see you later alligator, the 2010 edition

I find i hard to believe we’re staring 2011 in the face.  This year has flown by.  I told Lofton recently that I truly feel this is the year our baby became a little boy.  It’s sad and happy all at the same time.

We’ve had quite the year.  New jobs, first surgeries {tubes, adneoids, tonsils}, major house renovations, and traumatic injuries.

Lofton and I took a trip back through the blog and I cried looking at the evidence of my baby growing up.  I never want to waste a moment of time with him.  He is my most precious gift, and I know Lofton feels the same.

I’m actually hoping for a low-key 2011.  I vowed no major house projects {yeah right}, absolutely no surgeries, and definitely NO communicable diseases that cause us to be in contact with the health department.  

 We at Casa Beasley wish you the same!  Thanks for reading along as we journey through life and parenthood.  Happy New Year, friends!  

pinch me, i'm dreaming

Delightful.  If I had to use one word to describe my birthday yesterday that would be it.

I woke up to a card signed in scribble and Greta.  Who is Greta?  No, Lofton didn’t get me a russian maid, but he did get me a GPS for my car.  Greta the Garmin is pretty fantastic, and although I don’t travel far from home often, she is sure to come in handy when I do.

After a trip through my favorite place {Starbucks} we were on the road to Atlanta.  What could be better than a day spent shopping with my two favorite boys? Not much...

Except, while we were at IKEA, I turned the corner AND surprise! Two of my favorite people in the whole world were standing in front of me.  Cassie & Hugh came down from Augusta to spend the day with us.  I feel pretty special because Hugh is on his two week break from med school and understandably selective about how he spends his free time.

It was pretty much the best birthday in the whole world.  There was shopping, eating, a few drinks, and lots of laughs.  I love my husband, adore my baby, and have missed Cassie terribly, so the combination of all my favorite things was almost too much to process.

Happy Birthday to me.  Maybe 28 won’t be so bad after all....

unexpected surprises

As I mentioned earlier today, I turn 28 tomorrow.  Eeek!  

I was born at exactly nine in the morning.  I was five days late.  You wouldn't think that about me would you?

Anyhoo-- I found this today:

And it made me smile.  And it made me think of my sweet husband, who proposed to me six years ago tomorrow.  

This quote doesn't remind me of our proposal BUT it does remind me of running into a certain handsome boy in the AU library one random Spring night.  He smiled and said "Call me." I laughed and knew I wouldn't.  Luckily, he called.  And here we are, six wonderful years later.

So happy birthday to me.  I'm going to enjoy spending tomorrow with my two boys, doing a little shopping in Atlanta.  This soon to be 28 year-old is one lucky girl!

  

leisure time

It's a misconception that being a teacher is an easy job.  Far from it, actually.  Between dealing with unhappy parents to making sure kids are engaged and attentive all day, teaching is a JOB. 


Don't get me wrong, it's a job I love, but it's hard work.  Which is why, although I'd never cut it as a stay at home mom, I love these few weeks at home. Actually, the first week of Christmas break is far from relaxing.  Running errands, buying last minute gifts, cooking, and trying to coordinate schedules is not my idea of relaxation.  


BUT this week, the week between Christmas and going back to work?  Ahhh.  Reese and I love this time together.  We can wake up when we want, take our time getting dressed, and just ENJOY being home.  In fact, as I type, we are in my bed-- huddled under the covers.  One of us is enjoying cheerios and Mickey Mouse, while I blog.  Perfection.


Tomorrow I move a tad bit closer to the big 3-0.  Stinker.  Lofton is taking the day off and the three of us have big plans.  I'm excited to spend the day with my boys.  Even if it does mean I'm old.

winter wonderland

Until Lofton and I married I'd seen snow very few times in my life.  The number of times the snow was measurable was even less.

Would you believe it's snowed EVERY year we've lived in Opelika?  Usually it snows in March... sometimes in April, too.  This Alabama weather is crazy.

