2012 Highlights

Sitting here watching football and enjoying the hubs' company.  I thought I'd try and recap 2012 and share some of our highlights of the year:

• Cameron turned 14 and started high school.  Courtnie turned 11 and started 6th grade.  And my baby Colton turned 7 and started 2nd grade.  
• Jason and I both converted to the iPhone.  It was long overdue!
• Cameron got braces.
• I started a blog to share the good news and truth of God's word - thejudgmentalchristian.com.
• Courtnie is dancing with a new dance team this year.  What an amazing blessing and change this has been.  She just dances, twirls, and flips everyday all day long again.  So proud of her accomplishments with her new team.
• Jason cut half his finger off this year.  This is his biggest highlight but that's fair since it did affect most of our year with its pain, healing, pain, doctor visits, pain, bills, pain, etc.  
• Jason and I went with dear friends for our first INDY races.  That was fun, very exhilarating!!
• I got my first (and last) tattoo!
• My mom moved in with us and what a blessing it has been!
• I began work with our youth.  I went on a mission trip over the summer with Cameron's age group and I was hooked.  I now teach 6th grade girls on Wednesday nights and LOVE them!  
• This is the year Colton has grown up a lot.  He has become SUPER witty and seems to understand more of the world around him.  He reminds me everyday that he is his father completely made over.
• Our family visited the State Fair of Texas this year.  We all really enjoyed ourselves!
• Cameron rededicated his life to Christ and was baptized again.
• My sister took her second trip to Africa and has joined God's full-time missionary team and spreading the love of Jesus Christ overseas.
• Courtnie and I had a girls day and saw the Rockettes this year.
• Colton started playing football this year and he loves it!  
• Our family experienced our first drive-in movie this year.  That was pretty cool.  I need to go back with my hubby :)
• We said goodbye to the Honda Odyssey and bought a Honda Accord.
• Courtnie did some modeling for Van Zandt studios in ealry March.
• Cameron and Colton kept us VERY busy this spring and fall with baseball.  I'm not sure there were too many days when someone wasn't at an official practice or game or just practicing at home for fun.
• Jason has yet to give up beer.
• And I have yet to give up Dr. Pepper.

2012 Adventures with Alf

Here are some pics of our adventures with Alf our Elf....

Best Christmas present ever!!

This Christmas, my Grannie gave us all iPads and a million dollars. How awesome is she? I just love her!

Parenting FAIL

Winner, winner! Who showed up to her baby's class Christmas party just as it was ending? This mom! Can you say worst.mom.ever? How about epic.parenting.fail?

Not a Very Good Question

Colton: "Mom have you seen Alf [our elf] today?"
Mom: "I have not. Have you seen him?"
Colton: "Why would I ask you if I had seen him? That is not...um...a very good question."

HE CAN HEAR! MY CHILD CAN HEAR!  These are exact words I have said to my children, so surely he can hear!

Start Cooking

Jason: "Hey Brandie [from the other room]... Do you smell something?"
Me: "No, why?"
Jason: "Me neither. Start cooking!"

I didn't laugh.  He better be glad this wife has a sense of humor or his night could have ended painfully and hungry!  Brave man.

Sweet Sleeping Colton

Colton very, very seldom sleeps on his bed.  He says it's too bumpy?!  His mattress is down right new since he weighs next to nothing and hasn't slept on it in months.

I took this pic to commemorate his time on the floor.....

The very next night, he WAS ON HIS BED!

 And the very next night after that he was back on his floor and armed....

Thermometer Mishap

Funny story.... our household once owned four thermometers and they all decided to quit working at the same time. I borrowed one from a friend and used her thermometer based on her instructions. I quickly took my children's temperatures to find they were consistently running a fever of 101-102 (in addition to constant cough, sore throat, congestion, etc). I call the doctor to get them seen since the fever and symptoms were going on for several days. They can't get me in as quickly as I want and I get upset and tell them what I think of their policy of possibly letting strep go untreated for such a lengthy amount of time. In the meantime, I purchase my own thermometer, just like the one my friend let us borrow because it was so easy to use. I read the instructions to get better acclimated and learn that my friends instructions were not how the thermometer was intended to be used. I take my children's temperatures with the right directions and.... wait for it.... get ready.... none of my children actually have a fever! I sure was wondering why they were acting like caged animals with such a high fever. Parenting fail. But it sure makes a good story. Back to school these kids go tomorrow!!

Random Pics

Jason can still take Cameron down.  He may get winded but he does still get him down.

Hunting, kill #1

Hunting, kill #2

These are Colton's shoes, 3 months new.  Talented, huh?

Career day.... Rockettes!

Top Golf, that was FUN!

Santa 2012

Santa pic! I can't even remember the last time ANY of my kids visited Santa.