Merry Christmas One and All!!!

I cannot believe Christmas is tomorrow!! As always, life has been super hectic so this month has flown by! I started my new job last Monday and have loved every second.

I know I am behind on posting (shocker) but here are a few Christmas decorations.

Merry Christmas!!!

Soooo, I'm Kinda Excited

Because...........

I got a new job......

Doing marketing......

For the Museum of Discovery!!!!!

My last day at my current job is tomorrow and I must say that I am going to miss my co-workers. I am super excited and cannot wait to start!

Just one problem: museum is one of a handful of words that's really hard for me to spell (including restaurant and liaison ).

I totally left that out in my interview.

Thanksgiving

Anna is Here!!

My college BF Laura had her baby, Anna, on November 3. While we she was expecting (per her doctor's assurance) a 7lb baby, she delivered an almost 9lb 23 inch long baby.

Beau and I got to visit her before Anna's arrival and, of course, after. I'm so happy for my sweet friend and her husband Cory. Anna is one fortunate little girl to be born into a great family.

BOO 2012

 At least I am not writing about Halloween in December.

This Halloween was extra eventful with two costume parties the Saturday before the 31st.  The first was at Courtney's cousin Jill's house.  I dressed up as an equestrian because it did not require any additional clothing purchases other than the hat ($12 Target special.) 

 

 

I realize the pants were very figure un-flattering but whatev. 

In case you cannot tell, Jill was Honey Boo Boo Child.

 I even had gloves to complete the ensemble. 

 

 This was the second party of the evening which was at a co-worker's house.  Whitney on the left was a crazy cat lady and Christine was, obviously, Marilyn. 

 Yes, that would be a noose in the background.  It was set up where you could have your picture taken in it.  I passed.

There are no words.

 

 Christine and her husband "Tommy Two Guns"

On Halloween Courtney's whole family along with my parents, Irish, Chassity, Ryan and Debbie came over for food and passing out candy. 

 Anna Kate was a pig.  Precious, right?  

And speaking of precious........

 My little fifties girl.  She went by "Betty" the whole evening as she thought it was an appropriate fifties name.

 

 This was the best picture I got with her because she was so cracked out with excitement.  Halloween is her second favorite holiday running closely behind Christmas (and only because of the presents, not because of Baby Jesus's birthday.)

 These two were more excited than the trick-or-treaters.

 Mom helped me pass out candy while Anna Kate and her entourage trick-or-treated.

 Again, "Betty" was too excited to take pictures.

 

 The best part of the night was when Courtney got dominated in a game of tug-of-war by a poodle skirt wearing mutt.  "Betty" drug Court across the living room until her elbows were bloodied.  Beau and I were proud parents.  

Compassion of Mother Teresa

Tonight as I was watching my new favorite show on PBS (total geek) "Call the Midwife", I got very emotional. First, the episode was extremely sad/sweet/touching and; Second, I need a good cry ever so often just for no reason other than I'm a girl.

So as my tears turned to sobbing Mamie freaked out and started to cuddle up on me and paw at me because she was clearly concerned. I thought it was a very sweet act and started to cry even more. She let me carry on for about thirty seconds more and decided, apparently, I needed to pull myself together. So right then, the sweet Sister of Compassion lunged at me, nipped my chin and took off across the living room where she proceeded to glare at me as if to say, "GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!".

Of course I quit crying right after my gasp of shock, dried my tears and went on about my business. And by "went on about my business", I mean not feeding her.

Craft Night is Soooo Exciting.

High School Reunion

This past weekend was my dreaded 10 year high school reunion.  I have been fretting over it for months now - not the attending part but the planning aspect.  You see, in high school I, along with the BFs Courtney and Irish, thought it would be a super great idea to run for class officers (let's be honest here, it was just another chance to boss people around).  It was fun then without giving any regard to the fact we would have to plan our first reunion.  Luckily, all turned out well and I even had a great time.  I'm sure it had something to do with my high confidence level as I had I worn my retainer and lifted 3 lb weights the whole week before in preparation.

Friday night we attended our high school's homecoming game.

 Irish was my date because Beau got stuck at work late.  Every time someone asked where he was I would say, "Oh, we're going through a bitter divorce."  Once an ample amount of awkwardness had past I followed up with the truth.

 At one point in the game I realized I had no clue what the score was because I had spent the whole time talking.  Apparently, nothing has changed since high school.

 Since Beau was gone I hussed it up with all my former male classmates.  I'm kidding, Mother.

 

 Saturday night we had dinner in Hot Springs.  You see that casual Columbia jacket my date/husband is wearing?  It almost caused WWIII.  And just like the previous world wars, the British dude won and the German lost (at least I am pretty sure that is some of my bloodline- I was told my dad's mom's family was from Germany).

 Ryan and Debbie

 

 Courtney and her high school sweetheart and husband of six years, Lynn

 Some of our classmates.

 I think this is the only picture of the three of us dressed up for the evening or I would have posted another.  I look like a vulture with those shoulder things and hunched over.  At least my cute shoes are showing.

 After dinner we went back to our country roots and had a bonfire.

 Jamie was the other girl who we worked with to plan the reunion.  All-in-all, I think the four of us did a good job, well at least we had fun.  We also found another classmate who says they'll plan the next reunion (THANK GOODNESS!)

Shower for Baby Anna

This past weekend I hosted a shower for my sweet friend Laura who will be having her sweet baby girl, Anna, in just a few short weeks.  Laura and I met our first week of college over ten years ago on a float trip and have been friends ever since.  

 

 Our sweet friend Meredith (we all worked together at Girl Scouts).

 

My three longest, dearest friends.  It was only natural through the years to integrate my BFs since junior high with my college BF.  I am a lucky girl.

Labor Day Fireworks

Because of the drought conditions we had over the summer, most cities cancelled their July 4th fireworks.  The week before Labor Day weekend we got a lot of rain, thus cancelling most of the burn bans.  Because of this, some cities opted to hold fireworks over the holiday weekend so I went along with Courtney, her daughter Anna Kate and Courtney's sister and her husband to see the Benton fireworks show.  Anna Kate is a big fan of fireworks, in fact, she is partial to anything patriotic but is not too sure of what it all means.   In the middle of the fireworks, Anna Kate turned around to Court and me, threw her hands up in the air and yelled, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!!!!!"

Somethings Never Change

In case you think my obsession with dogs started recently, here is photographic evidence that it has been going on for a while:

Once a lover of mutts, always a lover of mutts.  I found this picture while cleaning out the office closet last night and had to share.

The above photo also proves two other things:

1.) I've always been dramatic; and

2.) I've never had bird legs.  I have my dad's legs (the dude pictured with the short red shorts)

The dog who looks non-too-thrilled with the four year old all up on her was our dog, Friend.  I'm not sure who was responsible for her naming but I doubt it was me as I preferred the more obvious and inappropriate pet names.  Case in point:  I rescued a baby squirrel in kindergarten and we ended up keeping him for a while.  Talk about disappointment when my mom shut me down half a second after I announced I was naming him Nuts.  But that's a whole separate blog post....

 

The Lake

 

 We spent some time at Lake Ouachita this summer at my in-laws houseboat. 

  

It is a gorgeous (and huge) lake.

We went out on the deck boat a lot too.  It creates a better breeze on those 107 degree days.

Speaking of breeze, Miss Kate Winslet enjoyed the boating excursions as well.

I know, she's ridiculously cute.

Beau and the captain, his dad.