And it happened again!

I thought that after our almost snow storm in December that came close to cancelling our forever planned Morgan reunion that those worries were over. Jump to January. When it snows here we don't just get snow we get ice too and us Southerners CAN NOT drive on ice. Everything almost comes to a standstill.

I had a pretty rough week and thought that it would be nice to end it at the circus. I bought tickets back at the beginning of January and really was looking forward to it after everything else that had happened. On my way to pick Brax up Friday afternoon it began snowing. Not just little flurries but huge flurries. I called Brandon and mentioned that we might consider spending the night at my dad's just in case the weather did anything I was sure that the main roads would be better to travel and we would be 20 minutes closer to the circus.

When we woke up yesterday, yes the ground was covered (not by feet but with an inch or three), but the street was a solid sheet of ice. I knew our hopes of making the circus were through. I went on-line and the show wasn't cancelled. They would honor Saturday's tickets on Sunday but it was first-come, first-serve.

The pressure was on.

After much discussion we decided to try it. We weren't getting a refund and we figured we could get out and if we felt it was too dangerous we could head home. We all piled into the car buckled up and said a little prayer before we pulled out. We had planned on stopping at Chick-Fil-A for dinner since it is Brax's favorite and go from there. Chick-Fil-A was closed. Along with everything else (Brax was NOT happy).

We made it safely and saw that a few other people had decided to brave the "blizzard" for the circus. We had a blast. Braxton danced and bobbed his head like never before. We were the only ones in our row. He munched on some pop-corn and was introduced to cotton candy. It was an exciting show. And a nice way to end a bad week.

A Different Bunch

If I think back to my life 12 years ago I am back as a junior in high school. I was 5 weeks away from taking a trip of a lifetime to Italy. School was just about to resume from Christmas break.

And on this very night my family was at the hospital going through the

worst night of our lives. Tonight marks the 12th anniversary of losing my mom. It's so hard to believe. 12 years ago. I get so sad when I think about this moment in time. The pain my heart felt, the emptiness, and the unexpectedness of it all. The days that followed were like a blur. We had just had Christmas. We had just had her. And now she was gone. Forever.

When I go back to 12 years ago I really do get sad. So I fast forward to where we are today and I think of all the things she's missed. My wonderful trip to Italy. Helping me get to ready for both of my proms. My high school graduation. Meeting my future husband. My wedding. My college graduation. The excitement when I got my first "real" job. The birth of my baby. Watching my baby grow. She's missed everything significant about my adult life and those of my siblings. But here we are. A different bunch as we say. We're all so different from when she knew us. A good different. We've grown in many ways, matured, and multiplied!

Every January 2nd, for the past 12 years, my family comes together again. The Christmas tree is sometimes still up and the pictures are not yet developed from the previous week and we remember our Treva. We gather and discuss who she was as a wife, a mother, a friend, and talk about who she would have been as a grandmother. This year because it was so cold outside we all met up at our house. Braxton had a ball.

I watched as he played with his Grandaddy and realized that he had no clue the significance of January 2 or of the purpose for our gathering tonight. But I also realized by watching him that his smile is the legacy that Treva has left on this earth!

Open Up and Say AH!

On Tuesday I took Brax to the dentist for the first time. He did incredible. Several days before hand I started talking to him about what they would do. Angie, our dental hygenist, told me when I was there last what they would so I could prepare him. I knew he would like the part about riding up and down in the chair! The morning before we left, I got out all my "going to the dentist books" (only a teacher) and let him flip through them. He brought them in the car and looked at them all the way to the office and could hardly wait to get out when we pulled up.

He walked into the waiting room and sat down in a chair all by himself just beaming from ear to ear. Angie came and got us not too long after and he walked back to the room and crawled (that was adorable) into the big chair. Angie let him ride up and down, up and down, up and down a few times and then she asked him to open up. I looked down thinking "This is where I'm going to lose him" but when I didn't hear anything I looked up and couldn't believe my eyes! He was letting her count his teeth with a mirror and THEN he let her "tickle" them. He stayed in his seat the whole time and she went and got the dentist and he came in. Brax sat and let him look at his teeth too!!

