Easter 2014

I am a little late to the game of posting all about our Easter fun but it seems that Instagram is my new blogging tool. Which is a shame I know?! 

We started out Holy Week with Curtis participating in the church play. It was actually really great! He held two roles in the play as there were past and present scene. I wish I could have taken pictures because I cannot describe in words how great everyone who participated made this play. 

We attended a egg hunt with friends and then one at Aunt Amanda's house. We also colored eggs last minute late Friday night. We were all sleepy so they were kind of colored, cracked and thrown away. 

Easter morning Charli woke early to find that the marvelous bunny had left her and Bryar sweet little baskets. Then she found bunny prints outside which lead to an investigation. 

No kidding... She even licked the prints and in one guess she figured out it was flour. But she carried on making a morning of it by finding little fuzz balls and explaining to us that the bunny rides in a basket that has wings. I am still thankful for her innocent imagination. 

Honestly, Bryar could of cared less about any of this except the fact that there was candy. 

Since Curtis was participating in the play on Sunday morning I made the decision to attend church with my family. It's always a blessing to go, "home" and see so many loved ones. We had to leave before church service was over to get back in time for family dinner number one. 

Nice hand placement Bryar has, huh? If I could of got another shot, I would of . But this is the best of  Easter 2014. 

We are lots of good food and had wonderful family time at both family dinners. When we finished with one, it seemed we were right off to the next. That is part of Holidays though right? I love it but boy does it make me wish for an extra day of rest. 

While we were at my Grandmothers later in the afternoon. The great grandkids were in the backyard playing when Charli got her hair stuck in a bubble blower. I am very certain that my face explains this situation well. 

We did end up cutting her hair but you cannot tell it at all thanks to her curls. 

The kids and I made bunny cakes for desserts. If you ever wonder how much d a control freak you are, decorate cakes with kids. Oh my... Charli made it a cute one though! 

The kids were blessed with so many wonderful things this Easter. But most importantly Charli learned even more about Jesus and lots of her questions were answered during this blessed Holiday. 

Social Media While Being A Deputy Wife

Do you have that one person in your town that will tweet out information that they hear on the local police scanners? We do. I actually love this guy. He keeps me in the, " know" and I can honestly say that I get on twitter directly more than once a day to read his feed. I assume this reading also helps me cope with missing being within Law Enforcement myself and getting to know all sorts of things. Although, it is human nature to be nosey and that is just what I am 99% of the time.

But...

On Friday Curtis was in a pretty intense situation early in the morning hours. This situation could have been dramatically different and even life threatening for Curtis. I found out on this day that I am not a lover of twitter and local media when it comes to being a Wife of an Officer. Within minutes of this incident, it was already published for all to see in the twitter world. In no time later, Curtis' name and department was published as well.

Can you imagine the phone calls and text messages that I started receiving soon after?

Thankfully, Curtis and I share a certain level of communication when it comes to his calls and the serious situations that he may come across. {In saying that, I also want to remind you that there are several couples who may not share these things.} I have received phone calls before from Curtis letting me know that he was going to a serious call, and to let us know that he loves us. Even though I get a hole within my stomach during the time of not hearing from him. It makes me feel comfortable knowing, as well as being able to sit down and say several prayers for him and the others involved. On Friday this situation was very unexpected and no one could of been prepared for it, just like so many other situations officers experiences regularly.

I know that we should try to never think of the, "what if" scenarios. But honestly, I cannot help but to think how heart breaking it would be to find out my Husband had been injured, or worse by social media. I know there are Army Wives or even civilian wives that this has happened to and it makes me sick for them. I know we cannot keep media from publishing things, but I can ask that our media or even everyone for that matter be a little cautious on what they share and when they share it.

In closing.

I will say that I love you Joe Imel but you scare the hell out of me with your knowledge you share to our citizens.

I also want to thank everyone that has called to check on Curtis, shook his hand and gave him a pat on the back. It really has humbled me at the support he has been given and the amount of love shown for our local law enforcement officers. I could not be anymore proud to be his Wife.

Charli's American Girl Tea Party

This weekend we hosted Charli Beth's 8th birthday party for her and her friends. Second grade seems to be the year of American Girls doll because the obsession has been a true overload. Charli knew right away what party theme she wanted as soon as the planning began. 

We quickly started going to antique booths and vendors to find cheap tea cups. In spending money for tea cups, I knew I would have to justify it in some form or fashion. So I decided that giving the cups as a part of their party favors would be the best idea and yes, the girls seemed to be very excited that they could keep them! 

When the girls came into the party they were immediately served cinnamon rolls and strawberry fruit tea. 

After their "Warm Welcome" we helped each girl make necklaces for themselves and their dolls. 

