Family Time

As we enter this season of joy, I am once again reminded of the importance of family. Many people know that in 1983, my parents lost a son due to a freak accident. Alan and a friend were cutting down a tree in the back yard and as it fell, they each ran different directions. Alan unknowingly ran in the same direction as the tree and was unable to out-run the tree. As a result of this accident, Alan was on life support, and my parents had to make the decision that NO parent should EVER have to make. In January of 1983, my parents lost a child, and will forever have a small amount of heartbreak over this loss.

Mom at the cemetery January 15, 2010 with Alan's new flowers

With all that being said, the other day I got an email from my mom that had the happiest tone to it, and I just had to share it with everyone:
"I wanted to share with you the early Christmas present I received during the night. It was a very simple but awesome gift. It was 2 words... Hey, Mama!
It was distinctively Alan's voice. I know it was him because he is the only one who called me that.
I don't dream of him as often as I would like or even used to. I woke up smiling.
I tell you all this to remind us that the best gifts in our lives don't always come as pretty packages. Rather, they are most likely with us all the time but sometimes appear unexpectedly.
Love to you all"
 
As my mom learned that all of the recipients (she sent this to me, my dad, my aunt, my sister, and my brother) of the email cried while reading it, she told me that her intent was not to make others cry, but to make them smile and make them happy! I quickly told her that through the tears that we all had, we were smiling even bigger! The tears that we had were tears of joy. The thought that my mom was able to hear her first born child again, was both peaceful and joyful.
 
Though I have never lost a child, I now know the love a mother (or a father for that matter) has for a child and I cannot imagine that child being taken away from me. By being able to hear his voice again for my mom was the perfect gift. Dreams are the only place that she can be with him again, and she was able to receive that gift this week. I know Alan looks down on us as an Angel of God, and I know that one day I, too, will meet my brother, but until then I pray for peace in my parents' hearts and hope for those sweet dreams for them.
 
As this Christmas season is upon us, enjoy the time that you have with your families and remember the Reason for the Season together. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary in order for you and I to be able to have eternity with those that we love. Keep Jesus as the center of your celebrations with your families and don't lose sight of Him.
 
Merry Christmas!

'Tis The Season

Christmas is quite possibly my favorite time of the year! I love the lights and all of the decorations. Even though Lane thinks it's silly that I take pictures of my decorations, I did it anyways! Christmas decorations make me happy and hopefully the pictures can bring a smile to your face.

Eden moved our Bear for the Beary Merry Christmas calendar that Angela got for us last year! Lane was bitter about it because it's a HUGE competition within his family - they had one growing up.

Rednecks Everywhere!

This past weekend Parker and his girlfriend Sara came down for the annual Chumuckla Redneck Christmas Parade in Chumuckla, Florida. Lane and I went last year with some friends, and quickly realized that we needed to go again this year. Our group grew from 5 last year to about 20 - give or take a few - this year. It was a blast, and we made sure to be in costume so we would fit in with the other people at the parade. After the Parade on Saturday we went to a White Trash Party to end the night.

After going to the parade and party we just kind of hung low for a few more days while Parker and Sara were here. We took them over to the base that Lane flys out of and let them get in the static plane and watch planes take off and land. We also made gingerbread houses one night. We tried to wait for a night that Lane might be able to help us with them, but he wasn't able to because of early morning flights.

~*MUAH!*~

This morning Eden and I were having a blast playing her her little playing area that we've set up in the office. She was full of smiles and talking up a storm! She was loving every minute of it and, therefore, so was I. In the middle of playing I laid on the floor to play with her and she started attacking me with her awesome kisses!

I think she's now entering a new phase - giving KISSES! Haha, there is a VERY small part of me that wishes they were not as slimy as they are, but mostly, I think they're perfect! She comes at me with an open-mouth-smile and then, ~*MUAH!*~ she plants one right where she wants to, elbow, chin, mouth, eye, or nose! They are so much fun and she and I just laughed and giggled for the rest of the morning as we gave each other kisses.

9 Month Well Baby

Today Eden had her 9 month well baby appointment. Everything looked good and she performed well for the doctor. When she was first weighed she was only 14.14lbs and the doctor wasn't thrilled with that number, so we had her re-weighed. When they did it again, she was 15 lbs. Even though this isn't that much different, he was a little happier with this number. She does have to go back in a month to get weighed again and he said he wants to make sure she's gained a couple ounces. It shouldn't be a problem, because we've yet to find a food that she doesn't like and she eats ALL the time! She was 26.5 inches long and looking healthy other than the lower weight.

