2012: A Quick Review

image found on Google.

I know everyone always says, “Oh wow! Can you believe another year has come to an end?” Well, I am not going to be one of them. But, seriously, can you believe the world didn’t come to an end? Shocker! (Joke.)

Well, indeed another wonderful year has flown by, and now I sit in my favorite chair, with my favorite man, and the favorite dog just relaxing. Football is on the television, and Dub and Coach are fighting for space on the couch. As the year flies by… some things just never change. #heavenonearth

I wanted to sit and think about all of the great things that happened in 2012. I thought I would share. Enjoy! 

January:

I made these New Year’s Resolutions.

I finally kicked my love addiction with soda to the curb. I am currently still going “No Cola” strong. This month was when I entered my last and final semester of college with Augusta State. I entered the classroom of one of the greatest teachers I have ever met, and became lifelong friends with her. At first I was overwhelmed with all that ASU slapped on my plate, but sure enough… I made it! 

My sweet friend Leslie, Dub, and I ran a 5K! It was her first, as well as Dub's! 

February:

I have no blogs to remind me of this month… I will need to work on this in 2013 (strange to type!) I had to look back in my pictures to see what pictures I uploaded in February 2012. Well, dang. Truth be told there really weren’t that many. This is just two key points to prove the fact that I was busy working on my ISL, and apprenticeship.

There were lots of cute math activities like this during February…. 

My Aunt took me, Mama, Beth, and her to the Blake Shelton concert. We had great seats, and even won backstage passes!

 This was the highlight of this somewhat dreadfully boring month.

(Note to Coach: Please take me somewhere fun and memorable in February 2013 so in next year’s review I have something fun to recall!) 

March:

I celebrated another year of life. I know… I know… a blessing to everyone. I was able to spend my birthday weekend shopping with my Aunt, loving family time at our favorite restaurant, and just being a madly in love 24 year old. I was also training for the Cooper River Bridge Run that would take place in April.

Advocare was introduced to me also in March of 2012. This is a life changing vitamin system. I now know the way to take care of my body, I am more conscious of what goes into my body, and I will forever be changed due to a little drink from Heaven called Spark. 

April:

This month began with a BANG: Cooper River Bridge Run with friends and a trip to Charleston with my husband. This was a perfect rip with my best friend and her husband who also happens to be Coach’s BFF. 

It also ended with a BANG: Coach was diagnosed with MRSA and spent weeks in and out of the hospital with numerous vicious surgeries. I cried, laughed, and prayed so hard during this month.

Hey… you gotta celebrate and find the good in every situation: The good news is that we can diagnose Staph like nobody’s business. I can see it a mile away. I can also clean and pack a wound that a teacher has no business messing with. Oh the joy that came with this lil bump in the road. (Pun slightly intended.)

May:

Not too much excitement… SIKE! This was the best month of the entire year!!!

I graduated with my BS in Early Childhood Education from Augusta State University. 

Coach officially took a new job in South Ga. We then officially became Telfair Trojans. 

We moved into our new little “cottage” and officially made it a home. I love this little house so much! 

Oh, and we also celebrated our first year of marriage! Yay! This is what Coach gave me… 

June:

I spent this month unpacking, and enjoying dealing with the Southern heat and little bugs. We made new friends that we now call family.

This was also the month that we took our Cain FamilyDaytona Beach trip. Blair and I became BFFs. Well, sorta.

July:

It was one hot month… too hot!

Oh, and I also got a JOB!

August:

This is when 2012 really starts to fly by. We spent this month getting into a school/football/cross country routine.

I started a Middle School Cross Country Program for the TC Trojans. This was such a blessed event! I loved my little Distance Trojans! Coach was busy with football and due to the heat he couldn’t have practice until late. So, I don’t really remember seeing my husband much in August. However, I do remember him turning 27! (Wow, he is really 27. His biological time clock is ticking…) 

September:

TC Football is #1 in our lives… UGA Football is following. We would spend the week here, and the weekends in Athens. Football overload…

October:

My little XC season comes to a successful ending. I also learn how hard being a working/coaching/wife can be. I mean… I thought I was ready to add children… whew! No time!

November:

My amazingly strong mother finishes radiation treatments… she is one Big Brave Dawg. 

Our football team ends 6-4 and gets screwed out of a playoff slot. Don’t get me started… 

Penny keeps the family Thanksgiving Breakfast Tradition alive, and we take a load of amazing family pictures. 

I spend more time with my new family from McRae, and learn a life lesson that you should love the ones that God places in your life… he does it for a reason!

December:

I became a brave woman and cut all of my hair off! I love a pixie! I see 2013 being very stylish for me! 

My family is all together for a holiday! I can’t wait for everyone to move here! I promised them all day trips to the beach!

Christmas!!! 

WHEW! What a year! 2012 has been so good to us. I know God has so much planned for us in 2013. I honestly cannot wait! 

