Happenings

So TJ's 12th birthday was this past Sunday, the 19th. Ed and I decided to do an overhaul on his room to make it a little more "middle-schooler-ish" as a gift to him. We created an organized closet, got him a new desk and bookshelf, moved his bed and added decor to the walls.

(I made the wall hangings out of Ed's old t shirts that are too big for him now that he's the Hulk and in the gym everyday. I have since added a big "T" and "J" in the space above and below the middle picture.)

We asked his mom to keep him Saturday night so that we could clean his room (it was seriously disturbingly disgusting) and pull it all together. Well Nana was out of town so I didn't think too much about having Deuce at the house as a major distraction. He was such a good helper, throwing away trash and moving stuff where we asked. However there were a few times when he would disappear and I would realize that he had been gone for awhile. I found him at one point in the bathroom using the Vaseline that Santa brought in his stocking to make sure he was keeping his lips from getting chapped. I mean how can you be mad at that?

I think that half of the container was gone after this one use. Then on Sunday I found him in the bathroom yet again and when I saw him I scared him. Ed has not seen this picture yet. He almost started to cry when i gasped so loud and said "What are you doing???" As soon as I saw his face I immediately felt bad as he choked out "I just want to have paint like you, mommy." So then I laughed and told him he had done a great job and when he was done could he put the dry-erase marker back on the easel. (He had only done his nails at this point.) I walked back out of the bathroom for a few minutes when he hollered, "mommy I am putting make-up on too!" So I just shouted back, "Ok, come show me when you're done." The below is the end result. I died laughing. He did too. Then he took a shower and it came right off. Whew.

We took some of TJ's friends out to Kick Back Jack's Sunday night for his birthday, since the NFL playoffs were on. We had a great time watching Deuce and Chase run throughout the restaurant cheering with random people.

Check out my little guy's basketball pictures. He looks so grown!

And since it's so cold outside he is thoroughly enjoying his time riding his new bike from Pop around the garage!

Hello 2014

Y'all!! Seriously. I have become a horrible blogger. Like I only posted 9 entries all of last year. 9 TOTAL! I could sit here and say life is happening too fast or I am just too busy (both of which are true) but there really is no justifiable excuse other than I just didn't want to. I am a little disappointed in myself that when I look back on 2013, I won't have a whole lot documented to remember. That sucks. And 2013 was a great year. I had an awesome year at work. There were a lot of changes and a lot of opportunities that I took full advantage of. Deuce started daycare and played his first full year of non-stop sports. My sister turned 30 and Ed turned 35. TJ started middle school. All sorts of stuff happened and I didn't take the time to sit down and jot them down. Totally not cool. I have made it a goal of mine this year to make an attempt to blog at least 5-7 times per month.

So to recap the year in pictures... (and I got a new pocket sized camera for Christmas that I asked for so I hope to get back to taking pictures instead of just on my phone.)

New Years 2013, this is the last thing I remember about that night. Not good at all.

Helped throw a surprise 65th birthday party for my step dad.

Deuce started daycare 5 days a week.

Learned that my Grandma had lung cancer that had already moved to her brain.

Got to watch my awesome niece play in the district championship basketball game in Knoxville.

Deuce turned 3...

and had his first school pictures taken.

Lost my Grandma on Mother's Day and Deuce had to go to his first wake and funeral.

Had a girls weekend at Carolina Beach with 2 dear friends from work, Laura & Robin.

Deuce had his first FULL cleaning at the dentist's office.

He played his first season of basketball in the 3-4 year old league.

Spent an awesome July 4th in Virginia with my family and watched my cousin propose to an awesome girl!

 Spent a whole week at Pawley's Island with the Smith family.

 Took several business trips to the Northeast.

 My best friend Leigh Anne had her second baby boy, Bowen.

 Ed and I went to the UNC/South Carolina game in Columbia.

 Deuce played his first season of T-ball.

 My baby sister turned 30 and we spent the weekend in Charleston with our mom.

 Took Deuce to his first Tennessee football game. Had an amazing time with my family.

 Had a second round of school pictures.

 Watched my cousin Ricky graduate from the University of Tennessee.

 Watched the Heels beat Cincinnati in the Belk bowl.

I have some videos to round up and post. Deuce is playing basketball right now in the kindergarten league where he and his buddy Carter are the only non 5-6 year olds. He's doing great. He is getting ready to play both soccer and t-ball again in the spring, only this time simultaneously. He is doing great in school and is learning all sorts of stuff. He amazes me every day when he comes home spelling new words or singing new songs in Spanish. He is also working the the LaRue basketball school every week for basketball instruction. He started bible school with the AWANA program and has that every Wednesday night. He loves it. He memorizes a new scripture weekly.

TJ will be 12 on the 19th of this month. He is thoroughly enjoying middle school and his new iPhone that he got for Christmas. He is playing AAU basketball and that is getting ready to pick back up over the next few weeks. Ed will be back to travelling a lot of weekends. He also played baseball in the fall. He goes roller skating most Friday and Saturday nights until 11, which is hilarious to me. They all get on their phones and text each other, "Yo you going skating?" It's comical.

I had an amazing year at work and am really looking forward to what 2014 has in store for me with my company. Ed asks me for a baby girl every day but I haven't given in to him quite yet. Although, just about all of my girlfriends are now on baby 2 that itch may come sooner than I realize. We'll see....

Christmas Eve 2012.

This will be my last Christmas 2012 post.

Promise.

I mean it is almost Valentine's Day after all...

We had family and friends over for Christmas Eve again this year.

It was awesome.

My dad came in from Virginia and spent the night with us.

This was a first.

And I think it was one of the best Christmas' I've ever had.

We ate dinner.

Drank some drinks.

And wrote our letters to Santa.

I was lame and didn't use my good camera. Sorry.

 These boys are like brothers.

I hope they stay that way forever.

 They fight and cry when they don't get their way.

Like when there are 500 crayons but they want the one that Chase has.

 We really enjoy the true meaning of the holidays and all feel so thankful that we had this time together when it's over.

 My mom and sister love being with the boys. They helped decorate cookies.

And our stomach's hurt from laughing so hard.

Deuce would decorate his cookie and then eat it.

It took us about 3 cookies in to make him realize the cookies were for Santa.

 Chase used an entire bottle of sprinkles and probably got about 5 on his cookie.

Hil.A.Rious.

  Alfie, our Elf, supervised their behavior to report back to Santa.

 They each got to open one gift.

 And were beyond excited to have matching PJ's.

I'm sure Austin and TJ will love having this picture of them matching their little brothers in about 10 years.

 Chase thought I should get a shot of his butt.

 We said our goodbye's until the next morning when we would head on down to our parents houses.

 D-Weezy at his finest.

 Last up was our reindeer food that we sprinkled over the yard to guide Santa's sleigh to our house.

Our Christmas this year was wonderful.

I had so much time off from work.

Got to see my dad twice in 2 weeks.

Watched my baby boy enjoy seeing Santa and really experience the magic of Christmas.
And spent Christmas day with all of my boys, my parents, my sister, my brother, my in-laws, my brother in-law, my niece and my nephew.

Can't ask for much more.