Christmas movies..Past and Present

It's that time of year. You cannot turn on the tube without perusing through an endless array of Christmas films from yesteryear and those that our children call their favorites today. I am in awe at the options. Will it be "The Grinch" (1966), "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York", "Christmas from Rockefeller Center", "It's a Wonderful Life"? Oh my..decisions, decisions. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. I want to make it a point to soak it all in and enjoy this time with my wonderful husband and children.

I was tipped off to this website earlier today. Check it out. It has a listing of all the movies that will be shown between now and Christmas. They are arranged in chronological order by date and also have the network and time listed to make for easy navigation. Merry Christmas and enjoy every minute of the light side of the holiday!!

http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/christmas/whats-on-tv.htm

Styles Family Update

It has been far too long. We are super busy most days and loving every minute of it. Since I last posted in July, our little family continues to be so blessed. Lauren has been in pre-k since August. She is learning more than I would have ever imagined and is growing into a beautiful young lady. Alyssa is 15 months old and crawling everywhere, getting into everything. She is not yet walking, but she gets around just fine in her own way. She is also "talking" a lot these days. I love those girls.

Thanksgiving came and went with such gust. We didn't really have much time to rest, as we were on the move most of the time. However, as a family, we are counting our blessings day in and day out. This year has been a challenging one for us, but God has sustained us through it all. Chris lost his job with the Huntsville City school system in May due to budget cuts. This economy has made finding a teaching job anything but easy. He has spent the last few months working for various friends. This is not exactly how he envisioned his year going, but as a family and couple, God continues teaching us patience, perseverance, and faith. We are growing stronger and believing in Jesus through all of our trials. He has never left us, and we are grateful for all that he does for us. His blessing have been immense!!

Christmas is just around the corner. Alyssa is at that stage of exploration and awe. She is fascinated with the beautiful lights, ornaments, and all this time of year has to offer. Last year was fun, but this year is shaping up to be a blast. I cannot wait to see the looks on my girls' faces as we continue enjoying the festivities and all that is in store throughout the season. Check back soon for additional updates. God bless and remember to always give thanks!


Did I mention I love to climb??

Gotta Have Faith.....

Boy has the Lord been teaching me this one over and over lately. Without going into detail right now, I can say that my little family's faith has been through the test over the last few months..really, the last few years. We have had so many ups and downs, as all families do. It has just seemed harder as of late. I have to repeatedly remind myself that all it takes is the tiniest amount of FAITH to move a mountain. God has reassured of us of that fact! Why is it in our nature to doubt and want to cling so tightly to our problems? Life would be so much easier if we (I) would let it all go and let Him take it all on for us. There wouldn't be a worry or care left in us. If only we could truly walk in that Faith. Hmmmm..As I ponder this, I'll pray that the Lord continue to grow me and teach me to not hold so tightly to that which is out of my control.

God Bless!
Brandi

Freshly Sharpened Pencils

What is it about the swiftly approaching fall and the ever impending start of a new school year that puts a knot in the pit of my stomach? If you know me at all, you know that I have a nervous personality anyway. Throw me out of my routine and into something new, and I can be a wreck. This year is definitely no exception. I am embarking on a "new" workplace/school, faculty, and administration. While the physical location will be unchanged, we will no longer be Riverton Middle School. As of August 6, you are looking at a 6th grade teacher for the brand new Riverton Intermediate School. I am beyond excited at the changes; however, that uncertainty still drives my nerves.

As I mentioned in the previous post, Lauren is starting pre-k in a couple of weeks as well. She and I made a trip to town a few days ago to start knocking out that insanely long supply list. Well, $50 later, and we're still not finished. Can you believe that educating a 4 year old can break the bank like that. I guess I shouldn't really complain until we start paying the tuition. It is actually about the same as what we were paying in daycare costs, so I'm not too taken aback. But, I do look forward to the day when we can save more money and enjoy the fruits of our labor a little more. The girls are totally worth it though!!! We feel the blessings everyday!

In the words of Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail", "There is just something about the smell of freshly sharpened pencils". Bring on those loads of supplies, stacks of textbooks, school bus stops, students with nervous stomachs, and frazzled parents.

God Bless!
Brandi

Summer 2010

We are still here!! I have taken a long blog break but hate to keep looking back and see February as the last post. So, what have we been up to? Chris and I have had the pleasure of spending lots of time at home with our girls this summer. It has been fun, but I am exhausted. Work is just around the corner, and I am looking forward to it..well, maybe just a little.

We took a trip to Gulf Shores the last week of June. It was an absolute blast! Alyssa is a water baby and couldn't get enough of the pool. Lauren is also a big fan of the water as well as the sand. I really wish we could have had the opportunity to hang out and splash around in the ocean water; however, for the first time ever the Gulf water was just not pretty. The oil from the spill wreaked havoc on the beach the week we were there. It was really quite depressing, but we had fun nonetheless. The remainder of the summer was spent with us relaxing, taking a day trip to Six Flags, and mostly just enjoying being together.