Yesterday, Santa ordered up a winter wonderland for us.  A real and beautiful white Christmas.  Reese bundled up in his new super-cool coat, his rubber rain boats, and his jammie pants.

We went outside and marveled at the sky.  Something about the snow mixed with the twinkly Christmas lights made for quite a magical moment.  

this is the day

Christmas.  

Between you and me I can say that the prospect of spending Christmas without my parents {and brother} has weighed on my heart.  I've cried many tears this week, imagining waking up on Christmas morning without my family for the first time.  But, miraculously, I've survived.  

A wise woman told me to hold on to my husband and my baby whenever I felt sad-- and it certainly helped.  It also helps that this sweet boy was amazed at Santa's bounty this morning.  

pardon the quality-- my camera was left at the lake

It would appear that he was a good little boy this year.  It would also appear {to the trained eye} that some of his gifts have been seen before.  Behold:

The train.  

Had we only known the joy it would bring we might have put it together in October when we gave it to Reese for his birthday.  Yep.  We re-gifted our son.  

Two little elves stayed up extra late last night putting it together -- long after this elf went to sleep!  Thanks to my BIL, John Lee, I actually got a few scant hours of sleep last night.  

Reese had other gifts, too.  A coat, an easel, some books - puzzles- and movies, the fruit snacks he requested, refrigerator magnets, AND a super-hero cape. 

The cape didn't come from us, it was the brainchild of his Aunt Cassie and Uncle Hugh, but he LOVES it.  Between the cape and the drill his G & Gran gave him, he's in toddler toy heaven.  

And this Mama and Daddy are spent.  So, while I have adorable pictures of this pint sized hero playing in the snow,  I'm too tired to load and edit them.  You'll have to stay tuned....

we wish you...

cookie spectacular

My baking sous-chef was becoming little uninterested yesterday afternoon.  After all, helping mm make bread and butter all day pales in comparison to hours of handy manny watching.  

Enter:  cookie making

I mixed up the dough in my amazing mixer, rolled it out, and then let Reese go to town cutting with his Christmas cookie cutters.  

While the cookies cooled we ran to Hobby Lobby to pick up icing and sprinkles, bags, and ribbon.  

Someone not only snuck a few extra licks of icing, but nibbled the tips off one of our stars.  Stinker.

We had so much fun packaging all the cookies to give our friends. 

And today we're going to make cookies again with Daddy-O.  Santa requested fresh cookies :)  He's persnickety like that.

practice makes perfect

The Beasley household is in serious preparation mode for Santa's arrival.  We've been practicing sleeping so that Santa will be sure to leave our gifts by the tree.

I'm smitten with these two.  Totally smitten.

adventures in baking

Meet the new love of my life:

I haven't decided on an appropriate name as we're just becoming acquainted.  For now, let's just call her amazing.

Today, sweet girl and I embarked on a little bread making adventure.  Whew.  This bread making thing is hard.  The yeast, the rising, the punching and rising again.  So many steps...

But, I'm happy to report my first two loaves have turned out wonderfully.

Sure they are a little imperfect in the appearance department but they taste yummy.  I whipped up some honey-cinammon butter to go with, and well, I might just die today.  

And while I was baking the little man observed, tormented Raleigh by chasing her on his bike, and in general just caused mischief.  Here is a real conversation we shared:

Me:  Reese, are you ready for your nap?

Reese:  No Mama.  I pooping right now.

Me:  Oh okay.  Well don't let me interrupt.

put a fork in it

We're done, friends.  After four plus months of bathroom renovations, operation "rid ourselves of mold" is complete.  We still have some minor touch-up work to do and I haven't fully accessorized to my liking, but in terms of function and workability we're done.


I'm actually amazed at the finished product.  It's stunning.  My favorite part is the silestone counter.  You can't see it in the photos but it has a sparkle to it.  Every girl needs a little sparkle in her life, right?


