Lots of preparation for Santa over at the Cormier house!  It's the best Christmas yet with a little one.  We hope you have a Merry Christmas - we send all our love!

I had to post this!  LJ is now big enough to wear his Daddy's boots!  I took him down behind the house to throw rocks in the creek and enjoy them.  Here is a collage of the photos I took while we played.  The word are from a poem, (but I changed them a bit!) 

I love to wear your boots Daddy,
As you can clearly see.
Pretending I'm as big as you,
As someday I will be.

Early Christmas Gift :)

I know I'm a bit delayed on this post, but we got an early Christmas present this year!  For the first time, probably ever, we know what team Lance will be with before Christmas!  Woohoo!  Congratulations, Lance!  Thank you, Lord for this blessing...for allowing us to enjoy our last month at home baseball stress-free!  

Santa Claus is coming to town!

I had to share!  LJ had his "Christmas Program" for his Mother's Morning out.  I wasn't sure how he would do - If he would be ok going on stage, or would cry for Lance and I.  I can't say how PROUD we are!  He got up there, sang and behaved SO well. The Blogger video won't let you go to full-screen, so it's a small screen.  My favorite part is when he is singing the "he sees you when you're sleeping..." part.   I have to say - it looks a lot like my home movies from when I was his age :)  If this doesn't say "Merry Christmas", what does?  

This family loves the tide :) ...

“It doesn’t matter what you are ranked until the end."

 ~Nick Saban

Lance and I are headed to Atlanta today to see if we can get one step closer!

So fun!

Walk of Fame

I had to add this one to the blog - LJ loves Jarret, so we couldn't resist while we were at the "Walk of Fame" - There is a new post below!

Great weekend!

I wanted to share our pictures from last Sunday.  Lance played in the "Turkey Bowl", (AKA cut-throat church flag football), and they had a blast!  They played on the quad, so we joined him. I apologize that none of the pictures are of him.  I can't resist the little boy - I swear, the camera just loves him :)  Anyway, the weather was great, so LJ, Me-Maw and I had to get out there and enjoy it!  We walked the quad, headed to the football field to see the big Bear Bryant statue, then headed back to Lance so we could make our way to Calera for the Polar Express train ride.  It was a great trip and totally worth the drive!  We even got some free glow sticks out of the deal - not sure how, but we'll take it :)  I hope your weekend was great, too :)  Sending some Christmas magic your way - after all, it's December!

LJ and Me-Maw in front of "Uncle B's House"...known to most of the state as Denny Chimes.  He wasn't there - I guess he must have been at the store or something? :)

A GIANT statue of the Bear - in Bama fans' hearts, he really was this big...or bigger :)

My boys waiting to get on the train

...we weren't the only ones!

This made the whole thing worth it - the fact that LJ is sitting this close to Santa, not screaming and telling him what he wants for Christmas is a big leap.  Usually, he's VERY afraid.  He even told him at first, "I have enough toys", so he'd go away :)

I was looking at those blue eyes this morning and had to send you a visual.  Hope your day is wonderful!

Sweet little girls!

I know there were other people at Thanksgiving, but these kids take the cake!  LJ, Kacy & Tomy had the time of their lives at Maw-Maw's house.  We got to spend almost two ENTIRE days with them, and it was wonderful!!!!!  Thank you, Maw-Maw for your hospitality!

They LOVE their Uncle Lance!  They hadn't seen him since last December, so they were so excited!

Kacy and "Tata" taught LJ how to play hop scotch!

Look at Tomy go!

It was cold, but it's not so bad when you have someone to cuddle with!

We even made time for some baseball instruction  :) I told Kacy, "nice hit", and she said, "It's easy when your Uncle is a baseball player"  :)  No blood there, but we'll take it!

Alabama Football Intro

Below is the link to the video they play before the team comes out - I love the elephants!  Thought you'd enjoy it, too!  Enjoy the pics in the post below, too!

INTRO VIDEO

Great weekend!

Well, this weekend was awesome!  We had some beautiful weather to play on the playground by our house, and Sport came for a visit.  UTC got it handed to them at Bryant Denny, and it didn't rain on us!  I hope your weekend was great, too!

No, we don't play for the Oriole's again, LJ just loves them too much!

He had a great time at the playground!

Having the time of his, (their) lives!  ;)

Feeling like a pro on this one ;)

Sweet family moment after a great half!

Irish Cream Bundt Cake

I know, I know!  I am going to be 300 lbs. if I keep baking like this :)  Fortunately, Lance and I earned our cake with a LONG run yesterday, so I thought this was an awesome reward.  We substituted coffee for the water in the glaze, (maybe will do the same for the cake next time).  Also, I left off the nuts because our guests aren't crazy about them.  Lastly, instead of "basting" the glaze on, I removed the cake from the pan, put 2/3 of the glaze in the bottom, put the cake back in and put the rest of the glaze on the bottom of the cake.  After letting it sit for 20  minutes like that it was COMPLETELY covered, yum!  If you poke holes throughout the cake before the glazing part, it even seeps into the cake.  It's a keeper!!!  Get crafty, if you want and try chocolate cake and chocolate-mint/caramel Bailey's!  Click on the link below - Enjoy!

