Where we are at the moment...

Dear Family & Friends,

As much as this pains me to write, I have decided to take a long and possibly permanent break from our blog. While I have absolutely loved sharing our stories with y'all, to be perfectly honest about it, my heart's not in it at the moment. I need to focus 100% of my time & energy on our family as it has been a hard couple of months for us. From Doug's surgery to essentially running the household as a single parent(not really but it sure feels that way), it has left me overwhelmed, tired and putting things on the back burner so to speak. Through it all I know how important our family of four is and I want to put all the energy I can into continuing to make happy memories, keeping with day-to-day activities and weathering the storm. I truly appreciate all the support you have given us over the years. Your comments & emails have been so uplifting at times and for that I am and will remain forever grateful.

Love & Peace to you all,

Katie

The story in which I could have broken my ankle...

So, after two years of whining (and begging and puh-leading), I convinced Doug that the girls need a trampoline. For the most part, Doug is pretty laid back. However, the trampoline is one example of just how stubborn the man can be. Not that I didn't get his side of the argument. Trampolines can be very dangerous. Especially the trampolines we played on as kids. You know, the ones that had no protective enclosure net. I'm pretty sure the springs were also exposed. Not that any of that kept us from jumping on one. In fact, I remember some pretty awesome (dangerous) games we used to play. One in which you jumped from a higher up spot down onto the trampoline where you were then airborne into the sky before free falling onto your ass, head, arm, leg, etc. All the while you're praying that this time is NOT the time where you bend over and kiss your ass good-bye. So in the spirit of this, my parents went in with us to purchase the girls their very own trampoline. And they have loved every freaking minute of it.

It took me about 3 weeks to get on the trampoline myself. I had been avoiding it only because Doug is currently out of commission with his gimpy ankle. I figure it's probably not the brightest idea for me to put myself possibly in harm's way and then I go and break my ankle. Cuz you know that's just how it could be. So after school one day, the girls managed to coax me out and onto the trampoline. Man...I forgot how much fun you really can have on a trampoline. We played games. We played tag. I made the girls human popcorn where they giggled loudly and begged me to do it again. All was well until one of the bouncy balls we had used for dodge ball snuck out of it's hiding spot and came right under my foot as I came down to bounce. Luckily, I was just getting started and not bouncing very high yet. But all the same, it was like a subtle reminder that I don't need to jinx myself. So after snapping a few pictures of our rumble and tumble afternoon, I hauled myself off of the trampoline and counted myself lucky. Until the next time...

Never a dull moment here...

For the few remaining people who didn't know it....this is why I haven't been blogging a whole lot lately. You know we Alexanders like to keep things interesting to say the least. Doug has a broken ankle. The pictures above are of his first cast (he's now sporting an army green one which has helped curb those funny comments made by friends and co-workers). He has to wear his new cast for 4 weeks at which point he's praying for a boot. If the bone doesn't heal itself he has been told that he will have to have a screw put in. Let's just say, we all really don't want that to be happening. Of course he broke his right ankle which means he can't drive. Anywhere. I have to say that his parents have been a pillar of support and help and we just can't thank them enough. Also a big thank you to Delaney who has enjoyed taking on the responsibility of handing crutches off, carrying dishes and/or anything that helps her daddy. She's like a little nurse in the making this child.

Santa's offerings...

Every year, on Christmas night, I start feeling the "winter blues." I look at our pretty tree and it somehow seems sad without the prettily-wrapped packages sitting beneath. The kids are no longer counting the hours, minutes, seconds until Santa makes his appearance. I am no longer frantically trying to bake the last batch of sugar cookies, wrap last minute gifts or help the girls create that one last Christmas craft. While December is by far one of the busiest months in our house (probably all houses really), and some days I tell myself to slow it down, I still feel completely let down once it's over. "I can't believe it's already come and gone...again," I whine to Doug. "You say that every year," he replies. "But it's true! Before you know it it will be summer all over again," I say. And I will get over it as I do each and every year. There are more fun traditions to look forward to that have nothing to do with Christmas. But saying that doesn't make me miss it any less.

Doug & his remote control helicopter (which by the way has shattered one of the bulbs on my ceiling fan in the family room. I sure wish I had foreseen that!)

How nice is it when your older sister cheers you on & knows it when you've landed one bad-assed present?!

Why..hello Barbie! I think she's kinda sweet on Doug...

Some of my favorite moments each holiday we celebrate is the girls helping me in the kitchen. They are both so eager to help & I soak up every minute of it.

Hadley, Mee-Maw, Delaney & Poppie

We wish you a Merry Christmas...

"You could sleep in the stable for the night!"

Our precious little innkeeper

I know this is NOT a great picture but it does show Hadley at the mic saying her sweet line...

Roll out the red carpets & enroll my child in acting classes! That's right...Hadley nailed her line as the innkeeper in her preschool's very first Christmas program performed today. Mind you, she only had one line but she marched up to the microphone, with no prodding or shooing, and boldly announced, "You could sleep in the stable for the night!" When I say my heart burst, I mean it. I mentally high-fived my superstar and looked at Doug to see the same silly, sweet expression pasted on his face as well. That look that says it all. We have the cutest, smartest, best kid on the whole planet and she's all ours!

P.S. Sorry about the crappy quality of the pictures. There are few windows in the gym, where the play was held, to let in any natural light. And since I still haven't gotten the camera of my dreams, my little 'ole Canon Powershot will have to do the trick until then. Sigh....

Full of Life...

It's that time of year again. The time to write our family's Christmas story. Keep up with traditions that have been instilled over the years. And this is one of our favorites! Lights at Life College with our Cracker Barrel dinner. But to be fair, we usually eat at Spaghetti Warehouse in the "train" seating. Which is where we thought we were eating. Until we pulled into the dark deserted parking lot to find a for sale sign hanging in the window and no Spaghetti Warehouse. Damn recession....messing with our Christmas traditions. We drove a little further down the road and found another favorite; Cracker Barrel! Where I practically licked my plate because I had chicken 'n dumplings and by God they were so freaking good. Hadley ordered up her favorite pancakes and I gave Doug the look which made him roll his eyes (the look = Haha, I'm not the only person on the planet who eats breakfast for dinner).

Our elves....Hadley couldn't take her eyes off of all the action going on around us!


I could have scooped up this precious little pot-bellied pig. By far one of the nicest "petting zoos" we've ever witnessed.

You know this girl is a sucker for a bunny.

The chickens & roosters were all huddled together in obvious protest of all the "petting." As we were walking in the man working assured us all the animals are friendly. I had my doubts about the chickens.

You know we can't go anywhere where ponies/horses exist and not pet/ride/love them.

A little taste of the lights. They are all so beautiful!