Goodbye 2012

With this post, I am saying my farewell to 2012: the year of many milestone moments and some not so good ones.  I am not so sad to be closing the book on that year and moving forward to 2013. A fresh start. Do not get me wrong, 2012 had some great moments, but the not so good ones definitely overshadow those. I think that this year was one of me being the student and life being the teacher.  Some would say that is what life is all about. The lessons we learn.  Enjoying the happy times and enduring the hard ones...learning what you can from them. Life's lessons that are intended for us. Hopefully in 2013, I will be able to see how those lessons have changed me as a person, a mom and a wife.  We will see.

Some of the good times:

*Graduating with my Bachelor's degree
*Enjoying being a mom of a rambunctious one year old and a clever 5 year old
*Traveling to some of the beautiful places that this world has to offer: Prague, Germany, Italy, Japan and South Korea. That includes California and Oregon too!
*The year of Milestones - I celebrated 5 years of marriage with my wonderful husband, 5 years at my job, and 5 years as an east coaster
*Colin turned 5 years old this year...I turned 30. I was a little sad to see my 20's end, but am excited to see where my 30's take me
*Having my mom and brother here for Meli's 1st birthday

Even with all of my personal issues this year, God always seems to have a way to provide some perspective. To put me in my place. Mine came with the tragic events of Newtown at Sandy Hook Elementary. No matter how horrible I think my life was getting - it could have been a lot worse. My heart goes out to all of the parents and family members of those little angels whose lives were cut tragically short. Those parents have been dealt one of life's catastrophic blows that there is just no getting over - I just pray that 2013 can bring them some healing and peace.

Good riddance to the year that ended on such a horrific note.  Here is to 2013: the year of not taking life for granted, for cherishing loved ones even more, for tackling old dreams and discovering new ones, and to living life to the fullest.  No holding back. To all of you - my loved ones, friends and strangers who happen on this blog...wishing you a happy & blessed 2013.

Best Wishes -

The B Family

Snow Day

The past few days we have seen some snow, but it has not stayed too long.  That is kind of nice though. It comes, stays long enough for the kids to play, then it melts away. I like this.  Will and Colin were ecstatic to have snow on Christmas Eve. Will gets a little down when it is not a white Christmas.  I will admit that I do enjoy having Christmas look like wintertime. Snow is actually kind of nice when you are off from work and do not have to drive in it. I spent one Christmas in Hawaii and it was fun (duh, Hawaii) but not quite the same. By the end of it the "hang loose" Santa Claus decorations were rather irritating.

Today we took the kids out to play in the snow. It was Mae's first time and she LOVED it!! She was not phased by the cold at all. The only thing that she was not overly fond of was the mittens. She was not happy that we made her wear them, but if we took them off she would keep touching the snow...her poor little hands were getting so cold.  It had to be a stern mama moment.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

 The B Family

Merry Christmas to All

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Our Christmas was very nice. Busy but enjoyable. We are taking today to just relax and wind down.  Will has off until the 2nd and I go back tomorrow for two days and then have off until the 2nd as well. We have both been off since the 21st, which has been so nice to have the time to really take in the holiday season.

We started celebrating Friday night with one of my sisters-in-law and family.  I had it easy this year and only had to cook one meal - I went with my mom's easy crock pot recipe for pot roast. I liked the break from cooking so many meals. I stuck it in the crock pot in the morning, then Will and I went out and finished our Christmas shopping. Then that night we enjoyed dinner, presents and mimosas!

Saturday, we did Christmas type things with the kids.  Then on Sunday, we had some friends over for football and BBQ wings. Go Redskins!! Will is doing very well in his football pool at work. Right now he has first place all to himself...one more week! If he wins, we are thinking Vegas!!! 

Christmas Eve, we baked cookies and headed over to my sister-in-law's for oyster stew, games and more mimosas! Can you tell we are crazy for mimosas right now! We got home late...so we rushed to prepare for Santa.  Colin and Mae opened their Christmas pajamas, we set out cookies & milk for Santa (and a carrot for the reindeer), Colin wrote a note for Santa, and we headed to bed.  Colin was a good boy and fell right to sleep. 

Santa was extra sweet to our family this year.  He left our stockings overflowing and left wrapped gifts under the tree.  Then he used some extra decorative stockings and left us breakfast!  Blueberry muffins and some hot cocoa for Colin (with whipped cream to top it off).  Colin was very impressed.

On the top of Colin's Christmas list for Santa was jelly beans and a little robot. What a sweatheart!  He really wanted those two things.  Santa did not disappoint...and left him a few other things for being such a good big brother. Mae got a little piggy bank that sings when you put a coin in it. She loved it!  Her other bigger gift was a tea set that sings as well.  She loved the little play phone she got in her stocking.  Mae loves to talk. She is so tough...but definitely has a girlie side. One of my favorite things were some gorgeous earrings Will got me (he went to Jared's! - if you know the commercials) and found this new designer who travels around the world finding interesting designs and uses different ancient methods to make the jewelry. They're perfect!  He does such an amazing job at finding things that are fit my personality.  Among Will's gift he now owns land in...Scotland!  He is an official Laird (lord).  I bought him a squarefoot of land in Scotland right outside of Edinburgh (near St. Andrews).  The plan would be to go visit his land here soon!

