Happy Christmas Eve!

Happy Christmas Eve to all of you.  I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!

I will leave you with some pictures of my beautiful girls.

 Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!

and

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Daddy George!

We miss Iron Man

Iron Man did not get home from work until 9:15pm the other night.

He left us at 8am.

This is a busy time of year for UPS.

We are thankful but the girls miss Daddy.  And sometimes I hate being a "UPS widow".  That's what happens at Christmas though.

His supper was waiting for him and the bed was turned back.

The girls fell asleep waiting for him to get home.

I thought about one night this summer.

I wrote about it but never posted it.

This is what I wrote:

We were sitting on the back deck.  The evening had turned cool while we waited for a storm.

When the wind blew just the right way, you could almost smell the rain that was on its way.

Lightning was dancing in the clouds.  I giggled and said it looked like Jesus was putting on a fireworks show.

It was dark.  He didn't make eye contact.  I didn't see him smile but I felt it.

I sat down by him with my iced wine.  We listened to music and just enjoyed being together.

No more words.

We came to this crossroads a few years ago.  The crossroads of "we-are-no-longer-newlyweds-but-we-are-not-an-old-married-couple".

I hated it when we stopped talking to each other every second.

There never used to be a silent moment between the two of us.

Our feelings never changed.  We just fell silent at certain times.

We would go out to dinner and barely talk.

Then I realized, we are happy to just be together.

He makes me realize that I don't have to talk every minute.

It is never awkward.

It is just silent sometimes.

To be honest, silence is golden these days.

He knows now that I need that silence every once in a while.  With two children that are only 26 months apart, silence is hard to come by.

My brain turns 8000 miles a minute on most days.  Some days I don't even remember to use the bathroom.

So sitting on the back deck, in the dark, with my wine (his beer), and the dancing lightning made me love this man even more.

And we are happy.

Silent and happy.

Courage

I have had this 50mm lens for a while.

I wanted a portrait lens and at the time found this to be what I was looking for.

The only problem with it was it would not autofocus with my camera.

Bummer.

However, it is a fixed lens and I figured it would be easy to manual focus.

Click... ADD TO CART.  PROCEED TO CHECKOUT.  DONE.

Fast forward two years later and I have never taken a picture with the thing.

It stresses me out.

I haven't ever really practiced with it.

That is until I pulled it out the other night.

This is what I got...

Big, sit still.

I need to see your eye.

 NOT like that!

STAY STILL...

blurry

Now, sit very still Bug.

Don't make any sudden movements.

FREEZE

"Last one ok Mom!?"

Just one more, Bug.  Please just one more.

So, I pulled out one of the nutcrackers.

He will sit still for me.

Not too bad.

Not bad at all.

I am figuring this thing out.  Even if it took me two years to get enough courage to do it.  Ha!

Merry Christmas!

Friday Letters: Santa Edition

Dear Santa,

I have been really nice this year (for the most part).  Here are a few things I need/want for Christmas.

xoxo,
Hailey Hill Lafone

1.  Black Riding Boots
These will do.

2.  I really need a pair of black leggings.
I like these in black please.

If you are feeling really generous, I would LOVE this D7000.

credit

Oh, and a XC70 too!  Oneday I am going to ask you for one and it is just going to appear in the driveway.  I have this good feeling about it.  I really do.

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Love always,
Hailey Hill Lafone

Oops

Caroline: "It is soooooooooooo hot!!"

Emma:  "Mom, turn the air on!  Big is HOT!"

I fumble to control the air while I'm driving.

Caroline:  "OMG!  IT IS HOT AS A MOTHER!"

That's when I realized I am definitely winning the Mother of the Year award.

"Hot as a mother."

I giggled the whole time I was reprimanding her though.

Fashion with Bug

Last week Bug was sick.

It was a long week of no preschool.

You can only imagine the number of times she changed her clothes.

Here are a few outfits from the past two days...

#1- This was her third outfit of the day.  I just didn't think to take a picture of the other two.

Later Monday night it was this outfit...

Yesterday she wore her Christmas dress to her preschool Christmas celebration.  As soon as we got home, she changed into this...

Yes, she wore this outside to play, the grocery store and Domino's to pick up our pizza.  Bless.

If you were wondering... she already has those pink leggings on AGAIN this morning with a fabulous jersey dress.

She may have a meltdown when I tell her they need to be washed today.

Our world is crying

One week ago, the parents of those 20 Sandy Hook elementary school students were rushing about their morning just like me and you.  Unbeknownst to them the grueling fate that lie ahead.

This morning was a quiet morning.

I made a promise to myself Friday that I will do my very best not yell at Caroline in the mornings anymore.  My morning ran much smoother with no yelling and fighting.  In the end does it really matter what jeans she wore, or shoes she wore, that her hair was not perfectly placed or that we were a little late?

