It's been another year.

Can't believe it's been 365 days since I last posted. We're all another year older and things are moving right along in our life. Avery is now 7 and in 2nd grade and Lawson will soon be 4 and just started preschool last week. I can't say we're in a routine, but we're starting to adjust to the craziness of life! Thankfully it's just Avery that has all the extra circular activates. This week looks something like this... Monday- Piano Tuesday- Justin's birthday Wednesday- sorority (this is complexly optional, but it's my ONE evening/month to spend with other girls!) Thursday- gymnastics Friday- NOTHING!! Saturday- cheerleading camp I'm tired just typing all that!! We'll be in full harvest mode in another week or two and who knows how long that will last this year. This had been another odd year for farming, as everything was late. The guys are predicting that we'll be farming right up to the Holiday's this year then get a few weeks off and will jump right in with prepping for the next season. I was lucky to have the summer off again this year, but I wasn't able to get much of my "to do" list knocked out, because blueberries kept me so busy. We also enjoyed a family vacation with two other families darning July. We stayed in Fort Morgan, AL and it was WONDERFUL!! We all had such a great time!! I could so easily be a beach bum and not even care- I LOVE it down there! Think that brings the last year up to date in a very condensed version.

September 11, 2012

Wow, I haven't updated my blog since April 2011!! Everyone is a year and half older- Avery 6, Lawson 2.5 and Justin just celebrated his birthday yesterday. What better day to update than on September 11, 2012. So much has changed in my life since 11yrs ago and I never would have though I would be where I am today this day in 2001.

 I remember being a Jr at SMS/MSU in Springfield, MO. I didn't live far from campus-just a few blocks. Thinking back I have no idea why I never walked to class...oh, yeah I do know...I never work up early enough. I remember driving my little red Grand Am and couldn't understand why all that was on the radio was news and I didn't keep the radio on a station long enough to catch what was going on. When I made it Karls Hall I could tell something was wrong, but just didn't know what. I remember standing outside the class room and Dr Perkins was late getting there (which was odd, because he was never late). My friend Jaymee was the first to tell me what happened. I just remember her saying: A plane hit the World Trade Center and they don't know why. I couldn't get my thoughts wrapped around what she just told me. When Dr. Perkins finally made it he was very quiet and as we all got seated he announced that: The trade center was hit my a plane. He dismissed class and told us to go home and watch the news and said this was important and, while devastating, we were watching a big part of history. I honestly can't remember what I did after that. I remember coming back to the apartment and some of our friends were there watching the news and I know we all had the same thought-what's happening and what will happen next...what does our future hold? I remember feeling like it wasn't real, like it was a movie. And still to this day, 11 years later, it feels that way. And it may sound cliche, but if anything we can take from moments like this, its to realize how fragile life is. So tell people how you feel, appreciate what you have. Do good things and always move forward. Tomorrow is never promised.

So, as I think back where I was 11yrs ago, I'm SO thankful to be where I am today. I have guilt for my children. They have no idea what it's like to live without the fear of al qaeda, terrors attacks...etc. They think it's just normal. I hope and pray that one day they will know the difference and live the differenc.

America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world. George W. Bush

WHERE DID THE TIME GO...?

I have to brag about Avery today and document our conversation, before I forget about it. We had her kindergarten screening yesterday and to be honest, I was a bit worried about it. Not that I didn't think Avery would do a good job, but Avery has a social problem, or she did have. Avery is not shy, until you get her out of her comfort zone and around people she doesn't know. When this happens she does a complete 360 and becomes almost a different person...this happened last year. Let me just say that preschool has done wonders for little Avery! She has come out of her shell so much and LEARNED so MUCH...it makes this momma proud and yesterday she didn't disappoint me...she was excellent!

Avery will be starting kindergarten this coming August and will be young for her class- her birthday is the first part of July. Yesterdays screening determined that Avery IS ready for kindergarten (really- how can this be...?).  She actually tested more at a 6yr old level than at 4yrs 9months and 17days...that made me so proud, but what parent wouldn't be proud? Had things been different we would have waited to send her to school in 2012 and that would have been completely fine...whatever is best for Avery.
I told her before we went to the screening that if she did a good job we would go to DQ and eat our ice cream inside. Eating inside is a BIG deal, we usually have to go through the drive thru when Crazy Man (Lawson) is with us, but he was still at the sitter. I told her several times, how proud I was (but she knows I'm always proud of her) that she was growing up...etc- you know all the stuff we parents say to our kids. As we were on our way to get Lawson she said...."you know, it's kind of like that song"

Me: What song?
Avery: You know not Taylor Swift...oh, who is it...? Keri Underwood!
Me: What Keri Underwood song?
Avery: You know the one when she grows up and her grandma is talking (it's actually her mom)
Me: What does she say...?
Avery: Her grandma says "You look back and say where did that time go...?"

I honestly didn't (and don't ) know if I should cry or laugh...it's so true! Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday I was pregnant with her...that she was just a tiny new born baby..she can't be ready for school! I know time marches on, but goodness it kind of tugs at your heart strings to think your baby will be going to school and kind of leaving your umbrella. I know it's just kindergarten, but it will be a completely different place for her- I won't be there to protect her all the time, but I know she will be fine and LOVE it! She CAN NOT wait to go to "BIG SCHOOL"!!

Avery-
Mommy and Daddy are so PROUD of you and we LOVE YOU to the Moon and Back 1,000 times over!!

Fowler Christmas

 Christmas day we spend with the Fowler's (my family). We always get together with my dad's siblings and we rotate celebrating at my dads, my Aunt Helen's and my Uncle Eddie's houses. Our gathering is getting smaller since so many of my cousin's have gotten married and moved, but we still enjoy our time together.

