Mark your calendars...

We went to this program last year (before my man started school there.)  We waited in line outside the chapel for an hour to get in...we all got in but we weren't able to all sit together.  After the program to quote Aunt Sarah, "there really is no way to explain it, it is just amazing."
And it is...the Madonna Christmas program is a blessing to everyone who attends.  It is so much goodness you will never want to miss it again.  
SO much goodness that they have taken the show on the road and are performing at GPAC this year!!!!!  WOOHOO!  One of the most bid on auction items at the Madonna gala is good seats at the Christmas program...if this tell you anything!
My boy has been working hard in rehearsals for months.  The parents don't get to know really anything about the program until next week...all I know is that there was a song that was written for Madonna.  A musician came to visit the school and when he left he wrote a song.
I have heard the words read out loud...I haven't heard the actual song.  I will tell you though that as Murphy's mom, I know that song is true...this guy gets it.
Please come see this Christmas play, bring your littles, bring your friends...just come.  You will be glad you did.  I promise....come help #packthegpac
Merry Christmas from all of us....I will post pictures of my boy after the show.  Madden wanted to know what "her role was" I told her she was a cheerleader...so if you see her she may be in her "cheerleadering" uniform.  And that is just fine with me :).

Jesus gives us what we need...

This weekend we had a great time celebrating with Sweet Pea and Sarah.  We got to spend time with some sweet Memphis friends and its always a blast to watch my brother pull out his dance moves.  Tomorrow they leave for their honeymoon...and yes they will be gone over Thanksgiving, and yes that's a bummer for us :(.
Madden and Murphy got to make "thankful turkeys" this week (each at different times) and they both said they were thankful for sweet pea and sarah.  We are so blessed with family...its truly amazing to see how God uses us all to lift each other, support each other, and love each other so much.
I am thankful beyond measure for my littles and my sweet family, for our schools, our friends, our opportunities and as Maddens says, "thank you Jesus for giving us what we need."

Murphys class on a field trip-that precious teacher is Mosteller if you ever hear my boy talking about her!

Mrs. Burt...oh we are blessed to have her this year!

The party!

Instead of a guest book I got a copy of Jesus calling and let everyone sign on a day that was special to them-that way they get messages all year. 

This is Bruce...Murphy.Loves.Bruce. (and I think Bruce loves Murphy, Im just saying)

Lovey and U Jim

The newlyweds!

First dance again!

This is one of my favorites...its our office! WORK is FUN!

Lovey and Skipper 

Everyone thinks I am her daughter, if you look at our eyes and mouth they may be onto something

Love this crew

Madonna makes reindeer...uncle sweet pea likes his so much he says he's keeping it up all year! That's one proud uncle-thank you sweet pea!

fam

Now THIS IS SPECIAL...they are going to Paris and they wanted to put a lock on the love bridge.  The story is that if you put a lock on the bridge and throw the key in the river, your love cannot be unlocked until someone finds the key-there are so many locks on the bridge they have had to start a whole new bridge because it is so heavy.  So I got this engraved for them to take with them and put on the fence.  I heard sharpie wears off so I got industrial if you are ever in Paris look for this one:)!

Up next...my shameless post on the Madonna Christmas program-you won't want to miss it.  It will bless you more than you can imagine!

happily ever after...

So they are MARRIED!!! It's official she is Aunt Sarah!  WOOHOO.  The wedding Could. Not. Have. Been. More. Beautiful.
I know I know I am so biased-but in all honesty...the lodge, the dress, the flowers, the candles the ceremony, I can't even begin to describe it. Sarah had a so many little touches that just made it all so elegant and so, so special.  A string quartet played 1000 years...it was beautiful.  The lodge was unbelievable and I can't wait for an excuse to go back.
I have never seen a happier groom in my life.  Of course he did have the most stunning bride I have ever seen on his arm...but for the entire weekend my brother even looked like a different person-it was so amazing and such a blessing to know that he is that happy.  It's almost unreal.  These two are honestly 2 of the most special people I know. They love each other in such an incredible way...they get what's important and what's not and they love each other for who they are.  Did I mention as he said in his toast "he found his female counterpart in the love for all things tiger?" Hence the silver and blue...I will post more pics of how they used that here and there asap :).

