2012

This past year was an amazing one.  It brought a lot of growth for me personally.  I learned a lot about who I am as a person, and unfortunately learned that sometimes people just are not very nice.  I did not discuss details on my blog this year, but there were multiple situations this year that tested my character. I felt multiple times as though God was allowing me to be tested in situations that were inwardly tearing me down. I was so confused by those situations, but at the same time I learned a lot about myself.  I learned that sometimes you HAVE to stand up for yourself, sometimes you will be falsely accused and all you can do is laugh about it, and I learned that paper is stronger than words.  All in all he taught me the power of forgiveness.  Someone who I look up to as a Godly example messaged me as I was dealing with a big issue that "God is always good even when people are not".  That is so true.  He is always good, and he loves the people who did you wrong.  That realization was eye opening to me.  I learned to pray for the people who hurt me, and that helped me start to forgive.  Now, forgiveness does not mean you forget. You learn, you move on, and you put up your guard.  I had to do this multiple times this year.  I still struggle with it.  However, God has taught me that "He has bigger plans for me, his way is BETTER, and that he will bless me for remaining calm".  My goal in all of these situations was to walk away with no regrets about the way I handled myself, and I am confident that I have no regrets.  It was definitely a year of learning lessons, that I wish I would not have had to learn, but it helped me grow, strive, and become the woman (and business woman) that I am today.

I also watched my children grow and change so much this year!! It is crazy how fleeting their toddler hood is.    Inwardly I have struggled with that realization a lot this year as well.  I am continuously torn between wanting to only be a mommy, and wanting to grow and expand my business.  I am still finding the balance, and it may never be a perfect balance, but I hope to find one that works for us.

This year I watched my baby girl turn ONE!! That seemed like such a big number, and yet here we are a year later on the verge of turning TWO!  Time...you are so fleeting.

My sweet boy started growing up, and really wanting to grow up on me.  I will never forget this sweet day.

We took Caleb on his first date with mommy and daddy, and to his first movie!

We survived a tornado!! Still the scariest day of my life.  I am still trying to convince my husband to build me a bunker.

We celebrated Easter.

Caleb melted my heart! 

I was a nanny to five for a month and a half.  

Caleb had a special day with daddy.  

We had a wonderful vacation and summer. 

Caleb turned Three 

Caleb started Preschool. 

Kinlee is potty trained.  

We moved.  

All in all when I look back on 2012.  This post holds the pictures that will forever be embedded in my memory.  Hot summer days, spent playing in water at our old house.

Well...that was a Success

We didn't get around to sending out Christmas cards this year, but if we would have this would have been the picture!! Success??

Mckinlee 22 Months

I thought I better get this in before Kinlee turns 23 months next week.

Mckinlee at 22 months:

Eating:  You like to snack all day.  You do not particularly like to have meal times.  You favorite food is still peanut butter, and fruit snacks.

Size: 20 lbs, 12-18 month mostly, size 2 diapers for sleep, and size 2T undies.  You are wearing a size 4 shoe.

Teeth:  You are trying to cut your canines, but they have not popped out just yet.

Speech:  You talk all the time. You are always practicing your words. Sentences are now a norm for you.

Exciting New Things:

• You always say "A, L, N, O, E" when you are trying to count, or looking at letters/numbers.  
• You are talking in sentences more and more.  "I wanna Eat", "Where Ellie Go" etc.
• You have almost learned to jump.  We got a trampoline for Christmas and you have almost got it down.
• You love to play ring around the rosie.  You sing "round round round, DOWN". 
• You have not been as fussy as normal this month.  If you are fussy your punishment is laying on a pillow until you calm down, and it actually works! 
• Papaw hung the moon while we were visiting.
• You loved opening all your gifts at Christmas. 
• You try to do everything Caleb does.
• You are such a little mama.  A baby goes with you everywhere, and you love to take care of them.  You also love playing in your play kitchen.
• You still love to play with cars.

You are so sweet and perfect and I love you bunches!! 

Claus for a Cause

I am playing catch up if you can not tell. I have a free moment, and I want to try to get all these posts in.