Without further ado:

And finally, FINALLY we can say that's a wrap. 

the opposite of feeling festive

This weekend we celebrated Christmas with mi familia.  It’s a little bittersweet, as this is the first Christmas EVER that I won’t be with my family on Christmas.  I could go on, but I won’t.  


Needless to say our festive plans were derailed when I began suddenly ill.  Suddenly and violently ill from food poisoning.  At first I thought it was from Lofton and I’s romantic anniversary dinner, but then my dad got sick and I realized it was from the sandwich we shared at lunch Saturday.  


My fancy Christmas dinner was prepared by the fabulous duo of my mom and Lofton.    Beef tenderloin with a horseradish sauce, creamed spinach, green bean bundles, and parmesan corn soufflé. I’m told it was delicious.


I dragged myself out of bed long enough to open gifts-- and watch little man open his.  Lofton, Reese and I were spoiled beyond belief, as usual.  Reese got a pair of new kicks, an awesome Auburn rug to drive his race cars on, books, a movie, a laptop and more.  Lofton got some clothes and a turkey blind, plus these really cool whiskey rocks {so his cocktails won’t be diluted with melted ice}.  And what did I get?  An orange kitchen aid mixer.  Basically my dream gift.   I got other things too, but really, the kitchen aid mixer overshadows anything else.  


Sunday afternoon {after I napped most of the day} we headed to Fantasy in Lights at  Callaway Gardens.  The lights were amazing and Reese loved {i.e. screamed hysterically because he didn’t want to leave} the trolley ride.  We’ve taken a family vote and decided that next time we’ll ride in the warmth of the car.  It was chilly.  Daddy and Jackson barely survived.


And now, the husband is at work on this Monday before Christmas, and the family is headed home.  I contemplated stowing away with Reese in their car... but didn’t. 


Bathroom pictures coming soon....

five years

Five years ago today I married the love of my life.  It was unexpected, the relationship we began building almost ten years ago, but clearly meant to be.  Lofton was not my plan for myself, at least not in the Fall of 2001, he was a party boy with roaming eyes.  But certainly it was God’s plan for us to be together, I believe that 100 percent. 

bliss

I often call Lofton my prince, and he is, most days.  Truthfully though, five years of marriage has taught me that I don’t live in a fairytale.  Marriage ebbs and flows.  You have to give more than you take, and work to keep things chugging along.  It’s easy when it’s just the two of you, add a child into the mix plus two demanding jobs, and whew!

I try to set a goal for myself each year, a secret {now non-secret} marriage goal. 

unpacking after the honeymoon

My goal for year four of marriage was to be less nagging about the little stuff.  So what if Lofton doesn’t always put his dishes in the dishwasher, or turn his shirts right side out before he throws them in the hamper? I can live with those things if it means keeping us from fussing at each other.  Don’t sweat the small stuff, right?

Year five brings a new goal:  To communicate with Lofton as much as possible about my frustrations.  Not the little stuff, like dirty dishes, but the big stuff, like I sometimes need Lofton to help me transport Reese to and from school.  I have a tendency to keep the big things to myself.  Then they build, I become frustrated, and I snap.  I think it’s a woman thing.  We overload ourselves with work, and kids, and chores—then never ask for help BUT expect help.  I keep repeating to myself, “Lofton is not a mind reader, Lofton is not a mind reader.”

too old for late nights

My prince and I aren’t big on elaborate celebrations or grand romantic gestures.  I’m not even sure we’ll go to dinner.  I actually think on our first anniversary we ate Olive Garden take-out.  I just don’t need that fancy stuff to know Lofton loves me.  I’ll probably cook, we’ll drink a glass of wine, stare at the twinkly Christmas tree lights, and reminisce about how far we’ve come in five years.  Two degrees, successful jobs, one house, and a beautiful baby boy later we aren’t doing too shabby. 

