Day Trip with the Family | Jasmine Moran Children's Museum

I've got a "Deployment To Do" List hanging on the wall in my room at my parent's house. All summer, fall, and winter we've been slowing marking things off. There's a few that I didn't quite attain {like, update scrapbooks - sheesh - , go to Orr Family Farm, and make Ellie's quilt}, but the majority of them have been crossed out. At the top of the list was Jasmine Moran Children's Museum. We finally got the chance to go today {minus Ben, since he's stayed in Abilene this weekend to finish up a few things there} and everyone had a great time fixing cars, flying planes, riding on a train, hunting for dinosaur bones, and creating a Tardis on an extra large LiteBright. I did take photos, but since most everything is covered in the video, enjoy:

♥

A Kairos Moment or Two

I've said before that Sonic makes me a better Mommy. So does coffee.

And so does Stacy, my hairdresser.

She is most definitely on my list of people that I would bring with me on every single move if possible.

In other news, need an encouraging read? Read this. You won't regret it. Especially my fellow young Mommy friends, but I think we could all benefit from it. And hopefully, you'll be able to capture a few kairos moments today.

I know I did... Ellie petting my hair while whispering, "Mommy hair piddy" was my favorite one of the day. ♥

11 from 2011

Since I didn't take any photos today and I loved it when I saw this done on another blog, I decided that for today's post, I'd share with you 11 of my favorites from 2011. I really had a very hard time choosing the photos - so much happened during the course of the year, my photography and style grew {which also meant tons more photos to sort through}, and well, my kids are just so darn adorable that it was difficult to narrow it down to only eleven. I'm positive I'll hit "publish post" and think, "OH! I should have included a photo from 'such and such' instead." But these are fairly comprehensive of our year, so I don't think I'll come back and change any. Hopefully.

11. Bryan and Jessie's Wedding

10. Daddy's Little Mini-Me

9. She HATED the snow.

8. Mother's Day - one of Ben's favorites... and mine too!

7. Thoughtful while riding on Thomas

6. Ellie is two.

5. First Day of School

4. Storytime with Daddy

3. The SuperDuo... with a stray bird. {Makes me laugh. every. single. time.}

2. 35 years of ♥

1. HOME.

Overheard | This Week

E: "Mommy, 'ohwn cac-uh."

Me: "You want a cracker?"

E: "Uh-huh. 'Ohwn fhree five eight cac-uh."

Me: "Let's start with two."

E: "Awww, Mommmmm-y."

***

N: "Ellie, you need to sit down."

Me: "Noah, that's not your job. Ellie, you need to sit down on your bottom on the chair."

E {plopping onto the chair}: "Ohhh-tayyy Mommy."

N: "Ellie, you need to listen 'n obey your Mommy."

Me: "sigh."

Girly Legos

Tonight was Noah's last night of AWANAs. I was tough. I didn't cry. Though I did come close when he was freaking out about going home and Ms. Mandy, his teacher, said that she was glad she had been able to get to know us.

{sigh}

Moving is for the birds.

While Noah was at AWANAs, Nana and Papa watched Ellie for me. Ellie has really been into folding her tongue up and blowing air through it - Nana captured it on video, something I had yet to do:

While Noah was at AWANAs, I stopped by Walmart to pick up some much needed packing tape. And, ironically, what should I walk right past? Girl Legos. I knew they were out there: Ben had mentioned it to me and I had seen them on a friend's blog, but well, right then and there I decided that Ellie and I needed our own Legos.

So I got us a set.

She was thrilled. And I'm excited to finally have a Lego camera in the accessory stash. :D

And, in somewhat related news - we officially have a place to live in Maryland! We've been going back and forth over whether to rent or buy and finally settled on just renting. We found an amazing place {hello - 3400+ sq ft!!} and will be able to move in as soon as we arrive. ♥

Today.

Today, Captain America took a very short nap. Which meant that he got in some extra time "just practicing his letters".

Today was the first day that everyone was back at work, including Ben. He left yesterday for Abilene to work for a couple of days, out process, and pack up all our stuff. We'll be joining him next week to attend his Going Away Lunch and to see our friends one last time. I already miss the guy.

Today we busted out one more bathtime goody - a pretend shave set that Noah had in his stocking from Nana and Papa. It was a big hit. With both kids.

2011 {Posts in Review}

{Enjoying some time, just relaxing with my Little Ones}

January: This year, my One Little Word is Story.

February: The base was closed, again, today.

March: Seven years ago, we were doing this:

April: {A Day in the Life}

May: Does it go without saying that my heart hurts, just looking at these photos?

June: Ellie woke at 5:45 this morning.

July: It's official: Jessica is now a Huffman!

August: The kids had their first day of "school" today.

September: Noah has known for a couple of days that we had a "secret adventure" to go to today.

October: The View from Monday

November: Today has been a long time coming.

December: My favorite moments of the day...

Focus | One Little Word

New Year's for me, is a great time to reevaluate my goals {since I make them on my birthday instead of at the New Year}. I also really like to pick One Little Word that is sort of the guiding force and drive behind my personal goals.

Last year was Story. 2010: Simplify. 2009: Cultivate.

My One Little Word for 2012: Focus.

It's going to be a good year, I think.

♥