The Holidays

Can you believe another year is upon us? I can't either! 2009 has been a great year for us. One full of major changes and major happiness. I embarked on a new journey working for myself from home, the boys both started school (a first for Max) and Trace was accepted to the Phoenix Reach Program. While we await our assignment for our first excitement of 2010 we have much to be thankful for.

This year we connected with great friends (The Crowells), we passed major milestones (bunk beds!), and we learned to balance work and life for the better. Next year we will see my 30th Birthday (yikes!), Trace's promotion to Major (he's old too!), and a move to the C-17 Globemaster. Next year is looking to be an incredibly busy time for us, so this holiday season we have decided to stay home and reflect on our small family here in Enid. We have so appreciated our time here to focus on each other. We can't wait for another year!

Not so much bunking up anymore...

OK, now the bunk beds are not working! The two of them are having trouble sleeping and if one gets up...the other does too. So, we are back in two rooms. Maybe when they are older?

I am now working from home and SO happy! I'm running my own PR Firm (army of one so to speak) out of the house. I'm building clients while building stronger relationships with my kids and its great. My mom still watches the kids but I'm here to lend a hand and I get to do the dirty stuff so she gets a break.

The thunder is rolling outside as usual in Oklahoma. It was 100 degrees today and now its storming. Although this place doesn't hold all the things we love to do it has grown on me. It's small town and I will miss it when its time to go...but not a lot.

Still Bunking Up!

The kids have done well adjusting to their new bunk beds. The first week was rough for us all but I can already see the camaraderie building between them because of their shared sleeping space. I am so glad they are enjoying them. We've made the transition for both rooms so now we have an open bed for visitors!


-- Post From My iPhone

Bunk beds

We will say farewell to our crib this weekend! I'm excited for Max who will turn 2 Monday but shattered inside. I can't believe we will no longer have a baby in our home, ever. I thought I was ready to make this transition but I miss babies.
So, we are embarking on the bunk bed journey. The boys are going to try to sleep in the same room. We are going to start with Hayden's bed as a back up but I do hope it is a smooth transition. Any advice? Max has been in a crib so the big boy bed makes me nervous.
We looked high and low for bunk beds. We wanted a navy frame and naturally I turned to Pottery Barn Kids. Until the thought of $1600 for bunk beds seemed a little overwhelming. So we picked out a bunk bed from IKEA. It was under $200 and after a fresh coat of beautiful paint it looks great! Highly recommend IKEA so far. More to follow on the journey I'm sure!


-- Post From My iPhone

Can it have been 2 years?

We had a great trip this weekend to Sea World San Antonio but it reminded me of just 2 short years ago. Can it have been 2 years since my youngest was born?
Max made his entrance in June of 2007. We lived in San Antonio at the time and made the trip to Sea World at that time as well. Next weekend we will hold a sports themed birthday party for my little sports enthusiast. He has blossomed so much! You can see his personality shining every morning. It's great.
The challenge for me now is realizing we are leaving the stage of babies in our home. Max will move into his big boy bunk beds next weekend and the end of some very long eras is coming. I'm not sure I'm ready for that. Can't we keep the crib?

What is up with Gen Y?

I admit I've had a few bad days so this post is colored by that. Why is it that whenever anyone talks about Gen Y they are talking about their faults? I'm the past 6 months I've heard 4 presentations on the generation and they've all been about the bad attributes of our generation. Why? There are good things about us too you know. Now, I should also say that only half the time people say I belong to Gen Y. I was born in 1980 so I sit on the fence. Either way how about we stop picking on our generation and start looking for the good things?
Tawny


-- Post From My iPhone

Seriously?!?!

I can't believe its been so long since I've posted. Well, let's see. There was a half marathon in between now and then. I lost 13 pounds. My uncle died. I turned 29. I think that's about it in a nutshell.

Life has been busy these days. The stress level at work has increased significantly and I find it harder to get up in the morning. I need a little stress in my life. People who know me well, know that I like to be a little on edge. This stress though isn't on edge. It's over the top lately. It has caused me to really seek the purpose of what I'm doing and why I'm doing it whenever I do anything. I will survive this but it has been difficult.

Trace will start a new job in July. He's wrapping up his last class as a flight commander and I know he's looking forward to it. I am as well. The stress of being in charge is difficult for him when the days are over 12 hours long, consistently. I know he is excited for the next step. He'll be the executive officer for the group. Something I know he has aspired to. I can see him enjoying his job more and more each day and he has said lately he is looking forward to seeing where it takes us.

Maxwell is on the verge of being 2. He's not into his terrible 2's yet but he is blossoming! He's become quite the personality. He reads books at night before he goes to bed, he loves shooting the basketball outside, and is ready to rumble whenever his brother challenges him. It's amazing to see him come out of his shell.

Hayden is as crazy as ever. He just finished his first round of real preschool. He did fantastically. He writes his name with ease and recognizes the letters of the alphabet. We are well beyond colors and shapes. He's still outrageously smart and verbose. Most people are amazed to hear the intelligence in his conversations. Me included.

My mom has almost made it a full year living with us. I know a living situation like this is not for everyone but it has been perfect for us! She steps in only when needed and the kids love her. She does a great job keeping up with them and I feel comfortable going to work. I could not be happier to have her around, still.

This summer will hold a great deal of exciting things for us. I will make a trip to San Francisco. We will take a family vacation to South Dakota where we will visit Mt. Rushmore. Trace has a few trips planned as well for work. It should be fun...and hot.