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:
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. ♥
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.}
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, 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.
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.
With our actual move to Maryland rapidly approaching, I've been finding myself wanting to squeeze in as much time with family as possible. Sometimes it's hard to do because of schedules, naps, and life, but today we were able to have lunch with Grami and Papa Snow and then have them over to Mom and Daddy-Man's before the kids went down for their naps.
It. was. wonderful.
I've been on a video kick lately and this afternoon was no different - I hope that the kids will cherish these videos as much as I already do.
***
Nearly every New Year's Eve, for probably the last 20 years{?}, has been spent with our friends, the Bullards. The kids were super excited to get to spend the evening with Addy. I had no plans for how long I'd let them stay up. Truthfully, I anticipated that Ellie would crash around 9PM and that Noah would follow some time after that.
Boy, was I wrong.
The three little RockStars made it until midnight, doing everything in their power to stay awake: chasing each other, watching VeggieTales, blowing on their horns {which were, eventually, confined to their room}, and playing lots and lots of dress up.
My favorite dress up time? When they were playing SuperHeroes and Princesses. Notice how Addy is totally feeling Noah's muscles.
Close runner-up for my favorite dress-up time:
The rest of us were tired when midnight hit and after a little short celebration outside with sparklers and horns, we were back inside, putting the kiddos down for bed and asleep ourselves, all before 12:45.
Since the weather has been so pleasant the past couple of days, Mom suggested a Zoo trip. Hoping to beat some crowds, still manage to make it back for naptime, and enjoy the animals while they were most active, we left for the OKC Zoo first thing this morning.
"Eeeewww! Something is STINKY!"
Gah. The only reason I included this photo is so that I won't forget how everyone else stayed over by the leopard, watching him gnaw on his breakfast, while I had to walk quickly by for fear of gagging over the sound of teeth breaking bone. Much worse than the rhino's smell, Noah.
We had a blast - thanks Nana, Papa and Aunt BB for donating blood for those passes! ♥
One of Daddy-Man's best friends from high school, Don {and, Best Man in their wedding} and his wife, Caroline, came over today to spend some time with Mom and Daddy-Man. It's fun for me to see my parents interact with friends from their youth and even get to see them myself - it's been, quite literally years {mine and Ben's own wedding, I think!} since I've seen them!
And, despite a few pretend protests from Caroline, it didn't take much to get them to let me snap a photo of the four of them. ♥
The last few years, it has been really cold and snowy around the end of December. But this year, it's been practically perfect. A little chilly, to be sure, but warm enough that outside play is on the schedule. This afternoon, once everyone else got back from the movies, the toys were pulled out from storage building and outside play time commenced.
After dinner and baths, Nana, Papa, Aunt BB, Ben, and the kids and I all headed down to Chickasha to see the Festival of Lights. I've been wanting to go for years, especially since the last time we went, Ben and I were not officially dating {though, we did like each other...}. Last year's Christmas light viewing consisted of Noah freaking out the entire drive until we got to the end and he asked to go through again. Luckily, since then, his and Ellie's appreciation of Christmas light displays has grown quite a bit.
We all enjoyed the lights, but the mild day had turned into a very cold evening. We didn't walk around for very long, but long enough to enjoy a few light tunnels {my favorite!} and to explore some areas that we wouldn't really be able to see from the car.
And, a trip to see Christmas lights would not be complete without a stop at Braum's for ice cream!
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." Luke 2:14
Merry Christmas!
We had a pretty good Christmas Day. We got up and checked out our stockings, ate waffles {and yogurt} for breakfast, and got ready for a special Christmas Day service at church. And, of all days for me to rush out without my camera - the day that one of BB's friends was getting baptized! {sigh}
After church, we came back home for a big Christmas lunch and some play time and rest time before heading over to Grami and Papa Snow's house - the SuperHeroes were definitely hard at work.
I realized, after it was all said it done, that I didn't go real crazy on the photos this year like I normally do... but I did go pretty heavy on the videos. I'm okay with that... because I kept having another verse from Luke run through my mind so much yesterday and today:
"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19
I couldn't help but have a little bit of understanding of what Luke meant - I don't want to quickly forget all these little moments from the past two days. I want to remember them, love them, and hold them in my hands and declare them the special treasure that they truly are.
The kids decorating cookies with Nana - the concentration, laughter, and the resulting sugar high from eating too much icing before 10am. ♥
Being asked a million times by an inquiring little boy if it was "time to go to church and sing songs and then open presents".
Watching Noah and Ellie during the candlelight service, one concentrating so hard on holding the candle, the other trying to blow it out... all while listening to Ellie try to sing along and it just coming out as a hum.
The pure joy the kids had in opening presents... in being so excited about each gift {so much so that they even had to try on the new clothes} and in happily bestowing gratitude on the gift givers.
Ellie getting so tired while opening presents that she grabbed one of Aunt Jessie and Uncle Bryan's new pillows and her own blanket and laid down on the couch.
Simply enjoying precious time with our family while celebrating the birth of our Savior.
