Christmas 2012

I have not needed one Christmas CD in this house or in my vehicle this year. I have had the honor of my very own Christmas cheer and singing every single moment of my day. It has been wonderful. We have taken this whole Christmas spirit thing and run with it this year. We have taken part in some long time traditions and we have also started some of our own. Both have been great. I have seen my Bear play Mary in her pre-school play along with her sidekick Bean the cow. They have wrapped, baked an spread cheer in every place they could find from here to Maryland and back to North Carolina. Yep, it has been just perfect. Christmas eve began with our Blevins family gathering. It was fun, energetic and a great way to start off our day. We ended it with a powerful story told through music and the words of our amazing minister. The story that surrounds this season of the bold and beautiful birth of our very own Jesus. The service brought tears along with peace and reverence. Blessings.

We then went to my sister's to enjoy family for an hour or two. The look on one girls face was priceless when she saw what Santa had put on the tree early.



After arriving home for the end to a perfect Christmas Eve, we got ready. We put out our reindeer food. Prepared our plate of cookies with cold milk and then told stories of his coming. Both our Savior and Santa. And then peace and the gift exchange with my love. As always, he delivered. I am so blessed. He is so good to me all the time, but Christmas is just the icing on the cake.



Christmas morning was memories for a lifetime. The looks on their faces as they opened packages and stopped for only seconds to show us. To show each other. Sharing laughs and special "wow's" and "look at this sissy". We didn't really hear much from them after that. Until Nana came with the cabbage patch dolls. Can I just say, they still smell the same thirty years later. And we made memories. Just like the ones I have as a child. From the cookies to the colors to the smells. All love. It was a very Merry Christmas. From begining to end.



So, we await the new year. Plans already made. Spontaneous ones welcome. Quiet days at home. I can't wait for it all. Some changes and some new adventures. No matter what, we will bring in the new year together and we will live it together as well.



Happy New Year to all!

Coming back...

I can't blame anyone or anything really. I would like to say that facebook made sharing life too convenient. I would like to say that Instagram makes sharing those snap shots of life come easy. Both are true. But the true reason is that I have been "too" busy. I am so mad at myself. Angry for getting away from my love of writing and sharing our life for my girls to have to reflect on one day. So, with that being said, facebook is gone. Instagram has taken a back seat and I am back.

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So much has been happening since September. It has been almost one year since I left the bank and started this new journey. To say it has been rewarding just doesn't seem fit. There are so many words to describe what this has meant to me. What it continues to mean to me. What they mean to me....

We have grown together as a family. We continue to find comfort in our faith and relationships. We have grown in some that exist and found new ones that are true blessings to all of us. A special group of women that make the village of parenting seem easier on some level because they are there to lend an ear. Or shoulder. Or drink. Whichever it may be.

There is so much to catch up on. A photo dump with brief, yet heartfelt descriptions is what I have planned for tonight. And then, I plan to keep up. To concentrate and remember that the facebook comments and all that come with them are not what my children will remember, but that our life and history is what will be important to them and what they will most cherish.

Here we go.......



~Two girls starting Pre-School. One's first day and one's last first day..~

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~A weekend getaway with wonderful women. Friendship and laughter....~



~Enjoying every last ounce of outside play we can....~



~Celebrating birthdays with amazing people in our lives..~



~Pumpkin picking at an amazing farm. Thank you Conner Family...~



~Downtown trick or treating with my Doc McStuffins and Goldilocks and the three bears~



~Our first Thanksgiving with the McDonald family~



~Traditional activities to get us ready for the big man with the white beard~



~Celebrating a daddy's birthday~



~Their first trip to a real theatre play ~



~A family trip on the Polar Express~

Christmas has come and gone. That deserves its own post though. It was magical. It was fun. It was a true tribute to our King of Kings. His birth. Our teachings of this wonderful blessing. Enjoy your post Christmas Weekend!

Happiness is....

Happiness comes in so many forms, really.

