Stocking Exchange: The Big Reveal!

Well.... I was going to write up a great post about what I gave Becky, what she gave me, etc.  However, Becky did a great job over on her blog, so I'm going to send you over there to check it out! 

So head over to Becky Ann Designs and tell her I said hi  :)


What Becky gave me!


What I gave Becky


And Lara, if you are reading this - I want to hear how your stocking exchange with your friend went! 

I'm Back!!!

After several weeks of a broken laptop, lack of internet, illnesses and MY HUBBY COMING HOME... I am back in business! You have no idea how happy it makes me to sit here and write a blog post finally.  To catch everyone up to speed, the last few weeks have been CRAZY!  I have had all of this going on plus a whole lot more I can't recall at the moment:

 

• We flew my sister and niece up for a weekend to suprise my mom.
• TJ's Christmas program
• A stomach flu from HELL for me and both kids
• Picked up the hubby in Atlanta, from his *hopefully* final flight home from Afghanistan (note: we were still puking from above mentioned stomach flu the whole way to Atlanta.... ugg!)
• 3 extended family Christmas gatherings
• Schmoozing with potential employers for the hubby
• Cocktails galore with family and friends (ok, so I didn't mind those so much!)
• Christmas morning at our house (including an emergency ride to several convenience stores on Christmas morning for the totally necessary block of sharp cheddar. That was fun mom!)
• Oh, and one of my favorites..... a Girl's Day with mom and Taylor yesterday to shop for my New Year's Eve dress. Ahhhhhh, I can't wait to get away child-free for a night!

Plus tons of crafting, which I will be posting shortly.  For now, I leave with you some photos of the craziness above.  Minus the stomach flu incident.... I'll spare you those images :)

See that look he's giving the camera?  2 seconds later he pinched her and ran.  Classic TJ move.   

 

The 3 amigos playing for the first time in a year.

My adorable niece, Ava.  I hate that I only get to see her one a year or so. 

TJ and Ava bonding over some tortilla strips. 

 And finally, to make it through all of the holiday gatherings......  my friend the cocktail.  Here's one variation of the many I enjoyed this past month. 

Cheers!

What I learned...

.... while my husband spent 2 years, 1 month and 14 days in Afghanistan.

1. I can raise my children on my own if necessary. But I really don't want to.
2. I hate leftovers. Cooking for myself and 2 children takes a major adjustment when being used to cooking for a hubby (and his stray friends) too.
3. Video chatting is not an acceptable substitution for a hug at the end of the day.
4. Eating cereal and ice cream for dinner every once in a while makes my children very happy.
5. Men create a whole lot of laundry. The laundry pile doubled on Mr. Mudpie's vacations home.
6. I am a much stronger person than I ever thought I was.
7. With a hammer, some spray paint and a hot glue gun, I can fix most things that go wrong around here.
8. Cutting grass is not my thing. Growing produce is.
9. I like having the whole bed to myself. I am selfish with the blankets.
10. As much as I complain about him being in the way sometimes, creating messes, and generally getting on my nerves... I am very much in love with the man. Even more so now than the day we married.

I love you Mr. Mudpie. Welcome Home.