Love love,

Carley

From the Bottom of My Heart... Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas with lots of family time and relaxation. I know I had LOTS of family time… and NO relaxation. I would never want it any other way!

Thursday Coach and I loaded up the car and headed to Jefferson to start the Christmas holiday. We had to wait until after wrestling practice, so we didn’t get to Jefferson until late in the afternoon. Although many people in our family are also teachers, my mom was still working, so Coach and I begged Penny and D to go with us to our favorite restaurant in Athens. We love Athens, especially when all of the trees are glowing with lights, and the city is calm due to the students being home and not on campus. We had dinner at Shokitini. We LOVE a UGA roll… ok… We LOVE two UGA rolls! Penny and D also loved it too, so I can’t wait to go back! 

Friday morning I went and picked up this little beauty! (My sweet lil sister, Rylie.)

We were on a mission to pick out a new bike. That is what Coach and I decided to give her for Christmas, and we wanted it to “fit her” so she went with us. We had lunch at Chick-fil-a and then want to Wal-Mart.  Never again. Coach almost smacked several folks… He then said (as we were leaving) that our children will get no toys for Christmas. If this is the case, then he will never have to go to the toy section of Wal-Mart at Christmas. Ok, sure. 

Here is what she picked out.

Friday night Rylie spent the night with us. This is always a treat! She is just so funny!!!! She could sit and play on the 'taaabaaalettt' for hours! She taught Coach how to play Temple Run. I believe he is addicted! Saturday morning we ran to Athens to pick up a few last minute gifts, and to pick up a Honey Baked turkey. Have you ever had one? Ohh… they are really good!  Saturday afternoon we took a family trip to Buford. My mom’s two brothers and their families came down from Missouri. The girls had never been to the mall. What better time to go than two days before Christmas?! We took them to Build-a-Bear. It really was not as packed as I was expecting, however it was a little stressful. I think it was as stressful to find the PERFECT bear outfit as it was to find a wedding dress. However, we made it out alive. We also got to visit a few stores, and eat some supper. Aunt Doni gave me a coffee from Starbucks  so I was down for anything. Even a ride on the carousel! (And two visits in Justice.)  Here are all three girls with their new bears! 

Sunday morning Coach and I picked up Rylie and went to our church. Southside is one of my favorite things about being in Jefferson. The music is amazing, the atmosphere cannot be beat, and I always feel like Jeff speaks directly towards me and the week that I have been having. I seriously cannot express my love for this place. I love living in the South, but I truly truly miss Southside. Rylie even sat in the 'big church.' She loved the music and even clapped when Jeff finished. Love her. 

After church Rylie spent some time riding her new bike in the driveway. We had to head out to Hurricane Shoals for family pictures later that afternoon. Did I mention that my mom had two brothers that live in Missouri? Well, they do. This is the first time EVER that we have ALL been able to spend Christmas together. I seriously do not remember the last time we all had a picture together. Well, I remember one in 1994. Yeah… this one was a bit bigger. My Aunt is seriously the best because she hired the photographer to come and tackle the task of getting us all in a functional family picture. She did great; we have so many memories to share now! Also, for once I wasn’t the one telling people to smile! Here is our massive family… 

There really is a funny point made in this picture. You see, when we were little we did this picture… 

** I know there is a picture of all 4 of us sitting like this with Taylor in the middle  ???

17 years later we did the same thing…

Please do not post this on awkward family photos…

Sunday night we had Christmas with Coach’s grandpa. This event is always lots of fun and a ton of laughs. Hearing stories from W.T. never gets old. This year we did it a little different. We always go out to W.T’s house, but with our family getting a little bigger, we had it at Christy’s house. (Plenty of room!) We also did not have the normal BBQ, stew, and Zaxbys. We decided to do different soups. I made my favorite loaded potato soup. Everyone said it was great… I love it. (Penny was worried because I don’t follow a recipe.) I wonder when I will gain some credit. Have I ever made her eat bad food?? :)

 

Monday was Christmas Eve. We had to be at my Aunt’s house at 11, and I wanted to be there first because I always try to beat Beth. Well, and because I am the favorite… ha. So we loaded up the truck and made the journey through the nasty rain.

Did I mention that Beth got engaged?! She did! Dustin actually proposed during family pictures so that the photographer could get the entire thing. Do you think he sees Pinterest? Well, after lunch she asked me to be her Matron of Honor! Duh! I said yes! I am so excited about planning a wedding! I can’t wait! I may or may not be staying on Pinterest a little too much looking at wedding ideas. 

Christmas festivities were out of control. Kids were tearing open gifts; adults were laughing and having the best time! I loved it! I also LOVED all of the goodies we brought home! I may have eaten an entire bag of fudge. Opps. (My goal is to get it out of the house ASAP)

Monday night we went to Mama Bette’s Christmas. We played the gift card game and enjoyed a traditional Christmas feast. I came home with a VS gift card and a Target card. I am one happy camper. We came home to rest for Santa to come!

