"Mommy, is that the REAL Santa Claus?"

Last night, Mike, Arden, Channing, my mother in law and father in law and I went to Woodbury to eat dinner with mom and Bob. After a great meal and an "almost" visit to the ER with Channing (that will be another post), we headed home. As we crossed the county line, Mike said, "Why don't we go to the Pitmon's house to see the lights?", and, of course, Arden giggled with delight and agreed!! It was, as usual, GORGEOUS!!! If you haven't been, you should make it a family outing!

After leaving there, we decided to see if a house in town (that we had visited last year) was decorated, and it was! I don't know whose house it is, but it is adorable and the owner dresses up as Santa and hands out candy canes! When we drove by, I didn't see him anywhere, but apparently, he was watching for visitors and came out waving! We stopped the truck, got out, got pictures and Arden even told him what she would like for Christmas! (Channing was asleep by this time, so she skipped the whole Santa experience!) It was truly magical! When we got back in the truck, Arden looked at me and said, "Mommy, is that the real Santa Claus?" And I said, "Yes, it is!! Then she said, "How do you know?" To which I replied, "Santa has many, many houses all over the world, and this is his McMinnville house." She said, "Well, it sure is pretty!!" She was in awe and amazement with the whole thing, and it was precious!

Here is a picture of Arden with the "real" Santa! Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!

Info on the houses: The Pitmon's live in Collinwood and the other house is off of Red Road. Turn right at the light(coming from town) and then first road on your right. I am so not good with directions. I know landmarks, so it is near Dr. Reuter's office, if that is helpful! :)

Trooper Cummins...FINALLY!!!

Well, after 19 weeks of intense training and being away from home, Cadet Cummins is now...Trooper Cummins! This week has been a whirlwind! Tuesday morning, I left to go to Gatlinburg for the Title Conference and was stressed beyond belief about leaving the girls. But that all worked out thanks to Kirby, Carrie and Auntie because they all took great care of my babies. On Thursday morning we headed home in a monsoon! I thought it was the absolute worst possible weather to drive in but boy was I wrong! I got home around 2:00, unpacked, packed again and left for Nashville around 4:00. When I got to Woodbury, it was snowing, but not very badly. By Murfreesboro, it was coming a blizzard! I drove 30 miles an hour in the blinding snow and after 2 1/2 hours on the road, made it to the academy to pick Mike up for dinner. I was a nervous wreck and exhausted!!!

Arden, Channing and I stayed in a hotel last night and got up around 6:00 to get ready for the graduation. By 7:45, we left and headed on to the academy for open house and then over to Two Rivers Baptist Church. What a proud wife I was! It was so awesome to see all of those guys and ONE GIRL march in! Below is the video of them coming in together!

Apparently, I have a thing for a man in uniform, because as most of you know, when Mike and I met, he was in the Army. Some things never change, huh????

Tagged by Paula!

I will answer all the questions, then tag a few people to do the same. All you have to do is copy the questions and answer them for yourself, then tag some more people. Why not, it's Christmas time---spread a little cheer:) and some laughs at the same time:)


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, but I LOVE real trees and that is all we ever had when I was a child.

3. When do you put up your tree? Usually the weekend before Thanksgiving, but it just depends!

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually after New Year's Day, but sometimes later.

5. Do you like eggnog? Love it!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Fisher Price Cash Register

7. Hardest person to buy for? My Mom--she does have everything!

8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you received as a child? Clothes--how times have changed. Now I love getting clothes!

12. Favorite Christmas movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start your Christmas shopping? Usually the day after Thanksgiving

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas gift? Yes

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's peanut butter balls...I mean truffles!

Funny story...last year at Christmas, all of the girls were laughing about all of the foods that we had made that had the name "balls" in them and how tacky it was... Sausage Balls, Oreo Balls, Peanut Butter Balls, etc. We decided we did not like the way that it sounded, so we changed everything to "truffles". So now we eat Peanut Butter Truffles, Sausage Truffles, and Oreo Truffles. Hehehe!!!

16. Colored lights or clear on tree? Both, but not together!

17. Favorite Christmas song? My Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Christmas CD...yes I am a dork!
My mom bought that record when I was about 5 years old and I LOVED IT! I listened to it all the time. Then, when I was in 5th grade, I got a stereo with a record player. I, of course, played that record constantly until my stereo tore up and we had to send it back. Well, I sort of forgot to take the record out and it got sent back too! I was devastated until a couple of years ago when we got iTunes and I was able to download the entire CD again! YEAH!!!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes

20. Angel or star on top of tree? Bow and a Santa

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas? Both

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Rushing!!

23. Favorite ornament? Any of the ones that Arden has made me.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Health, happiness, and Mike to FINALLY be done with the academy!!!

25. Favorite holiday treat(cake,cookie,dessert)? My mom's goodies!

Ok, I now tag:

I think everyone has been tagged, so not sure who to tag. If you haven't been, you're it!!!