brushes and she holds out her hand ready for one so she can get busy. No telling how long the child could sit there brushing her face!


The next 3 pics were taken the other morning as we were getting ready to leave for Emma's dance class. Dance class is the part of the week that Emma lives for.



Not to be out done, Ava had enough of Emma getting her picture taken. She had to get in on the action!


There really is no point to the picture except that it reminds me that Emma is no longer a baby or a toddler. She has turned into such a beautiful little girl.


This is the girls all decked out in their purchases from Old Navy. They were determined to wear their new house shoes, hat and gloves home from Old Navy. They were quite the site to see leaving the store!