We’ll get ‘em next year

As I’m writing this I’m still in shock.  Too much adrenaline to go to bed – so might as well document the night.

To say that Bo has been anxiously awaiting this game is putting it mildly.  He’s been a bit depressed/mad/upset that we didn’t just buck up and head to NOLA.  Seems like everyone was there.  It didn’t help that all of his friends literally texted all day and throughout the game with how great it was!

Well the kids obviously picked up on our excitement.  They both wore their Razorback duds to school this morning.

  

I will give Bo credit that he took a pass on a “guys” night to watch the game and stayed home to enjoy it with me.  I mean it’s an epic game – Razorback history.  So glad that he knows that I love it too and wanted to share the experience with him (and our kids!).

It did help get us all excited when we got the kids suited up.  Conlee got the cheerleading uniform for Christmas.  Words can’t describe how much I love my little pig tailed cheerleader (with the itty bitty belly showing)!  Since I found out she was a girl I’ve dreamed about seeing her in this uniform.  Love that they had to stop calling the hogs to check in with all of the pre-game activities.

 

Then it was kick off.  The men got serious.  I mean this is game time people.

Con on the other hand was over it as soon as soon as the “real” game started.  So she went to the back to watch Diego!

To say that the first half wasn’t exactly what we wished for is putting it mildly.  Way too many dropped passes.  Just not good.

Thank goodness Crawford kept Bo under control by somehow always showing up in a different Hog hat!

 

We were having so much fun that it even got Conlee to come out of her tv coma and join us!

 

By 8:30 we knew we had to take the time to put the kids to bed.  So we skipped bath and put their jammies on in front of the tv.  Yes – Crawford even wore his jersey to bed.

I can’t believe with all of the excitement that they were able to go down – but they did great.  The fact that they stayed down and didn’t wake up with our occasional yell/scream/cheer is amazing.

You all know the story – so I’m not going to re-hash it here.  Just think back to the Alabama game – eerily similar.

Here’s a shot of how Bo watched the last 10 minutes of the game!  Honest.

While I am sad and disappointed – I am NOT a hater.  I mean seriously – the people on Facebook who love them  one minute and then bash them the next????  My pov is there’s always next year.  You can bet your $ that the Garmon’s are putting in for all of the bowl game tickets!!!!  WPS!

From board games to video games

So Santa didn’t only deliver “board” games.  He also brought the kids plenty of Leapster games!  It’s pretty darn cute to watch them try and learn how to play.

Conlee’s such a Devil – she quickly talked Crawford out of the Explorer so she could play Dora.

Crawford was kicking his Leapster backpack.

 

So – I just have to show you the one throw out pic.  Do you see Conlee in the pic below?  She’s got bubble wrap over her face!  Looks like she’s trying to suffocate herself, but no – that’s her “hiding.”

At least it’s not all electronics.  Hands down – Con’s favorite Santa gift were the princess magnets that were in her stocking.  Funny, I think I saw these in the $1 aisle at Target – HA!  She LOVES them.

So weird that my kids are old enough to play video games???  Crawford will be 4 in February.  You never believe it when people tell you that time will fly by.  But, it really does.  Bo is convinced that we only have 3 or 4 more “good” Christmases where they both still “believe.”  Man – that just ups the ante for what I’ll have to come up for next year.  Gotta start planning ;)

Speaking of planning – on my last day off Amanda and I got together and started planning the boys fourth birthday party.  Spoiler:  thinking space themed.

Well, tomorrow it’s all back to normal.  But, thank goodness – the Bachelor starts tonight.  So, one last night of fun – here I come :)

Bye-Bye Holidays

Today was our “official” end to celebrating the Holiday season that kicked off the Wednesday before Thanksgiving!  Babe & Pops left this morning headed back to Eastern Arkansas :(  To be honest I thought at first that it was almost too long for them to be in town.  But in retrospect – it felt like they lived here (which I so wish they did).  Honest to goodness – we didn’t have one fight!  But, Pops’ doctors are in Memphis and he has to go see them on Tuesday to schedule his next surgery.  While we aren’t looking forward to it at all – I feel God blessed us with a Holiday season that our family was much in need of.  Two holidays in hospitals is no fun at all.  So, while January might be a different story – I am thankful to have had November and December!

