A New Year

We chose a night in...I guess we are old and boring...but that's the way we like it!  Personally, I like to spend the last day of the year with the people I love the most and get a good night sleep.  Who wants to be tired and hungover on the first day of the new year.  Anyway, I am looking forward to putting 2012 behind me.  There have been many blessings, disappointments, and loses but I am faithful that God has great things in store for us in 2013.  This year we moved to Dallas, bought our first house, said good-bye to my Uncle Timmy, Addi started pre-school, and I went back to work.  In that time we had good days, bad days, sad days, won games, lost games, worried about things we couldn't control, prayed, laughed and shared time with family and friends.  I know that each and everything that happened was part of a plan and has put us exactly where we are supposed to be.  There have been times where my faith hasn't been as strong as it needed to be, but I'm working on it, and I'm trusting that God is going to take of the things that I worry about! Today I am looking forward to a fresh start in a new year.  I am looking forward to spending more time with my husband and best friend and watching out beautiful daughter grow and entertain us daily.  I'm going to work on my faults and I probably won't lose ten pounds this year, and that's okay with me because there are more important things in life. 

Santa Claus is coming to town!

 The cheeeeeeese face I've been seeing alot of lately!

 

 Mimi, Addi & Porter watching Rio @ Maw Maw's Christmas

 My mom's face cracks me up! We all knew that she was unwrapping the "dream light" that she has been wanting for MONTHS! her reaction was priceless!

 the gaping mouth....as you can see we got alot of that! She said repeatedly that this was the best Christmas ever!

Santa sent a large supply of her favorite gum...it's the little things!

 

 Gammy and Poppit opening presents at our house

 

 Cousin Aubrey showing off her presents

 

 Uncle Nic, Birdie & Aubrey - how did yall know I wanted this??!!!!!!

 

All together this Christmas was good.  I won't say great, I spent the entire break being sick or feeling blah! I hate being sick.  God bless Ryan for putting up with my grouchy butt.  Thankfully I don't get sick often.  I love Christmas and I look forward to it every year, but I hate all the stress of finding the right gift for everyone and the wrapping and traveling etc.  I want it all to be perfect, but all that stressing sometimes ruins the real reason for Christmas.  Addison had the BEST CHRISTMAS ever, so that makes it worth it.  I just wish I had more time off work so everything didn't have to be so rushed! I was so tired of all the hectic mess...I just took down my tree! I never take my tree down this early.  I think I am probably just being a little bit of a grinch...maybe next year at this time I will have more things to be happy about and less things to worry about.  I know I am very blessed, but sometimes it is easier to focus on the things that I don't have rather than all the wonderful things that I do have.  I am very thankful for my family (the one's I was born into and the one's I married into) and great friends who have always supported us and loved us.  Am most of all...that beautiful little girl who makes our life complete.  I can't imagine a day without her. 

My mission for 2013...
"Be so busy loving your life you have no time for hate, regret or fear" - Karen Salmansohn

 



The Gaylord Texan Resort

This year Ryan and I decided there wasn't anything we really wanted for Christmas BUT we wanted to go do something instead!  I found the Gaylord Resort and decided we HAD to go see their Christmas display.

 

December 22, 2012

 

The ICE Madagascar show!  It is 8 degrees in there...brrrr... thank goodness for the parkas! 

 Outside the life-size gingerbread house!

 

 the ice slide!

 

 Snow tubing with daddy!

 

the view from our room!

 

 

We had a great time and it was really beautiful! I wish Addi and I would have been feeling better -- we both had the flu!!! yuck! We will definitely visit the Gaylord again, next year we will get a flu shot!



We are THANKFUL!

 Daddy & Addi at the Thanksgiving Feast at her school

 Our little Indian

 Getting our 'game faces' on for the TCU vs. Texas game!

Big Griff and the horned frogs whipped ut!! woohoo!

We had our first Thanksgiving at our new house because Lovejoy was still in the playoffs (unfortunately we lost our game Friday).  Poppit and Ryan fried up the turkey and us girls took care of all of the sides.  We had a great meal with lots of leftovers...and even got to eat at our new custom dinning table!

 

I am so thankful for my little family.  The last few years have thrown us some curve balls, but we still have so many things to be thankful for.  I know that God has blessed us and will continue to bless us.  I am so thankful for God's grace and for alway providing us with more than we deserve. 