Lauren starts pre-k at Mt. Carmel Elementary in a week and a half. I'm trying not to get too emotional about it, but it just doesn't seem possible. Alyssa starts back to daycare next week. I know she will be so excited to see her teachers again. I'm sure the teachers feel the same. She has changed so much and grown up before our very eyes. To wrap things up, I am feeling truly blessed to have had this time with my family. Let the good times roll!!

God Bless!
Brandi

**Update- I forgot to mention that Lauren started soccer last month. Watching 4 and 5 year olds play an organized sport is nothing short of hilarious! She is so very excited about her first game this Saturday. Go Eagles!!

The Crud that Keeps on Giving

The good ole' fashioned crud has hit our family and is not exiting quietly. Alyssa was diagnosed with RSV about 2 weeks ago. I've never seen such a small child be that sick. It has not been fun. She was on the mend, and then I came down with bronchitis or something closely resembling what she has/had. Well, she is now getting sick again and I cannot quit coughing to save my life. So, we are praying that spring will approach with zest. I know..not much of a post. I'll update on something of substance as soon as we start to feel human again.

This Life of Ours

I believe I set a record for the longest duration between posts. Life has a way of getting hectic beyond hectic, and updating the blog gets shelved. Having said that, we are well. Alyssa turned 5 months old a couple of days ago. Lauren will be 4 in just a few weeks. I cannot believe how my girls are growing up right before our eyes. It makes me weepy to dwell on that for too long.

We had a very nice Christmas holiday. It was filled with way too much food and an abundance of presents. We are running out of room in this house!!! Honestly, I think we're going to need a bigger house in a few years. The girls accumulate so much in such a short amount of time. I guess that's my fault. I hate getting rid of perfectly good things. Maybe I need to be on the show "Hoarders". lol.....I'm not even close to that bad!!

We've enjoyed the deep South snow that has blown our way this winter. It's been nice seeing more of the white stuff. That doesn't happen in our neck of the woods very often. But, it's been a crazy season.

Enjoy a few pictures of my girls. I have more recent pictures of the baby but just haven't loaded them to the computer. More to come. Toodles!
Brandi

Hanging in There

We are still hanging in there. Life is crazy busy though. The girls are both doing very well, and we are all adjusting as expected to our growing family. I'll try to do a real update soon. Until then, enjoy the girls fall "school" pictures. Toodles!!



Alyssa- 10 weeks




Lauren- 3 1/2

6 weeks old

It is hard to believe that my baby girl is 6 weeks old already. The good Lord has blessed us with another very good little one. She is a great sleeper, both at nap times (which are a lot) and at night. We still get up 1-2 times per night for feedings. She eats to her belly's content, and then she goes back to sleep pretty easily. I cannot complain. Lauren is adjusting fairly well to being a big sister and sharing the spotlight. We try to include her in everything, and carry on just as we did before to make sure she doesn't feel left out. She is responding better than I would have imagined and is a huge help. All in all, God is outdoing himself!! Enjoy some recent pictures..some from A's 1st weeks and some from our recent family vacay to Pigeon Forge, Tn.

It's almost Liftoff

It's hard to believe that in 44 hours, our little family of 3 will become one of 4 in just a matter of minutes. Alyssa and Mommy have been ready for this to happen for days now, but I guess the good Lord has other plans. So, Friday it is. We are feeling truly blessed and are finishing up those last minute preparations. Stay in touch as God shows up with yet another miracle.
Brandi

Baby Update

I haven't posted in a while. Everything is moving very fast with this baby business. The nursery is just about complete, and we are squaring away those last details. I am not working today. I've been in a lot of pain since last week. This past weekend was torture. I believe we are on that final countdown to D-Day. The scheduled c-section is supposed to be Aug. 28th. If she holds out that long, it is going to be a long and miserable wait. I'm calling the dr. as soon as they open this morning to see if they'll move my afternoon appointment up to this morning. I really need answers..not that they will have any. I have a feeling the answer will be to just rest and take it easy. Uggg. If that's the case, I guess I'll be starting maternity leave earlier than expected...without the baby to show for it. She'll be here in her time though. I have to keep telling myself that. I'll update when I have more to share.
Brandi

Splish Splash

Lauren's new favorite thing to do this summer is play in the splash pad at Bridge Street. She was afraid of it last year but not anymore. She begs to go all of the time. It is especially nice to go at night, as the sun is going down. It is still warm, but the breeze is nice and the sun is not scorching. Enjoy these pictures from one of our visits.



popping bubbles before heading to the water



here we go

What's new

This one will be short, as I am finding it more and more difficult to be creative as of late. In gist, our summer continues rolling along without any significant events to report. I've been extremely exhausted and experiencing those horrible 3rd trimester symptoms that makes doing much of anything problematic. So, we are mainly trying to stay inside the house and I am resting as much as I can. I return to work on Aug. 4th and the kids first day is Aug. 10. It's approaching fast, so I am trying to not overdo it now. We are going to attempt another day at Alabama Adventure tomorrow (Friday). Lauren loved it so much! Due to my condition, we can't be too far from home, but that is a fun day trip that we can make. In closing, I'm posting a few recent pictures of our summer. Enjoy.