To really end it all – Bo even took down the last of the outdoor lights.  I think I had a tear in my eye.  But we made the best of it and had an amazing day with the kids.  They literally “played” today.  No tv, no toys – just their imaginations.  It was so fun to “spy” on them and hear what was going on.

After an early evening of errands we hit El Sol for the kids favorite dinner.  You know it’s going to be a hit when their are crayons and cheese dip involved.

When we got home we broke out another Santa game – Cooties.  My brother and I played this all of the time.  Love that my kids are finally at the age where we can have a family game night!

Crawford and I got into a heated battle of who could roll a 4 first.   He was smart enough to try and find the number on the dice and then just “gently” drop it vs. rolling it!

Conlee had to quit early so she could enjoy some of Babe’s chocolate cake!

Crawford and I saw it through to the end. 

Crawford:  blue  Mom:  green

To make the “end” a bit better – I have one more vacation day.  My work is closed tomorrow to celebrate New Year’s.  How cool is that?  Trust me, the kids will be enjoying a day at “school.”  It’s for their best – isn’t it :)

New Year’s Day

Our New Year’s day definitely wasn’t as “fancy” as last night’s meal – but it would be hard for me to pick which was really the best!

Pops fried ribs (if you haven’t ever had them you don’t know what you are missing)!  Of course we had black eyed peas, fried potatoes, slaw and corn bread.  I should be full for the next week or two.

Crawford has always loved the ribs.  The kid’s no dummy!

Conlee ate like a bird.  She had Babe feed her.

 

Matt and I let the kids convince us to try the Moon Dough they got for Christmas.  I don’t know who makes this stuff – but man it’s a mess!  The kids of course loved it!

 

Happy 2011!

New Year’s Eve Progressive Dinner Party

To say that I’m not a New Year’s Eve person is putting it mildly.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the party hats, champagne and a good kiss at midnight – I just like it in the comfort of my own home.  We’ve done the dressed up events, the dinners at a restaurant – but it’s all overrated to me.

This year we hosted our family at our house for a progressive dinner party.  Meaning we had the first course at 5:30 and the last at 11:45!  We literally ate and ate.  Being New Year’s we did “fancy” the menu up  a bit.  Check it out.

First course:  cheese tray

I wanted to do roasted figs with prosciutto but couldn’t find any fresh.  So – we spread fig preserves on these great bread sticks I got at Harp’s and wrapped them in prosciutto.  Super yummy.

The kids were so excited to have another party!

How sweet!

We had a concert in between courses.  Sue-Sue and J-J missed the first one.  They loved it!

Second course:  French onion soup

Third course:  shrimp Mornay bruschetta

Main course:  beef tenderloin, black truffle risotto, tomato gratin and roasted asparagus.  Everyone swears it was the best meat they’d ever had.  I of course was satisfied with the black truffle risotto – yummy!

 

Dessert course:  Babe’s famous chocolate angel food cake with Nutella cream anglaise.

 

Raspberry Bellini’s to ring in the New Year.

My sweet Mom & Dad!

Of course with a meal this long – there was lots to drink so everyone bunked at our house.  It was so fun.  Honestly wouldn’t have wanted to celebrate anywhere else.

The kids were pleasantly surprised when they woke up to find Bo and I sleeping in the den on the blow up bed.

They quickly made it into a trampoline!

  

Love that it’s New Year’s morning and they are wearing their Santa jammies.  They might go into withdrawals when they realize the holiday is over.  But, no fret – next party is Crawford’s 4th birthday party.  Amanda and I got to get into party planning mode!