We quickly transitioned into snack time after the necklaces were made. I could be wrong but I think this was one of Charli's favorite times. The girl loves food and especially the fact that I made my "famous meatballs" as she says. {Totally not famous but I will take it.} 

The girls finished eating fairly quickly and went off to play time with their dolls while others went back for second helpings. 

While the girls played my MIL, Mother and sister in law cleaned tea cups to bag for each girl to take home. This was most defenitly the easiest and budget friendly idea even though maybe not the most practical for my helpers. I also made the dolls party hats, which were SO simple to make. 

Charli asked her Meme to make a strawberry cake for her birthday. It seems that the party was pretty strawberry oriented, and we did not even mean for it to be. 

The girls watched Charli open her gifts then she blew out her candle so they could all enjoy cake. They were quickly back to playing in minutes, and the party was coming to a end. 

Charli Beth seemed to really love this party and all of the time spent with her friends. The girl who never gets sleepy, was worn out by the time we arrived home. Although that did not stop her from playing with all of her new items. 

I must thank all of my family and friends that went far and beyond with putting forth an extra hand with this party! 

Charli is 8, already!

Eight years ago, I became a Mother. For months I worried, prayed, and crossed my fingers that I would get this parenthood career correct. I've failed many times, and many times I have failed her. But she has always loved me unconditionally and I could not be anymore blessed than I am just simply being her Mother. 

The first time I held her I sobbed tears of excitement, worry and disbelief at how I was already a Mommy at the young age of 18. I took a deep breath looked into her eyes, seeing her squished little piglet nose and knew at that moment that my life made complete and perfect sense. She was my lifesaver, and there are a lot of days that she still is.

Dear Charli Beth,

I must first give you a laugh and let you know that I immediately started crying as I wrote, "Dear Charli." As you and I both know, I am not one to cry. But you my sweet girl made me a softy within my mommy heart. You gave me the tenderness, love and affection that I had needed for so many years. You took my heart, by the first grip around my fingers and made my life far more extraordinary that I ever thought possible.

Most days it seems absolutely impossible that you are turning eight years old and already in the second grade. I feel somewhat lost about this too. Just yesterday I was sticking huge headband bows on your head, and pulling you around in the red radio flyer wagon that Maw gave to you. Then, I flash forward  to how much you have grown since your little brother has arrived and our family grew by so much. It is purely amazing at how mature, gracious and humble you are at such young age. 

No matter where life takes you, I pray that your dreams of being a cowgirl, riding in a rodeo, holding the American flag while the national anthem plays is fulfilled one day. I also pray that your dreams are always so innocent and pure as the ones you have now. You have the biggest heart to make anything that you wish for come true. 

I love you so much more than my blog can ever explain to you, or that I can tell you in words. We have a special bond and such sweet memories that no one in this world can ever replace. I hope that this year brings you joy, lessons, love and lots of wonderful memories. 

You will always be my favorite girl in the entire world.

Love,

Mommy

A Winter Snow

Winter weather, you either love it or hate it. Thankfully, I am one of those very few inidividuals that sees the need to embrace it because either way, it is going to hit us at some point. I see no need is complaining over how cold it is, or how hot it is during the summer. 

Some of my favorite memoires as a child were made playing in the snow or while the snow was falling. I can also tell you that some of my favorite memories made as a parent have been during snow days. These pleasant days are few and far between in southern Kentucky anymore. It seemed all winter we were being missed by the snow in every direction by just a few miles. That was until Sunday night when we received two inches of sleet then several inches of snow. I tried to measure but it was almost impossible due to the ice. Ranges around the county were from 4 1/2 to 9. The wind caused drifts and it's the first in years that I have saw. 

So I embraced it. Well, I had to. I had two eager kids, with school out and Curtis off at work pushing cars out of ditches all day. (By the way, the man needs to invest in a nice pair of gloves. I was amazed to hear that he was out in this pushing frozen cars with no gloves on.) The first day we spent two 15 minute session outside going down small hills in the barnyard. It was just way to cold to adventure out for long. Then yesterday we played our hearts out for at least two hours. 

Riding down the hill the Charli on the sled listening to her giggle and helping Bryar find drifts to go "hop" in are precious memories that are forever embedded to me. Those are memories that we can only make in the few precious snow days that we get.

 We then started making a snowman. Yes, in this hard sleet/snow combination. It was not an easy task. After a bit Charli got cold and went inside to find items to use as clothing accessories. Then after being inside she decided that it was much warmer in and made her a hot chocolate to watch from the window. 

Of course we would have no other than a cowboy snowman. 

Bryar had full intentions of making Cowboy Snowman go, "boom" but thankfully after reminding him how long it took to make he understood. But I cannt say that he has not been staring out the window asking to go boom all day. 

Charli's school is already called off again for Thursday and I forsee it being on Friday as well. I mean why not after 4 days. I hope to make some more snowy memories before this melts and Spring of 2014 arrives in a matter of days.