Christmas 2013

Here is a peak into our Christmas Eve and Christmas celebration this year.  I have loved looking back at these photos.  I forgot how much I enjoyed sharing them here.  Thank you for stopping by...whoever you may be.  I hope your holiday celebration was full of love.

My daughter, Jesse, loves to make these marshmallow snowmen every year.  She insisted!  The girl doesn't forget a thing.







I had the idea of making a family of snowmen this time around.  It suddenly turned into a marshmallow recreation of our family when my son, Jonah, got creative and added our German Shepherd, Luke, to the plate.  It was a surprise hit.







My love always takes over the cookie preparation.  I love to capture this moment with them.  I help with the taste testing and decorating of course.





Those three people up there are the world to me.



And that was one of the last photos before bed time.  I think it is the most magical time of the year.  This moment right here when they are dressed in their pajamas, leaving out the cookies for Santa, deciding where to sleep together...it is just hard to beat.



Christmas morning was great you know, but I didn't want to overload and share all of those.  It was really a beautiful day and Jonah wanted to go out and shoot his new pellet gun.  He was so thrilled, and I enjoyed watching him so much.









Although, I did take a break somewhere in between here and went inside with Jesse to sing Taylor Swift on the new karaoke machine.  Now, that was seriously fun...I mean seriously...I have found a new love...Lord help the rest of them.





But back to Jonah...he got several bulls eyes.  He was on Cloud 9.



But once that was over, they had a snow ball fight to get to.  See, Santa left them these pretend snow balls under the tree, and I have to say that this might be one of the best surprise gifts ever.





The first official snow ball fight was on the trampoline.  It warms my heart most to look at these.





It was pure joy.  We aren't going to be lucky enough to get the real stuff every year you know.  This pretend snow did just fine.



I think I'll end with this one.  I love that shot of her for some reason.

Here's to a Happy 2014!  Love, Heather

A Disney Duck Encounter

Ok, so somehow we pulled off a little vacation during Spring Break.  It wasn't pretty at first...I mean, I wasn't pretty, but that's boring to talk about.  I was just sick with the crud Jesse had the previous week and anyway...bla bla bla...it's all Good.

Moving on.

So, we drove to Orlando...the four of us, Grandmommy and Aunt Kelly.

As soon as we landed and busted out of that Tahoe, we hit the pool.  I was watching the kids when Kelly brought my attention to this little fellow swimming in the water.



"Look at the duck swimming in the pool!" said Aunt Kelly.



Wow, you don't see this every day.



"What's up buddy?" we said.



"Ahhh, it's just a normal day for me, what's up with you guys?" said the duck.



"What's this?"



"Girlfriend's got some cute flip flops," he quacked.

"Thank you.  Please don't take them with you," I responded.



"What kind of duck do you take me for lady?"

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, " I responded.



"Seriously, I'm a Disney duck.  You might want to keep an eye on those black birds back there though."



"They are constantly trying to steal my food and such."

"Good tip, thanks!" I said.



"So, I would appreciate a snack pretty quickly...if you don't mind," the duck asked.



"I'm waiting," he quacked with a little impatient concern.



"Sit!" commanded Jesse.



"I can sense you have a dog at home and he is well trained on this command.  I'll try, but these black birds are moving in, and I got places to be," the duck responded to Jesse.



"Bring it on.  Yeah baby.  That's what I'm talking about!" the Disney duck happily exclaimed.

He enjoyed his snack, then walked to the bar and had a Margarita.  He probably chatted with the bar tender about the weather and such and was on his way.  Perhaps on his way to visit Donald.  Who knows?

And that is how our vacation started.  I knew it was going to be good.

Laugh Every Day

The words aren't coming easy, so not many words...I don't think.



It was a jam packed last 5 days of sadness, tears, laughter, confusion, excitement, an injury, a sore tummy and now fever.  Now, not all of these things physically belonged to me, but a Mom sort of feels it all right?



I was the one on the emotional roller coaster.  I'm on the Mind Bender, and we keep passing go.  I'm very glad it's not the Georgia Cyclone, because that one really makes me nauseous.

My dear friend lost her Mom last week, and I was heart broken.  But...I was uplifted as well.  It was joyous to learn how much happiness that this wonderful woman brought into the world.  I want to laugh every day and be a better person because of her.  She was a true Kindred Spirit in every sense.  I get to see so much of her live on through my friend, and I am so grateful.



Jonah brought me all the excitement and unfortunately...an injury.  His game this weekend was beyond intense.  He collided with a runner at home plate in the last inning and slightly sprained his foot (we're pretty sure that's all it is).  He actually went back to his position and finished out the inning somehow.

Just imagine an awesome photo of all this unfolding.

Thanks.



Jesse is the one that hasn't felt like herself at all.  It has been off and on until last night when the fever hit her.  You know the look they get when fever hits, right?  All I had to do was look at those eyes, and I knew.  The doctor said it's viral.  I hate not walking out of that office with a cure, but always glad it's not worse.



She's going to be fine.  She was blowing these bubbles just hours before she got really sick.



You know, it's amazing how strong they can be.

I grabbed my camera when I saw her playing Sunday afternoon, because I felt like I hadn't taken just every day photos in a while.  They are always my favorite.



Not sure how to wrap this up.

It's all worth the ride.

Laugh every day.

Love, Heather

Dimples

Ok, to say I love softball is an understatement.  I have the fondest memories of playing ball.  I started playing T-ball (with the boys) as soon as I was old enough to.  My team was Buck's Grill.  We were sponsored by a local restaurant in my small town.  Our jerseys were black with white lettering and my hat was black with a big "B" on the front.   I have my hat to this day.  It is very special to me.  I know I wasn't that great at this stage, but I was definitely drawn to the sport and couldn't get enough of it.

I loved being a part of a team.  I loved the excitement before a game.  I loved running on the field.  I loved the way it felt when you hit the ball in the sweet spot, and it seemed like it was never going to touch the ground again.  There's nothing like it.

When I got a little older, I started playing softball and my Mom coached my team.  We were baby blue and sponsored by Harden Vet Clinic (also in my home town).  I have a picture of my Mom and I.  I'm going to find it to show you soon.  Anyway, I pitched that season.  I remember striking out my archenemy.  It was a wonderful feeling.  She had stole my man, and I wasn't about to let her get away with it.  I probably could have ended my softball career right there and been completely satisfied.  Oh the life drama of an elementary kid.

The funny thing is...we became friends later in high school...good friends...my archenemy and I.  The guy we were fussing over in our elementary years turned out to be a total dork.  Funny to think about that now.

Shoot, this post wasn't supposed to be about me.  Jesse, I just felt like you should know the reason I felt like you would enjoy the sport too.  I mean, you might get to strike out some girl that steals your guy some day.  Wouldn't that be cool?  No, no, no...that's not what it's about.  I think?  Anyway!

The fondest memories are the bonds I made with the girls on my team, my Mom and I, and also, the love I developed for the game.  My only regret was that I didn't continue to play through high school.  I'm not even sure if it was an option to be honest, but it would have been nice to have continued.  I am thrilled that you have this option (if you want it).



It was your Opening Day last Saturday.  It was your first day as a softball player.  Your team is the Red Hawks.  It's quite confusing, because you are pink.  You are the pink...Red Hawks.  Hey, I like it!  Anyway, it's a 6U league and you just turned 5, but you are hanging in there and doing fantastic!



The first few practices...you wouldn't let go of us.  We had to follow you to the field.  You acted shy.



But then, you warmed up.  You seemed to really like your coaches and teammates.



You loved the idea you were playing with "all girls."



You listened to your coaches when they gave you instruction.  I watched you take it all in.



And it paid off on opening day.  It really did.



Aunt Kelly, Ms. Kelly and her Mom came to see you.  I love that you can see them in the background here with all smiles anxiously awaiting your big debut.



And honey, you hit a pitched ball.  You hit a pitched ball at every at bat.  Girlfriend didn't need a T!



And you ran to first.  Yeah, you knew where to go.



And you were so proud.



And you made it around to home eventually and stopped for someone to acknowledge the fact that, yes, you indeed scored.  Thank you.  Thank you.



And you took the field like a pro.  No need for Mama anymore.



And you slammed it again, and we were all so proud.



It was hard to take your picture.  I was trying to contain my excitement.



I love this picture of your on first.



But I might love this one of you running to second even more.



And coming home!



You got this girl.



And you played second base during the second inning.  You seemed to know what to do.



I just can't tell you how proud I was.



I don't think I did this good in my debut Jesse.



But it was best seeing the smile on your face with your team at the end.  You were so proud and seemed so happy.

I was just so excited to see you be a part of something that meant so much to me at your age.  I just hoped that you would get that same feeling that I did, and I truly felt like you did.  It was wonderful to watch.

They call you "Dimples" on the field.  They call you "Dimples" because of the big smile you bring to every at bat.  It's fantastic.  I love it.

As your coaches say, "You may be small, but you bust the ball!"  Love you...Dimples.