The toasts were so sweet, some funny parts but for the most part just so touching.  I was so nervous about mine and about their DVD...I just knew I would cry,  you know, the ugly cry? In fact I cried worrying about it and making the DVD. I watched it 1000 times and worked on it about as many hours in hopes to desensitize myself a bit..but that night God showed up and when I saw their faces and how happy and proud their parents were...there was nothing to cry about.  Yes, there are fun memories and yes, I am so thankful he is my brother and my family, but really we are just adding more wonderful people to the crew... I love my brother so much and now we get to love his wifey too-what could be better?  I will try to upload their slide show somehow soon!

Part of my toast was "it has been said that the best gift you can give someone is your time because you can never get it back.  When you give someone your time it is in those moments you are changing their world...you are becoming their tomorrow's memories, that is a gift that we will have forever." The fact that on Sundays Murphy makes a point to save a seat by him at breakfast for Sarah, or that a the real treat for Madden is not the Laffy Taffy but getting to call my brother and share her new joke with him...  Those are gifts to us.  This weekend was a gift to us.

Sweet Pea and Sarah thank you for always being a part of our memories. You make our moments special and we will love you forever for that.

Uncle Sweet Pea doesn't not like cake so I made them a candy bar...Mint to be mints, with this ring ring pops, everlasting love gobstoppers, uncle sweet peas joke jar etc...would you believe that all of this candy was gone!  Thank goodness we do not need it at our house!

the twins

Lovey and Aunt Bebby

Bridesmaids luncheon

Looking Dapper...

Walking to the rehearsal look at those faces

Oh she loves her...

Love.  He's so good to them.

We are beyond blessed.

Aunt EM :)

The TIGER grooms cake...GO TIGERS GO!

The head table at the rehearsal...my mom had a team of experts...Lovey, Martha and Aunt Bebby-party planning may not be here thing but she's got a future in recruiting for sure.

Thats my girl.

Lovey and U Jim they skyped Bo and Bridget in so they could be at the wedding from Australia!

So pretty at the rehearsal...

Love these two.

My girl on a mission.  Do your job= pink cowboy boots.  

that dress is stunning and she looked amazing-

The pink boots-we do everything but sleep in them.

I love this.

Do you think she takes things in stride...Murphy has her in a headlock and is probably standing on her dress I feel certain.

Thank you Holly, just thank you.

The little's presents Murphy adores some fine pjs-right up his ally and my girl got her first music/jewelry box with a monogrammed handkerchief that she can use in her wedding...and yes I am crying now.

collected?

Goodness is it November already?  WOW.  So I will skip my tangent on how time goes too fast, because well it just does in our world.  So a week from tomorrow we are heading to Maryville, what's in Maryville you ask?  My baby brother's wedding!!! UNCLE SWEET PEA!!!!  WOOHOO!  I have one elated flower girl and one rock star ring bearer...we are counting.down.the.minutes.

So go ahead and start anticipating a post on that goodness-what a blessing!  We have been in a whirlwind in typical Culpepper fashion.  Did I mention I decided to work a bit more on the side..except it's not on the side, its a lot, all of the time?  So with that said-I promise I still love my precious friends and I will call you from carpool and catch up until they tell me to put the phone down that is- Life has taken me down some crazy paths and it seems like this ride just keeps picking up speed.  I have had a few minutes to take a breather and love on my littles that's for sure.  So here you go-us in a nutshell for the past few months
...until I have a sister in law....WOOOHOOOOOO!

the littles love to bowl...it may be because their mother isnt bad herself...just saying

Still driving golf carts

TADAAAA- changed Walnut Grove Realty to The Murphy Company FINALLY

Grandparents day...that's one happy boy

icecream because he was student of the week and tinky had  a great week too

Girls to a bday party-and this is what he does with my boy...who caught 3 fish???

My boy and his new sign

GO TIGERS

Can you tell who they cheer for?

Pippi Longstockings has taken to like WIGS of all kinds...every day-sleeping beauty was beat!

CC and her mini me

THE BRIDE!

Love these ladies

Our pumpkin 

Wigs and noses I guess...may have an identity issue on our hands

So exciting!  

Happy Birthday to the dearest of dear-our Rosie Culbecker!

Murphys class at the fire station-so fun!

A real fireman!

A whole lot of awesomeness

Can you tell she's really a blonde?

And we're off for more candy-YIKES !  Happy Halloween!