Happy New Years!!

Do you remember where you were 10 years ago?

I was in Lubbock-By-God-Texas.  Living the single life.  Sharing a house with my best friend.  Driving a big Red 4X4.  Bar hopping on New Year's.  Flirting with boys and having an all around good time.
I though I had it made.  I thought I was living the life.  I thought there was nothing else I needed.
I was wrong.
10 years later I am an old married lady with 2 kids, a dog and a bird.  I drive a mom-mobile.  I stay in most nights.  The only boys I flirt with are 8 and 2.  I'll be spending New Year's surrounded by family and friends - shooting off fireworks outside of downtown San Antonio (don't tip off the police).
I do have it made.  I am living the life.  There is nothing else I need.

Happy New Year's everyone.  Be safe, Be loved, just Be!

Merry Christmas to All...

I love Christmas, I can't say it's my favorite holiday, but it is up there.  We don't have any set in stone traditions - we're more of a "wing it" family.  For Christmas Eve we stayed home with the boys and made a big pot of chili and a big pan of cornbread.  Daddy started a fire and we opened presents while periodically warming ourselves!

Jared got Daddy a new handy, dandy, pocket screwdriver contraption - "Now you don't have to ask me every time you need a star head or a flat head!" he says.

It was a great Christmas as usual, we ate too much, drank too much, and laughed just enough to get us through to New Years!!
Merry Christmas.
Luke got more books - this kid is crazy for books!!  These even help him read!

Everyone was well fed and well gifted.  The cookies and milk were waiting for the big guy and the kids were quickly dispatched to bed.  This would've been the time to settle in for some good sleep, but apparently the big guy needs parents to not only BUY the gifts, but put them together TOO!  Why does this red dressed fellow get all the glory if we have to do all the work??
That said...."Santa" did a GREAT job - they are glorious!!

And my Lukers loves them!!

We had Christmas dinner with the In-Laws...

The kids got even MORE presents...

The girls became the stuff of Fairy Tales...

The boys played their stinking video games...

The adults enjoyed their beverages..

I took somewhere close to 75 pictures to try and come up with 1 good shot of the kids and 1 good shot of the grandkids.  Should it really be that hard??  (with our group - the answer is yes!)

BraveHeart

My Jared, he's a good kid.  He's rambunctious and loud and mouthy at times, but he's a good kid. 

There is a plan in place to get him up North just after Christmas so he can spend a fun filled week at the ranch!  10,000 acres of 4-wheeling and go-carting and target practice - what little boy wouldn't go head over heels for that?  Problem is - it's going to take a plane ride to get it done.  Alone. 

He has stood strong in his conviction that he was NOT getting on a plane.  No way, no how, not going to happen.  Until today.  He asked some basic questions, had me outline just exactly how it would go down and then said, "Let's do it!"  
Wow, I am so proud of this little man.  He rationalized and weighed his options put aside his fears.  I will say though - the promise of free soda without mom there to give him the "Are you kidding me???" look - most likely put him over the top!!
We still have 3 or 4 days, so anything could happen, but we are a step closer to getting him past this little 8 year old fear and that pleases me to no end.

Now if I can only manage to keep it together until he gets out of view....lord help me!  I'm pretty certain I will be the one freaking out in the airport.

My Lukers

My Lukers, sometimes I just think about him and I smile. 

He is silly...

He is emotional...

He is a worker...

A player...

He is a boy...

He is a knight...

He is a two year old who loves his mama.

And I couldn't ask for anything more.

A slow day...

It is so very easy for me to get so wrapped up in projects and meetings and employees and housework and holidays and so many other things that I almost forget to breath - that's what it feels like anyway!  Well, this weekend, after multiple Christmas parties and a Saturday spent at the office we took Sunday off - as we should anyway - and had a lazy day at the farm.  Oh how I love a slow day...

The boys chased chickens...


And Daddy showed 'em up...


We had introductions...

I think she was having a better time than she let on  :-)

I can't tell you how in love I was with these sassy ladies!!


The boys also got in some bovine time...



Jared met Cash...

This was about 2 seconds before a full fledged gate charge by young cash - no pictures of that as I was busy trying to save Jared from what I was sure to be imminent doom.
See, Cash hates Jared, Cash hates everybody, but apparently he holds a little something extra against little guys.

He even looks like he hates you - squinting his eyes like that I expect to hear "You talking to me?  Are you talking to me??"
The boys drove around...

And rode around...

Played with the farm dog (he was a CUTE one!!)...

And the farm deposits...

I appreciated the farm house


All in all it was a beautiful, slow day to watch the ducks float by...

I am forever thankful for my many blessings.