Cheers to five years, sweet husband.  I love you.

told you he's funny

Quite often I think to myself  i wish i had this kid on camera, but then I remind myself that I hate video cameras.  Lucky for me, written evidence of Reese's humor is sufficient!

Today, this little elf and I traveled to see our favorite doctor.  

Reese has had a nagging cough and a stuffy nose, so I thought it might be time to let Dr. Glaze weigh in on the cause.

We entertained ourselves in the waiting room by counting 1,2,5,6,7,8,9,11 and then by singing our A,B,C's.  When we got to the room the spinning stool was awaiting us-- it's one of Reese's favorite things about going to see Doter Gaze.

Then we had our exam.  Oh the exam.  Can I tell you how much Reese LOVES to have his nose looked up and his ears looked in?  It's loads of fun for me as well.  I guess Reese thought he'd tried a new tactic today to avoid the dreaded ear check.  When Dr. Glaze got out the ear looker thing {dr. hugh help me out???}, Reese covered his ears with his hands, laid down on my lap, and started snoring.  Yep.  Can't check my ears, buddy.  I'm napping!

Dr. Glaze cracked up and so did I.  So stinking funny, this kid!

do we get a prize?

Lofton and I had big plans to take away Reese's bah when he turned two.  Life had other big plans, though.  Things like head injuries and salmonella infested our life; and well, taking away our child's only "security" item fell by the wayside.


We've regained our strength, though, and ripped off the band aid::  


The bah is gone.  Praise the Lord.  


It hasn't been nearly as traumatic as I anticipated.  Isn't that usually what happens?


Reese has cried a little the last few nights, but he isn't creaming by any means.  And he isn't waking up during the night AT ALL.


Maybe now his teeth will straighten back out.  I don't actually have a lot of hope that this is going to happen considering genetics are working against him, but we'll see...


Regardless, I feel like we've hurdled another milestone and I'm patting us on the back.  Yippee!

showstopper

My kid is funny.  Like pee in your pants, laugh out loud, side-cramp funny.  He gets it from his Daddy-O, I’m sure.  I’m more “sarcastic” funny, not really laugh out loud funny. 

This weekend we had a visit from G and Gran, Lofton’s Dad and Step-Mom.  Reese, of course, put on a show.  There was some rapping {all we do is WIN}, some break dancing, and then just general buffoonery.

I adore this child of mine and the way he provides constant entertainment.  I’m trying to figure out a way to market his cuteness.  Suggestions?

Then yesterday, he crashed early for his nap and I cooked, baked, and cooked some more.  Then I did laundry and more laundry.  Just when I thought I was done with laundry, disaster struck.

Reese woke up from his nap and asked me to “rock, rock.”  You want to cuddle in the chair with Mama?  Sure thing buddy.  Except about 30 seconds later he yakked all over me.  More than one time. 

There was a lot of yak. 

So during the brief intermission from yakking, I ran down the hallway with him at full speed and set him in the tub.  Then he yakked some more.  Then he cried while I stripped off his clothes and cleaned him up.  Then I stripped myself and threw on some clothes that were yak-proof. 

We wrapped up in towels and laid on the couch till Daddy-O came home from the woods.  A large amount of Handy Manny was watched.

Lucky for us, Reese never got sick again.  After an hour or so on the couch he was back to his usual sassy self.  He did require we CARRY him all night, evidently yakking hurts his legs. 

The ho-ho countdown has begun here at Casa Beasley.  Santa will be here in 12 days!  We gave Reese his special ornament last night and he helped hang it on the tree. 

And another countdown is underway, too… Friday is a BIG day... In more ways than one!

no school day

My cooking list for the weekend is extensive.  Lofton was up and out early this frigid morning, on a duck hunting excursion of all things, so I got right to work.  We are hosting Lofton’s Dad tonight and the third grade Christmas party is here at our house Wednesday.  Lots of cooking and prep to do!  So while I was busy doing this:

Sweet boy was doing this:

Breaks my heart that he can feed himself breakfast.  With his big boy haircut, independent streak, and cartoon watching I’m afraid my baby is growing up!

