January thus far

January has been a busy and exciting month so far.  

I started school on the 8th and have finished 2 weeks so far.  It's been interesting.....school is very different this time around!  Most of my teachers are around my age and therefore are MUCH less intimidating than I remember them being when I was 19.  I get tired a lot more quickly too!  I attend class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.30 until 12.45 and by the end of that, I'm beat!  Thursday nights I have a sports medicine lab from 6-9 and that makes Thursdays EXTRA tiring and long.  I am enjoying learning though and my brain is recalling some things that it learned 11 years ago - which is majorly impressive!  I am grateful to Andy and the kids for being helpful and supportive.  They have had to step in a bit more with house chores and no one has complained so far!  Good for them!

January 10th was my favorite day though!!  I got a call from my mom at 4.45am saying the Richele was in labor at the hospital.  Her labor was progressing quickly and they decided to forgo the c-section and go for it the other way.  The hoo-haw way!  Poor Shell-Bell!!  The whole family was there in time to laugh and cheer Richele on as she gave birth to the cutest little bug in the world!!  Quincie Susan Cook!  

I wuv her so much!!!

Christmas 2012

 Kids getting milk, cookies, and carrots ready for Santa and the reindeer.

 A Christmas morning hug for mommy!

 Samantha opening up her tablet from Santa (which was a cheap piece of crap and has now been traded up for a Kindle.)

 Alex coming into the fun.

 Checking out his piece of crap that is also now a Kindle.

 He was pretty happy about it though.

 They both were excited.

 Look how grown-up and big they are!!!  My babies!

 The glorious Christmas mess!  See if you can spot Samantha on her tablet.

 Alex quickly got to setting up his legos.

 Alex doing Legos, Samantha on her tablet.

 In the late morning we headed to Grammy's for brunch and presents.  There were enough presents to keep anyone happy for years!

 My beautiful Samantha.....even with dark circles around her eyes.

 Grammy telling the kids to start the madness. 

 The present-opening madness.

 Cute cousins.

 Richele's butt.

 Grampy being a sweetie and playing Go Fish with the girls.  Heaven forbid we play with toys we just got at Christmas, let's pull out the ages old card game!!

It was a fun, fun Christmas with lots of good food, good gifts, and awesome family.  We missed Andy's family this year as his parents were in Wisconsin visiting Dave and Pam.  We should get to see them in a couple of weeks though.  After our fun time at Grammy's house we went home so Andy could get started on the Prime Rib. We had mom and dad over for Prime Rib and Yorkshire Pudding and games on Christmas night.  The kids had a blast as did the adults playing dominos.  

And now, we are starting a New Year.  I look forward to all that 2013 will hold for my little family!  Especially the much anticipated London/Paris trip in 4 months!  Woo hoo!!!!