So much to catch up on!

For anyone that actually still reads this blog now that it's private, I blame my lack of blogging entirely on starting my new job! I started on December 12th, and though I am only working 6 shifts a month, it leaves a lot to "make-up" on my days off (which really you think that 24 days left in the month would be enough...but I guess not). I have lots I want to catch up and blog about, Abrie's 6 month stats (she's 8 months this next week, yikes!), Christmas, turning 31 and New Year's resolutions, let alone just the normal day in and day out stuff. I work this Sunday, then have 11 days off in a row, so hopefully I will catch up. Since this is my "journaling" and "scrap-booking" in one, I need to keep up! So stay tuned...

Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! Brian's supposed to be working all weekend, but negotiated Christmas night off, HOORAY! So, there will be a lot of lounging and sleeping going on, and maybe just a little celebrating of my birthday ;).

7 years and counting (11/26)

Wow, I'm sooooo behind, but in my defense it's been a little crazy around here with starting a new job. Anyway, our anniversary landed on the day after Thanksgiving, and we were able to go celebrate thankfully due to family still being in town and watching the kids. It was wonderful! All we did was go out to dinner and get some Christmas shopping done, but it was nice to do it kid free. We tried out a new Italian restaurant (super yummy) called Pompeii Italian Grill. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it. Everything just tasted so fresh! Anyway, I can't believe it's been 7 years! We've gone from this:

To this:

OK, more like this:

to this:

Sorry for the gross kissy pictures ;). Yeah, I've put on a few (OK a lot) of pounds, but I still love this man so much it makes me kinda teary just thinking about it! I couldn't have chosen a better life and eternal partner and amazing father for my children. I'm such a lucky girl!

Riverwalk Lights

So the day after Thanksgiving, we went downtown to the Riverwalk to see them turn on the lights and watch the parade on the the river. It was actually a very unique idea decorating their boats for different companies to "show off". I loved it! To actually get down right by the river, you had to buy a ticket for $20 (what a joke!), so we found a nice little spot uphill and watched it while Landen danced to all the music.

A view of the lights from a bridge.

One of the floats, I think that's Santa.

A better shot of the Santa float

Landen taking a breather from his dancing.

A quick little family picture (Abrie was sleeping)

Veteran's Day (11/11/11)

One of my favorite things about living in a "military town" is that there are so many things that people do for the service members. Veteran's Day weekend was jam-packed full of things to honor the veterans. It's still weird to think sometimes that Brian's a veteran, because he's so young, but there are so many younger than Brian that can claim the same title! Anyway, on Veteran's Day, we ventured down to Ft. Sam for a free concert. They also had tons of booths with yummy food and activities for the kiddos. Since the concert was a bunch of country music, and I'm not a fan, I took Landen to play at the activities while Brian and Abrie hung out with his buddies and watched the show. Here's a few of the things Landen did: (and sorry the pictures are taken at night)

Who can resist a bouncy house?

And of course there must be balloon animals and face painting!

Landen asked for a "monster". He wanted a monster balloon too, but the guy said it would take too much time (I think we got in the wrong balloon line because he was kind of a grump, and the girl making them in the other line was making much better quality ones!)

Landen also got to taste his first funnel cake....yum! He of course could care less about food! It was a fun evening, and very patriotic (even if I didn't like the kind of music ;). I'm very grateful for my veteran husband and brother, and the many other friends that have served our country by putting their lives on the line! I have so much because of them!

Halloween (finally)

So, on Halloween, we had the traditional chili and corn bread, then Brian and Landen went out trick or treating while I stayed at home with sleeping Abrie and to hand out candy. Yes, Abrie went to sleep at about 5:30 for the night, and I was a little sad that she didn't wake up, because I really wanted to put her costume on and have her go out trick or treating with her brother....but she had other plans! So, here's some pictures I took later with her costume on:

Our little Ladybug (yes, the poor girl is teething like crazy, for the last 2 months now with no signs of teeth!)

A close -up (blurry) shot

The loot! When Landen started complaining of his pumpkin being too heavy and didn't want to carry it anymore, they came home ;)

Me acting like an imbecellin (word courtesy of Brian Regan) while Landen shows his muscles (oh, and BJ had to get in on the action too). The parents of kids would just crack up when they saw my costume....a little trick and treat ;)

Landen and Daddy showing off their guns

There's my muscle man Buzz. He cracks me up when he's "showing off his muscles"

Air Show

We got to go to an air show on October 29th, and it was AWESOME! I've never been to one before (hence the 51 pictures I took, and no I won't bore you with them all). It was also "Navy Week", so they had set up a little bouncy area for the kids. Landen enjoyed going through one of the bouncy planes, although he couldn't get over one of the walls so he had to come back out the entrance! I loved walking around and checking out all the planes, like this sucker:

This cargo plane was HUGE! Big enough to carry other planes, tanks, vehicles, passengers, whatever they need!

Here's Landen and Brian with one of the planes. I just realized that it looks like they're posing with the racy lady on the side of the plane...oops!

Here's me and the kids on the huge cargo plane. You can see my sunburn already forming on my face. Apparently I thought it would be smart to not wear sunscreen while staring into the sun all day watching planes, parachuters, etc.

But, my favorite of the day were the:

BLUE ANGELS! They were AMAZING!!!! Looking at the picture above, their normal "diamond" formation, it was CRAZY the insane things they did! If anything went wrong with even 1 of the planes....yeah, I'm kinda morbid that way.

It was an awesome day and it pooped out the kids! I was so surprised that Abrie was able to sleep through the constant noise! If we go again next year, we're definitely packing cotton balls for ear plugs for the kids!