We got in the car and as I backed out of the driveway, I started praying.  Praying for my babies, their teachers, their schools.

I pray for my family everyday but this morning was different.

About halfway to school, I realized I was no longer asking God to watch over my family today... I was begging.  Screaming to Him at the top of my lungs to please take care of my children and keep them safe.

I had the music loud (we love loud music) and the girls were singing along to Dave Matthews "Mercy" (how appropriate that this just so happened to be playing when we got in the car).

I cried.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..."

I cried for all those parents and loved ones of those who lost their lives Friday.

I cried for my babies who have to grow up in a world that is... well, just mean.

I cried for me.  I cried and begged.

"...in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

This morning was worse than the first day of Kindergarten.

I am a mess.

Losing control is my biggest fear.  I am realizing that no matter how much I love and pray and beg, I cannot control my children's future. That, my friends, is a hard, jagged pill for me to swallow.

My Mom's favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5-6.  It's a verse you hear your whole life in the Christian faith.  It is a verse that popped in my head this morning.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Time is crawling already today.  I am ready to pick Caroline up and have her here with me.  School just seems so scary right now.  School?  Scary??  Our babies are not even safe at school.

I am counting down the minutes until I can go get her from that place.

Until then, I will trust.

I will trust the administrative staff of her school.

I will trust her teachers.

I will trust God.

That is all we can do.

Trust and pray.

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Thank you to all of my teacher friends.  I said a prayer for you this morning too.  You are amazing girls.  You leave your precious babies everyday to take care of precious babies like mine.  I can never thank you enough.

Christmas Card 2012

Most of our Christmas cards should be at there new houses so I will share with all of you blog friends...

I didn't have a back this year to add Zoey.  Darn!

So... Merry Christmas from Zoey too!

We hope you all have a fabulous Christmas!!!

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Christmas Card 2009

Christmas Card 2010- I guess I didn't send one?

Christmas Card 2011

Fashion with Bug

This is Bug's favorite outfit to date.

Top:  The Children's Place

Skirt: The Children's Place

Shoes: The Children's Place- similar here (Yes, the toe of that black shoe is rubbed off.  I color it with a black sharpie to make it look better but I forgot to do it before the picture.  They are actually Caroline's favorite shoes.  Yes, my children share shoes.  Can you guess which toe Big uses on her scooter?)

November Favorite Things

This is a short list.

This is possibly one of my most favorite things of all time.

You will gasp.

The best 2 minutes of your life.

_________________________

Head over to Ashley's blog and check out everyone else's favorite things!

Fashion with Bug

Today she is adorned with her monogram leotard OVER pink leggings, pink tutu skirt, and tap shoes.  Yes, tap shoes.  We got a lot of stares in Belk today.

Yesterday, this is what she chose to wear to school...

Top: Crew Cuts (similar here)

Skirt: The Children's Place (similar here)

Leggings: The Children's Place

Boots: Old Navy (similar here)

Flower Clip: The Children's Place

Favorite Sounds of Christmas

These are my favorite sounds of Christmas...

1.  How amazing is this??  AHHHHH-MAZING!



2.  Silent Night by Taylor Swift




3.  Do You Hear What I Hear? by Carrie Underwood



4.  And a little Dave...



5.  This song makes me fist pump and let's talk about this house... I wish Ryan would do this to my house.



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What are your favorite sounds of Christmas??

Thankful

Thankful.

We talked A LOT about what we were thankful for Thursday.

After Thanksgiving lunch, I asked once more and these were the answers.

I am thankful for those three people.

That are the most amazing people ever.

Jack is BACK... maybe

Jack has been here for less than 24 hours and may or may not have been touched.

Caroline isn't really sure if she touched him or not.

She just knows that there was a piece of lint on him and she got it off and he fell over.

When an elf is touched, it loses the special Christmas magic that it has.

Has this happened to any of you?

How do I handle this??

The Elf on the Shelf website has an answer but what did you do??

Fashion with Bug

Dress: Ralph Lauren Short-Sleeved Polo Dress in Navy with a lime green horse (similar here)

Cardi: TJ Maxx

Stripe tights: Old Navy

Shoes: Sanita Gitte Patent Leather Clog

Bow: Pink and Black Polka Dot Ballerina Bow

Later in the day...

Dorothy costume complete with lace rimmed socks, red glitter shoes, Carolina bow and pink cardigan.

Tired

It has been a blah week.

Everything is off.  Tennis is normally on Monday but was moved to Tuesday... It was super dark when I left gymnastics last night at 6:15... I feel like it is dinner time at 5pm...

This new time stinks.

The mornings run much smoother but the days seem to last FOREVER.

Most days I am praying for 8pm to magically appear on the clock so it will be time for bed.