Brandi

*Update- Blogger is not working for me and the picture feature is not being cooperative. I'll upload later.

Alyssa Claire

With all that has consumed the Styles household in the last few weeks, I don't think I ever blogged about the gender of the baby. We had our ultrasound over a month ago. Everything is good with the little one. SHE is still on target to arrive around the end of August. We are so excited about Alyssa Claire joining our family. I think it's great that Lauren is going to have a little sister to play with and look after. She loves tickling her (my belly) and calling her Sissy. I can't wait for them to meet and get to know each other. I will leave you with a couple of new belly shots. Ignore the fat rolls and bulges. Krispie Kreme and Sonic slushes have been good to me lately!!




25 Weeks

Happy Anniversary Chris

I want to send a shout-out to my loving husband. Chris and I were married 8 years ago today, after almost 4 years of dating. It is hard to believe how fast time gets away, but I am truly grateful for where we are in our lives today. Through some ups and downs (mostly ups), God has blessed our marriage and enriched us as His children. Thank you Chris for loving me unconditionally and for being a great daddy to our precious angels Lauren and Alyssa (arriving in August). I love you and look forward to many more years to come!
Brandi



Chris's Senior Prom 1998


Wedding Day May 19, 2001


Lauren's Birth Feb. 27, 2006

It's the Big 3

Wow. Life has a way of moving faster each and every day. We are all doing well, just busy and occupied.

Chris's birthday is tomorrow. I'll not say how YOUNG he is turning..he might get a little irritated. He'll always be 2 behind me, so he can't say anything!! ;) Lauren is turning 3 on Friday. I cannot believe it. She will starting big school before too long. Time flies!! Anyway, we have a lot going on this weekend. I've got a wild week ahead in getting everything set for her party on Sunday. The circus is also coming to town this week. We're going Saturday night. So, our entire week and weekend is turning out to be very hectic. I'll take lots of pictures and post some soon.

Until next time.
Brandi

Slow to Update

Sorry I am a slow up-dater. The last 6 weeks have been rough for me..us, I guess I should say. My pregnancy symptoms have all presented themselves as fierce enemies..hehehehe! It seems like every possible symptom and every possible side effect of the prenatal vitamins has found me and hung on for dear life. It has been a little difficult around here since Christmas. I in no way want to complain though. God is so faithful, and the sickness is perhaps a good thing. My baby is healthy and life is shaping up as it should.

We did have a slight scare about a week ago. I had very light spotting for a few days. I made a weekend call to the on-call nurse, who absolutely eased my mind. She said it sounded perfectly fine, and it was most likely a relatively common occurrance for over 50% of all pregnancies. To be on the safe side, I went for a second ultrasound on Monday. The little "blueberry" is just perfect at this point. Everything is at it should be, and my stats were in check also. Blueberry you might ask...yes..our little blueberry. While performing the ultrasound, the tech made the comment that the baby is the size of a blueberry right now. Bless it's little heart. The name has stuck. So, I guess until we can come up with something else, Blueberry it is.

Lauren is doing very well with this news. She has reached an age where she is excited about having a little playmate live with us. On several occasions, she has peaked into our spare bedroom and said, "This is the baby's room". She has also made comments about looking at the baby at night from her bed...the two rooms are right across the hall from one another. It is absolutely precious. I feel good that the timing has worked out as it has. Having children 3 1/2 years apart is a good distance, but it is also close enough for bonds to form.

God Bless and have a great weekend.
Brandi

Surprise

We're expecting again and excited beyond belief. Life has a way of surprising us when we least expect it!! It is still early, so please keep us in your prayers. As you can imagine, we are walking on egg shells this time around because of last July. Chris and I are confident that all will be well!!

I had my first prenatal visit this week. The dr. said all appears to be as it should at this stage. I must say though, I am having terrible morning sickness. This is new to me, as my pregnancy with Lauren gave me energy. I never got sick..at least not this kind of sickness. YUCK!! We are looking at a c-section delivery around the last week of August. School will barely be back in session before I take leave. At least I'll get to know my new students before the baby comes. I'll update as often as possible...and possibly include some belly pics along the way!
God Bless,
Brandi

Updates on the Way

This has been a very busy first week back! Lauren started a new daycare, and we have been running around like mad. I'll update very soon and catch you up on the latest comings and goings; as well as some ventures we will be partaking in this new year. Until then, God bless.
Brandi

Christmas 2008

This quite possibly goes down as one of the busiest holiday seasons we've had in recent memory. We had five different stops...would have been six, but we were under the weather the day of one of them. I must say, we have experienced a lot this year and have so much to be thankful for. God continues to show his love for us everyday. Enjoy a few of the pictures from some of our festivities.
God Bless!
Brandi

BTW-I am believing in great things for the new year. May you experience health, happiness, and peace of mind in 2009.