2 months in a FLASH

Wanna see some old stuff I never blogged about?

Not because I didn't think about doing it -- because I did.

Not because I didn't have the time -- although I didn't.

It was because I'm lacking the self-esteem needed to post about the everyday stuff. It's been a very taxing several weeks, to say the least. Not only the huge emotional upheavals one right after another, but the stomach flu that was like a nightmare we couldn't seem to wake up from! At the end of it all, I'm left feeling a little wrung out, sucked dry, stepped on, beaten down ..... empty. I started to get insecure and only posted about my "projects" here and there.

HOWEVER

With the new year comes a new beginning. I'm trying to get a fresh start on healing, cutting back on the unnecessary, and making some personal changes to improve my outlook. So... whether you find it interesting or not, here's some stuff I missed from the recent past!

We got family pictures taken!

And dang, forgive me but they are great! My favorite photographer made an exception just for me and volunteered to take us on (even though she had a 6-week old baby at the time). Can't say enough how much I am flattered, grateful, and impressed.

My baby turned 3

I worked very hard to make him this special cupcake with special frosting... and he hated it. He actually freaked out because everyone was watching him take the first bite, got frosting all over his upper lip and THEN refused to eat it. But luckily I forgave him.

Our Nana surprised me and came into town for Thanksgiving

And she came wearing Sketchers, boot-cut jeans, and a hoodie! Did I mention she's 86? And she does water aerobics? And she did a whole slew of Black Friday shopping with us? Oh how I love Nana!

Thanksgiving

There was Turkey. In my hand AND behind me.

I made 12-layer Jell-O in fall-ish colors. Hmmm, I love my triple use of hyphens in that last sentence.

We took Nana for her VERY FIRST pedicure. And she actually loved it!

Mitchell played in his very first guitar recital

I gave Jason tickets to Brian Regan for an early Christmas gift

And it was the most fabulous money I've ever spent. We laughed until we hurt all over. (Side note: this was a picture I took of the image on the big screen. All of my photos pointed at the stage just didn't turn out. But if you know of Brian Regan, did you notice the HAIR? It's the first thing I said when he walked out on stage - His hair! It's all white! And sure enough, the very first thing Brian said when the applause died down, "I know what you're all thinking: What's up with Mr. Frosty Locks!?!?"

Christmas Party w/ my extended family

Here's me and all my girl cousins. (Nevermind that it looks like I'm standing in a hole or something...)

And here's what we're REALLY like when we're together

All he wants for Christmas are his FOUR front teeth!

Teeth started falling from the sky. Mitchell lost a tooth on the 23rd (no picture, it was a molar - ewww) and the next day Tucker's 4th, yes FOURTH, front tooth fell out on Christmas Eve. Poor child hasn't eaten a crunchy food correctly for most of the year. Good news is, we told him that the Tooth Fairy and Santa could just "carpool" that evening.

Christmas Eve #1

We acted out a cute little nativity

The boys opened up THE. COOLEST. bow and arrow sets from my in-laws.

Cora got some stylish new hats, homemade by me (sorry, couldn't resist.)

Hurry off to Christmas Eve #2

Over to my folks' house

We acted out the Nativity yet again, this time via our traditional puppets.

The joy of Grandma and Grandpa!

Merry Christmas!

Annual Christmas Gathering w/ my Sorority Sisters

Even this many (a # which shall not be named) years later, we're still hot

No Rest for the Weary

From Christmas day, all the way to New Years, the stomach flu worked its way through all of us. Nice and s-l-o-w-l-y. Well actually it wasn't "nice" at all. All I can say is thank goodness that 4 out of the 5 of us can aim where our puke goes. That was handy.

New Year's Eve

Since we couldn't go anywhere and no one wanted to be near us, we stayed home for New Years. Took the kids outside for 15 minutes to light some semi-legal fireworks. Did you know it was INSANELY COLD??? Look how they are dressed! That never happens in my neighborhood - never. Anyway, before the sun came up the next morning Cooper was puking some more. Happy New Year!

Grandma

On January 3rd, my other Grandma passed away. She has had a rough battle with her health for the last few months especially. At almost 91 years old, it was bittersweet relief to see her go. This is the Grandma that I grew up nearby and got to see much more often. She was gorgeous like a movie star and certainly brought so much spunk to our family! So many memories rush through my mind now as we prepare for the funeral.