Our Aweful Beautiful Life

Emmalyn's had about 4 loose teeth since Christmas time, and wanted so badly to pull them in time for Trent & Stef's wedding. Grandma begged her not to, until after the wedding, and despite Emmalyn's best wiggling...Grandma's vote won. But not long after the wedding, Emmalyn lost her first tooth. And then another. And another. And soon, that last tooth is going to come out, and all 4 front teeth will be missing/growing back in. This sweet girl was one happy 6 year old, the morning she found her tooth fairy money! At the rate she's going, the TF might need a loan to keep up with all these missing teeth!

As you kids entered school, I always knew since I was a working mom who couldn't be in the classroom as much, I wanted to be able to help out in other ways. Then came the idea for the PTO to host an event called Pancakes & Pajamas. We'd team it up with a Title 1 Reading night and a FES Student Council game night, and we'd be lucky if a hundred or so people showed up. I made a flyer for the event, which happened to fall the Thursday after the wedding. It turned out nice, and we put it up on the Facebook page, and sent one home with the kids. And then the RSVP's started rolling in. And we passed a hundred. Then two. Until we had to plan for nearly 400 people! Dually noted that the next time I sign up to help out with an event, take a helper role, and not a leader role. Planning a pancake dinner for 400 people, three days after your brother gets married wasn't exactly ideal..............but we did it. And it was fun. Special shout out to Grandpa Kent for being ...

What a year we've had -- first Uncle Jacob & Aunt Makayla, and now Uncle Trent & Aunt Stef. This, as you might assume, can be a bit confusing for a 3 year old who's the ring bearer in both events. Which aunt & uncle? Which venue? Which tux? One evening, while reviewing Uncle Trent & Aunt Stef's invitation, the confusion hit a max.... So, confusion aside -- all 5 of us were blessed to play a part in a beautiful day. Emmalyn and I got made over like princesses, the boys all looked so dapper in their tuxes and most importantly, Uncle Trent didn't stop smiling all day, and married a wonderful woman. We could not be happier for the two of you, and thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day. Cheers to many, many happy years!  Rehearsal Dinner: Pre-Wedding Fun: Post Wedding Ride to Brandywine: Reception Fun: Gift Opening Party: Thank you so much for a fun day -- we loved e...

I can't believe it's that time of year, where we're saying goodbye and hello to a new year/new start. 2016 was good to us.  Our babies are growing, learning and changing before our eyes. We are blessed that you are all fairly healthy....minus a trip to the ER for stitches! Kids - your dad and I are so proud of you. We LOVE to watch you grow. Sure, life gets the best of us some days, and I know there are times that all you think we do is yell at you/punish you. BUT....like I feel like I'm ALWAYS telling you....it's our job to raise you up to be good husbands & wives some day, and when you get your own kids....you can make the rules and be the boss. Until then, it's our job, like it or not. We are proud of you for being willing to meet new people, try new things and continue to stretch yourselves when new opportunities arise. Tball, baseball, all stars, football and basketball...we are becoming quite the sports family! And Keaton -- you were an amazing c...

Christmas is a favorite in our house. It's always been so magical for me -- so many wonderful memories from this time of year. Christmas Eve mass & programs. Hall gatherings. Grandma Hancock's buckeyes and smashing into her tiny living room, even as we far outgrew the space. Rensselaer (the game, not the city....). Singing our school Christmas program to all our aunts/uncles, then hiding in the basement for Santa to come to Grandma & Grandpa Hall's house. Then we grew, and your dad and I met, and what was essentially three Christmas gatherings in 24 hours for each of us, became six! I'll never forget that first year we were together -- we went to the Hall's for a little bit early in the day, then down to the Robinson's, then back to Hall's for church/gifts. EARLY Christmas morning we went to Brad & Jacki's ( Uncle Jacob was still only 8 then...), then to the Hall side, then the Hancocks, then the Stockment's at Grandma Pats. It was CHAOS....

So we kicked off December with Stefanie's Bridal Shower & the Stockment Christmas Outing. What a great way to kick off a fun month!! I also go to volunteer at the kids Christmas Shoppe at school -- what a fun way to volunteer my time to the PTO. Watching little kids eyes light up as the buy such "treasures" for their loved ones was really a job. Definitely got me into the Christmas spirit! One the second weekend of December, we headed to Colton's ball game, then home to basically dump the kids off to Madi & Ryne Sailors, and me head out the door for Stef's Bachelorette Party. Jason had already taken off for Michigan City with Trent & the guys (despite Trent having a touch of the flu...boo to that on your bachelorette day! Us girls weren't sick though -- we had a GREAT time. We boarded a bus at Brent & Natasha's house and headed to Saddle Up Saloon in Indianapolis. Yes, I rode the mechanical bull. No, it wasn't pretty. Yes, I kept Gr...

November/December always go by in the blink of an eye. Between Fall Break, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the lead up to Christmas -- our weekends are packed and our weeks are just as full. Add in Colton playing basketball and Pammy going on vacation, impending events leading up to Trent & Stef's wedding........it was complete chaos for a couple of months. I didn't blog. I'll admit it. I fell behind. That doesn't mean we didn't have any fun, because, boy oh boy, we did. A few highlights -- Keaton's first Purdue basketball game -- he did fantastic! And the boilers won! Such a great evening!! Colton got announced and got to play in the Red & Black Classic with his 3rd grade basketball team. Such a fun night and great introduction to hopefully many more years on this court... November was a big month for Colton, because he also shot his first deer, and got to spend some extra time with Grandpa walking Candy & Rizzo, because the weather...