NYE

It's a quiet New Year's Eve here. The Big Man worked today, and we went out to eat when he came home. We rented a movie and watched some football. He works early in the morning, so I don't know if he will even make it to see the ball drop. Fortunately we live in Central Time, and they broadcast from Eastern, so there's a chance.

Resolutions? I have a few.

I am resolved to keep up with the blog more. 2012 was definitely a low posting year. It doesn't mean nothing happened - we were very busy - I just didn't record it all.

I also resolve to cook more often and eat more meals at the dinner table. We have a tendency to eat too many meals on the run, so I aim to change that.

2013 is going to bring us one very big change: MK graduates from high school this year. I'll miss her at school, but I'm excited for her and what her future holds.

So that's it. The kids come home on Wednesday. I'm ready to see them. I did a big cleaning on T. Willy's room, and I have a few more things do tomorrow. Then I am ready for the kids to be home!!!!

Let it snow!

Not here...but the kids are visiting my parents, and they saw a little bit of snow today. It's cold enough here for it, but I doubt we will see any.

So here are a couple of pictures that they sent from Delaware today.

Merry Christmas!

We had a nice day. Lots of presents - but not overboard - and some good family time. T. Willy got a simple little game "Minute to Win it," and we had a ball with that. He also got "Creationary" which he's been wanting for awhile. So we broke them both out and had a lot of laughs with them.

We will keep the tree up for two more days, then it's goodbye to Christmas 2012. The kids are going to visit my family on Thursday. I will miss them but plan to get a lot of work done while they're gone.

So I'm off to bed. I've been waking up at 4:30 every morning. I'm hoping I can sleep straight till 6:00! Merry Christmas!

2012

It wasn't actually a banner year for my posts. I will make a concerted effort to do better in 2013. 2013 is going to be a big year. MK will graduate high school and start the next phase of her life. I'm sure there will be adventures for the rest of us too.

It's nearly 5:00 on Christmas morning. I think everything is ready; I just can't sleep. I was asleep but have been waking up at 4:30 almost every morning of the break. The kids were told that 7:00 is the earliest we can get started, so I may as well stay up.

We continued our Christmas Eve traditions, mindful that this is MK's last Christmas in high school. It's much more exciting to think in terms of the "firsts" she is anticipating, but I can't help thinking about the "lasts" as well.

We went to an early service last night. It was specifically designed for children. I loved it. Kids of all ages were there: dozens of chatty and fussy and restless and joyful children! T. Willy had a great time, and it topped off by singing what he announced as his favorite song. "Hark the Herald Angels." He sang it with beautiful sincerity, and it really touched my heart. I am blessed to be the mother of these two, and I am thankful for them every day.

The Big Man wasn't able to go, but after work, he joined us to look at Christmas lights, then we went home for (in T.'s words) our feast. We watched a Christmas movie, and the kids each opened one gift. MK opened a new DVD player, and T. Willy opened a DVD. How appropriate. The highlight of the evening, though, was T. Willy asking to read Luke 2 this year. The Big Man or I usually do it, but it was extra special hearing it from the mouth of an 8 hear old.

Since T. was little, we've always had him sleep with MK on Christmas Eve, so she could run interference and make sure he doesn't peek. This year he decided that he didn't want to do that. It was disappointing for MK, but last night he changed his mind. So I sent them off to bed and then did the same.

I guess I'll try to do it again - for a little while at least.

Merry Christmas!!!

Well hello

You really didn't think I'd make it through Thanksgiving remembering to post my thanks, did you? Sigh. The play got going with really long rehearsals, and that was the end of that. Please know that I have many things to be thankful for!!!!

Today I am thankful that the play is over and was successful. We came out ahead moneywise, and we had some really good shows. Especially Friday night. That was my favorite. The kids and some parents really showed up and worked hard. My own kids were a part of it, and that made it even more special. My mom and my aunt came for it, and that the was the icing on the cake!!

I am also thankful today that Thanksgiving is over. While I was drying the last dish, I remembered that I'd posted a "what to do next year" last year, but it all worked, and the family enjoyed it, so I count that a success.

And tonight, the Big Man, who worked crazy hours this week, is ready to relax, so MK and I are going to get to go to a late movie tonight!!!

This guy

I love my brother. Period. I was only blessed with one, but I was given a great one. He is generous with his talents and has the ability to make me smile and laugh and think in a matter of moments. When I see him after a long while, we pick up as if we had just been together.

I'm thankful for my brother. Aaron, today!

These people

I was blessed from birth with two wonderful parents. They are generous and caring and loving and all of the things anyone could ask for in parents. I aspire to be like they are. They love unconditionally. I've written about them before, but I wanted to take the time today to share my thanks for them both. (They also look younger than their years - hope I inherit that from them too!)

