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...