Happy Mother's Day, why am I so short?

Last weekend I was in the land that flows with milk and honey, to celebrate my mother, and all things motherly. 

It was a jam-packed visit, that included a little animal sight seeing in my parents side yard. 

Wonder if momma bird got to celebrate her fist Mother's Day?

So ugly they are cute.

Paul worked that weekend, so it was just me and kids. We went to Huber's and ate a buffet of friend chicken and fried biscuits, SIGN ME UP.

Cody Bear, as I annoyingly affectionately call him, is always so sweet to pay attention to the kids.

And when he plays with them, sometimes you even catch him with a REAL smile.

I told Jo and mom that I wanted to get some pictures of us, you know one of those 'four generations photos' which made them moan.

I do love this photo, but I can't help but wonder why Almighty God decided to throw me on the short train when he made me. My mother is 5'10, and my sister, WITHOUT HER MASSIVE HEELS, is also 5'10. Then there is me, 5'5.  Can't you just hear it? ONE OF THESE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER...Thank you Sesame Street for understanding. But enough about my short stature in this here family.

When I was a child and someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would always tell them I want to be a mommy. It's really all I every really wanted.

I'm so thankful I got what I wanted, and I'm sorry for all the times I take this gift for granted.

Oh and just because my kids said so.... Happy Mother's Day indeed.

Nathan time

My weekend was centered around this guy. 

I did manage to throw in some stuff that didn't involve him.

But for the most part, it was Nathan time.

I walked into Borden High School to watch Nathan play basketball and who did I look up and see?  My bestie's husband!

I was all like, ERIC! And then all, WHERE'S TRACEY?

Sad face, Tracey wasn't there, but we all had fun hanging out. Cause you know when you hang out with Eric Reid it's basically like hanging out with the mayor, because he knows ERRBODY.

Also absent, my baby who came down sick on Saturday. Blah.

But back to Nathan, who is now SIXTEEN!

And as you can see thrilled about it.

 Thankfully Hope perked up for the party.

She's pretty crazy about her cousins.

But we all feel that way.

I remember turning sixteen, and what a sweet age it was.

Of course when I look at my baby nephew I see the little boy who carried around a ball all the time, and took a bottle until kindergarten. Ha! But here he is growing up, and doing a fine job at it.

So glad I was there to celebrate you. Happy Birthday, Nathan.

A bear I call Cody

It's been brought to my attention by a few people that I haven't blogged in over two weeks. And it's true, I have ignored the blog for the greater good. We had a talk, I told it that it had a really pretty face, it's not you it's me, but listen, we need a break. 

There were tears, there was angst, but overall I felt good about leaving it behind for a while. Sometimes you just need to live the moments. 

Nice thing about taking a break, is once you come back you have a TON of stuff to write about. No writers block for me for a while! Instead I will fill everyone in on the riveting details of our lives for the last two weeks, and painstakingly drag it out, for probably the remainder of the month. And I'm sure at that point only five of you will be reading, but hey, I'LL LOVE YOU FIVE. 

So let me begin where I left off.....

The last day of school before we began our Winter break, was the 19th. I hauled out of work early, flew across the county, and celebrated with the kids at their parties. 

They still want me there, so I'm all in.

And I was literally as giddy as they were. The beginning of a break is a very glorious thing.

I spent the remainder of the weekend planning and packing, because the majority of my break would be spent away from home. 

In fact I only had that Saturday in BG, because Sunday I rolled up to the Promised Land to celebrate a bear, that is also known as Cody. Or as I ALWAYS call him, CODY BEAR. And I warned him early on, "you will take a selfie with me on your birthday, you just have to, ok?" And you know I just adore how he humors me. He thinks I'm crazy, WHICH IS TRUE, but for some reason he treats me kindly anyways. 

December 21, a sweet day for a Cody Thomas to be born. 

Cody, Nathan, and Megan just plop right down and play with the kids.

Do you know how awesome that is for a 7 and 10 year old?

Attention from a 20 and 15 year old, is where it's at it. TRUST ME.

SO this face right here is a general Cody face. I can see it, he's annoyed with me, thinking about saying something he shouldn't, or maybe even throwing my camera through a wall.

But he loves me, and he always humors me.

Have I mentioned he's TWENTY?!

I was twenty when he was born, and the excitement I had over his arrival was BEYOND.

There are stories of how he would be perfectly content sleeping and I would tell Jo, "he looks like he needs to be held, I mean he looks sad." And I would pick up that content, sleeping baby, just because I NEEDED TO HOLD HIM.  I may have indeed played a role in ruining him, but he was so worth it.

Happy Birthday, Cody Bear, I love you.

Thanksgiving 2014

Imagine my delight when I awoke on Thanksgiving and saw some snow on the ground. 

Not much, but still enough to get me EXCITED!

I'm naturally already excited on Thanksgiving, so it doesn't take much to put me over the edge.

I was up with a cup of coffee taking it all in...

Especially my beloved parade! I just love watching it!

But let's get to the really important stuff.....

My mom always sets a beautiful table.

And each of the girls gets an ornament, a tin of fudge, and this year some homemade chex mix! Yum!

My mom does most of the cooking, but Paul does the bird.

And he always does a fine job!

Before we finally sat down to eat, I forced the kids to take a picture, but thankfully for them it wasn't anything too staged.

But yes, back to the really important stuff...

THE FOOD.

I've said it a million times, favorite meal of the year.

But even one step above the food?

Okay, maybe more than one step above the food...

Just hanging with my favorites.

At first we all gather and wait to pounce...

And then after the feast, there is the lingering.

Is that what all families do? Linger in the afterglow of food?

But we better not linger too long!

There were some birthdays to celebrate!

My brother....

And yes, me.

Such a fantabulous way to spend Thanksgiving.

 I love this time of year, and I love my family.

Thankful for our crew that gathers round the table.