A New Year and Another Year Older

This year started off with a bang. I returned from Christmas break with no delays and ready to bring in the New Year. This year is not far along, but it has already been a great year!

I started with a New Year’s celebration here in Monroe. I feel that this holiday is always one that I get so excited for and have all these ideas of what I want to do to bring in the New Year and I always end up enjoying it with friends and having a great night right where we hang out any other night. A perfect way to start 2014.
 

 

The best part about January is that it is my birthday month. Although some people do not agree with celebrating all month, I take full advantage of it and love every minute of it. I started my birthday early, by having a visitor fly into town to celebrate with me. Andrea was able to take off work and head this way. We started in Shreveport, doing all the sight seeing we could before the rain began. Throughout the weekend we were able to have pedicures, basketball games, food, drive thru daiquiris, Duck Dynasty, and lots of laughs and memories. It was so nice to get to see her and enjoy some girl time during my birthday week. After a busy weekend, I enjoyed a nice laid back actual birthday, watching my favorite movies and enjoying my favorite supper!

 

                                          

            

                          

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                          

 The most exciting part of this new year is a decision I have been planning for awhile and it finally has come true. I decided and was accepted into the Graduate Program at ULM. I am looking forward to this opportunity and hope that within two years I will be graduating with my Master’s degree. I never thought this was something I would want to do, but being a part of the college atmosphere has got me back on track and ready to do this!

 

I have already have had such a great year and cannot wait for what is to come!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Break

Since college, this has been the longest and most relaxing break I have ever had. Now that I work at ULM, we get a holiday break that can't be beat!

Before we left Monroe, we welcomed Keith's parent's and one of their friends to watch Keith's home tournament. Besides watching basketball, there were so many activities we were able to do and lots of sight seeing. I had so much fun taking them around Monroe and showing them all the "hot spots". I am so glad they could come down and spend a couple days since Keith's break isn't as long over the holidays.

Shortly after they had left, Keith headed to Vegas with his basketball team and I headed North, for the holidays! Our family celebrated Christmas early, so everyone could be there, as well as, make their other sides of the family also. Our weekend started loud, and pretty much just got louder. With 9-10 adults in the house, plus four kids all under the age of 4, what do you expect. After getting used to it, we had a blast! There was lots of laughter, games, SNOW, and gifts. It was so much fun to have everyone together and just spend time with each other.  The kids love being together and it is so much fun to watch them all grow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On actual Christmas, it was down to dad, mom, and I. We did nothing! It was so much fun to lay around and watch Christmas movies all day. We actually ended up doing that for the next two days and watched almost every Hallmark movie there was. The next couple days included meeting up with friends, spending time with the family that was left, playing cards, and going to the new Hunger Games movie, "Catching Fire".

I had such a great time being able to spend it with my family.  I am so blessed and realize, again how lucky I really am to have such amazing family and friends in my life. I am excited to start this new year and see what life has to bring!!

Thanksgiving Traveling

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” Not trying to get all sappy on everyone, but I saw this quote a couple weeks ago, and truly believe this. I wasn’t planning on being able to go home for Thanksgiving, I knew it would be hard being away from family, but knew Christmas was only a few weeks away. However, at the last minute I found out we would be traveling back to Kansas, and I couldn’t have been more excited! I will say, I was NOT looking forward to the long drive, and had prepared myself I wasn’t going to be home, the initial excitement took some time. Once we were on the road though, I couldn’t stop smiling. I love my family, and glad I didn’t have to miss a major holiday!

I was told multiple times over the break, that my blog was slacking and I was losing people. So I am here to tell you I am back! I will not let you down anymore, and I will keep you updated on the “exciting” times in my life! (since there are just so many, I know you guys can't wait for haha)

After a long trip Wednesday night, we pulled into Lindsborg to spend some time with Keith’s family. I am not sure Keith would agree, but I am getting much better at being in a car for so long. We had a very excited and loud barking dog just awaiting for us at the door. Whether she knew it was us or not, Juco was so happy we were back! She would not leave Keith or I’s side the entire time we were back. We got to have Thanksgiving with his family Thursday and then headed back to Great Bend to meet up with my parents, who had been gone all week on vacation. We enjoyed some more food and catching up on a lot of card playing.

As I stayed in Great Bend, Keith went on the recruit for a couple days. I got to catch up with old friends, and enjoy being back in Great Bend. I had such a good time with Dad and Mom, Christmas shopping, talking, football and watching Mom take down Thanksgiving and putting up Christmas. She is so good at it, that I think it is better I lay on the couch and give my opinion.

On Saturday, Keith and I headed up to Kansas City, to surprise one of his high school friends for his birthday. We had such a good time and Keith really enjoyed getting to catch up with people he hadn’t seen in quite some time.

Sunday we met up with my brothers and sisters for an early brunch. They had all gone their other ways for Thanksgiving this year, so getting to see them was the perfect way to end our trip back home. The little ones are all growing up so fast, and they are so funny. Even though it wasn’t for long, it was great to see them! I look forward to seeing them all again so soon at Christmas. I am so thankful we got to go home for an unexpected visit!