Home for the Holidays 2012

This year, probably more than any other, we were so excited to spend Christmas with our families. We took off a couple days early for what is becoming a way too usual occurrence ... the twelve hundred mile voyage home.
This was really Aaron's first time to get to come home since he left last January, and he was more than ready to get there ... mainly to the duck woods- but whatevs.

Aaron let me get a fancy (for me) new camera a little early so I could document our Arkansas trip ... I'm still totally learning and definitely just shooting in Auto mode, but it's quite a step up from my iPhone camera. ;)

I checked Avery out of school early on Wednesday, December 19 and we were on the road to AR by 1pm.
We ended up taking Aaron's truck so we could pile stuff in the back, which ended up working out wonderfully. On the way home we stopped an unprecedented four times ... and we made the trip in 16 hours ... that typically takes me 21 hours. Cray cray.

On Friday night Avery and I went with my parents, Emerson, Rachel and Ben H to see White Christmas at the Rep. We've watched the movie at least twice every Christmas so it was SUCH a treat to get to see the play. I think Avery enjoyed it the most- she just clapped and clapped, she giggled and loved every moment. LOVED having her with me.

We had a fun dinner before the show ... How cute are my sweet brother and darling dad? Not to mention my bestie in the middle. Love them.

Then a couple days later Aaron emerged from the woods to come home and bring Dalton back with him to my Dad's cabin/lease deal. Dalton has constantly asked to return to the "Cabinet."

I'm sure DP for breakfast has nothing to do with it.

It took me a couple days to break out my new camera because I left my camera card at home and to run get a new one ... but I finally got one on my way to SB's when Sawyer and I went to stay with she and Noah.

Sweet, sweet, Noah. Can't believe this lovey will be a BIG BRO come July.

We had more cousin time with some of the Boone's on Christmas Eve day as we went to celebrate the always fun and rarely predictable life of Aaron's Great Uncle Coyce Boone who passed away on December 21.

I'm convinced that these two are twinkies ... Christopher Boone, you're just darling.

I also got to go spend time with my Memaw  and Tom on Christmas Eve ...

My mom ended up getting sick on Christmas Eve, so we moved the festivities to my Aunt Tamra's house ... it was so special to be with a lot of the fam.

Noah's new trick ... "Hhhiiiii!!!"

Mimi and GBob gave Avery the most precious tea set!

**The Chocolate Game: Each player takes turn rolling the dice, when you roll double sixes you suit up in all this snow gear and have to cut into the package and try to eat as much chocolate as possible before someone else rolls a double six. I don't even really like chocolate, but I am about to kill for some chocolate every year by the end of this game.

I miss this sweet thing so much I just literally ache for him sometimes. Love him so.

Then  we went home to Dede and Pop Pop's to see if Santa would come...

He did!!

 I kinda love this pic.

Aaron drew Emerson and got him a duck call which we had the pleasure of listening to all morning ...

I drew Rachy.

Mom with her favorite sons. Better luck next year, Ben Wellons.

Plumb worn out.

But, he pressed  through for more Christmas Merriment at Maw and  Da's ...

Avery with her perfectly manicured and pedicured nails.

One of Avery's most favorite gifts. Definitely what she's played with the most ... she's schooled almost every person, animal, and imaginary students in our house.

We had a smorgasboard of a Christmas dinner as a lot of our dishes didn;t make it since we had to postpone Boone Christmas due to the SNOW STORM that was coming. More on that to come ...

The kids seriously played NON-STOP for days ... no one asked for a movie or an electronic ... they just played. It was lovely.

For the first time since 1926 we had a WHITE CHRISTMAS! It was gorgeous and dangerous and with the two inches of ice on the bottom, and 200,000 without power- maybe not all it was cracked up to be.

But, it sure was pretty!

I probably could have gotten some better pictures if I'd wandered outside, instead of just peaking out the back door. But it was cold ... and wet ... and I'm more of a house cat.

Amazingly enough, we never lost power. So, we spent most of the days playing games, cooking up yumminess, sitting by the fire, and catching up on some reading. I totally loved it.

Reviewing the Schleich Animal Collection on-line.

Lovies.

Back on the road  ... After a few days we traveled to Sheridan for a couple nights to see our friends, The Wilson's. Well, the kids and I did ... Aaron and Derrick went to duck camp (Shocker).

The roads were pretty sketchy.

But, we made it.

Madeley Catherine, you're just a doll!

This makes me laugh.

And this makes me smile!

