A year in review...

2012 sucked...

at least for us!

It was not a good year...

but we have high hopes

2013 will be a lot better!

 Jan.-Adam turned 21 so as good 

parents...we took him to the bar!

 Feb.- Cooper's 4th...he's too young!

March-Our fence blew over...home repairs and 

loss of income began our downward spiral!

April-My only big outing....Lady Antebellum, 

Darius Rucker and Thompson Square

May-Abby turned 1!

June-Lots of free stuff to do...like the KC Zombie Walk

July-Brought the world's largest baby shower!

Aug.-Brought the world's greatest baby!! Grace finally arrives!

Sept.- More arrivals...my great-great nephew Jagger was born and another great nephew Jace.

Oct.- Once Grace was born, I stopped watching the 'littles'...known as Luke and Abby. So trick or treating with them was just what I needed...I miss them so.

Nov.- My siblings and their families gather for the last time in my house for Thanksgiving dinner.

Dec.-Blessed to have this little slice of heaven to 

bring joy and fun back into our lives.

What does 2013 hold?

Who knows, but we are optimistic...

We will move, enjoy spring, celebrate Grace

and keep on, keeping on!

Merriest of time

We had a wonderful Christmas! I was so blessed to have my kids...

to have Gracee celebrate her 1st Christmas morning....

 Sweet kid!

 She liked the colorful paper...

 She really liked the bows!

 Adam got tools...

Sara got a barbie....because you're 

never too old for Barbie's!

Daddy O got movies...

Cooper helps me open my gift card to the scrap store!

and everyone got kisses!

Merry Christmas...

From our family to yours...

May your holiday be full of 

merriment...and LOVE!

And...

Have a very, very Happy New Year.

Here's hoping 2013 brings peace,

health, happiness and prosperity...

and....

more love!

Oh My Grace

We took pictures the other day...

of Miss Grace in her Christmas

outfit. Today we are going to see Santa!

Still need to shop...nothing like waiting until the last minute!

Hope your next couple weeks before Christmas

is stress free and peaceful!

My little turkey

Sara and I planned out a Thanksgiving photo 

shoot for Gracee Lu Who.

She bought this lil' coat with a turkey face on the hood.

Too precious for words!

 Nana likes putting hats on her...her face says it all!

Did.not.dig.the.coat! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Another random post...

I have been super busy, I watch Grace 5 days a week and the other two

well, I got myself a job. Haven't had one in years....at least not where I
leave the house. I am a floral clerk at the local grocery store. It's pretty cool. I will learn floral design...so they are paying me for a class I would have eventually taken anyways! BONUS!

So let me show you what's new Around Our House...

  Halloween: My sweet girl was a cutest kitty ever!

We went trick or treating with Luke as HULK and Abby as DORA

My first bud vase!

My first balloon bouquet!

Luke turned 4 Saturday! 4! Can you believe it...he had so much fun!

So did Abby with that cupcake!

Then to top it all off, Jagger visited me...awww, he is so sweet...

throwin' medal horns!

After math

The aftermath of Christmas is sometimes more stressful that the prep work! I got the trees down in record time and the house has returned to normal which is a blessing because it just seemed so crowded, with Sara coming home...all the new 'stuff' to find places for and the adjustment period of all the dogs....which has turned out very happy. They all love each other and they all love me! =)  There has been the break ups of my daughter, my nephew and his long time girlfriend and even my ex and his baby momma. There have been several deaths...my SIL's dad, her daughters FIL and even a guy Sara works with lost his wife...all of which are so tragic. There is illness abound and no one can seem to get 'over' it fully, before another hits. Negative energy is following us around like the plague so the new year is our beacon of light/hope. I didn't mean to turn this post into a whine-fest, so I will now spin some happiness...we are all together....working towards a better life, every second and with every breathe. My hubby is working as am I...my kids are doing fabulous! We have food in our bellies and a warm home, with puppy kisses! I wanted to share with you a few photos...

It was grand! We went to the movies in the afternoon together, then everyone napped but me! I was cleaning...so I was happy too! Hope you had a lovely Christmas and as for the New Year...I hope yours ROCKS!

Merry!

A ton of things...

The holidays are HERE! I am ready, last weekend we had gift exchange with our long time friends (Rita and her family and Jocelyn & James). It was delightful and fun!!

The next day we moved Sara back home. She has split from her boy and is going to focus on herself for a while. Much needed I might add!

Luke had his holiday program at his preschool...

Which was adorable!

We did baking day....

Sara got carried away with the fluff!

Luke and Abby opened their presents from Me & D and Sara....

Luke helped Abby with hers...she liked the bow!

And I managed to finish off the tags even though I moved my scrap room during all of this whirl wind of a week.

I'm sure there is more but I just wanted to update a little before it got super crazy! I hope, wish and pray for all of you to have a blessed Christmas with those you hold dear!!! Merry Christmas!

Stupid photo of the month!

I was visiting my niece today, she is the opposite of me in every way, she is just now putting her tree up....10 days before....who does that??? My tree has been up since Thanksgiving!!! Anywho, I was goofing around and my photo was snapped....

Ok, so I posed!

This is her tree skirt but I bet I could win ugly sweater contest...not that your tree skirt is ugly Janise! LOL

My Big Ass Family!

So many years ago, we decided to have Christmas together as a family but not at Christmas. With all our "Brady Bunch' style families....it gets rough making sure we get to visit everyone. Mom's side/Dad's side/Step Dad's side/Dad's girlfriends side and so on! My brother Ken hosted this years gala, last Saturday. One of our best turn outs to date.

Plenty of food...we always make more than we should! Being 'the family photographer', I make everyone stand up all prudy like for pictures. (I'm going from youngest to oldest.)

 My brood: Sara, Me, Dwen & Adam

Brother David, Amber, Scott and Shelly

Dan and brother, Ken

Trenton, Michael Paul, sister Bonnie, Dawn and Harold

Oldest sister, Tresa and Abby, Janise, Jason and Luke

Tonya, Stormi, Skyler, Cheryl and big brother Jim.

26 in all, 22 didn't attend. 

Niece Christina is expecting a new babe any minute...

the family keeps growing...wouldn't have it any other way!