Waking up to fresh brewing coffee that you didn't have to get up and make and knowing it is just waiting for you in the other room. Ahh.

Having a picture you took posted on a blog you follow because it was chosen out of thousands.

Date nights with your husband and a night of complete, unitteruped sleep because your kids are spending the night with their grandparents. (even if you do miss them like crazy)

Two little girls that make my world seem all the better because they are in it.
Ballet moves. no idea where she gets it.
This one and her full fledged, from one side of the face to the other smile. Oh my sweet heart.... The way she looks up in wonder, knowing what better place she will be one day...
Kisses blown to me when I least expect it....


Two silly girls that love one another so much. A true friendship and deep relationship that goes beyond sisters.

That is Happiness...

Good Times

I love the evening time. Especially right now. The sun starts to set and the sky looks like a fire explosion with a touch of fluffy goodness. So pretty.

We had a stay out and play and forget what time it is kind of evening this particular evening. It was so much fun. A daddy riding two little girls around on the "tractor" as they call it. A mommy that hid in the bushes to jump out and scare them. Each and every time in the same place, yet it never got old. A big sister that joined me so she could help me be the monster. Good times.

Daddy has been working on his golf clubs and he brought out a tiny bag all set to accomodate and satisfy two little girls and their curiosity. Grandpa Paul had these made and even though I am not a huge golf fan, I have to admit they are probably one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Of course, the models that were rocking them help a little too.



The Bear is excited because now that she is five, Grandpa has planned a golf day for the two of them. Hitting a few balls and then an afternoon picnic under a shade tree. I can't wait for her.

We have landed a nasty end of summer cold in this house. It has been very short lived for each of us, so hopefully it will find it's way out of here quickly as we have some big fun planned this weekend. From date night dinners to cook outs with church family, it is gearing up to be a most awesome time!

I hope your weekend is wonderful and full of good times!

Pinterest and Play

I sat outside this evening after the girls had gone to bed. It was cool. Really cool. A friend posted a picture of a neighboring tree on Facebook that showed the changing color. School started and fall fell into place. I love this time of year. I have been Pinterest crazy and I have so many fall and Halloween projects I want to work on. All in good time. But oh, how the itch wants to be scratched. We fit one more hot, fun afternoon in before the changes though. The Bear celebrated her Lemonade Stand party with a group of precious little girls(and big girls). We decorated cupcakes, did nails and watched and enjoyed some of the cutest balloon crowns and wands. We ended with a splash! All of that in two hours. I was one tired mommy, but the smile on two little girls made it all worth it! Thank you to everyone that came and played and shared this day with my girl!



Back to Pinterest.(yes, I may be a bit addicted) I decided that if I was going to pin things, I need to start doing them. The recipes are easy. We always cook. Fun ideas for foods that we eat all the time, but need some new and inviting changes. It's the craft or DIY stuff that I want to work on. So, I have. My new favorite thing. The reading/hanging tent. The girls LOVE it. They read in it. They hide in it. They play The Wizard of Oz in it. It does make the perfect twister after all. I just finished up a very colorful one for the Bear's pre-school room. I am so in love with how it turned out. This is such an easy and fun project. I see me creating a new go to gift for birthday parties and such.



We enjoyed a fun play date at the lake this beautiful day. It was a feel good, laugh and chat kind of morning and lunch. I really am thankful for the mommies that are helping me figure this whole stay at home thing out. I learn something new everyday and I appreciate the support and non judging friendship they provide.

Two more weeks and we start school. The girls are excited. I am excited too. I do wish I could make myself a fly on the wall for the three hours they are in there. I love that they are so eager to learn. Teaching is not for everyone me. I am so thankful for those wonderful people that do it, because frankly, I need them. My children are going to be in such good hands this year. I know this and I am forever thankful.

My eyes are heavy and my heart is full. It has been a great day. I love the heavy breathing Andy exhales beside me and I know that in only minutes it will lull me to sleep.



Good Night!