After Sheridan, I went to my moms to catch up with some of my friends and Aaron took the kids back to Hot Springs Village for Boone Christmas the following day.

I had so much fun getting to spend a few hours with some of my Little Rock favorites for lunch ... I just love y'all, MK and Mandy! Can't believe we didn't snap a pic. Arg.

Then that night I went to dinner twice ... at first with my mom, sisters and their hubbies ...

Then I walked over and had dinner again with some of my long, lost BFFs. Yay Bruins! Yay Local Lime!

Pretty sure we were there from 7:30-midnight ... I had way, way too much fun.

The next morning I went out to meet the rest of my fam at Lynda and Ricky's for their family Christmas.

Lots of crazy, cousin fun. A happy day for sure.

These three are just TOO much ... silly boogers.

If that's not cute, I don't know what is.

Oh, hey Mandy. :)

Ryley

SO  proud of all this reading little miss has been doing.

Peak Sneakers.

Then, we  ended up packing up and heading back to our Pennsylvania home. I actually was ready  to be back in our little cozy spot. 

We stopped off at the "Cabinet" in Carlisle to say bye-bye to Pop Pop and Emerson. 

Love, love, love my sweet Daddy. A lot (Grainy iPhone pic ... don't even care).

Most of the time I really, really like him.

Wish I could say the rest of the trip was this peaceful ... it wasn't.

But, we made it.

And Pennsylvania was looking mighty pretty under the blanket of snow.

Happy New Year Peeps!

Love, 

The Boone Fam

Psalm 65:11

You crown the year with your bounty,
    and your carts overflow with abundance.

Homesick

We made another trip home from Pennsylvania. I checked Avery out from school and we piled in Aaron's truck for the 1200 mile trek home.












It was my fifth time to make the cross-country voyage ... Yuckiness. But, so, so worth it.
With Aaron driving, we go straight through-meaning we left town around 1pm and arrived at my parents at 6:45 am. He barely allows bathroom breaks. It's all business.
I feel like the trip felt very weighted. I'm just so heart broken for someone I barely know. Facebook allows community to seem smaller, friend circles to become broader and lives always much closer. Friends and family of one of those lives have been crying out to God for the last week for healing of another mama just like us. One that loves Jesus, one that is loved by many, especially her three darling babes.
After a series of strokes and surgeries she is fighting for her life in Austin, Texas. My heart is just broken for she and her children. I keep a running tab of prayer requests in the notes section of my phone to be consistently praying for those close and sometimes far from me. Sometimes it's someone that I share a roof with and sometimes it includes something broad like the Friends and families of the Sandy Hook tragedy that I'll probably never meet, but am heartsick for nonetheless. She's high, high on my list right now. One of my most desperate petitions.
I couldn't help but feel ill driving home praying for Sarah Henry. I still do. I'm still checking in with those close to her and constantly looking on the Caringbridge site for updates.
I know God is who says He is. I believe His ways are perfect. But I'm so homesick to be in His eternal presence sometimes I can't stand it. I'm tired of a world full of death and despair. Pain and suffering.

I just want Him.
I just want His joy.
I just want His peace.

I like so many others are lifting up this sweet mama. Her children, her babies.
Will you join me in crying out to our Creator? I just can't handle the thought of her not coming out of this healed.
I know He hears us. I know He is able. I know He loves to answer His children. I know He promises a hope and a future.


I'm praying for a miracle ... A big one.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Kindergarten Craft Day

This morning I had the best time working with the five classrooms that make up the Kindergarten program at Avery's sweet elementary school. I'm not going to lie, I had major anxiety thinking about sending her this week after the tragic events of Friday; Craft day was a great way to be up at the school all morning without looking like an overprotective nut ... Although, I would be totally fine with that.

My group made ornaments with the students that turned out pretty cute! Then I hung out in Avery's class through lunch.

Loved being with all these cute kiddos!!

Holiday Weekend Happenings.

We had a good December weekend at the Boone house. It was very full and allowed many family moments, and after the tragic Newton, CT shootings on Friday, December 14, 2012 it was exactly what my broken mama's heart needed.
Friday night we went out to a park in Waverly, NY where the town put on a festive event: Tinsel and Lights.

There were precious carolers and bell ringers, real reindeer, Santa, lots of yummy treats, horse drawn carriages and more. It was a fun, family night even if our kiddos were falling asleep left and right. 

After we left the festival we dropped off the kids with sitters and went to a game night with a bunch of other couples ... it was a great night.