It's official. My baby is growing up!

Auction At Our House!

Just Kidding, but goodness knows we need to do something! We have had a wonderful 2 weeks. Tis is heading back to the big city this afternoon and from the very night he flew in it's been a whirlwind. We've had a blast and made some incredible memories but I can't ever help every year but feel a little relieved when the tree is down and life returns to somewhat of a slower pace. The new year is just around the corner and although 2009 was a pretty good year to our family I am really looking forward to 2010.

Saturday night, right after Chris and Ali barely made it before the big blizzard, we had mama's family over for dinner. It was really great getting everyone together. It was the first time some of my cousins had even met Braxton! Braxton had a lot of fun hosting and loved having everyone play at his house!

Christmas Eve at Maw Maw's and Paw Paw's was one of the best Christmas Eves we've ever had. I can't really put my finger on it but it was different this year. Everyone was genuinely enjoying themselves and relaxed. Braxton was given a cowboy hat and a gun. We'd come to the conclusion that there was no way we could fight the inner boy in him any longer. He was going to find a way to play guns! He was so excited when he opened those gifts!

Christmas morning was great too. Braxton woke up at 7:25 and I kept him in my old bedroom playing with old toys for about an hour. When everyone was up and ready he bolted into the den and there before his eyes were a red fire engine, fireman's outfit, a horse (to complete the cowboy ensemble), puzzles, books, and I could go on and on. Santa was so good to Braxton!

Later that night we had Christmas dinner with Grandaddy's family here. We had a birthday cake and party hats for Baby Jesus! (I warned you we would).

We have a ton of new "stuff". We won't be having an auction but we will be putting some things away. Just think, his birthday is only 6 months away!

THIS is what it's all about!

I love Christmas. I have such wonderful memories growing up and I want it all for my son. It's so hectic and busy and I think because I have such awesome memories I'm trying to do TOO much. I am just running myself ragged. God always has a way of bringing you back to the important things. Last night Braxton helped me remember that.

I had just gotten him out of the bath and he saw the Nativity scene on the table in the hall. His "GG" actually gave it to him for his first Christmas so knowing that makes this story all the sweeter. He asked about the baby. I told him it was Baby Jesus. And Baby Jesus' birthday was coming up very soon. He looked at me and said "Birthday?" And then said "Baby Jesus get a birthday cake". I asked him who he knew that could get Baby Jesus a birthday cake? His response was "Grandaddy!". So, Grandaddy was called and TOLD that Baby Jesus needed a birthday cake!

For those of you that will be with us on Christmas day expect party hats and party horns!

A Special Visit

Click on the link to see who sent Braxton a special message!

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/0a918574d4ab6f0116176f5c2e9fd91a

The Perfect Tree

We went up to the mountains yesterday for our annual trip to pick out our Christmas tree. This year we thought it would be fun to stay over night so we called up the joint where we always stay and sure enough they had some availability. Now you say to yourself, "oh a nice little over night trip" but you should have seen the luggage I packed! There is no such thing as packing light with me and when I heard it was going to possibly snow 3 inches that didn't help my cause at all! Allyson told me as soon as we met up when I told her why I was running late that the snow had been canceled! I was glad I packed what I did! We left about 10am and had a nice drive up. We thought it would be fun to count how many trees we counted on the tops of cars heading home as we were heading up but after about the 11th one we passed a huge truck full of trees that was obviously taking some trees to a lot. Brandon decided the game was over!
Little Man was F--U--N at the tree farm this year. We've been going to the same one since he was 5 months old and this year he got out of the truck and acted like he knew just what he was doing! He loved watching them cut the trees down and drive them down the mountain. He had all his garb on so you would think by looking at the pictures that it WAS snowing three inches. It was cold but he just insisted. I think we picked the most perfect tree. As soon as it's up, I'll post and let you see.
Oh, and we haven't been up to the mountains since June but Braxton remembered about the blue ice cream we had then so before heading home this afternoon we stopped and let him enjoy some "bue" ice cream! He did enjoy every bite.