 

After our Christmas morning, we headed over to Grandma Liz's for Christmas dinner.  We had a wonderful time with Liz and Michael.  The kids terrorized poor Rusty (their dog) and getting into everything they are not supposed to!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

'Tis the Season

I realize that I have not even posted a blog entry in the month of December and here it is almost Christmas. As always this time of year is busy, busy, busy.  We have been having fun doing Christmastime things with Colin and Meli.  Little guy had a great time picking out gifts for people this year. I love this age!  He also wrote his own letter to Santa.  This week we will be making a trip to see the jolly guy and drive through the festival of lights.  I think Colin will have a blast. He promises that he will not cry this time when he sits on Santa's lap.  We will see.  Mae does not have a clue what is going on, but loves all of the ornaments and Christmas lights. 

OK...I promise to write more soon...but Will had me join him in a kickboxing class today and I am wiped out.  Plus, I am still recovering from my work's Christmas party last night. So tired. I actually really liked the class.  Will prefers his boxing class to the kickboxing one.  I may try the actual boxing one as well. I think I would prefer to work on the form more so than the aerobic part.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Decorating the Christmas Tree

We put our tree and Christmas decorations up the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Colin is super excited this year for Christmas.  He keeps asking when Santa will be here and when he will get his video from him.  We will have to find that site again.  Colin is also very curious about Baby Jesus.  He is asking me if he is the "King of Christmas" and where can we find the baby Jesus...and who is this man, Joseph, in our Nativity scene.  We will have fun explaining all about Christmas this year.  Meli is still at the age where she does not notice it much...but she sure loves the taking the ornaments off the tree!

 

I love this time of year!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

A Day of Thanks

I hope everyone was able to enjoy the holiday yesterday. We had a nice Thanksgiving. We were able to spend it with family, which is always nice.  Colin and Mae loved hanging out with their cousins.  It is very beneficial to have kids around that can entertain our kids - therefore allowing us relax a bit. It is important to always be thankful for what we have...but it is nice to have a day where we take some extra time to reflect on all of our blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

Birthday Boy

I cannot believe that we have been parents for 5 years now.  So cliche' but it has seriously gone by in a blilnk of an eye.  For a little extra fun, Will and I hung up a curtain of five balloons on Colin's door for when he woke up on his big day.  Colin came into our room and informed me "that someone put big red balloons on his door".  He was very excited when he realized it was for his birthday and that he had one for each year.  Will had to work some but I was able to spend the day with Colin...He got to go pick out a toy with his gift card and some of his birthday money. Then we had a day of movies and games.  After Will got off work, we treated Colin to lunch at McDonalds.  Colin begged for it (he has not had it since our big health kick) and he wanted to eat inside - which rarely happens.  His cousins and Aunt Wen Wen and Uncle E came over for cake and presents.  Colin informed me that morning that he does not turn 5 until he eats his cake. For dinner, Colin's request was chicken noodle soup...that one took me by surprise. I thought for sure it would be mac & cheese.

We are so blessed with such a sweet, funny and loving kid. Love my little buddy.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

 The B Family

Party Like a 5 Year Old

Colin turns 5 this Wednesday...our little baby is growing up way too fast!! So, this weekend we had a little celebration at Chuck e Cheeses.  Colin had a blast! This is only his second birthday where we had a party for friends and he just loved it. The place was actually a really good place to throw a party. You have your own server that takes care of everything.  They were super generous with tokens and food.  The only hiccup was that Colin got really scared of the guy in the mouse costume.  So I had to hold him during the birthday kid show and birthday song.  He was also iffy about going into this birthday kid ticket blaster - it was very cool he got to wear goggles and he stood in this tube that blew tickets everywhere.  Will had to go in with him but he got a lot of extra tickets and actually got the big bonus of 1,000 tickets.

Meli have a good time looking at Colin's presents

Colin loves PowerRangers.

Will and Colin in the ticket blaster.

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

 The B Family

The Dirty Thirty

So, I have reached the next chapter...my 30's. At least I have heard a lot of people say that their 30's were their best years.  Here's hoping...

Will was great and made sure that I had the best possible birthday. We spent a night away from the kids (this just does not happen) which was nice.  He took me to National Harbor and we just walked around, shopped a little, ate dinner at Rosa Mexican (they make the guacamole right in front of you - so good), had drinks and just relaxed.  A good way to celebrate a new phase.

One thing I really love about the National Harbor is the Awakening statue.  I just think it is really intriguing. That is the arm behind me.

The peeps store - yes we bought some for stocking stuffers

Part of the Awakening. There is also the knee and foot.

I met the lady depicted in this mural. She picked crabs for me in Maryland when she realized how pathetic I was at breaking the poor things legs off.

My little lovies helping me blow out my candle.

Here is to the next chapter...

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family

18 Months

I have been horrible at writing lately...sorry, sorry.  I promise to catch up soon.  It is such a busy time of year with birthdays and holidays. 

Meli had her 18th month check-up the other day.  I went in worried that she has not gained any weight.  She is a grazer when it comes to eating so it can seem like she is not eating a lot.  Turns out that she has gained 2 lbs since last July - so that is great!!  The doctor said in the second year they are happy if they gain 2 lbs total.  So we are good.  She is 23 lbs and 31.5 inches long.  Still blonde (somestimes more of a strawberry blonde), still blue eyes and still stubborn, happy and just loveable!  Her personality is blossoming and she is hillarious.  She cracks herself up - which is the funniest thing.  Meli still loves to dance and now enjoys singing.  What a beautiful daughter we have!

This is not the best picture and it is a few months old, but I have not been the best at taking pictures lately. Need to get better before the holidays...

~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~

The B Family