(photo heavy post...)

So I had off a pretty decent amount of time from work for the holidays (December 13 - January 6th) and I was super busy, as usual. First we went to Knoxville for my cousin's graduation from UT. We had a blast. My family is amazing. One of the best time's I've ever had with my dad. Then the following Wednesday, me and Laura took Deuce to Virginia for our annual holiday trip before Christmas. It was nice and relaxing although Deuce brought the 24 hour rota-virus with him from school, that we all managed to get. Gross. We came back that Sunday night, I did last minute shopping on Monday and we took Deuce to a kids Christmas party with a bunch of friends in Chapel Hill. Tuesday was Christmas Eve and we had our annual party with the Smith family. My dad came in to town and we had a nice Christmas day at our house, then my parents and then Ed's parents. Deuce was back to school on Thursday and Ed was back to work so I was lazy. Friday me, mom and Laura took a trip to IKEA in Charlotte. Ahhhhhh. It was the first trip for me and mom and it was awesome. I came back ready to remodel and redecorate our entire house. The next day we all headed back to Charlotte for the Belk Bowl where we had a blast. We had awesome seats, saw Blake Shelton & Miranda up close and watched the Heels play great. Then I had a whole-nother week off. (That is totally not a word but that's how I say it and a whole another week just ain't right.) I did some shopping and cleaning around the house and organizing and napping for sure. I hung out with mom a couple of days and we had some great conversations about life and parenting and love that I will hold on to forever. So I used my new camera some but not as much as I wanted to because I have to remember that I have it. Especially since it's so small it just hides in my purse! I took all of these pictures after we had Christmas morning at my house because I opened my camera as one of my last gifts...

 Seriously, he loves this thing. It is one of those light things that shines stars on the ceiling but it's a Rameses like the big was he's holding above. He now has 2 of those AND a panther's one.

 Mom is going to kill me for this but I love her expression. She was beyond excited to get her kindle from my bro.

 The best in-laws ever.

 Our buddy Jabari Price (#4). He's such an awesome kid.

 Sorry, I had too. There was no light in the porta-potty (obviously) and it was super dark in the parking lot. I was using my phone so he could see while saying "DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!"

 He dressed himself and said "I match!"

 Val & Davis are expecting baby boy #2 in April so we had a surprise shower for her.

 Lia Foster Lewis, the best baby ever.

 Love these girls.

 Warming up before his game.

 You can see him and Carter are obviously not 5-6 like the rest of the kids but they still play along just fine.

 Weston turned 4 so we headed to Wake Forest in the tornado's for his party.

 I got my baby Bowen time in. After he spit up all over Laura, lol!

Christmas Program

Deuce had his first ever Christmas Program at school this year. He was so excited and practiced both of his songs very hard. I could have cried watching this.

Yes, I was "that" mom.

The annoying one that you look at like, "Seriously he just sang two Christmas songs lady. It's not that big of a deal." But I was overwhelmed with how big of a deal it actually was. For him...

Which made it a big deal for me.

Right after it was over, he came to the front of the stage and gave me a hug and a kiss in front of everyone.

I loved every second of it.

Santa 2013

For the 3rd year in a row we took Deuce to see Santa at the Chesapeake Square Mall in Virginia. He was so excited and immediately asked for a set of Tennessee Football Men. Check out the past pictures with Santa: 2011 and 2012. It's amazing to look back and see how much he's changed (and how he refused to sit with Santa back in 2011 and looked so little in that same big green chair!)

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....

Mother's Day Wishes.

Thanks to my girl Carrie for sharing this on facebook.... mommy friends this is for us you!

Ten things I really F’ing want for Mother’s Day