A Pink Ending

I know I think this every year since I entered adulthood, but this year has gone by in a blink! Why is it that when you get older time just seems to never slow? For the first time in many years, Bobby and I actually had something fancy and fun to do on NYE! We headed with friends to the Pink Gala, a fund-raising event for breast cancer research in our community. We walked the official "pink" carpet and had our picture made!

Jeremy and Ashlee:
Michael and Kelly:
and Wes and Samantha:
I had a ton of fun hanging with some of my gals and dancing the night away!
Bobby didn't do much dancing...He just stalked me from the sidelines :)
I was so thankful to be ringing in the new year with some great friends!
Let's take a gander at some of the big events of 2011: I was watching a t.v. program the other day that followed up one of the biggest stories of 2011. One that I remember quite well because it happened on my birthday: Gabby Giffords getting shot while at a political rally. I really hope that if ever I'm presented with such trying circumstances, I can respond with the attitude and strength she has. Not only was it a great come back story but a great love story as well.

Speaking of love, there was the second most anticipated wedding of all time (next to the wedding of Bobonja) Kate and William. Some people got up in the middle of the night to watch it. I didn't. I slept in and then watched the replay over and over for the next at least 7 days.

In May Barack announced that a total stud on Seal Team 6 shot and killed Osama. High Five! That led to me reading a few books on Seal Team 6 and fantasizing that I was 1/4 as cool as them.

I know much, much more happened in 2011 but my memory is pretty much non-existent and I can only recall the above facts because I read Cade's Time for Kids Weekly Reader.

2012 Resolution: write down more things so I can remember them and then, (this is important), actually remember where I put the paper that has the memories written on them. That's the kicker.

Thank you, God, for another year to live and serve You. I hope that I do a better job in 2012. Happy New Year!!

Shoose

Elaina is definitely a girl after my own heart when it comes to her excitement over "shoose". She gets all happy whenever I pull out a pair she hasn't seen and she even knows the difference between boots and just plain shoes. That makes me smile :) Imagine her excitement when I pulled out some hand-me-down dress up shoes from her cousin, Amelia!

There were audible woahs and breathy wows. Then she was on her bottom with her little foot sticking into the air saying, "Shoose on. Shoose on, pees". So, shoes on it was!
She trotted down the hallway over and over again...
Up the hallway.....
back down the hallway to her bedroom where she would run into the bathroom so she could hear the 'click, click, click' of the little heel on the tile floor.
After she wore out the pink princess ones she came running with the green tinkerbell pair. And, again, it was "Shoose on, pees".
We played shoe dress up for about 30 minutes until rowdy brothers broke up our girl time.
I thank Jesus every day for making me wait on the perfect gift that was THIS baby girl. It tickles me pink to be playing shoes with her. Lord help Bobby when she steps up from Tinkerbell shoes to Christian Louboutins!

A Little Danger

Since Cade was the lucky recipient of a for real 20 gauge shotgun Bobby thought it was fitting to take the boys out in the semi-wilderness to have a little target practice. I dropped Lanie off at mom's house so that I could monitor the safety precautions. The boys could hardly contain their excitement. Apparently boys like to shoot guns.

They started out shooting Bobby's Pawpaw's old 22g rifle. Things were going smoothly!
Rhett pulled out his Daniel Boone cap for the occasion. Cuteness.
My self still trembles when he gets a gun in his hand. Thank goodness he doesn't swing that thing around like he does his nerf guns at home. We'd all be in trouble. Well, we'd all be dead.

It was Cade's turn to try out his new shotgun. He was poised and ready..... POW! That thing just about took his shoulder out!
He was all, "Holy Cow!!" and Bobby and Bob were cracking up! He tried it once more and then decided it would be a good idea to rest his shoulder.
Grant gave it a whirl and decided he was one and done. This is the pic right after he shot and when he started out he was standing straight up! Rhett took a turn and I'm not even joking when I say that it knocked his glasses right off his face. He might need to get a little more meat on the bones before he gives it another go!
After everyone had a turn they ran to check out the decimated sprite bottle. Judging by the woahs and wows, everyone thought it was pretty awesome!
Step back, Betsy. Mama's got the gun...I pulled off one shot and I'm pretty sure I let out an "auuugghhh" just in anticipation of the kick back. I'm tough though and if it hadn't been for the fact that I could no longer feel my toes or fingers I would've done a couple more shots. I actually prefer the shotgun to the rifle because I was more apt to actually hit something. That bullet spray gives you a little more room for error!
My little boys....
Rhett's favorite part of the whole trip was collecting the bullet shells. As soon as we got home he put them in a baggie for safe keeping. I'm pretty sure he's snuck them to church and to his Nana's. Not sure why. I have spent most of his life saying "hmmmmm. Not sure why he ________. " That's why I love him so much :)
After shooting bullets into the creek water and watching it splash, trying to hit a floating piece of trash, and shooting up a camper somebody dumped off, we called it a day. It was a fun boy's day!
Next stop: Guns and Leather. That way we can all learn to pack our heat wearing black leather bomber jackets. It's going to be killer.

