best decade of my life

The past 10 years have been the best of my life. (and yes I was informed by my husband that it wasn't a start to a technical "new decade" but this is MY last 10 year recap)

I moved away from my mom to go to college, which was not easy, but I met my husband, got married, became a tent camper thanks to my husband, had our firstborn, a son, Brandon, became members to an amazing church and part of just an awesome church family, became pet owners to our black Lab Berkley, moved to OKC because WE wanted to only to come back 9 months later because this is where GOD wants us, bought a house, graduated from college, had our secondborn, a son, Blaine, became a SAHM, and as difficult as it can be I am very thankful to share these tender years with my babes, went snow skiing, our one family vacation thus far that DIDN'T involve camping, reconnected with a dear friend from college and made dear friendships with a few ladies who mean the world to me, gave birth our thirdborn, a son, Britton, shared an incredibly special moment with our oldest when he became a Christian, had our princess baby, Gracelyn, become best friends with my mom through the trials that we have both endured, God showed our family his love and grace and mercy countless times. There are obviously so many things that happened in the last 10 years, these are just the "biggies." I feel so extremely blessed.

Happy new year and the next 10 years!!

Christmas with Nana and Grandad

We went to Nana and Grandads for lunch Christmas Day. It was delicious and naps immediately followed! After naptime and before present-time, it was family picture time.


Gracelyn Paige was finally into opening presents!! She received the Fisher Price mailbox, which she really likes, bows, cute clothes, a doll and some play jewelry, including a blingy bracelet (thanks to Aunt Ashley.) She's trying on a ring in the pic on the right.












Gracie's way of modeling clothes and playing peek-a-boo. She is such an adorable ham!












Brandon Luke got more Legos, binoculars...












clothes (don't you just love his method of showing them to his dad? I think he was tired of smiling. And he also got a remote control car, which he dad got one too that they can play with together.












Blaine Jackson got just what he asked for... the Toy Story slinky dog and "his dragon movie." He was THRILLED!! He also received Legos and clothes












In case you weren't aware, Britton Ryan LOVES tractors. He now owns a tractor flashlight. I love his face in that picture. so fitting. He got Lincoln Logs which he has a blast building with his dad (I don't know who has the better time honestly.) Clothes and tools with a tool box were also opened.












and finally, both boys were given new boots! Britton, being 3 and perfectly content with the hand-me-down boots that he's been wearing for months now didn't immediately warm up to the new ones. We have an understanding now that he can wear his old ones outside and new ones to church and school and around town. He likes that arrangement. The boys look so handsome in their boots and cannot wait to wear them to "school" this Monday! Both boys also got a Bugsby Leapfrog reading system with books.












and this concludes our Christmas celebrations. We very much enjoyed getting together with family. We are looking forward to a new year. There will be so many things happen this year, including Blaine will start school and Brandon will begin a new elementary school and Ryan and I celebrate 10 married years together!

Happy 2011!!

Christmas morning!

Brandon read the story of Christmas when we got home Christmas Eve night.
The boys digging into their stockings! all sorts of goodies from tools, animal sound slippers and gloves for the little boys to card games, magic tricks, a yo-yo, a much anticipated book for Brandon and much more for the trio.
Candy and goofy disguise glasses for all 3!!

Brandon got a daily devotional, red sox throw for his bed and an Eagles jacket, which he has worn every day since he opened it.












The little boys got toddler Bibles, which they are so very excited about and they both got big construction vehicles with tools to take apart. Blaine got his Toy Story Connect 4 game (which he saw in my room months ago) and a Toy Story beanbag chair that he asked for. He asked after he opened the game Christmas morning if the other one was still next to my bed.













Gracelyn actually opened a gift or two on Christmas morning. I think she started to get the hang of it. She found clips, books, shoes, gloves from Santa and devoured the animal crackers that were in her stocking. And she received a princess Bible, pink Uggs and the Pinkalicious book...












to accompany her little Pinkalicious 4-wheeler, which she loves. I will have to post a video of her riding it. she has become quite the hot-rod


Britton opened up a helmet with a picture taped to the top. At first he ripped it off and threw it to the side and asked me to put the helmet on him. Ryan directed his attention back to the picture and asked him what it was. Britton replied that it looked like Gracie's crib. We told him he should go there and see if there was another picture, so off he ran!

The picture at G's crib CRACKS.ME.UP. His eye is right there on the next picture but he is looking in her bed. The second picture was of his beloved boots. So away he ran to the front door to check them. Inside his boot he found a picture of my car. It was really just to get him to go out front....