This boy.

This sweet boy has been a joy since the moment we found out about him. We found about him nine years after we found out about MK. After all that time, we figured that we would have an only child. We were so thankful for MK, but there was still something missing. I prayed and prayer for one more child, and we were blessed with this most wonderful little boy.

He has the most delightful personality. He never meets a stranger and just assumes everyone is going to want to talk to him as much as he wants to talk to them. He is a talker! I wouldn't trade that about him.

He has a tender heart but also knows exactly what he wants. He loves video games, likes flag football (he pulled his first flag today!!!!!) and loves his big sister but is so happy that football season is over because the games are too long for him. He is Daddy's boy but still holds my hand and hugs me in public. I really love that.

Today I am so thankful for T. Willy.

This girl

Tonight I am thankful for MK. She is the child we dreamed and prayed and hoped for. She holds her own piece of my heart. She can make me laugh and cry and fume better than anyone else, but I am oh so proud of her. She is witty and thinks fast on her feet, and she has a dear and tender heart.

Tonight is her last football game in the Big Red Machine. I will miss being a band mom so much. I am thankful she gave me the opportunity to be a band mom and a mom in the first place.

I love this girl, and am so thankful to be her mom.

Thank you

Since today is the first of November, I have decided to list things that I am thankful for each day until Thanksgiving. The truth is, I could list something different every day of the year and still find more to be thankful for, but I will try to list the 22 most important things.

#1 - The Big Man. He and I have been together since we were teens, and the time has just flown by. He supports everything that I do and loves me unconditionally. Every day I find another reason to be thankful for him. Thank you, Lord, for giving him to me.

Halloween 2012

I suppose MK is technically too old to trick-or-treat. However, when you have an eight year old brother, it's a perfect excuse to go. So, she invited some friends, and off they went!

Pumpkin Patch

We took a long time heading to the patch this year. We made it there today after church. Convenient, since it's at our church.

We bought three, and just took pictures the rest of the time. So here they are!

Happy birthday to me!!

It has been a fun day. The Big Man had a work meeting in Pensacola, so I took the day off and let the kids have a day off, and we had a fun day by the bay. We ate lobster and shrimp, played a little volleyball on the beach, and T. Willy even went swimming. I know we live in Florida, but it is usually not warm enough to swim in late October.

I've had dozens of texts and Facebook messages which really meant a lot. It really isn't all that bad turning 43.

Autumn love

It is my favorite time of year. It has gotten cooler, and I love it! There are only two games left. I am getting very sentimental about it. I'm not sure I've ever mentioned it (haha,) but I have loved being a band mom, and it's coming to an end. We lost a district game last night, so it isn't looking like we will see any post season play

MK left this morning to go to a competition in Valdosta, Georgia. They will compete tonight, and then they are going to Wild Adventures tomorrow. MK overslept this morning, but she made it. She sent this picture from the bus - a double decker- and she is excited to be on the top deck

So the Big Man works today, and T. Willy has a football game. It's been awhile since I've had a Saturday mostly free, and I'm looking forward to catching up with things around the house. I also look forward to opening windows for the first time.

Field trip!!!

Last year I did not go to one thing at T. Willy's school - no field trips, not field day - nothing! I vowed to change that this year. An announcement came home about a field trip to a farm. It had my name all over it! So I found a sub and took today off.

It was a really fun day. We drove into the middle of nowhere to a research farm run by the University of Florida. What a blast! We learned so much. But, as much as I love farms and being in the country, the best part was how happy T. Willy was to have me there. He thanked me several times. That meant everything!

One funny thing: we were at the honeybee exhibit, and some girls were asking what something was. I told them that it was called honeycomb. The girls looked at me like I was crazy. One of them whispered to the other,"Honeycomb is a cereal."

We also went to a football game tonight. We fought hard and won a district game. We've been having a tough season, so it was a big boost for us. Go, Bulldogs!!!

Busy isn't a big enough word

Whew.

T. Willy is playing flag football again this year. He had his first practice this week, and it went really well. He has a new coach, and he seems like a good one. He's patient and really wants the kids to do well and have fun doing it. We're going to take the year off of Cub Scouts this year. There is just too much going on.

MK had a band competition in Troy, Alabama today, so the Big Man and T. Willy went there to watch her. She hurt her knee last night, so we are keeping an eye on it.

The reason I didn't join them was play related. We scheduled a day of set building. We still have a long way to go, but it was a good start. I'm just going to post some pictures now of what we've been up to.

Also, it is my favorite time of the year. I always get a happy feeling when Walmart sets up the holiday baking aisle!!!

Sentimental mom here.

So we took pictures of MK for her last homecoming tonight. I went back and found pictures of her homecomings throughout high school, so here they are.