Arrival in Starkville (RECAP)

So, plans were to leave EARLY Monday morning to get to Starkville just about the time that everyone was starting to get up and going.....but that didn't happen. Scott left early, EARLY this morning to head to deer camp and I couldn't go back to sleep. Eventually I did, but then didn't wake up until about 8:30. Then before I could leave, I had to get all Noah's stuff together (automatic feeder and water set in the garage), take out the trash, pack Moses' stuff so I could drop him off at MeMe's (Mrs. Linda's) to stay while I was in Starkville, and of course finish packing myself.

I made it to Starkville just after lunch. I unloaded all my gifts under Mom's tree, and for the first time this year, it really seemed like Christmas! I spent probably 15 minutes just looking at Mom's ornaments. So many of her ornaments bring back lots of old memories! She had lots of new one's, too, that she's collected over the past couple years that she's never gotten to hang on her tree. She and Kerri both got a real tree this year. It smelled so good! Mom hasn't had a real tree since I was a little girl!


Mom's birthday is Christmas day, but I couldn't wait to give her her birthday present! It was a bird house that I made (with the help of my crafty mother-in-law) a couple months ago and had been dying to give to her. We got the idea after going to the Canton Flea Market and saw all the beautiful bird houses. They were so expensive, but I came close to buying one several times throughout our day there...being my frugal self....I kept deciding against making the purchase (especially since I had never even thought about having a bird house until that day!). Then Mrs. Linda decided that they would be easy to make (and fun) and we decided we were going to make it a project to do together. When I talked to my mom after that, she said she had always wanted one. I made a mental note and figured I'd wait to see how they turned out before I planned on making her one. After we got started and they were so cute, I decided to make Mom and Kerri one. But then, of course, time ran out and I only got one done. Mrs. Linda's turned out to be more of a bird hotel rather than a house....it just kept growing and growing! We had the best time making them....this is how they turned out.


Mom loved it and Kerri did too....so I told Kerri that hers would be coming for her birthday! After getting everything unloaded, Kerri and I ran a few last minute Christmas errands and then went to pick up the girls from school. From then on it was non-stop and stayed that way until I left!! :) Good times!

Mom cooked a delicious dinner at her house that night for all of us! It was good to be "Home!"