A Year in Review....

2010.....ummm............where did you go? 

I cannot believe it's coming to an end.  What a great year it has been for my fam of 4.

We started out the year with Molly starting her first extra curricular activity....gymnastics.  She started in February, and also had her 4th birthday on 2-22.  She wanted her birthday party at her gym and it was really lots of fun.

Gym time!

In April, Aubrey had tubes put in her ears....poor thing had ear infections continually from Dec-April.  I'm glad to report she's had NO infections since.  (knock on wood)

Also in April Greg and I took a motorcycle trip to and around Eureka Springs, it was beautiful on the back of a bike and I would love to go back again and again! 

April also held an important deadline for my hubby and I.  April 30th was the date we set to reach our weightloss goals.  His was to lose 60 lbs. and mine was 40 lbs....and we reached them! 

In May, my Prince Charming turned 28 and we celebrated with our good friends. 

We soaked up lots of sun at Eufaula all summer long....and on days like today with a current temp of 30°, I'm daydreaming of my toes in that warm sand!  Greggy enjoyed his new wakeboard and the new speakers on the boat he worked so hard on, and Molly found a new love for riding the tube....and I can't forget little Aubi-Aub!  By the end of the summer she was no longer eating sand!  :)

August was busy with Molly starting pre-k.  She's loved everything about it so far.  It was also a milestone for Aubi...she began walking on her own!

September we celebrated my 26th birthday on the 6th. 

Shortly after was Aubrey's very 1st birthday.  It went off without a hitch! 

We also took a motorcycle trip to Texas and had a good time with great company.  These peaceful views are from the top of Mount Scott that is inside the Wichita Forest Reserve and Wildlife Refuge in Lawton, OK. 

October came and we had another terrific Halloween with phenomenal weather.  November....Thanksgiving was a wonderful day of eating and just kicking back...so glad I wore stretchy pants that day, I ate SO much!

December got a little more hectic, but fun hectic.  Molly started basketball, we had several Christmas parties, LOTS of Christmas shopping, gift wrapping, and baking to do!  But of course it was all well worth it. 

Christmas Day was nothing shy of terrific.  I'm always emotional on Christmas Day but found myself only tearing up once, which could be a record!  It's a good emotional though...I just find myself sitting back and taking in all our loved ones, both family and friends that surround us and it just overwhelms me at how blessed I am.  Not sure how I got so lucky.  Made new friends, built stronger relationships with old ones. 

Hats off to 2010...it has been a great one. 

Christmas Day 2010

Molly with her DSi from Santa

Aubi got a four wheeler from Santa...tops out at a whopping 2 mph.  Within 20 minutes she was attempting stunts......we've got a dare devil on our hands!!

Mommy and my sunshine girls

Me & my prince Christmas morning

Crazy hair!

Aubrey taking a break from opening presents...it's hard work!!

Molly and her cousin Layla showing off their fabulous fake fingernails!

Looking forward to the new year ahead.  I can only imagine what it has in store for us.

Cheers to 2011!

The most wonderful time of the year...

This past May we lost a great man, my grandfather.  We knew it was coming but it didn't really make it any easier.  This Christmas will be a little tough without him.  The first tears came when I was getting ready to mail out Christmas cards and was sorting through my mailing addresses.  I came across his name and my heart just seemed to sink a little deeper in my chest.  Lots of great memories with this man.  Most childhood stories that I share with my brother and sister consist of being out on my grandparents little acreage.  Whether we were running for our lives from small garden snakes, picking apples in the orchard, swinging from that old tire swing, stealing honeysuckle without bugging any bees, or Grandpa teaching us how to drive the go cart, oh and I can't leave out baking with Grandma.  All of these memories will forever hold a special place in my heart.

One favorite past time is Christmas Eve.  For as long as I can remember we always spent it with these grandparents, my mom's sisters and their families.  Every year we ordered Little Caesar's Pizza and had a bucket of chicken.  Kind of an odd menu, yes I know. Then everyone threw in a side dish or dessert.  The past 2 years Greg and I were fortunate enough to host this bunch in our home. 

This year with Grandpa being gone, my mom and her sister's decided not to do our routine get together.  So instead, my mom and dad hosted my family of 4, my brother & fam, and my sister & fam.  We kept the pizza and chicken tradition alive, and I have a feeling we always will!  We all had a great time just kicking back and enjoying each other.  Our kids ages are 5,4,3, soon to be 2, 15 months, and the latest arrival is due in January.  Only one boy, poor thing!
We are fortunate enough to all live in the same city.  Of course we don't really see each other as often as we'd like.  Life has us all thrown in different directions.  It just makes the times we actually get together that much sweeter.  We are so blessed.  So blessed to have each other.  So blessed to have beautiful, healthy, perfect children.  So blessed to have jobs we are all secure in and for the most part really enjoy.  So blessed that our mom and dad love us and are so involved with our kids.  I could keep going but I'll spare ya. 

This is what Christmas is all about.  Time together, laughter, hugs, tears of joy, sharing old memories and making new ones. 

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.  ~Burton Hillis

Christmas Break...

Well take it from me, don't start a blog toward the end of the year!  It's been over a month since my last post.  We. have. been. busy.  That about sums it up!  This is the first year where we are still not completely done shopping and Christmas is 6 days out.  Yikes!!  I have high hopes to finish up tomorrow...fingers crossed. 

This passed week Molly was extremely busy at school....all fun of course.  LOTS to keep up with though.  Two performances of her Christmas Program, Grandparents Day brunch, Pajama Day with a visit from Santa, and a Christmas party with cookie decorating and a book exchange with her classmates. 

Now she's officially on her first Christmas Break.  This first semester in school has been so much fun for all of us.  Molly LOVES school and is crazy about her teacher.  Her little brain is absorbing so much.  She is learning to spell and sound words out.  She can write her entire alphabet by herself.  Her vocabulary is broad.  One smart cookie she is.  We are so proud of her. 

You can barely see her over yonder on the back row.  This was the cute performance for Grandparents Day.

 School Christmas Program

 Book exchange and thrilled with the book she got.

 Taking her time decorating her sugar cookie.  Most of the other kids just piled on the icing and mixed it with other colors, but not her...she very precisely drew a star and knew exactly what sprinkles she wanted to use...awfully creative!