THIS is what was out front....
It was too cold in his thin pjs to stand outside and he didn't want to waste time to put on his coat, so we brought it in. He absolutely LOVES his John Deere bicycle.

After presents I made my traditional breakfast of monkey bread, which was devoured by everyone, including Gracelyn! By the time I got my camera there wasn't much left.

cupcakes we made to celebrate Jesus' birthday. We sang Happy Birthday and ate the sweets. Christmas Day is the one time each year that the kids devour cake before lunch!

Christmas with Mimi and Pappy

On Christmas Eve morning we left my dads house and headed to my moms. It was the first Christmas that we have celebrated with my stepsisters in a few years so it was a full house but very fun! Unfortunately we forgot to take a picture.
The kids had a blast, as they always do at Mimi and Pappy's house. We all do. They were given way too much and we ate way too much.

Gracelyn received 2 pairs of shoes, 1 pair was some Twinkle Toes which are her most favorite pair of shoes now, a fisher price record player (a flashback to my childhood!) and a little purse with gloves in it

we were trying to get her to notice the lights on her shoes but she was too busy

Britton and Blaine both received costumes, Britton, a spiderman and Blaine, a Buzz Lightyear. Britton got a little racecar track and Blaine got some shirts and walkie talkies.












In addition to the toys that I've touched on that the three young ones received they each received a musical instrument. (I've teased my mom, asking her what I did to deserve that and even reminded her that I gave her a granddaughter that she can have tea parties with.) There are 2 things my kids love, dressing up as superheroes and making music. We have 5 guitars, 2 microphones, 2 drums, maracas, a recorder...
and now we have a keyboard, on a stand, with a stool and headphones/microphone...
a saxophone, that does not have a volume control...
and a tambourine, that is a hit with Miss Gracelyn. She enjoys accompanying the boys in their music/noise!
As much as I tease my mom about giving them noise makers, it really is teasing. Musical instruments don't really bother us, it's one time that they are actually getting along, singing together and with so many instruments, they don't fight over them and they play in the playroom most of the time.

Brandon received shirts, another Barnes and Noble giftcard(!!) a math cube game, drawing book, a watch and a spy video gadget watch. I love the picture on the right of B1. He is so handsome and you can see his dimple! He'd be very embarrassed if he knew I mentioned that.












The little boys also received a Little Tikes teeter totter with a flat center that gives little sis a chance to join in the fun!

Brandon is playing with his spy watch, videoing the boys, in this picture.

Christmas with Papa and GranTee

My dad came to get the boys Wednesday morning so they could spend the night. Then Thursday Ryan took off at 1 and the 3 of us remaining made the drive to reunite and celebrate Christmas with my dad and stepmom. It was a nice visit, it always is. They allow the kids to clutter up the house and you cannot see a single drop of sweat of their brow. If they are stressed, unlike me, they hide it well. The kids had a blast and got spoiled as always.
With 4 active children this year, especially our 1 year old, we were not able to take a lot of pictures. It was just too much to keep up with. Gracelyn had absolutely no interest in the process of opening gifts. She enjoyed a few after I opened them but she did go around to each of her big bros to scope out what they received.
All the kids received a blanket that GranTee made. Tiffani did a very nice job and the boys all love them and will say as I'm tucking them in bed that they need the blanket that GranTee made them. It was such a thoughtful gift.

Brandon's was Red Sox material and Britton was dog print, which he says is like Berkley













Gracelyn's was everything girly and Blaine's was camping, which totally fits him considering he asks to go camping at least once a week.













Brandon, poor guy, this was the only picture we took of him besides the one of him looking at his new boxer briefs from his stocking. I think this picture of him pretty much sums up his excitement from his gifts. He got this Lego game and a Harry Potter Lego set, which was put together within a day. He also received a Barnes and Noble giftcard and much needed shirts!


Britton received a Mobigo. He played with one in the store and loved it but after he received it I was afraid it was little big for him. To my surprise he has mastered many of the games and is doing very well. Blaine got a Leapster 2 and absolutely loves it, as you can tell.












They got underwear, which they are still excited about, little motorcycles and, drumroll please, PILLOW PETS!!! They saw a commercial for these on the Sprout channel and begged for one. Britton wanted the cow and Blaine wanted the penguin. They really are soft!












Gracelyn was very happy and content with the puffs in her stocking. She got a baby doll as well!

Gracelyn in the adventure tent, she was trying to prove that she wasn't sleepy.