Irish Cream Bundt Cake

One of my favorite taste-testers :)

"Cake Truffle" Recipe

A friend passed along this recipe to me.  She used it as wedding favors, but you can use them for anything!  They are just boxed cake mix, mixed with icing, chilled an rolled into balls then dipped in your favorite chocolate/bark.  Simply cool on parchment paper and you have a perfect little hand-held dessert.  Any cake mix, any icing, any dip - the possibilities are endless!  You can even get frisky and add peppermint extract, food coloring and roll the finished product in crushed mints - Instant Christmas Treats!  For these, I used a dark chocolate cake, milk chocolate icing and regular chocolate bark.  I dusted some with powdered sugar, put colored chips on some and even oreo crumbs and heath toffee pieces on others.  Hope you enjoy!

Cake Truffles

• One Box Cake Mix
• One tub of icing
• One package of candy chocolate bark
• various topping/decorations

Bake cake as directed.  Allow to cool for ten minutes before crumbling the cake into a bowl and stirring in icing.  The result should be a moist cake, able to roll into balls.  If you have a "moist recipe" cake mix, (contains pudding), you should only need about half of the icing.  Roll cake into balls and place on wax paper.  Place them in the freezer for 2 hours.  Melt the chocolate and prepare toppings before pulling the balls out.  Dip in chocolate and put them back on the wax paper.  Add sprinkles, sifted powdered sugar or cocoa...anything, before the ball fully dries.  Repeat and cool when finished.  Can be stored for several days in an airtight container in the fridge.  Makes 30 - 40 balls, depending on size. 

P.S.  LJ gave these two thumbs way up.  Before I even dipped them, he was riding by on his little scooter, stealing the balls!  He had eaten two before I even realized what he was up to :)

A late Lafayette post :)

We have been home almost a week and I am just now looking at the pictures from Lafayette.  We filled the days there with the Mcbride wedding festivities and some awesome family time.  What a great few days - I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Playing in the backyard and asking to wear "Daddy's necklace"  :)

Pops with his favorite two kids!

Teach 'em young :)   She is so cute!!

Our first night, we ate dinner at Prejeans with EVERYONE!  It was awesome!  Here is a GREAT picture of Gramps and LJ on the dance floor :)

Here is what happens when the cutest moment pops up and you realize AFTER the picture that you had your camera on manual for a cloudy day.  I am sad I missed capturing this moment perfectly!

Sweet hug :)

Nana's grandbabies gardening by her gazebo.

...and watering her flowers :)

The happy groom!  Lance had to wear purple that day, but...

...the rest of us didn't!  Were we obnoxious or what?

LJ even found a dance partner :)

The next afternoon, everyone played football in the backyard - I caught a celebration after a big tackle :)

On the last day, we picked up donuts for Granny and Gramps and had a great morning with them.  Addie and LJ got to play the piano together, too.

Granny's only two great grandbabies!  That's four precious people right there!

LOTS OF POSTS!

Sorry for the hiatus, but I am caught up!  Enjoy the new posts below!

What a day!!

We topped off a great weekend with a great Sunday!  Fall is the best!  My boys LOVE their back yard!  Both Lj and Lance are in their Ravens jerseys - LJ insisted!

 Happy Birthday to the sweetest, most fun little boy in the world! 

 We love you more than you will ever know!

Everyone is playing catch :)

Big boy with his new Big toy :)

This may be one of my favorite pictures ever - not because it's a great photo, but because it captures each of them.  Lance and LJ playing football giggling in the background and Rookie running with a toy - all of us enjoying our time together in the beautiful fall scenery of our back yard.  What a world I got to see through my lens!

He LOVES it out here!  If anybody's living for the off-season, it's him!

Birthday cake for the Birthday boy!

Make a wish!

Halloween and A birthday Party!

Wow!  What a weekend!  LJ is now three!!  We had a great birthday party for him on Halloween morning - his grandparents were there, and so were all his friends from his "class".  We rented a fun jump, prayed for no rain and no little injuries - Check!  Check!  I can't imagine a better party or a better weekend.  Our little "Dash" from the Incredibles loved it all!  We are so blessed!!

The only casualty:  A small bloody nose.  Out of 11 three-year-olds jumping around, I call it a win!!

Even little Izzy got in the fun!

On Pops' lap with the "Bear's" hat on, (what a great gift!)

Our little super-hero with his hero :)

Dash!

Our first trick-or-treat house - Ms. Doris and Mr. Jackson!

A precious picture with LJ's favorite people!  

His other favorite people :)

Ending the day with popcorn - Zoe is begging for just one more bite :)