A Fresh New Year!!

What better way to enter the new year on my blog than to recap some highlights since my last blog post which should cover, oh the last quarter of 2011...lol!  2011 was a fantastic year for us here!  I'd still have to say the highlight of my year as far as life changes was the new job that I started.  I also can't fail to mention the renovation we did on our house.  Unfortunately, I suffered my first big loss with the loss of my grandfather and a few other family friends, but it is definitely a divine win for them!  Kelvin and I ended the year celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary and I'd have to say it's been one of the best we've celebrated yet- the bonus is that we didn't even have to go out of town to do it!  So, I've teased my readers long enough....let's catch up.  I'll start at New Year's Day and work my way back, so it'll be like those movies that show you the end before the beginning :-)

~Happy New Year!!~

This was Brooklyn's New Year's Lunch.  I was so proud of it, I thought I'd take a pic.  She was able to enjoy 2 traditions with this meal.  Let me explain- black eyed peas.  I shouldn't really have to explain that one to anyone.  Everyone knows you eat those on New Year's for good luck :-).  Green beans- these were there to fulfull the symbolism of money.  Eating them will bring Brooklyn good fortune into the New Year- however, she wasn't allowed to eat them all.  That would have symbolized her being broke all year according to Mama Pat...lol!  The 3rd item you see is meatballs- no symbolism there other than the fact that a growing girl's gotta have her protein :-)

Brooklyn rang in the New Year sleeping.  Kelvin and I rang in the New Year fighting off sleep but we made it!  Barely, that is, for me.  By 12:30, I was knocked out!

~Our Anniversary- Out of Town in Town~

With so many project undertakings this year around the house, Kelvin and I decided we would still go out of town for our anniversary but still be right here in Central Arkansas.  So in true Porsche fashion, I designed the cutest little itinerary for us with a big 4 in the background ;-)  We decided to be sure to include doing some things we had never done before or at least hadn't done together.  We started the day off at the Clinton Presidential Library touring it again and ending that with lunch at the restaurant, Forty Two, in there.  It was a beautiful atmosphere looking over the water.  After that, we were off to Rejuvenation for our very first couples' massage.  It was a 60 minute time of relaxation and trying something different.  I can't say either one of us felt extremely relaxed by the end of that though. We were both pretty sore by later that night.  Then we checked into our anniversary suite downtown that Kelvin arranged.  It was absolutely beautiful!!!  I was floored by how well he did on picking out a room for us.  The views were amazing and we really enjoyed it.  Being there really did make me feel like we were out of town.  We ended the day with a 6 course dinner and paired wine tasting at LuLav.  I can definitely say that was pretty different.  We both tried things we had never tasted before and some of those I can safely say that we will never eat again...lol!  I can also say that I don't know what I was thinking when I thought that I could handle tasting 6 different glasses of wine.  I don't mean little tasters,  I mean a full size glass of wine serving with each!  By the 2nd course I felt like I was going to roll out of my chair...lol!  I had to just sip on the rest of them.  It was a great day and night :-)

 

 

~Christmas Time with the Lorings~

I'm going to have to go out of my normal order of pic then explanation for this one.  We had a fantastic Christmas this year!  Of course, our tradition is to start it out on Christmas Eve with my side of the family.  So, we had my mom, sis, dad, and nieces over for Christmas treats and gift unwrapping.  All 3 of the girls were absolutely beside themselves over all of their gifts so I'm sure Christmas will only get even more fun from here!  Before Christmas Eve at our house with my side of the family, we had a few other big tasks to accomplish.  We had to deliver Mama Pat's gift to her and GrandMurry's gift to him.  We spent Christmas Day in Memphis with the rest of my family as that's where the 3-way rotation fell this year.  We started off with brunch over to my Aunt's house and I had a great time!  I think Brooklyn and Kelvin did too.  Our families are so impressed with her and her language and overall cheerful and sweet personality. I'm pretty impressed too :-)  So, here's a few snapshots of Christmas this year- hold on to your seats!

 

Whew!!  These pics are just the tip of the iceberg... let's just say we had fun!

~Annual Christmas Cookie Deco Party~

 

We've started a little tradition every year since we moved into our house to have our little cousins over and let them decorate cookies.  Well they're not so little anymore...pretty much as tall as me :-)  Nevertheless, they still love to do this.  They've even made it into a little mini pajama party since they come over dressed in their pj's for maximum comfort...lol!  This year was the first year that Brooklyn was allowed to participate and she did more icing-tasting than cookie decorating...lol!

~Much Needed Family Time~

I think this section might need a little explanation before pictures too :-)  With everything being so chaotic during the holiday season, it's always nice to take a "Lazy Day".  In these pics, you'll see us having a little family "Waffle House Date" on a Saturday morning.  I absolutely have no shame about showing these pics but must lay the disclaimer--- I look tow down!!!

~Play Hard, Sleep Hard~

I wonder if there are any other parents that get a kick out of taking pictures of their child sleep.  Brooklyn must have been really worn out in these pics because she never goes to sleep in her chair.  It made for some peaceful time to get myself dressed so we could leave though...



~Woooooooooo....Pig Sooie!!~

Every year, my husband expresses his simple wish of wanting to catch one of the Razorback football games and every year it passes.  Not until this year, did I actually let my light bulb click on and realize that there actually is an opportunity for us to get tickets every year through my alumni association at the College of Pharmacy, I just never do it.....that is, until this year! I was so excited when I text Kelvin and let him know we were going to a Razorback game!  I haven't been to one since my mother and I went when I was 3 years old or so and we lost the car in the sea of all the cars parked over at War Memorial and Daddy had to go back out there later and find the car for us...lol!  I'm sure Mama wasn't laughing at the time but it sure makes for a good story 28 years later :-)  All I can say is that Razorback fans are serious about game time.  Kelvin and I decided to park in a sure spot which was pretty far away and walk because the weather was so nice.  As we walked across the golf course there was red and white everywhere!  So many tailgaters and you could just feel the excitement in the air!  Inside the game was as if everyone had been to rehearsal to know what to say and do when.  Whenever our team made it to another first down the announcer would say "Arkansas..." and the crowd would yell in unision, "First Down!!"  Of course, that was no match for the hog call which was once again as if everyone there had rehearsed it together for several weeks.  I think the part I liked the most was the wave.  It went on and on for most of the 4th quarter and it was sooo fun!  If Kelvin were looking at this as I am writing he would say that I'm not even mentioning anything that actually happened on the field.  Guess, I wasn't really paying much attention to that...lol!!  So here are a few silly snapshots of Kelvin and I enjoying the game.

 



Well, I guess that's all for now folks!  I have got to start updating more often so these posts won't be so long.

Toodles!!!