 

{Coming soon... Santa sent Sammy the Elf to our house today...I have a feeling she will be getting into lots of trouble while she stays with us!}



Just Fishin'

I am so thankful for my wonderful husband and my sweet little girl.  I am even more thankful that Ryan supports my constant picture taking.  I realized a long time ago that time flies by and things change and we are left with memories.  I still love looking at old pictures of Addison...it seems like just yesterday she was a tiny baby.  Today I was having a crappy day, the kind of day where you just feel so sorry for yourself that it's hard to pull yourself out of the dark hole you are in...a really crappy day.  And then I got on facebook and got a reality check from our friend Sam...who lost his whole family in a car crash a few months ago.  Anytime you think you are having a bad day I guarantee there is someone having a worse one.  His story is important to share and the way he has remained faithful is something to admire.  We all can learn from his post today...it is worth sharing (I hope he doesn't mind).  I don't think he will, it seems Sam has made it his life's mission to share his familiy's story and "seek and save the lost" just as God wants us to do.  We all need to make more time for the people we love. 

(Sam's fb post)

FISHING.....

Let me tell you something about fishing. I have fished my whole life. I remember going fishing with my Dad and Mr Cliff when I was little boy. As I got older I fished bass tournaments with my friend Blake and all my buddies from Bass Chumps Bass Club in Giddings, TX. We fished all over the state. It wasnt until I met Elizabeth Dowdy my beautiful wife that I realized the importance of fishing.

The first date Liz and I went on was a bass fishing trip on Lake Austin. I took her to the county line bbq joint on the lake and after we fished around the boat docks. That was when she caught her first largemouth bass. I will never forget that night. The smile her face when she caught that fish was peircing. I fell in love with that woman on our first date. There was something about the purity of that smile that I could never figure out why it was so memorable. She traveled with me all over and fished tournaments and fished just fun. We had the best of times doing this. I have pictures on my facebook page showing some of our trips. I would have to say these are some of the most important picture to me in my life with Liz. As Im telling you this I cant help but to cry. 

Now when we had Fischer back in 08' we gave up the boat to buy a house in Salado. But, we didnt give up fishing. I moved to a location that creek access with plenty of spots to go fishing. I can tell you that Fischer, Ben and I spent at least 1 day a week down at that creek fishing. The size fish were small but catching a fish is the exciting part for my boys. It didnt matter the size. They would get excited about a minnow. One of the last trips I took with my family was a fishing trip to the coast. We camp and fished. This is where Fischer caught is first fish on his own. He set the hook and reeled the fish in all by himself. I remember him saying, "Daddy I think I have one.." I said reel him in son. I will never forget the smile on that boys face. He was so pround to be able to do it all by himself. It was the only keeper of the morning. 18" speckled trout. The purity of the smile and excitement was something that I will never forget. 

Now to the meaning of telling you all this. The idea of fishing can be a lot work sometimes. We get so busy in our life that we think we dont have time for it. Let me tell you that this includes many other things in life. I now know why I always involved fishing in my life and its not because I just like fishing. I love the time you get to spend with one another when your not catching anything. Most people think that its boring when your not catching. I look at it as time you get to spend with the onesyou love. I have never had a bad day on the water. Then there the moment wwhen you catch your fish. It doesnt matter if its the first one ever caught the 1000 fish ever caught. The purity of the joy and the smile that comes from the person catching the fish is priceless. I wouldnt trade these times I had for nothing. 

Remember, and I have and will always live my life to these words. The most important things in life are the small things. Something as small as catching a fish! Or baiting the first hook! These are the small things that if you slow down just enough you will get the most joy out of. 

After my loss of my family, I havent enjoyed fishing as much as I used to. Its hard for me to get the joy out of it like I used to. But it doesnt mean I will never do it again. I still get to see other peoples joy when we get out on the water.  

REMEMBER, THE SMALL THINGS IN LIFE!

Happy Halloween!

Strawberry Shortcake had a great Halloween! She loved trick-or-treating this year.  It was funny she wouldn't say "trick-or-treat" she kept saying "happy halloween".  We were surprised that she wasn't afraid of the spooky house and costumes.  The neighborhood we live in has a decorating contest...so there were lots of neat houses.  We were unprepared...lots of people set up tents and chairs outside to hand out candy!  Addi got lots of candy but she loved opening the door and giving out candy too.  It was a great Halloween..but I took down all the Halloween decor and I am pulling out the Christmas tree tomorrow!!! That's right...I'm crazy I know...but I love the glow of a Christmas tree!

Scissors+hair+3 year old = new haircut

Addison decided to give herself a haircut the other night!  She loves to cut paper and has never tried to anything except paper....so now she has a new short haircut! I like it, but it makes her look so old :(

School Fun

 

Addison loves her school so much! Here she is playing the drum in her music class.  I am so glad I work at her school and can watch her experience so many firsts.  Last week she got to play the accordian (I forgot to take a picture).  This week in her class learned all about fruit...she tasted star fruit for the first time...she wasn't a big fan!

