"Oh Yeah...By the Way, I'm BB King"

I am on a ticket first email list from the Von Braun Center and back in October I received an email that BB King would be in Huntsville.  I was super excited because my mother in law had just asked what everyone wanted for Christmas and I knew this would be perfect for Blake!  Blake and his brother had tried to get tickets before to see him and I just knew he would be so surprised at this type of gift.  I held it in for months waiting for Christmas to get here.  He had even heard that he was coming and was wanting to get tickets but I just kept deflecting.  Sneaky, I know.  Well, Christmas came and my mil totally surprised ME with a ticket also along with Brandon's significant other also.  The only problem was it was at the same time as the National Championship game.  I am so happy that we didn't sell our tickets.  It was one of the greatest things I have ever seen!  He is so talented and just keeps on ticking!  This year BB is 84 years old but he still rocks out!  He told stories from years ago and talked about life in general.  His nephew is in the band also.  The guitar player was new to his band but he too was exceptionally great. (I'm sure you have to be to play with BB)  I have no problem at all not seeing Alabama win because of being here.  We were even able to take a photo of him and I shook his hand not once, but TWICE!  Here are a few shots of our wonderful evening!

After the show ended he handed out jewelry and gave a few autographs.  We didn't get close enough for an autograph.

This is right before he left.  They must take him right out to the car because they bring out his coat and hat.  He had three helpers. 

He plays with saxes and some horns also but they were taking a break.  He is so funny and talks a bunch and man can he play!

I love this.  He saw that I had a camera and looked right at me and smiled.  He is so dashing!  Everyone was dressed to the nines!  He told us that he has played in over 90 countries!  I have never been to a more diverse show in my life.  There were so many different types of people there from young to much wiser!  Have I said that it was wonderful!???

Christmas 2009

Christmas was wonderful this year.  I really wanted to start the traditions with Bryce as I did with Steven.  Steven is always busy this time of year because he is blessed with multitudes of family.  Blake and I have been on vacation since December 23rd and it has been glorious.  I did have to work one day this week but it was so quiet the boss decided to close up early.  Bryce had a respiratory infection last week and after loving on mom and coughing in her face a few times now I am sick with the same crud.  Blake has had a little touch of it just not as bad as the two of us. 

Here's my little guy ready for Christmas to come. 

What a gross night Christmas eve was.  Steven had Christmas at Gare's dad's side of the family of this night.  That side knows Steven love for the University of Alabama football.  He came home looking like the Alabama Store was given to him.  He loves it!  Rosco and Sunshine hid in the house together snuggling near the fire.  Bryce watched The Polar Express and was just so excited knowing it was Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning I woke up around 5AM.  I layed there and could not sleep at all!  So, I got up and took a shower and watched the news.  Still no kids were awake.  Steven woke up around 645 and we just decided to go wake the baby and daddy!   As soon as I opened Bryce's door he popped up ready to go.  He came rushing down the stairs and the first thing he said was, "where's my dinosaur"?  We did not put the dino front and center.  It was hidden in the back.    Steven received a new knife.  Blake, Brandon, and Uncle Keith all have the same one so it is more of a family keepsake now.  I didn't get too many pictures but Blake filmed everything!

After everything was open we let Bryce open the dinosaur and he was scared of the thing!  Hilarious!  He loves it now and tries to ride him.  But he just couldn't understand where Spike's cage was.  You see this thing is on display at Target in a plexiglass case and I guess he thougt that was how it was going to come.

Afterward, we got the kids ready and headed to my parents.  Erin was up and at em already with the mimosa!  My favorite!  It was great!  I think everyone surprised everyone with their gifts!  I was really able to find things for everyone this year truly from the heart!

My brother got Bryce this chainsaw and he had to help Steven!  In that package was his very first guitar.  He has done so good messing around with it.  He is picking up things by ear which is impressive to me.  That is something I could never do!  Mamaw got Bryce some dress up clothes and he loves them.  He is a firefighter and a cowboy.  Notice Steven's outfit.  Roll Tide!  We were very surprised with a Garmin!  Love it!  I will use it around everywhere!  Plus, we are going back to Indiana soon to ski so it will come in handy!

We had to leave there to get Steven back to go to Gare's mom's house for Christmas there.  He received another guitar and a week at Nick Saban football camp this summer.  Totally excited about that!  David (his uncle) is an excellent guitarist and he showed Steven a couple things over there.  We had Bryce take a nap and we cleaned up the house a little.  I could not figure out where to put all the garbage and what boxes to keep.  We had to load up shortly and go to pick up Granny to head to Dena's.  We picked Steve up on the way.  Here are the little kids.  They are adorable.  They all love to play with each other and they are all obsessed with Steven!

