My 2012 in Pictures

Narrowing down pictures to just a few to represent a whole year is a HUGE challenge.  I went through all of 2012's pictures, and made it to 42.  For those 42 pictures, you can look at the album I created on Facebook.

For a blog, though, That seems like a fairly cumbersome volume of pictures to post.  So this is my attempt to narrow down - even further - our 2012 in pictures.  The idea stems from a blog challenge.  Unlike "Wordless Wednesday" - this challenge encouraged using "captioning" (thank goodness!) and suggested picking one picture for every month.  I'm not sure I can narrow it down that far!


Baby Due Feb 11!  Baby arrived 8 days later on Feb 19.



Baby's First Holiday:  Mardi Gras!



Maternity Leave week 1:  Art Projects with Kiddo



Kiddo Learns to fish!  One of 2 camping trips



Atlanta, GA for Vacation - Daddy ran a 10K!



Beach trips included Myrtle Beach, SC and Crystal Beach, TX



Lots of time spent outdoors - plus a new kayak!



Hiking to the top while carrying kids was a challenge!



Mom got creative when Baby G started daycare!



Funnest Run of the year: COLOR ME RAD



Mom & Kiddo creativity, again: Robot Building 101



Painting Pumpkins!



Obligatory "baby in a pumpkin" picture!



Baby G never cries!  Well, almost never...



Kiddo loves his baby sister!



Thanksgiving Day hiking and picnic lunch



Mischevious Girl crawling up stairs...over and over and over

The Whole Family - in Wichita, Kansas



The In-laws - in Dallas, Texas (missing MIL and FIL)



Sweet Doggies on "Grandma Kathy's" bed!

Six Words

Internal age never matches external age.

Six Words

Curiosity has not killed me yet.

Best & Worst

As "they" say (whoever "they" is)...

It was the Best of times, it was the Worst of times.

We have just returned home from a whirlwind tour of the midwest.  That is to say - we visited family over the holiday, flying to Texas, driving to Kansas and back again, and flying home.  Whew!

The Best:

Often, holidays with my family are stressful.  Of all the times I've made the Kansas-back-to-Texas trek, many memories are of crying in the car - upset and/or frustrated about one thing or another.  This time?  That didn't happen.  Overall, it was a very pleasant, nearly peaceful visit.  I was a bit sad not to be able to see my neices and nephews (it's been over a year - and possibly two years - since I've seen them!)  Somehow, though, this Christmas Eve was magical.  It had that "spirit" of the holiday.

Before the actual holiday, we got to spend quality one-on-one time with most family.  It's great to see family at big get-togethers, but the smaller group visits this time around were more enjoyable.  It's so wonderful to visit, relax, and just hang-out with family.  This year, I found myself truly blessed in so many ways.  Perhaps that is - in part - why this particular holiday felt special to me.

The Worst:

Among Baby G's Christmas Presents lurked Pneumonia (or at the very least, she was diagnosed with Pneumonia on Christmas Eve after a three plus hour stint in the Immediate Care Center).  In fact - generally, it seems this visit centered around the health of the family.  Everyone is getting older, it's true - but there were many in the family where deteriorating health is evident.  It makes me want to make my health a priority for 2013.  I can't change the health of those around me - but hopefully, I can make changes to my own eating and exercise habits.  In fact, I'm looking forward to a 5 mile run on New Year's Day with a couple of neighbors!

There was also the weather.  It wasn't snowing in Kansas, but about the time we hit the Oklahoma border (1 hour into the drive), we begin bringing snow with us from Oklahoma all the way to Texas.  The trip took a few hours longer than it should have, and going was slow and a bit treacherous.   Kudos onto my hubby for keeping us safe, even though we saw countless of spin-outs, fender benders, and overturned cars.

So to family and friends... as the New Year approaches... I wish for all of you good health!

Overdue... Wordless Wednesday

Six words

We'll be home for the holidays!

six words

Thinking about Santa.  Makes me tired.

six words

Good to be home.  Now what?

Six Words

Some days, my patience is tested.

Six Words

Party like a rock, not rockstar.

Wordless Wednesday

Six words

Failed teenage rebellion, became school salutatorian.

Six Words

Dead tired.  Better than dead dead.

Six Words

Please don't make me repeat myself.

Six words

This year, I've had a calendar of "six-word memoirs".

I find it funny, and inspirational.

It's made me think about what you can say in six words.  Anyhow -

For the rest of the month, I'm going to attempt to post a little more than I have in the last week or so.  Even if it's only six words at a time.  I'll try to keep my topic for these as "six words", and the post itself limited to six words. 

But for today, you needed to read all of that as a lead-in to today's thought:

Don't add vanilla to sprite.  Yuck.

Blog

I didn't set out to blog every day this year.  However, I do think I was going to try for something like 350 posts.

I checked.  I think this is 343.  Woah!

I do like blogging, but sometimes, trying to do it every day is stressful.

Then, again, I have many "topics" that I have never even touched.  I don't think I posted much when I took my son to the dentist for the first time this year, for example.

It is interesting, though, that with less than 30 days left this year, I have only a handful more posts to meet my goal.

Let's hope I'm not too burned out to finish what I started!

Laughs

Today, I have had many silly things to laugh about.

For example... if you mis-spell the word "Classification" - you might wind up with "class-a-fiction"... And that makes me chuckle.

Kiddo has been talking about families in preschool.  In the car today, he brought up his cousins.  We then started talking about Aunts and Uncles.  He then said, "Mitt Romney is my uncle."  Hmm.  I think I've been overlooked on Romney's 'gift' list.  Is Romney my brother or DH's?