The doctor was very pleased with her progress and with the milestones that she's met. She stood on the table - while holding my hands - for him, smiled at him, rolled around for him, and even sat still - kind of - for him to look in her eyes, ears, and nose. All in all he liked what he saw and said that if he hadn't seen the number from the scale and had only seen her, he wouldn't have wanted her to come back for a re-weigh because she's doing so well.  When we go back in a month, she will have the second part of her flu shot too, so it all works out in the end.

SOLO!

TODAY WAS THE DAY! (Well, Last Friday was the day!)

Lane flew his solo today! We are beyond excited!!!!! It is one of the "milestones" of flight school, so I couldn't be happier for him. When he called to say he was on his way home from flying I could hear in his voice that he was relieved to have this behind him.

Since his solo, Lane has started his aerobatic flights and is loving them. He's actually waiting on standby now to see if he can get one of his solos in for this section. I know he'll be smiling ear to ear if he gets this solo today because these are fun flights. He's getting to do loops, barrel rolls, flying upside down (with an instructor) and other fun things!

Georgia and all it has to offer!

Because we did SO much while we were in Georgia for Thanksgiving, I'm just going to do a few notes to accompany the pictures from the visit because the pictures tell a better story than I ever could!

The first Thanksgiving meal we had was at my parents house. There were A LOT of people there! I'm not even going to try to name everyone that was in attendance, because I know I would leave someone out. Eden ate turkey, green beans, and stuffing (along with her baby food that I had made for her) for lunch on Thanksgiving day.

After the Travis family Thanksgiving, we headed over to the Daigle family Thanksgiving for dinner. Eden was just about in a food coma so we let her sleep while we ate for this meal! She enjoyed getting to play with her cousins before she went down for her nap though.

After her nap it was time for Christmas with the Daigle family. Because Ryan and his family, and Angela and her family were "home" for Thanksgiving and they won't be able to be there on Christmas, we had our Christmas celebration on Thanksgiving! We let the kids open presents and then when the kids went to bed, the adults got to open presents. The adults, this year, decided on a "Lotto Christmas" where we each got a gift for one other person (decided by a drawing) and there was a $10 limit and the gift had to be associated with the lottery. It was a lot of fun, and most people won at least another ticket, however, Lane's dad won $100!!!

The morning after Thanksgiving came and all the kids had worn Christmas pjs to bed because we were going to go looking at Christmas lights that evening so we took some pictures of the cousins in front of the Christmas tree - well, we tried to. Eden wouldn't sit still and she was in a different place in all the pictures we tried to take.

After breakfast, and when we were all able to get ourselves ready and put together we left for Callaway Gardens. Before we went anywhere, we were all starving and decided to have a picnic - in the rain, in our cars! Angela made delicious left over turkey sandwiches for everyone.

We went to the butterfly garden, Santa's village, and then to their Fantasy Night of Lights. While we were at Santa's village Eden had her picture taken with Santa and Rudolph. She did so well and actually enjoyed sitting with each of them! I was excited that she let them hold her without having any reservations because we were able to get some good pictures. We rode the Jolly Trolly through the lights and it was beautiful. I was able to get a few pictures, but it was hard to get a lot of good ones. Eden loved being bundled up, and I think Lane and I enjoyed it even more because she's not big on cuddling all the time, and she just snuggled right up and let us cuddle with her!

 After our Magical Nights of Lights we went back home and Lane, Eden and I went to my parents house so we could have Christmas morning with my sister and her family on Saturday.

At our Christmas celebration all of the grandchildren (and us big kids too) got tickets to go to Medieval Times, which is a dinner and a show type of place. When dinner was served we were to use our hands to eat - no silverware! The show that is put on is a Knight in shining armor show with jousting and other tournament games. When we got there we were assigned to the Yellow Knight.

After the show the Knights, Prince, Princess, and King came out and took pictures with everyone and signed autographs. The kids thought that was one of the most awesome things that had ever happened! Mimi and Pop did a good job stuffing those stockings!

After the pictures with the stars of the show, Lane and I tried to get a family picture that we could use for a Christmas card. Needless to say, it wasn't the easiest thing we've ever done, but we managed!

All in all, we had a fabulous Thanksgiving/Christmas with our families. We did A LOT in just a couple of days, but in the end it was totally worth cramming it all in! Eden loved being with all of her cousins and Lane and I enjoyed seeing the happieness on her face while getting to enjoy time with family. I can't wait until the next time!