P.S.  The scratch on Reese's face is from a girl at school.  She clobbered him with a toy train.  Little girls are so mean!

merry, merry

We had our class poetry recitation today.  Can I tell you how much I despise getting ready for this but then absolutely love the performance?  I feel that way EVERY year.  Begging and badgering the kids to memorize the poems, gathering props, cleaning my classroom, baking and bringing snacks and punch… it’s an armload of work, especially when you are your room mom. 


Oh but seeing these little round faces all dressed up in their Christmas finest makes my heart sing.  They recite their sweet poems-- some quickly because their nervous and others with loud joyful voices, they beam with pride because their parents and grandparents are here to see them, and then they gorge themselves on punch and cookies.  It’s glorious.


I added singing to our program this year and I was blown away.  We opened with “Up on the Housetop” which is my favorite, and closed with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”


It’s been a special day for sure.


Now if we can make it through next week…

decking the halls

Can I get a War EAGLE?  We are so excited about our spot in the national championship game and so proud for our football team.  What a year to be an Auburn Tiger!

In other news, I've been working to get these halls decked out for Christmas.  We ventured to the Christmas tree farm yesterday and what a jolly event it was.

We don't actually ride in the tractor and cut down our own tree because I don't like leyland cypress trees.  I prefer frasier firs, this we just buy our tree already cut down at the farm.  This year we got a stellar deal on our tree because it has a minor boo-boo on one side.  Since our tree sits between our front-room bookshelves, one side is hidden, and for $4o off we couldn't beat it.

Decorating has been joyful, oh so joyful.  I've let more than a few un-Christmas like words slip past my lips.  Shoot.  Sorry Santa.

As we were hanging ornaments I explained to Reese some of them were breakable, which means we have to be very careful not to drop them.  In true toddler form, he picked up a glass ornament and hurled it to the floor, shattering it into a million tiny glass shards.  Then he said, "Oh man."

Not exactly what I was thinking son, but close.

Needless to say the remainder of the decorating was done during nap time.  

Speaking of the toddler, we were snuggling in bed this morning and I asked him what he wanted for Christmas.  His list was short and simple:  shoes, fruit snacks, and toothpaste.  Check.  We have all of those purchased.  Love how his little brain works!

musings on the holidays

·         This is a nightmare time of the year to be a teacher.  I struggle daily not to turn into some hybrid version of the Grinch.  The kids are excited about the impending arrival of Santa, and I’m trying to balance Christmas craft making with fractions and author’s purpose.  Sheesh.  I hate crafts.
·         I might have accidentally allowed Reese to think Santa’s name is “Merry Christmas.”  And like a sponge he absorbed what I said.  I think what happened is I pointed at Santa and said “Ho, ho, ho Merry Christmas” and in his little {in size only} brain it stuck.  So now when he sees Santa he points and says “look Mama, Merry mismas!” 
·         Speaking of Reese and Christmas, I’m overjoyed at his interest in the season this year.  He’s at the perfect age:  old enough to finally see that something exciting and magical is occurring, BUT young enough to care diddly squat about the “commercial” aspect of the holiday.  In fact, I asked him Monday if he wanted Santa Claus to come visit our house and he said no.  Fabulous. 
·         I have finished shopping for Reese but bought no gifts for anyone else.  Shoot.  I bought all Reese’s gifts off the Internet.  If you know me well you know I hate crowds.  Shopping at the mall this time of year gives me an anxiety attack—complete with hives.  I’m slowly working on getting other people marked off the list.  Slowly.
·         We are getting our tree Saturday!  I love real Christmas trees.  In fact, I think fake trees border on being sacrilegious.  Last year I had high hopes for adorable photo ops of my little man, but this year I’m more realistic.  I may not even take my camera.