BIG Apple for the BIG 35...

This past October was what I thought would be a very SAD birthday...the BIG 35!!!!  It actually hasn't been that bad, yes I NOW have to move to a different box to check on surverys...I am NO longer the 29-34 box, but the 35-? box...that was a HARD one for me.

 

None the less, I have taken it with stride, and what better place to spend my birthday than in the BIG Apple!  I had some meetings for work there, so I packed my bags and headed to the city.  I mean if I am not able to spend the day with my family, at least I get to be in a cool place...right?

 

Molly is always so funny, she wants me to take a picture of me on the plane, and then a picture of the plane itself.  So, I of course oblige to her request and sent these to the crazy girl...

Here I am on the plane...

 And if you ever wonder what my planes look like when I go to NYC, well this one is pretty typical...

 The best part of my birthday was I got to spend it with some of my friends that I have met from work over the past few years...and they had the waiters at this Italian restaurant bring me this dessert and sing to me.  I am not sure the last time that I got sung to on my birthday!  It was pretty funny, embarrassing, and exciting at the same time!  And in case you were wondering, the dessert was AMAZING!  I mean chocolate cake and ice cream, how can you go wrong?

 And while I was working HARD in NY, my friend Jennifer was working hard at the office to make my desk festive for my big day!

Gotta love Birthdays!!!!

A Little Change Up...New Year's Eve 2014

Starting off the year with a BANG...

We typically hang out with friends on New Year's Eve without kids, but this year we decided to do something a little different.  We started out with dinner at the kids favorite place...Olive Garden, then grabbed Krispy Kreme donuts on the way home. 

 

While at home we got in our PJs, ate donuts, drank hot cocoa, played Frozen games (thanks Auntie Renae), and watched some football along with Rockin New Year's.

 



Here we are snug in our PJs waiting on the others to join us...by the way, the PJs I have on are from Chris's mom for Christmas.  Let me tell you they are the SOFTEST, WARMEST things I have ever put on.  They ROCK!!!!  Found out today they are the ones I have been eyeing from Nordstroms for a while now...Go NANA Flynt!!!

 

Anyway, back to the festivities...

 Me and my mini me...love her (not sure why I don't have a picture of Bailey, but she was of course here too!)

 As if I would expect any different posing from this guy....he is just as bad as Kennedy....seriously!  None the less, he is mine, and we had a good, relaxing night at home with our favorite people...

 And of course he had a fire going, football on and overall it was the PERFECT night!!!

Happy New Year to everyone!!!

 

Here's to a great 2015!

Girls and Cheer...

Every year the Junior High Cheerleaders put on a cheer clinic, and the girls get to perform at a Jr High football game.  So, this year the girls wanted to participate.  They did such a good job, which we had no doubt about.  Even Bailey are more shy one, knew the cheers and dance, it was so cute to see both her and Kennedy out on the field.  The cheerleader in me is SECRETLY very excited that they liked doing it.

 

Them and their big sis for the week, they loved her...

 On the sideline during the first half...

 Look at these skills...

 How exciting that they got to experience this with their cousin Paige...love these girls...

Flowergirls...

Kennedy & Bailey were so excited to be a part of Homecoming at Gravette this year.  They got to dress up like little princesses, walk across stage and the football field.  Considering it was a NASTY day outside, they did amazing.  Thank goodness the heavy rain held off each and every time they needed to be outside.

 

Getting to be a part of the pep rally, what an exciting day for them to be a part of...

 I think we have some future homecoming / pageant girls on our hands...I mean Bailey has the wave down, not sure about Kennedy and her facials...again I blame her dad!

 Our friend Crissy did the girls hair...they LOVED it!  And most importantly it stayed in place for 2 hours...

 Me and my sweet girls...

 Check out those poses...

 At the time we didn't know it, but this sweet girl became Homecoming Queen later that night...they love her mom at their school and love her...

 What a sweet picture....love these 3

 Of course we had to take some with our favorites...

 What an exciting night...they did so amazing and had a blast doing it!

SMORR 2014...

For the 2nd year in a row we have headed out on the first weekend of Oct for an Off Road/Rock Crawling Adventure.  Last year we went to Hot Springs and this year decided to go to SMORR in Missouri.  They were 2 VERY different events, but both were fun in their own way.

 

We headed out about noon on Friday, got to camp, set up tents, campers, etc, had some dinner and then headed out at dark for some night riding.  That was definitely my first time to go out on SMALL, CLOSE to TREES trails at night, but it was SO fun!

 

Then Saturday we got up, had a great breakfast, then headed out for the day.  It was so fun to be able to ride around all day!  What a fun time with friends on the trails and by the campfire...

 

It was a LITTLE COLD the first night and most of Saturday, but we all survived!

 Yes, you do see someone standing on the window part of a jeep...our friend Daniel got stuck on this trail for a bit...caused a backup for sure...

Side note:  on this exact trail Chris and I tipped on our side at the exact spot you see the jeep with the person on.  It was do that or hit a man and his daughter standing on the side...luckily we were literally going zero so neither one of us were hurt...it was actually pretty funny and fun!  I know I am weird...

 Here we are about to head out on Sat....

 We both loved this sweatshirt, so why not both get it and be twins...love this girl and all the adventures we have been on together the past year and a half...grateful for her friendship...

Another great weekend in the books, can't wait for next year...wonder where we will go then!

Chiefs vs Patriots...

I got to go to my FIRST NFL game back in Sept, and not only was it a NFL game, but it was a MNF game...This was a "work" trip...no really it was a market trip, we just got to have a little fun on the first night...

 

I can tell you that the KC Chiefs fans are amazing...they are rare, and because of that had one of the funnest atmospheres to be in...

 

I love that I get to hang out with one of my best on work trips...

 Here is our sales team walking into the game...what a great group!

 Just amazing...

 Great night...and the Chiefs played a great game against the Patriots...

Where has the time gone...

Some people think I am crazy, but I love me some Friday night football, and even more when I get to see my cousins play!  One of the highlights of me coaching the cheerleaders, I am guaranteed to see them play each and every week...

 

Chance actually plays Jr High, but has been the ball/water/whatever is needed boy for the HS since I can remember...love this guy...

 Here I am with Nick...I can't believe that he is now a Sophomore in HS!!!!  Man where has the time gone...he used to come to my games at the UofA and get pictures with all the cheerleaders, and now I get to see him and cheer him on...

 So blessed to have such a BIG family that is a lover of sports...especially football!!!

 Love these sweet cousins...so grateful for them...