Christmas morning was wonderful! Here is the proof….

Coach and I got our cars fixed. (So thankful! Car upkeep is…whew!) Blair got a trip to Vegas. Plus we all got tickets to the Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Jake Owen concert that will be in Athens this spring… I absolutely cannot wait! I got amazing new pajamas that I would like to live in, a new red purse and some great Christmas décor for next year! Seriously so blessed!

We are now snuggled up in our McRae home. Things are somewhat back in place. Coach is watching football, I am reading blogs, and Dub has found a comfortable spot right in the middle. Life is absolutely wonderful!

Love love,

C^2

Catching Up & The Beginning of Christmas Break

Happy Christmas Break! Whew! I cannot believe that 2012 is almost over! Starting a blog is always the hardest part for me. I really wish I was better at writing and had more catchy introductions. I guess I’ll skip the intro and catch your attention in the body… here goes.

On the 2^nd day of Christmas break I am sitting in my pjs at noon sipping on coffee with entirely too much creamer in it (but absolutely delicious!) and listening to the background noise of the History show Coach is watching. I feel zero guilt from my laziness because my house is clean, the dog named Dub is at the vet for his monthly visit to be groomed, and it is Christmas break.  Coach has a wrestling match tonight, so I suppose I should actually get up and take care of my personal hygiene before I leave the house… plenty of time for that though.

Since I haven’t blogged in forever I guess I should catch everyone up. Last weekend I attended a little brunch for the Coaches in our community. Our HC’s wife hosted us and it was absolutely delicious! She is so precious, and I am blessed to call her a family member now. My husband actually could not attend because he had a wrestling tournament in Savannah. Poor guy. Wrestling has him going going going. I may or may not be looking forward to the end of February. Did I say that? No.

Here are a few memories….

Our last week of school was amazing. I love celebrating Christmas with the kidos. Our Christmas tree was my favorite part. The tree was covered with all handmade ornaments. I seriously loved it!

 We had our Christmas party and instead of asking parents to bring in the goodies, we just ordered pizza from a local pizza place. I think I was more excited than they were. It was so good! My cross country team then surprised me with another party that included more pizza the next day. 2 days of pizza goodness. Soooo good.

 Friday was a half day for us. All of my kids were home safely by noon. This is when we first heard about all of the horrible news in CT. My heart breaks for the families, the teachers, the students, and the community. Words cannot explain the hurt. I won’t blog about it now because I still cry when I think about it. Maybe next week… My prayers are with those involved.  Although I love the Christmas break, I find myself looking for one of my kids at the grocery store, gas station, or out playing outside (we live in a small community, I always see one of my kids everywhere I go.) to just give them a hug and tell them I love them. I cannot even begin to imagine. 

After school Friday I made a trip half way to Thomson to meet my sweet and very talented friend Virginia. She makes the beautiful wreaths that I can’t seem to get enough of. I can make small wreaths, but as far as the big ones that are so fancy and gorgeous, I leave that to her. (Plus, I love supporting small local businesses.) I met VJ a few years ago when I was just a Coach’s girlfriend. BC and her husband coached together. I am blessed that we have remained friends, and that we have found an easy half way point to meet. I loved catching up with her in the Rite Aid parking lot! I am already looking forward to meeting her again soon! Here are the wreaths she made for me…. 

I made this burlap bubble wreath, but sweet Virginia saved the day by making this beautiful bow for me. Seriously, so talented!

You can like Mimi T’s on FB, she ships and also can meet me to deliver… I HIGHLY recommend her. I have NEVER been disappointed. Thanks, VJ! Love you! 

Last night I hosted a Christmas dinner for our friends. I love cooking, and I love having friends get together when we don’t have school the next day. It is just a time to relax and enjoy each other and the great family we have become. Silly me did not get any pictures. I often wish my husband was as concerned with pictures as I am. It can be hard to worry about the fresh bread not burning, the salad being crisp enough, AND the pictures…. Cough cough. I made fresh bread and spinach dip, salad, American spaghetti, (my famous dish only because I am good at cooking it for a large group) and Oreo cheesecake for dessert. I believe it was a success! 

I also put together a little 12 Days of Christmas for Coach. Here is my absolute favorite picture. I think I’ll frame it for my desk. My love language is gifts…. So this melts my heart when I see it. Gah, I love him! 

So far this Christmas break has been relaxing and emotional. (I have busted out in tears SEVERAL times for really the slightest remarks.) Now Coach naps on the couch, I watch my daily dose of Y&R, and enjoy the glow of the tree. 

Oh yeah… I cut ALLLLLL of my hair off! I LOVVVVEEEEE it!

Until next time…

Love love,

C^2