No Christmas card??

The first week of December I was behind in my deciding on a Christmas card picture and ordering the cards. I managed to get that part done before our trip to Vegas but had not finished writing our Christmas letter. There was plenty of time to get it written and those puppies in the mail once we returned so I was not overly concerned about it.

Well after our trip I had a really hard time trying to be all chipper and such while writing the what we did in 2012 letter.  The same week I was planning to get it mailed out was the week my father-in-law passed.  Needless to say our minds were preoccupied and we were emotionally drained. 

 

There the box of photo cards sits... stamped and with return address labels. Waiting for me to finish the letter. So, if you normally get our Christmas card and didn't this year... you aren't alone. No one did. The only one on a frig (because that IS where it goes every year, right?!?!) is right here in our house.

Now, the question?  Do I still finish the letter wishing everyone a Happy 2013 and send them or just say... screw it?  I haven't decided it.

3 months later...

After we left Ruidoso we headed down the mountain to Las Cruces! I was down right giddy to be home... we spent the next five days visiting friends, eating ourselves into a chile induced coma (true story), sledding at white sands, and enjoying family time.

Momma went with us to White Sands

Once we convinced her to go down the hills we couldn't get her to stop! 

So much for pictures

The boys enjoying some cupcakes!

I miss my bestie!!!

Goose and his BESTIE

On the way home we detoured slightly and stopped by Farwell, TX... home to my S.I.L and soon to be B.I.L.  Jeroen played tour guide around the dairy and the kids loved it!  I tried to steal a couple calves (literally hours old), seriously, you would have thought I'd never seen a baby ANYTHING before.

I wanted to take him home

He was in hog heaven!!! 

This was his reaction to having to get OFF the tractor

Reed and Traci

I wish we would have had more than a couple hours at Traci and Jeroen's but it was a couple hours of good quality time.  Can't wait to go back. We've already decided that the kids are going to have to go spend summers and be put to work on the dairy! :-D  I might come and steal some of the bull calves.... 

This post doesn't do the trip justice but it's all I can muster up since I've been putting it off so long. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Well, my night is wrapping up. Yes, it's 10:30pm on NYE and I'm sitting on my couch writing this blog.  As soon as I hit the "publish" button it's off to bed for this lady!  I'm old and lame!  I will say though that I've stayed up later then everyone else in my family. :-) I haven't made any "public" resolutions in a couple years so I thought it was about time, right?

• Numero Uno = Lose MORE weight. In 2012 I lost 33lbs, add back 7lbs (hello NM trip and holidays!)... so 26lbs.  Well, I want to lose 30 more pounds this year.    

• Pray more... out loud... with my family.  Don't get me wrong, I pray.  I just NEED to do a better job of teaching my kids to pray and showing them my gratitude for all He does.

• In 2012 we lost too many people.  In 2013 my goal is to let the ones I love know I love them, often. I've also been one to hold grudges (trust me on this one, I still "hate" a girl who screwed me
      over in high school). Well, I have been working on this one. I am truly trying to forgive and forget.
      Life is too short. 

• I've always felt like, while I'm not perfect I've never admit that again , I have always been a fairly       organized person.  Well, that was until the past year or so... I feel like life has gotten the best of me and my world is chaotic.  In 2013 I'm going to get a hold of my life again!
  
                                  

• I have two new "toys"  that I need to learn to shoot.  A new camera and a new gun.  I can shoot a gun and I can take pictures but in 2013 I want to be AWESOME at both of these things! Watch out!    BTW- I know a camera is not a toy, don't lecture me. ;-) 

                                                 

Now, here are a few events I'm super pumped for in 2013:

1. Traveling to LC in March for Traci's wedding!!! Cannot wait to celebrate the van der Ploeg's!!! 
2. Reed and Tres' 30th... I know they aren't excited to turn 30 but I'm ready to party! 
3. My niece if due May 15th! Hope a trip to TN is soon after this!
4. KY trip with Tio and Outlaw (fingers crossed)
5. Denver with the trainee girls in Sept- I have it on my calendar ladies... this is a must!
6. Hopefully a Disney Cruise in December

Besides those resolutions here is my biggest wish for 2013.  I pray that my family who have lost those dearest to them find comfort in 2013.  I hope they find comfort in the fact that while they are mourning for themselves on Earth... those that have left us are with our Maker! They are Home, for eternity, and waiting for us!! How wonderful is that?!?!

                                    

Hope 2013 brings you health and happiness!

No better way to spend my favorite month then in my favorite place…. New Mexico.

I’m just behind “in life” as I like to call it.  I’m two months behind in posting about our wonderful family vacation but with all that has occurred in the past two months I’m not going to apologize for it!

At the beginning of October we piled in the car  for the long haul to New Mexico.

Well, Reed flew (jerk) and I drug my mom along to help with the drive and to help with the kids during the trip.  (She was a life saver!!! THANKS MOM!)  We drove to the booming metropolis of Stratford Texas where we spent the night with Liz.  She and I stayed up late chatting away and were told by K. Rae and my mom that we sounded like a bunch of high school girls at a sleep over. What can I say, I missed my Outlaw!!

The next morning we all headed to Ruidoso, I hadn’t been there in YEARS and being in the mountains was so refreshing!  Thursday night I took the kids over to the Tuttle Cabin to see everyone and they had a b-day celebration for the October birthdays!

the moment he saw the cake

I got up Friday morning to go for a run but K decided she wanted to go with me so we just walked… I’m glad we did because within the first ½ mile we stumbled across 6 deer and by the end of our walk had counted 21.  So glad I had my phone to snap pictures.  We both agree this was more educational then school!

Rehearsal & Rehearsal dinner were Friday night and we had a great time hanging out with the family & friends.

The real fun begin after when we headed to a local Irish bar and met up with all of our old friends (plus new ones), we had a blast (I may have had more fun than most… and paid for it the next morning)

Saturday we got a new sister! Woohoo!  The wedding was beautiful and I must say that the flower girl and ring bearer were the cutest I’ve EVER seen!!! ;-) I am so glad we were able to spend time with the family and have these wonderful memories that are still so fresh in our minds.  Not to mention beautiful pictures of everyone all dolled up! Now…. here come a “few” of my favorites.    

Love this picture of PR with his Mammaw!

peaking out at the action

The Tuttle's 

my cowboys

 We all danced the night away!! The kids had the best time being right in the middle of the action!

makes my heart smile...
one day we'll have another picture just like this but she'll be dancing on her own. 

dancing with Aunt Liz

Aunt Traci dancing with the kids

candy bar

Sunday morning we headed over to the cabin to let the kids play and say goodbye to the family, not realizing that those moments would soon be forever etched in my brain. I am so thankful we didn't rush to get on the road.

After we left the cabin we headed down the mountain to Cruces... but we'll save those pictures for another post!