My artist

I don't want to forget how hard Pierce worked all the way up to Christmas on his gifts. 

It was a daily effort where he would think, and work, and painstakingly draw.  And then sometimes have meltdowns only to start the whole process all over again, he's a perfectionist like that.

He would think over what each person in the family liked and then set out to draw something that related to that. He would research it and then free-hand draw it.

I know I'm biased and stuff, but for realsie, he is good.

For example, he looked up a picture of an eagle on the Internet, and then just drew it.

Makes me wonder if what he won't grow up and do something that uses this?

Who knows.

But he sure worked hard on all his gifts, and I was very proud of his effort and giving heart.

The rest of 2013

I've decided that my kids will think Indiana ONLY means fun

Cause pretty much all we ever do there is play.

If for some reason we ever move back to Indiana they will be in for a rude awakening

You mean we have to work and go to school here?

It is always one big fun-town, where we seem to have the motto, LET'S CRAM IN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!

And not just for the chirren, I get to have fun too. You know like mom and I meeting Jo at a nice restaurant. (See what I did there?)

And once the sickness subsided with the Reid's, finally hanging out with mah bestie.

So we could finally exchange Christmas gifts

And I could wonder how she can make one eyeball stick out like that.

But you know it was finally time to say goodbye, time to get home and get back to life. 

As much as I hate goodbye, I was glad to get home and get into my routine because I'm old like that.

I'm ready for the new year! Whoop!

P.S. 2014 is the year I turn 40.

An unexpected journey

It was a day in November that I asked the kids if they wanted to have a piece of fudge that their Neena had made. And considering that I usually want to hoard all that fudge for myself that was really big of me. 

Anyways, kids said, "YES"

Pierce took a bite of it and told me he didn't like it, and I questioned his judgement about life, but whatever more for me. And then it wasn't even a minute later that he told me that his tongue itched. 

Um, what?!

There are walnuts in the fudge and I immediately wondered..... I texted Brittany who has experience with food allergies, and she told me that a food allergy can develop at any age. Great. 

Appointment with allergist was set weeks out, but we just wont eat any nuts between now and then I told Pierce. Until genius mom here forgot that rule and gave him a bite of Derby Pie, UGH. And again he said his tongue was itching. 

I still thought to myself surely not, but appointment will confirm either way. 

But much to wishful thinking, I was wrong.

The doctor came in and told us he is indeed allergic to tree nuts and peanuts.

I think I teared up for a second.

Suddenly we are talking Epi Pens and plans of action if ever need be, and I just never expected that. I know parents and children deal with this on a daily basis, but it took me a few minutes to wrap my head around it.

 I'm thankful he's older and is aware of what he's eating and not a baby who just puts anything and everything in his mouth. And I'm thankful I know for sure now. I'm also thankful that it's just an itchy tongue and not a throat swelling shut kind of thing. And prayerfully it never goes there.

It's an unexpected journey, but that's okay.

Yes it's 2014, here's my Christmas post

So yes it's 2014 and I suppose I should be doing some sort of, 'it's a New Year so let's be reflective post' but here's Christmas instead. 

Christmas had finally come....

Kids were up at their usual time, but we always hold them off for at least 20 minutes

When they came down the steps I noticed they had somewhat "fixed" themselves up

Cracked me up that Pierce put on a sweater.

 They EAGERLY dove in, and Hope was ecstatic about getting a loom. And we have dozens of bracelets and random rubber bands in odd places to prove it!

Pierce threw me for a loop this year when he told me he wanted clothes. CLOTHES?! I mean just look at his little feet that don't touch the floor yet, and he wants clothes?

All the thought, effort and stress is always worth it in the end when you see how excited they are.

And I got a sweet little surprise too.

The kids along with their daddy had been up to something for a couple weeks, but I could never figure out what...

Frames they made just for me. They picked their individual themes and colors and put a lot of hard work into them. SWEETNESS.

But that was just our little Christmas as a family, we still had the big kahuna awaiting us.

But we know how to make little children suffer by stringing it out, because you know the adults want food first!

As we all huddle around the food until we get word that we can pounce.

Thankfully there were plenty of distractions.

Who would have thought that my sweet little girl would find a whoopee cushion SO AMUSING!

But finally it was time....

We started out nice and slow

Sort of leisurely opening.

 But somewhere along the way

We started to speed up

And then it was kind of crazy town for a while.

Until I got word from my dad that Hope was on the verge of tears because she didn't get "the one thing I asked for over and over again."

Which by the way that message was delivered to me from a father who looked like he might put a head on a platter. Papaw was upset his granddaughter was sad.

But never fear, it was there all along. SUPER NEENA TO THE RESCUE, and Hope finally got that Easy Bake Oven she had been asking for since October.

And can you tell I got a new lens for my camera?

I put that thing on and started to snap away

Which I guess isn't any different than normal, is it? I get a lot of heat for all the pictures I take..

But I think when we will look back one day and appreciate all these moments.

Right?

I know I do.

So much can change in a year.

And I'm thankful for another Christmas of sweet memories made

And for parents who always put forth such effort to make it special.

Christmas 2013 in the books.