Steven was given his first pair of birkenstock clogs!  He was so surprised.  He has barely taken them off.  I had been holding a secret in  since October.  Dena got Blake and Brandon tickets to see BB King at the VBC on January 7.  She surprised Margaret and I with tickets also.  The only kicker is that is the night of the Championship game.  So we will be enjoying BB King while checking up on the game with my iPhone. 

We had such a blessed Christmas this year.  The boys were so loving and watching them together this past week has been so nice.  Sometimes a headache but still wonderful!  I am really looking forward to a great New Year!

Goodbye 2009! Hello 2010!

I have had a wonderfully blessed 2009.  I am truly thankful for all the gifts God has given us this past year.  Blake and I were not affected by the economy other than everything is more expensive.  However, we have a house over our head and we have food on our table.  We are able to provide for our children.  We were able to go see Phish 3 times this past year.  It was a first for both of us.  We spent time in Indiana with cousins, saw my sister get married, watched my best friend get married, skied for the first time as a family, and went to the beach with my brother.  I graduated from college!  Blake is trucking right on with his schooling.  WOW!  That is a lot of praises to be sooo thankful for. 

Steven earned a couple merit badges this past year.  He was baptised this year!  He played with the school football team.  He has grown and started really looking like a teenager just since August.  His voice is changing and he weighs 128 pounds.  He is just a hair taller than me.  He received two electric guitars this past Christmas and is starting to really get into music more.  He is still in concert and stage band and will travel to New Orleans with the stage band in April.  He has had a much better year this year schoolwise and is slowly(and I mean slowly) starting to get organized. 

Bryce is a chatterbox.  He is so bright and knows how to do just about anything.  He is so curious and likes to get into anything.  His favorite saying this week is "That silly Bryce."  It is so funny.  He is 3 feet tall and weighs 28 lbs.  He knows all of his colors and likes to sing, dress up, and dance.  He is watching Scooby Doo, Cailou, and Max & Ruby.  He loves trains, tools, playdo, dinosaurs, and pirates.  He has to stay busy and with the yucky weather lately it is either too cold or wet to go outside. 

Well, I have caught up on our life in 2009.  We can't wait to see what the future holds in 2010.  I feel like it can only get better. 

Temporary Break

We are still enjoying the holidays. I will try to post some but getting the laptop out with a toddler usually is not in my best interest. We are loving being at home and relaxing with each other. I will catch us up soon. I wish all of you out there a Happy New Year!

You Hate Christmas????

I saw this morning on facebook someone who updated that this person hates Christmas!  Well, I am sure that some can have horrible memories of this day and the material reasons for the season BUT it is the day that Jesus was born.  That is more than enough to be thankful for and to be a little more jolly!  It is a time of year when everybody is just a little nicer to everyone.  The traffic may be more congested but if you keep the real reason in your heart Christmas should never be hated.  I do believe that some are more materialistic than others so maybe that is the reason.  Plus, you are what you are.  It is a choice to not like something.  I guess for me Christmas is just such a great time of year.  I love the music and listen to it constantly without boredom!  While I do miss those who are no longer with us, I still love this time of year.  I love the story of Jesus's birth and think it has to be the top story in the Bible!  This year I LOVE the magic of Christmas.  Bryce is old enough to know what is going on and he is super excited for Christmas morning but he also knows what the day really is too!  My wish to all of you is that you ALL have a Merry Christmas. 

Some Bryce-isms

Bryce is a character, as some of you know.  He keeps me laughing and amazed most of the day.  Yesterday, I asked him to come back to the couch so I could read a book to him.  Instead of an okay, I get, "Hold on Mommy, I busy!"  To say he is verbal is an understatement!  here are some of my favorites:

After receiving anything he says, Thank you!  And it is so sweet and heartfelt.

When he is doing just about anything and it is to his liking he will stand back and say, "oooooo perfect"

Last night was a great night.  When Blake walked in the front door from work Bryce came running and gave him a huge hug and told him, "Yea Daddy, I love you so much, I miss you!"

"Yea, that what I talking about."

It's official. He is now a truly big boy! We finally changed over the crib to the toddler bed this past weekend and Bryce feels truly big. He was so proud and told everyone so far about his bed. The only problem is that he felt safe in the crib and he gets scared while trying to go to sleep. We are working on that and hope that the transition will be a quick one. So far, we are still sleeping through the night. Let's pray that doesn't change!