2013 Highlights.

I got a simple yet cool idea this year. On the back of a photo Christmas card a friend put highlights of their year. You don't see things like this anymore. Don't get me wrong..I love to see your mug but it's nice to know what's up too or just reminded of happenings. (Shout out to the Ligi's, Good job!) Their card gave me an idea and a long over due post for this blog. 

Here are my 2013 highlights:

I got a third niece who totally and utterly owns my heart with the rest of the kiddos in my life.

Jaxson turned 7, he made it through kindergarten with flying colors and half way through first grade. He loves his Momma and hates Monday mornings. He did breakdancing and then He moved on to playing basketball and is a head taller than more than half his team. He's very sensitive and adores being outside. He loves babies.. Hannah has his wrapped around his finger.

Annabelle turned 4, with a big Belle bash! Belle herself showed up and the world stood still. She is in preschool 4 mornings a week where she is very shy but is blossoming lately. She loves gymnastics and has taught herself a cart wheel and does them often. She has quite an imagination.  She has a stubborn side but is sweet as pie.

Corey and I have been hitched for 9 years and together for 13.  The kids sometimes suck the life out of us but at the end of the day we are a great team.  We genuinely still like each other and love each others company.  

I ran half marathon -what, what! Still shocked I actually did that. And still have no desire to do that again.

We got a family gym membership and we love it. Family that works out together stays together.. True?! Who knows.  I do know we are pumping iron and I will take that any day over running!

We went to the beach 2 times..Once with family and once with friends ..freakin' love the beach. Is it summer yet?!

We had lots of visitors! We love visitors! Wheats, Coons, Haines, Luekers, Wackers, Hedgpeths, Sutherlands, Derringers...keep 'em coming. 

We went to Texas in June to see Corey's family..we had the best time. 

I went for an interesting yet very fun trip with my dad and brothers in October for Papaws 90th birthday.

We will go back to Texas in 9 days.

Still running the Fun Bus with Dad...most days it is still FUN.  Business has doubled and we are grateful!  Have to use my "mom voice" at least once a day ...once a day is not bad when you see 400 plus kids a week.  We call it "kid crack"  kids LOVE the bus and we love them.

I learned that people are people, people in Texas are the same as in Maryland, church people are the same as no church goers, no one is perfect, everyone has issues and we all need Jesus!  You can be the nicest person in the world and some is still going to hate you.

We got Direct TV that allows us to watch every Cowboy game...and they stink to high heaven but I'm still a fan.

We have a rotating front door...we entertain a lot and love every minute of it.  The recycle guy is sure we are alcoholics...think what you will, we are having fun...join us sometime.

At the end of the day I call that a SUPER year.  BAM!

Over it.

If I hear another Black Friday commercial I might scream! I love to shop..love and enjoy it. I used to love Black Friday. Since I can remember me and my mom would go.. At 5am every. Single. Year. We couldn't wait to scan the ads thanksgiving morning and map out our plan. We were being crazy y'all. We would park at kohls at...wait for it.. Wait for it...4:45AM! We would run through the door with everyone else and just start grabbing shit...shit we didn't need but everyone was crazy for it so we did it too. We would then get in a line that wrapped around the store and we would take turns shopping while the other waited. We were genius. We would be at IHOP at 9am and home to decorate at noon.

Gone are those days! I remember 4 or so years ago when we went to kohls at 4am..we got there at 3:45. That was nuts. 

Since we moved to Maryland my parents go to Texas for Thanksgiving so my mom and I haven't shopped in a few years. The last 2 years I recruited friends and we shopping in the middle of the night like crazies and both times I felt very let down.. Sales aren't that great and the loss of sleep is not cool! 

This year, I'm pissed. Nearly everywhere opens on thanksgiving night. That's not Black Friday! That's stupid, inconsiderate and greedy.  

Happy Shopping from a bitter Black Friday fan!

Update: Black Friday has come and gone this year. I did not partake. There was one time today I sorta felt the urge but I didn't give in. I slept in ..had breakfast with my family, we decorated the house and we snuggled all day in our pjs and were totally lazy. I think a new tradition came alive today.

Happy Halloween!

Captain America, Ariel, Batman and Boo (from Monsters Inc)

AB loved trick or treating this year.  She walked almost the whole time...actually I take that back she skipped.  Jax has always been a big fan.

Tales of a "home room mom"

You know at the beginning of the year when they send out the form that is asking you to volunteer at school as well as "check here" if you want to be the home room mom? Of course, I'll volunteer in the class to cut 5,000 circles and print 10,000 copies. I'm not even scared of the double sided copies..watch yourself I'm a pro now.. What what! I digress... Back to the home room mom part..That title seems scary to me but I went for it ..On this sheet I wrote "I would do it if no one else could". Duh?! Apparently EVERYONE and their dogs know not to do that cuz guess who got home room mom. Oh yeah-you know it.

I love to entertain and have parties so I really don't mind. I just can't believe out of 23 sets of parents I am the only one who volunteered. There are only 2 class parties to plan.. No big deal. First grade parents are still pretty involved so I've had a lot of help. 

Here's my first party...

                    First, a parade around the school.

Next, games!  This one was "Roll a Jack-o-Lantern".  Excuse the fuzzy phone pics..there is only so much a mom can do.

Another game- Feel in the bag and guess what it is? Pumpkin teeth?  Witch Warts?  Fingers?

No hands do-nut eating contest...no allergies in this class HOLA!

                            The Mummy Wrap.

                              What is that I feel?

                              The class photo. A bunch of teethless monsters...so cute!

Fam'dam'ily.

This year my grandpa turns 90..yes, 90. That's old y'all. It didn't dawn on me how old that actually is until we were writing it on the birthday cake. Wow. It was really important to my dad to take the three kids back to Texas to celebrate Papaw! We obliged and I ain't gonna lie I was less than excited about rooming with 3 dudes for the weekend. Let me tell you-scary!!!

Crazy Coons we once were and still are...at least some of us. I was in bed each night at 11pm ..the rest.. Yeah not so much. 

Besides the fact while I tried to sleep on the plane while my brothers pluck my nose hairs, or besides the fact they took me to a scandalous bar one night (Redneck Heaven-except replace the hot girls on the show with some uuuugly gross hoochie mamas..go ahead google that shit), or besides the fact I woke up to farts everyday...

I mean those were small issues I guess. We had a good time, a nice party for Papaw, we were very well fed..no meals to be missed in Texas.

The not so cool part was the part that getting old SUCKS! My grandparents are getting to the end of their time.. It's time to move them to assisted living as they can not care for themselves anymore. Seeing them this way sucks...it was hard for us and even harder for my dad. It was definitely a reality check-cherish your family because life is short...even if you make it to 90 plus years. 

October baby!

Awe Fall how I love the! And more than Fall I love these guys more! I could eat 'em with a spoon!

7th Heaven.

Buddy made out pretty dang good for his big day!

 Updated room decor!  Da BOYS!

 The CEC baby!

 Twinkies...this happens with them WAY to often.  Either mom and I need to stop shopping together (not gonna happen) or they need to quit with the"memos".

Big dawg bike thanks to Mimi and Papi!