2011- the year of tears

I keep reading all the blogs and everyone has 2011 recaps. I thought about going through each month and posting my favorites, highlights, all the memories. And as I started to, I started to just cry. 2011 was such an emotional year for me.

So much happened. So much changed.

Marshall and I drove a Uhaul to Philadelphia which made it real that I was actually moving. My first niece was born all the way in Virginia, we found out who our adopted Korean nephew is but still no date of when they will get to have him, WE GOT MARRIED (pretty big one,  it probably deserves a featuring picture) and I immediately moved to Philadelphia, start the water works flowing. Cathy came to visit in July and we watched every season of 'Make It Or Break It'.  We had fun weekend trips with The Bryants, here and here. My parents came to visit a city they forgot they had already visited. Marshall and I road tripped to Canada. Marshall's parents came to visit and we took them to Amish country. We spent Thanksgiving in Richmond  with my brother and his family. We had a China wedding reunion in Baltimore and I forgot how much I missed these people. The Cowboys won The Big 12 Championship and Marshall and I played for high stakes. And Christmas happened in Oklahoma.

But the biggest, most unexpected, unfair event of 2011. Was when my sweet Grammie was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in July. The unthinkable. No one expected, no one had any idea. It hit our family hard. But she hung on to celebrate her  61st wedding anniversary in early August. But then lost the battle and was taken from us in late August.  Our sweet and gracious Heavenly Father wanted her with Him. Who can blame Him. She was the best. And my heart still hurts.

And I still miss her every single day.

 2011 has been quite the year. 

A very bitter sweet year for our family. 

I'm ready for 2012.

kisses.

december birthdays recap

The last few days have been Birthday Days! 

For Marshall's Birthday we had a birthday breakfast.

Then we put him to work for the rest of the day... 

His parents came into town for wine bar and Thai food. But none of my pictures turned out, it was all too dark. So imagine the fun!

We came back home and opened up a few gifts.

What person doesn't love shoes on their birthday!?

+++++++++++++++++++++++

For my dad's birthday, well he worked most of the day.

But Marshall, my mom, and I met Teri and Jett at the children's museum.

 Future Doctor??

Family photo??

 Teri holding the Asian baby... missing her own Asian baby Pryce!

 The slide was for kids only...

 Mia helping make sure Jett didn't get his entire body wet at the water station.

 

I have no idea what I'm looking at.

The children's museum was just as much fun for adults as it was for kids. Maybe even more fun.

After that, my brother, Marshall, and my dad went golfing... because it was 66 degrees outside... and it's almost JANUARY!!! Amazing.

For dinner we grilled out steaks for dinner, sat in the fancy dinning room, and had a grand old time.

And of course, there were presents...

 iTunes gift cards... and after we taught him how to use them, and that you can purchase other things besides music, he got pretty excited about them.

We topped off our evening with more family time.

 Happy Birthday you 2!

Wouldn't be the same person I am today without the both of you!

kisses.

My dad's birthday!

Happy Birthday Dad!!!!

If you all missed our father/daughter dance at my wedding, then you missed out on a historical moment.

It was awesome. Epic even. 

And it described my dad and I's relationship perfectly. 

I have the coolest dad ever. 

Happy Birthday Dad! We will party and celebrate your day!

I love you!!!

kisses.

A Birthday for Marshall

Happpppy Birthday Marshall!!!

29 years old! 

 almost time to start having babies... joke, no way dude. 

I'm so excited to be celebrating the birth of YOU today! 

If you weren't born... as Kelly Clarkson sings... my life would suck without you.

I love you to the moon!

kisses.

Christmas #2

We headed to Edmond for Marshall's family Christmas.

Typically, all of his aunts, uncles, cousins, cousin's kids, family friends, whoever, gets together for dinner and a night of intense ornament exchanges.

 I opened the pretty Pottery Barn angel but got it stolen.

 Marshall's brother and his girlfriend and their ornament.. which was also stolen from them.

Marshall and I ended up with a pickle... and a star thing that I stole from my in-laws.

 We embroidered Marshall's dad a few company shirts.

The perks of a family business!

Brothers.

 The Walker Clan.

 Marshall's cousin and her family. Her kids are adorable. I can't handle it.

My brother-in-laws. I have a lot of brothers now.

We stayed up super late catching up with his brothers over drinks downtown, slept in, woke up, had lunch with his family, Marshall and I went on a movie date, then headed back to his aunt's house for leftovers. 

 And games.

A very, very strange game.

It was so great to spend so much time with his extended family. Does make me miss my extended side. But I feel blessed that I get to be apart of another family that is so close and supportive.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

kisses.

Christmas #1

We celebrated Christmas a little different this year. 

We woke up and went to my brother's house and watched Jett open a few presents from them.

The main gift he got.... a car.  He has been talking about a car for months.

It was hard to peel him away.

 My bro and sis-in-law got everyone lottery cards in honor of my Grammie. 

 The lady loved the scratchers. It was perfect to get to penny scratch first thing Christmas morning.

After we ate our traditional breakfast, cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate, we went back to my parents house to open all of our presents.

My mom wrapped up a box of Lucky Charms and the gyro bowl, and of course, it was his favorite. He kept feeding us all cereal all morning.

Jett getting loved on.

Marshall got me a new lens for my camera (that I still have no idea how to use). I for sure thought I was not getting this, so I was soo surprised!

And my mom got me the bag I wanted! I have a tendency to break lenses... so this bag/purse is magical.

A few of Marshall's awesome gifts.

Teri and Aaron got me 2 pretty hilarious gifts.

A book of Jett.

 And a t-shirt of Jett's face (perfectly clear thanks to our new digital printer at work!)

Now, I can take Jett with me wherever I go.

I feel like a crazy soccer mom.

My dad went and bought himself an iPad before Christmas.

So my mom wrapped the empty box. 

 My dad busted out the big guns and got my mom a beautiful diamond.

My mom gave him a magnifying glass because he always says he can't see.

You don't need the magnifying glass to see her rock.

 Marshall taught Aaron how to tie fancy knots.

 And Jett loved playing in the wrapping paper.... why do we buy kids presents again?

After we picked up all the trash, we ate a late lunch and then Marshall and I were off to Edmond to have 2nd dinner and 2nd Christmas.

Christmas just goes by toooo fast.

kisses.