 

 

Poor Avery fell asleep on the way down there- she was so pooped and it wasn't wasn't even lunch time...Christmas is a hard day on little kids- so much excitement!

 Lawson lasted until after he ate. I love that I was able to get the Nativity set in the picture. The set used to be at my grandparents house. I would set on the floor when I was little (which was odd) and play with the cows horns- they are little springs. It's just good memories...Miss you Grammy and Granddad!

 My dad, Kerry- the wonderful host!

 Justin and cousin, Gary

 Dad and Uncle Eddie

 The upstairs group

 Avery eating whipped cream and coffee...

 The downstairs group- watching Glynn and Cade play the Wii

 Avery singing "Baby, Baby" we were ALLtired of Justin Bieber- well, everyone, but you know who :)

 Avery took some pictures. Awesome couch isn't it...my mom just HAD to have it for the living room- back in 1978 :)

 Cousin Laura, of course she was teaching Lawson all about ice

 Jennifer, Beth and Tanner

 Lawson just couldn't get enough ice!

 Merry Christmas to ALL and to ALL a good night! 

Christmas 2011

Noting like posting about Christmas in March April...the end of April...on Good Friday!
 I like to keep Christmas morning low key at the house. We always seem to open gifts kind of in a hurry to get ready to go to the Fowler Christmas. This year was pretty neat, because Avery started getting excited about Santa coming and couldn't sleep on Christmas Eve. Justin and I let her sleep in our bed on the weekends (Friday & Saturday night) and since Christmas was on a Saturday she was set to sleep in our bed, but of course we told her that Santa won't come unless she's in her bed. Justin and I were so tired we weren't able to stay awake to put out the gifts and Avery was watching a movie, so we went to bed. I woke up at 4 to put out gifts and Avery's TV was off and Santa had already come...Justin woke up at 2 and put out the gifts. When I was awake at 4 Avery was asleep and her TV was off...then when I got up at 6 her TV was on and it looked like she had fallen asleep sitting up. She told me she was so excited that she couldn't sleep and thought she would watch a movie- silly girl!
Lawson woke up about 6:30 and then Avery shortly after that and that's when she got to see what Santa brought. Poor Lawson didn't get much, but he didn't need anything- neither did Avery, but you know. I'm actually going to start this with the kids staring next year (I had bought Avery some gifts earlier in the year)

• Something they Want
• Something they Need
• Something to Wear
• Something to Read

I think the kids had a good Christmas and Avery loved (and still loves) her Hanna Montana "singing thing" that's what Avery calls it. Lawson, well he could have cared less, but he seemed to like his stuff.


                                          

                                            Santa ate his muffins and drank his milk!




                                                       



                      

                                     

I must have been a good girl this year, because I got a sewing machine (which I haven't had time to use) and a Silhouette (that I have used, but not as often as I would like).
We had a great Christmas, but most of all I was thankful that our Savior was born on this day... Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Christmas Eve

When I was growing up we would always open gifts with Mamma and Pampa on Christmas Eve. I'm sure this sounds odd to most, but we would always have pizza, usually from Papa's Pizza, which was wonderful and pie and of course open presents. My mom is any only child, so it was just my parents, me, Crystal and then Mamma and Pampa. This tradition continued until Crystal got married and they would come every other year and then when I got married Justin and I started spending Christmas Eve with his family. It's hard working in all the Christmas' when you have to work with other families too. So, now on Christmas Eve we go to Justin's parents and have dinner and open gifts and then go to Christmas Eve service. It is a crazy time- it seems like we are rushed, I guess when you add kids into the mix, everything is always a rush. This year, Bobbi closed her store early, so we could have more time together and it worked out very nicely. Of course sitting through church service with the kids when they should be in bed is quite difficult, but it was a nice service...what I was able to take part of. Lawson and I spent most of the service in the nursery. That pretty much sums up our Christmas Eve. After church we went home to make sure we got Santa's muffins and milk set out and kids tucked in to wait on Santa.

Amber and I got the girls the same thing...makeup. It works out good getting them the same- much less arguing.

 Trying to get pictures..it was hopeless!

 The best I got of the four of them...can't even see Kennedy's head

 Thought these were good of Avery

 An awful family picture. I turned my flash off and forgot to turn it back on :(

 Notice hte eyeliner on Avery...don't know that the makeup was a good choice

 This is how we spent our Christmas Eve. Lawson was OUT when we got home, so he was in bed waiting for Santa to come. Avery on the other had was too excited to sleep- I think she watched TV all night.

Christmas with Papa and Grandma Robyn

We had Christmas with my parents on Tuesday, December 20. This is a subject that I don't want to get into, but to make a long story short, my parents are divorced. That being said the holidays are kind of awkward for all those involved. We had Christmas at my grandpa's house, which is where my mom is now living. It was of course a rushed evening since we all had to work the day of and most of us had to work the next day. It was nice evening and it is always bittersweet to be together for the holidays and in my mind I can't help, but think about how things used to be...how they should still be. I will stop there and get down to the pictures.

Lawson not sure what's going on

Lawson helping Cade

Avery just opened her Easy Bake- not sure who was more excited, Avery or Jay :)

More Easy Bake stuff...yay!



He wouldn't set still long enough to pose for a picture...always on the go!

Finally got one- he loves this doll

Getting the oven going...ready to start baking!

They made a cake- didn't get any pictures of the finished product :(

This was Lawosn when we got home...1 down 3 to go!