Christmas Morn

I'm convinced that since becoming a parent Christmas morning is even more fun than it was when I was a kid. I LOVE anticipating the kid's faces when they see their goodies. Here's our Christmas living room the night before:

Santa had come and filled the stockings and dropped off one small gift for each kid. We decided a long time ago to sack Santa getting to give the awesome gifts. It's time for mom and dad to get a little credit! If we're being real then Santa needed to just give little wooden trinkets. We all know that electronics and big gifts are made in China, not the North Pole.
Anyway, after meeting in Cade and Grant's room for the reading of the birth of Jesus the boys headed down to see what was wrapped in those boxes that they couldn't figure out. I was sneaky this year!
Each boy got a large gift and one small one. I tricked them by writing a note and wrapping it up in a box. Rhett's read, "Look outside!"
Little Buddy was thrilled to see that mom and dad had come through and got him a basketball goal to go along with the basketball that Santa dropped off!
I must point out that Santa brought Grant the ONE thing that he had asked him for: toe shoes. What second grader asks for toe shoes?? I now cannot look at him without thinking of Frodo Baggins.
His card said, "Look in the playroom!"
That's where they found a new pastime, air hockey.
All three of them were pretty excited!
Cade's note read, "Look in mom and dad's room".
Where, much to my dismay and nauseous stomach, he found a for real 20g shot gun. This gives a whole new meaning to, "you'll shoot your eye out!". Dear Lord help us. No, seriously, Lord help us.
This was a gift that wasn't on Cade's wish list radar. I'm pretty sure we're fulfilling a dream of Bobby's with the purchase of this gun. Nothing says "I love you" more than a pile of dead ducks shot side by side with your dad.
Since Sleeping Beauty was sleeping way longer than the boys could stand, we decided to move on without her and then let her come down whenever she woke up. I've learned my lesson on waking babies up before they're ready. It's never fun. So, down she came about 45 minutes later.
She was a little apprehensive, what, with all of us staring at her and smiling so early in the morning.
She was unimpressed by the stack of books that Santa brought her which surprised me because the newest Llama Llama Red Pajama book was in there. She went straight for the kitchen that was her main surprise from Bobby and me.

Then she started in on her second present.

Some food for her kitchen!

She sifted through all of the fake veggies and went straight for the french fry. I don't know how many times it's going to take before she realizes that it's not real and she shouldn't eat it.
The boys rounded out their gift opening with baseball and football cards which are always a hit in this household. Bobby and I exchanged boots with one another and then I came across this in my stocking:
I cracked up that he used my first name but then I was thankful that he put his last one on there. With so many Cades here in the Hill it was going to take some serious investigating to figure out which one could have possibly written that note and put it in my stocking! Grant and Rhett had made several cute things for me for Christmas at school. I guess once you hit the 4th grade the teacher pats your kid on the back and says, "You're on your own for winter holiday gifts this year, buddy" so they're forced to write a quick note on Christmas Eve. I'll take it though. There will be a time soon enough that I'd be more than happy just to get a small piece of love from my boy. I hope your Christmas was as rewarding as ours! Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Cousin's Christmas

We headed to Bobby's parents on Christmas Eve for our celebration with his side of the family tree. The boys always look forward to time spent with their cousins and when you add presents into the mix it's an all-time high!

Elaina got a little QT with her Nana.
And I got a little QT and several neck breaking hugs from my favorite niece!
I'm not sure what Elaina is looking at here but she looks cute nonetheless. She may have been eyeballing......
this snowglobe. She loves snowglobes and one has already met it's maker this Christmas season therefore prompting me to leave my snowglobe collection safely in it's seasonal container.
Grant and Amelia:
I know Amelia looks forward to the day that Elaina is just a wee bit bigger and can play some stuff with her.
The boys all got matching pajama pants from Nana and Papa and I'm unsure of how it happened but the next thing you know everyone has them on their heads. Boys are silly.
Every year we follow up our present opening by heading to the Christmas Eve service at Bob and Elizabeth's church. Elaina made it about 3/4 of the way through and then had a come apart. The boys and I made it through the candle part while Bobby waited in the car. I was pleased that Rhett didn't catch his hair or anyone else's on fire. What a Christmas Eve blessing!
Two celebrations down, one more to go! I can't wait to see Christmas morning faces!