The last two weeks all of the classes have been raising money for the JDRF (juevenille diabetes research foundation) and Friday they did their walk to cure diabetes.  Addi held hands with her friends and BOYFRIEND Rook and here she is holding hands with her friends Jordan and her bff Vhauri.  I don't know how their parents feel about their photos on the internet so I cropped them out! They had a good time but they were "tired" and "thirsty" after about two laps!  Then we met Mimi and Lisa and Audra for dinner Friday night.  We had a great weekend of shopping and playing toys with Mimi, but she just headed back home.  After we dropped her off Addi said, "I wish we lived closer to Mimi so I could see her everyday." :(  She's such a sweet girl.

"Sprinkler" Girl

We are soooo happy that Addi is back after her weeklong visit to the country!  I think it was Monday night...we are watching tv and out of nowhere Addison says, "Where is Obama?" Ryan and I looked at each other a little confused and she says, "Where's Obama...he's not a very good talker...Mint Romney is a good talker...Paw Paw doesn't like Obama!" Ryan and I were rolling in the floor laughing! If you know my Paw Paw, then you know he watches fox news 24/7 and he pretty much despises mr. Obama! She doesn't miss anything and she makes her Paw Paw proud!

 She had a great week at school with all of her friends.  Book Fair was this week so she picked out a bunch of books and I picked out a bunch of books (I can't say no to books!). We have read at least one new book a night and still haven't read them all.  I love that she loves to read.  Yesterday we had a lazy day around the house...well, I cleaned house and Addi had a lazy day.  We had tickets to the SMU & TCU game but it was raining and we didn't feel like sitting in the cold rain.  I hate that we didn't get to see "Big Griff" and Garrett play each other, but I'm sure we will catch another game. This morning we went to church (we haven't be to church here since football started :( bad I know).  It's so hard with the hours Ryan works and Sunday mornings are really our "family time".  I'm glad we went, as I always am, the music was good and the sermon was great.  It's a story I have heard before, but I really listened to it today.  I am definately the "older son" who listened and didn't disobey his father...and gets angry when my "younger brother" disobeyes and has everything handed to him (of course I'm not an older son and I am not talking about my younger brother).  It's hard when you obey and try to do right and it seems like others who disobey and do wrong just have things handed to them in life.  This is definitely something I have been struggling with lately... Anyway, if you get a chance read the Parable of the Lost SONS - Luke 15 11-31

I like the father's response to his oldest son...
31. "My son, 'the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  32. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."

Which son are you? the rebellious son or the religious son...in the end it doesn't matter as long as you realize that there is a third son...Jesus...who died for everyone's sin.

SPRINKLER GIRL
So I bought some Halloween sprinkles a while ago and Addison has been bugging me about making "sprinkler cookies" all week and everyday I say "tomorrow"...well tomorrow came...she loved it and created a big mess in my kitchen yesterday.  It's okay, we are making memories over here! Anyway, in my obsession with pinterest...I saw this picture with a boy covered in sprinkles...since Addi loves sprinkles I wanted to re-create it with her.  She LOVED it...wants to do it again and again! A bit messy, but I love the way the pictures turned out and I loved her expression when she saw herself in the mirror for the first time!

I miss my Addi :(

Addison was driving me a bit crazy and I needed some "me" time and she needed some grandma time...so she has been in the country for the last week.  The first few days were nice, I could actually relax a bit after work, but I miss my baby girl now!  It's so funny, I thought her teacher was going to cry when I told her Addi wouldn't be at school all week.  She said,"Oh I will miss her so much, she is such a good helper and listener and she loves to learn and do work."  Almost every day since she has told me how much she misses Addison.  The other teachers in our school and all the kids Addi's age (even the one's in other classes) keep asking me, "Where is Addison? Is she coming back to school?"  It seems everybody loves our Addison :)  

I've had a very difficult week so my sweet husband got me a chocolate cheesecake from the cheesecake factory (he better love me when my butt is the size of barn...only 500k calories) and my mom and dad sent me these beautiful fall flowers today.  BUT what I really want is to talk to my Addi on the phone, but everytime I call her she is busy playing with puppies, looking at cows, or zebras (mom and dad took her to a safari) or at a football game.  She always says, "I will talk to her tomorrow".  Silly girl.  Yesterday she was at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's house for lunch and they were eating gizzards.  Paw Paw kept trying to get her to try one and she shook her head and asked if it was a Gecko! Then she went to mom's house later that day and told her they were eating lizzards for lunch! That girl...never a dull moment when she's around. 

So I was reading one of my apps on my kindle, it has bible verses and prayers, and I came across this and I had to share.  I thought it was beautiful and something we all need to pray for...

A Prayer for Peace
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.  O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved; as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  Amen  - St. Francis of Assisi