With the crappy time change came two big attitudes.

Big and Bug have always played well together.  Of course, there were little spats here and there.  Now, it is an all out WAR with those two.  I think we are on World War LXII (62.  Yes, I just googled the roman numeral for 62).

They have knock down, drag out FIGHTS.  Hitting.  Kicking.  Pulling hair.  Pushing.  Slamming doors.  Tears follow of course and I am there to pick up the pieces.

I heard this doesn't get any better with age.  Yay me!

How did they go from BFFs to competitive sisters that act like nutjobs whenever they are together?

I am tired.

Scratch that.  I am exhausted.

Thank God I don't have a job.  Kudos to you working parents.   You rock.  I don't know how you do it.

I can tell you this.  I am already counting down till 8pm tonight AND I am counting down to GNO Tuesday night.  It is LONG overdue.

Another laugh

I love finding this on my phone...

Who did it?

Fess up!

Nice.

Very nice.

Fashion with Bug

So today was the big day.

The day I didn't feel like fighting with glitter shoes, purple headbands, etc.

Bug dressed herself.

Dress: Target

Leggings: Gap

Shoes: Target

Sweater: Target

Headband: Vintage

Laugh for today

There are a ton of awkward moments in my life.

For example, sitting in a quite room while someone is speaking and your child says, "Mom, let's go.  I'm ready to go home.  This is boring!"

Awkward.

"Mom, why does that lady have on her bedroom slippers at Walmart?" when "that lady" is standing in front of us in line.

Awkward.

This is the best yet.

If you know us, you know that Mellow Mushroom is our all-time favorite place to eat EVER.

Every time we go to Greenville, the girls insist that we eat there.

Every time we eat there, they must stop outside and play with the big pirate made of chains.  (In case you are wondering why there is a pirate at Mellow Mushroom... Greenville is a college town.  East Carolina is located there and pirates are their mascot.)

They also insist I take their picture with the pirate.

I am always hesitant to post them anywhere because, well, they are awkward.

I know, right?

Awkward.

Christmas Cards

I received an email that looked like this this morning...

Yes.  I took two days out of my busy schedule to take pictures.  I decided on a picture of the girls together instead of individually.  I put together 5 cards and we finally chose one.  I am so excited (and relieved).

The best part of the process, 70% savings!!

Saving a ton of money is one of the upsides to ordering super early.

What is even better?  This year people will get my card on time.  NOT three days before Christmas!

Sh%t Southern Women Say

Obviously, don't watch this at work.

It is super funny.

I wanted to share something funny today to ease the political drama everywhere today.

I hope this makes you laugh.



My favorites...

Hey y'all.

Can you monogram these?

How's your mama and them?

Piggly Wiggly.

Damn.

Shiiiit.

"the Walmart".

My hair won't do nothing.

I'm fixin'...

Jesus drank wine.

I brought White Zinfandel.

She ain't got a pot to piss in... bless her heart.

She didn't use Duke's mayonnaise.

He's a goober.

And my favorite, "Can you believe that bitch didn't write a thank you note?"

Fashion with Bug

Emma loves to dress herself.

I love it too.

It gives me a whole blog post.

Here are her choices for today...

Snowman Dress: Belk (Caroline hand-me-down)

Leggings: Target

Shoes: Merrell Jungle Moc Puff Boots in Wineberry

Bow: Polka Dot Tot in Artisans

There IS Hope for us.

When you feel like the crappiest parent in the world... remember this guy.

What a winner!

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I have to admit, it is pretty freaking funny.  Hahaha!

Tell me you didn't laugh.

Halloween 2012

I forget that all of my readers are not FB friends.  I realized some readers had not seen my children in their Halloween costume.

I mean seriously, how cute are these two?

Big is Merida from the new movie Brave.

Bug is Rapunzel from the movie Tangled.

Favorite Things: October Edition

The first two are NOT my favorite but are definitely worth sharing.

1.  My dog ate my rainbows.  This is all that is left.  Damn dog.  We love her though.  She just loves to chew... everything!

2.  Caroline drew on her blinds.  1-18.  I got the 18 off before taking the picture.  I flipped my lid.  All that is left is 1-11.  They are in red expo and the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser would not get it off.  HELP!

3.  On a better note, Caroline will have art at the Arts Council in our hometown.  She is so excited and we are so proud!

4.  Daddy was able to pick up the girls two days this week.  We loved having him home with us.

5.  During a Walmart grocery run, we saw this little jewel.  How awesome?!  A turkey made of butter.  I think I might buy one.

6.  Blast from the past that made my WHOLE month...

7.  This skirt I saw on Instagram is too cute.

8.  Best song ever.

What are your favorite from October?

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Ashley over at Dancing with Ashley hosts a monthly Favorite things.  Be sure to head over to her website and link up too!