Harvest Ladies Christmas Party

On December 16th I felt honored to be apart of a special event hosted at Harvest Church.  It was a memorable night for me and I know the other ladies attending felt the same way.  I wish there were more time spent among girlfriends like this.  It was a moving night and I enjoyed the stories.  The hostesses did such a wonderful job on each of their tables and the meal was over the top YUMMY.  A big thank you for the invite and to the church for putting on the event.  I took picutes of some tables to share with everyone.

~Vanessa's BEAUTIFUL table~

 Michelle~Vanessa~Lori~Andrea

Me & Vanessa

Life sometimes

It is not easy to live life sometimes, and face the world with a smile when you're crying inside.  It takes a lot of courage to reach deep down inside yourself, hold on to that strength that's still there and know that tomorrow is a new day with new possibilities.
If you can hold on long enough to this, you'll come out a new stronger person with a new understanding and a new pride in yourself knowing that YOU MADE IT!

December Update

It's been awhile since I have updated.  I promise to be better ending this month and in the upcoming new year.  MAN~  have The Ash's been busy and on the go.  Starting with removing the hay & pumpkins from the front yard to quickly rushing into the new holiday season.  My 36th birthday was on the 29th of November.  I was blessed to have family and friends meet me for dinner at Alfredo's.  We LOVE that place.  It was a great night!  I thank my family and friends for making it that way!

It's overwhelming when the bins come down from the attic with ALL MY CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.  You folks have no idea.  I wanted to do several trees.  But I settled with 2 this year.  Not as much put into the front yard this year as I have in past years.  Again it's overwhelming but WELL WORTH the payoff when people come over to sit and enjoy it with you.  Just the thought of having my feet up, fireplace going and relaxing as I'm looking at all the bright white lights and snowmen around my house.
(As I sit I am pretending all my gifts are bought and wrapped under the tree too!!!)
Here is how the snowman tree ended up looking.  It's full of scarves, mittens, Santa hats, stockings, snowflakes and sweaters.  Anything that makes you think of the warmth of winter!

Might be my favorite area of decorations.  I just LOVE me some snowmen.  Can you tell?

The mini hallway tree

~All in gold, glass & black~

With the decorations all up it was time for some entertaining.  We had a few friends over for the not so great OU / OSU game.  My Sooners fell short.  Well, honestly they didn't actually show up to play that game.  Regardless I am and will ALWAYS be an OKLAHOMA SOONERS fan.  We had only one chick in the house that wore her orange with pride. 

Lori has bragging rights at least until next year.

Same night of the game we also had a bunch of kids stay the night with Cameron and right at midnight they wanted to surprise Mike with a poster and cupcake singing Happy Birthday to him.  I teared up becuase those boys wanted to make him feel special and be first to wish him a happy birthday.  How sweet is that?!?!?

~ Cameron, Cayden, Jaylen & Tristian w/Coach Mike ~

We took both our boys downtown to the tubing event hosted by Chesapeake Energy.  A friend got me 4 tickets for my birthday for a private session.  In years past it would take 20-30 minutes between turns and that was not the case this year.  Cameron had fun, lost count of how many times he went down the ice.  Mike, Kyle and I actually did it too.  I must admit it was fun!

This month was also the end of the seasson COUGARS team football party.  The boys enjoyed a game at The Lloyd Noble Center watching OU / Oral Roberts.  We were able to have almost the entire team make it.  Only missing 2 kiddos.  One was at camp and one had a program he was in and had to attend.  WE LOVE OUR COUGARS.  They loved getting to sit courtside, just behind the OU players.  You got to see a row of Cougar Blue on TV and the news.  It was their last year together as a team and we wanted something special for them.  Next year they move on to Jr. High football.  We wish each of them the VERY best! 

The next event was the 2nd annual COUGARS BASEBALL CHRISTMAS PARTY.  Mike & I wanted the 2012 team to get together, enjoy each other's company and share in some Christmas memories as a team family.  We honestly has an awesome set of boys with more talent than you know.  Parents are fun to be around and we all take pride in being COUGARS!  Here's to a great upcoming season to each of you!!!

 Corey, Cayden, Raequan & Jared

 Darrien

 Brock, Elijiah & Jordan

  Jaylen, John Michael & Cameron

*  THE 2012 OKLAHOMA COUGARS *

Jared & Cameron ~ original COUGARS.  Played together since tball

In closing we have so much to be thankful for.  Don't say I did not warn you when I said we were busy.  I meant it.  Thank you to everyone involved in our active lives.  Thank you to our friends with both football & baseball.  I hope this year brought you much happiness and leaves you wanting nothing but the best in 2012.