We also went to visit Santa - entirely stress free (woa!) - No line.  And Kiddo asked for an excavator.  I'm not sure I even knew what an excavator was a few weeks ago - and now?  I know an excavator song.  That has to make you smile, at least a little.  My favorite lyrics? "This is the stuff I really love, 'cause that's what an excavator does..." 

It seems every week, I get something stuck in my head, courtesy of my little guys!

Wordless Wednesday

I've learned

Actually, it may be more accurate to say "I'm still learning.."

What is it I'm learning? To be flexible. Things don't seem to always go as planned. And sometimes, they are better. And sometimes, they are worse. And sometimes - it's just okay that it is unexpected.

Kiddo started by teaching me this lesson on his birthday. He was SOO cranky. I had planned an exciting afternoon, even took a little time off work just for the occasion. Instead, we came home early (instead of my idea, which was playing at the park). On the other hand, when he had his checkup, I took the morning off just because the appointment was at an awkward time, and had a great time with the little guy. We went to an impromptu storytime at the library, and had a bagel Kiddo-and-Mommy breakfast. (Actually, I should probably star calling him Kalamazoo on my blog, since that's what I call him in real life.)

Next up? Baby G's 9 month appointment. She'd been a little sick for a few days before, but nothing too serious. She's been sent home from daycare twice, now, in the last two weeks. High fever. The doctor says ulcers on the back of her throat, possible sinus (bacterial) infection, possible viral infection - and a round of antibiotics are in order. All of this means - of course - that it was an unexpected day off for me. And while yesterday, when I was "elected" to be the one to take off, I was a little bummed about the work stuff that I'm already starting to get behind on - - as of today, I have fully embraced it.

Yep, it took me no time at all to put together a mighty full agenda. Service appointment for the car, ordering dog food online, cleaning the house a little, blogging, and a whole slew of other things that would not have otherwise gotten done today. Of course, it seems I can always fill up my time with "stuff". Sometimes it's hard to do other "stuff" though - like reading the book for book club next week that I can't get into (and with an extra "day", it's a little hard to say I didn't have the "time" to read it..)

Well, I can cross "blogging" off the list. Now, hopefully, to tackle a few other long-standing items from the list...

Cheerio! Enjoy your first unnamed weekday since Thanksgiving!

Monday...

This is a sound clip I often get stuck in my head - thanks to an Actuarial Exam Seminar I took long ago.

It seems so appropriate for today!




work work work work

How I spent my break...

Black Friday

I'm a total target girl, at heart.

Target has quickly become my go-to Black Friday opening store.

I love Black Friday shopping.  Love it.

And it's not the deals that I love (although that's an added bonus)... It's the mentality, the people, the chaos and the craziness.

Most days, I prefer to avoid craziness.  But just once - on Black Friday - I embrace it wholeheartedly.

From the elderly couple standing in line to buy simply two Blu-Ray players, to the 16 year old wrestler waiting in 30 degree weather in shorts and with no socks on... There is always a story to be told on Black Friday!

I got the very "last" of something, I got plenty of things I'm sure I don't need, and I had the "man, they are already out.." experience for one of the items I was looking for.

In total?  A success.  And I didn't even spend the entire "budget" that I had allowed myself!

JCP - which was my favorite store last year on black friday - has dropped to near the bottom of the list.  They are trying, bless their heart... and somehow, the new JCP is very hit-or-miss.  Perhaps one day they will be a little more consistent, and/or have shorter lines.  I didn't get a button.  I had three items - none a big deal - and walked out empty handed.  Perhaps I'll try shopping their online and hope for better success.  After all, I do have a little left in my budget...

Happy Friday!

Kangaroo

Happy  Thanksgiving!

This year, we're turning a little left of tradition.  Instead of enjoying a big turkey on our table, our small nuclear family will be tasting- for the first time- Kangaroo.

It's an idea that started with hamburgers made of bison and elk at our regular grocery store.  That led us to the Meat House, a local butcher shop.  The obvious step- try some sort of new and exotic meat.  And sure, why not kangaroo!

I miss being around family for this particular holiday.  It seems the last week or so, I've had many reminders of my dad.  He was always the one in our family who wouldn't eat Turkey on thankgiving, since he was forced to eat his friend, "Red" one year and was very sad about it.  I can't recall how many thanksgivings we heard the story of Red.

Even though I won't be seeing and spending much time with family this thanksgiving, I have much for which to be thankful.

A husband whom I adore.
Two beautiful, healthy, mostly happy children.
My mother - who I am fairly sure is my biggest fan.
A slue of inlaws - who graciously accept me into the family with open arms.
My sweet, caring brother and his gracious wife.
My sister, who has had a rough life.
There are neices and nephews, and plenty of friends.
I'm thankful for my health, even if I do need to lose a few pounds!
My running shoes keep me moving, even when I would prefer to throw them across the room.
My neighbors
My job and my co-workers - I am grateful for employment that is fulfilling and interesting.
The out-of-doors, where I can replenish my inner peace
My puppies, who really aren't puppies any more.
Socks
Playing scrabble online, even if it is called words with friends.
Black Friday shopping.  It's a sad obsession.
My camera.  Another obsession.
Several others I'm sure I've forgotten....

Wordless Wednesday

Thoughts from Baby G...

        cfv bfb g                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      v  cc      


---

Baby G had something to say.  How would you interpret it?

Here's my take:

Can't feel vandals  - because friends bring goodies.

Very cool circus.   

An alternate, internet-inspired take:

Call for votes - Best friend baby Greta - very credit card           

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