A few weeks ago we attended the Lane family's first Claus for a Cause, which benefited the Dragonfly Foundation.  They had a Santa come to their home, and guests were asked to bring a donation.  We attended and had so much fun.  The kids loved seeing Santa from a distance.  Caleb had a lot of fun listening to Santa's stories and playing with his friends.

Caleb's School Christmas Party

The week before we left for my hometown Caleb's preschool had a Christmas party.  Parents were allowed to come after their lunch time and celebrate the birth of Jesus with them.  Can I just say first off how much I love sending my child to a Christian pre-school?  He is gaining so much wisdom about God's love as well as academic wisdom.  They pray before they eat, they attend chapel once a month, the letter J is for Jesus, and most importantly they were taught the true meaning of the season.

Any who, I brought a fun craft for the kiddos at the party.  I printed a Santa Face, brought along some glue and cotton balls, and the kids had a blast gluing on Santa's beard.  Kinlee even got to sit beside brother and participate.  Have I said how much I love his school yet?  :).

After the craft the children had show and tell.  Caleb brought along his "funny book", and was so excited to share it.  They then had their book exchange "hot potato" style.  It was hilarious watching them pass the books around the circle.  Caleb tossed it a few times.  Kinlee pulled a chair over and sat in awe during the entire thing.

It was such a fun little get together, and I am so glad that I got to be a part of it.

Christmas Festivities

I am back once again.  Soooo beyond behind on recording everything.  I truly love having this blog to reference back on, and I hate when I allow so much time to pass in between posts.  My news years resolution is to become a better blogger.  I generally break down Christmas posts and I think that is the route I am going to continue this year.

So Christmas post #1

On the 17th the kiddos and I traveled to my hometown to spend a week with my family.  I have to admit that there is something so "homey" about driving back into the mountains.  It always makes me nostalgic, and I have to admit that this view will always feel like home.  There is something special about being encompassed by mountains....it some how feels safe, inviting, loving....you have a history....people know where you came from, where you are now.....it just feels right.  I love it, and even though we may never move back, I am glad that it is where I grew up and that I can share it with my children.

My dad could not wait until Christmas to give the kids their gift.  So, they got to break it in early.  They loved it.  Kinlee would just sit and wave, and Caleb was all boy.  He would spin, shoot backwards, and even jumped a tree stump.  The first time he jumped the stump you could just see the little boy excitement come out on his face like "OMG that was AWESOME".  He immediately came back to do it again.  We were able to have dinner with my dad, grandmother, and my dads girlfriend one night.  I was able to spend time with my high school "group" who I have not seen in sooo long, and we spent a lot of time with family.  We were also able to play in the snow one day which was fun.

The 23rd we had Christmas at my dads with my sister, grandmother, dad, and Nick was able to join us for that.  Dad outdid himself with food, and it was AHHmazing.

The 24th the kids awoke to presents from Grammy. The cash register was a huge hit.  We then went to my aunts and uncles for dinner and  presents.  The boys all got Nerf guns, and a war broke out.  Caleb opened presents, and one of his gifts was wrapped in a brown box...his response "A box, I don't want a box" haha.

It was a great visit home.  Be sure to check back for the remainder of my Christmas posts...I know you are just dying to hear about them :).

North Pole Breakfast

So I wrote a post about my dream of having an over the top North Pole Breakfast with my kiddos on my Event Planning blog.  Click on over to get inspired.

Family Photos

A few weeks ago we had our family photos taken by Amber Bridges.  She also shot our family photos last year.  She is so sweet and talented, and  I am very happy with how the photos turned out.  We went to her families pumpkin farm, and although it was pretty darn chilly out we made the best of it.  I laugh because I had big plans to get a lot of head shots of the kids, but they were not into that.  Instead I have a beautiful collection of mostly candid s, that reflect my family perfectly during this season of life.

If you would like to see the full collection of photos...

• Click here
• Click on photography portfolio
• Clients
• Password: Nick 

While you are at it hop on over to Amber's facebook page and like it.  I know she would appreciate it.