Saturday morning we made gingerbread houses!

Unsurprisingly, Avery was the most interested in this activity. She took at least two hours on her house ... the boys really just ate the candy.
We laid  around the house, piled in my big bed to watch The Fox and the Hound and even all napped there. When we woke up Aaron took us out to eat for my birthday Monday. We have plans all week before leaving for Arkansas Thursday, so Saturday night worked out best for our family outing.

Avery came up with Hibachi, which turned out to be fun for all (except for Sawyer who always gets a little skeered during the big fire parts).
Afterward Aaron gave me a gym membership ... and I was pumped about it. I'm obviously closing in on 30.

This morning we had a relaxing, rainy Sunday. Then Aaron came up with a last minute idea to take the kids to see Life of Pi during naptime. I agreed. I was seduced by the idea of popcorn for dinner and early bedtimes ... It was a terrible mistake.

Yeahhhh ... I fought Sawyer for about an hour before bringing him home. The others stayed and liked the movie. Sawyer and I came home and took a very long nap. Aaron ordered pizza for dinner, so I still got my wish of not cooking. :)

The rest of the night was pretty uneventful, but in light  of the awful happenings, even nights where nothing at all happens can prove to be special when you have little ones at home.
These yayhoots came in for "one more kiss" about four times, and I didn't even get frustrated. I'm just so thankful for their sweet lives.

I'm almost constantly praying for the victims families right now. I find myself turning over in my sleep and still whispering a cry to God to be near all the broken hearted. It's honestly too much for a mama's heart to stand. I've burst into tears several times for no reason at all but being scared for my life that that kind of evil exists. That lives of those so dear to us can be stolen and gone like a puff of smoke.

As silly as it may seem, I just want to post the sweet babies names who were taken. If you will, pray for their families with me. Intercede on their behalf. I can't even wrap my mind around that kind of pain. The devastation. The expectancy to move on.The new normals. It makes me physically ill.

Charlotte Bacon, 6

Daniel Barden, 7

Rachel Davino, 29

Olivia Engel, 6

Josephine Gay, 7

Ana Marquez-Greene, 6

Dylan Hockley, 6

Dawn Hochsprung, 47

Madeline Hsu, 6

Catherine Hubbard, 6

Chase Kowalski, 7

Jesse Lewis, 6

James Mattioli, 6

Grace McDonnell, 7

Anne Marie Murphy, 52

Emilie Parker, 6

Jack Pinto, 6

Noah Pozner, 6

Caroline Previdi, 6

Jessica Rekos, 6

Avielle Richman, 6

Lauren Rousseau, 30

Mary Sherlach, 56

Victoria Soto, 27

Benjamin Wheeler, 6

Allison Wyatt, 6

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.""
Revelation 21:3-5

Come quickly, Jesus. So quickly.

The Plague

Well, it's happened.
The plague has hit our house. And by plague, I mean gosh-awful. And by gosh-awful, I mean something of a biblical, Old Testament, probably was the next option if Pharaoh didn't let God's people go kinda thing.
Ya followin' me?
I promise on my life, one of the FIRST thoughts I had when AB brought up the possibility of moving to Pennsylvania was, "what happens when we all get sick?" Of course, by that meant what happens when I get sick and am still expected to carry out my motherly/homemaking responsibilities ...

"Hey, babe-Can we fly my mom and Lynda up here now?"

No?

"Dangit."




I do feel like I've now had a motherhood rite-of-passage or something though.
This may be my first wake up in the middle of the night to clean up yuckiness, bathe children affected by said yuckiness and change sheets, further affected by the afore mentioned yuckiness.

Mmm Hmmm.

Lovely.

Life is so glamorous as a mama.

I do have a teensy positive though. They tend to turn into the sweetest little snuggle bugs when they're sick. They're calm and just want to lay around (my favorite pastime). Definitely not worth all the ... Um, yuckiness ... But if I had to find a positive, that'd be it.

Pause- another complete bed change. Yikes.

What was I saying, oh yeah - A positive. I take it back. There are no positives here.

We had lots of fun-Christmasy-December outing and "innings" planned for the weekend, looks like all of that will be put on hold for at least another week.

For now I fear this may be the highlight of the weekend ...




Popsicles and movies in the big bed. Clearly, we're getting to the bottom of the barrel on linen options. Cue the Tinkerbell comforter.

Yay for bone broth, Epsom salt bath's, and pedialyte. And wine to get me through.

Wash your hands people. I'm serious.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone