here, there and everywhere: all rolled into one.

so, two thousand eleven, to me is going to be the year of new travels- fingers crossed anyway. I have all intentions of that happening- unless of course life happens and something stands in my way. we are starting it off with a bang- only nine days in the the year and we are vegas bound. myself, the hubby and brother are flying out there for a few days- we are celebrating our five year anniversary (a little early- but we’ll be sure to celebrate again on the day) and his twenty-first birthday- anddd of course we are planning on having a “big” time. it was a surprise to both myself and brother that we were going and I have to admit that I have taken the fact that I will be away from my offspring rather hard- and the “rather” is a bit of an understatement. I am excited to travel and do something, thankful for the opportunity- don’t get me wrong…BUT, it’s easier said than done. the thought of it at times makes me sick to my stomach and I honestly don’t know how people do it like they do, that they WANT to do it- I (we) have no desire to make it a habit. we both (the hubs and I) have said this will more than likely be the first and last time that we leave him to travel until he leaves us, lol. we are just like that- we have no desire to not have him around all of the time- he makes like and experiences SO much better. with all that being said, I have to admit (although hard at times) that I am excited to be going on a trip to somewhere I haven’t been, at that. to be flying- I LOVE to fly (I cant believe it has been ten years since the last time I was on a plane- that is just unacceptable!!) I have made a list of all the things we want to do and see, places we want to eat and try. did you know that at paris, las vegas they have an exact replica (on a smaller scale of course) of the Eiffel tower (that you can go up in with a restaurant at the top, no we aren’t eating there- I am just TOO picky), the louvre, the arc de triomphe, the paris opera house, etc. not to mention all the little French bistros and the crepes- “vu (said voo)- la la”. the venetian resort - “little italy” (I guess you could say)- goodness, can you imagine the pastas there?! oh and the real Italian ice?! the pastries and for those of us who like ice cream (that would be the hubby)- gelato! it might just be a taste of heaven. **insert an OH MY GOSH here**- they have gondola’s how wonderful, a little river that goes along with little men (I don’t exactly know if they are little, I just assume) in a stripe shirt and a cute little hat strolling you along- ah “how romantic,” yea for myself, my hubby AND brother…can’t you just see us now- it’s painting quiet the picture of giggles. but if I can persuade the brother part of the equation to do it- I honestly don’t care how ridiculous we look, it will be done. another top destination- certainly not the least on the list that is a mile long is new york, new york (las vegas) where they have an exact replica of the statue of liberty (of course on a smaller scale)- but still yet. hot dog stands, soft pretzels, pizza bars with new york style slices, coyote ugly and SO much more. how amazing is it that they create different worlds right there on that one “strip” as they call it?!?! of course all of these places are on my list of places to see- but it’s still rather awesome to seemingly visit them- see them scaled of course, in one fell swoop. I guess it would be a shame to leave out the casinos being that is a huge part to las vegas, right?!?! well it is for the hubby and brother at least, so a girls gotta give a little if she wants to get a lil’ something in return, right?!? that’s my devious plan anyways- we shall see if it actually does work.

the shopping will be glorious, the lights fantastic, the pictures- perfect. one of my favorite parts will be bring back the souvenirs the the ones that are left behind, ESPECIALLY the boy. I will be worthless all this week due to the fact that I am excited and sad all at the same time. I did good just to get on here and share a bit with you- seeing as how I am obsessively soaking up all of my kid- but it was nap time so the schedule allowed- and just in case you were speculating, no I am not writing this in bed beside of him, and no I am not psycho, lol…I’m just a girl, a momma, who really REALLY loves her kid and really REALLY loves to be in his fun little world and who really loves to take that little boy and his little world everywhere with her.

and the best part is (it's no secret)...it’s only just begun, it’s off to a great start, if i do say so myself. we have a couple other thoughts (places) rolling around for the family, we will focus more on those when we return from this travel. boy, life is exciting, don't-cha think?!? a new year, a new opportunity to get it just right, to do all the things we didn’t do the year before- to get started checking off our list of to-do’s and to see all those places waiting for us to discover- to capture. happy travels, y’all.

kissing 2011, hello.

happy new year-(for real this time).

my perfect start to a brand new year.

the lil' mister made it all the way until 12:30
so i got what i had hoped for...

our three kiss and then a sweet kiss from my boy.

i wouldn't want to ring it in any other way-

with my precious boys and wonderful family...

it was a blast, indeed!

(and i cannot forget the BSB- how lovely it was to see them!

unfortunatley the NKOTB had to share the show, bleh! lol)

out with the old, in with the new.

two thousand ten was a year of change for us…change is something that is usually feared because it is uncertain, unknown and for control freaks as myself that isn’t something that we take kindly to. but I must admit this has been the best change. our family is closer and that is my top priority every year. I am so eager to get the new year started with my guys, my family. a big party is in order- of course. my “three kiss” awaits me and I can’t think of a better way to bring in the new year.

two thousand eleven is going to be a great year.

happy new year, y’all from my family to yours.

2010: you won't be forgotten.

closing christmas.

finally, christmas pictures are here, i take a million pictures, making it SO hard to narrow down to just a few, out of a million i normally have several that i love. most holiday pictures are kind of redundant with all the unwrapping, etc. we spent christmas eve eve and most of christmas eve in small town friendly with my family. it was a must to see the lights downtown, they are the absolute best and a part of our every christmas past. it was so cold so we weren't out there long but i managed to snap a couple favorites (one of which I already shared in the merry & bright post- which was my absolute fave of them all!) christmas eve night we made our way back home and prepared for santa to make his infamous visit- we had to make our reindeer food get it scattered in the yard and of course make our cookies for santa. by the time we made it home it was nearing midnight so it was all a bit rushed but none the less a great time. the hubby and i exchanged our gifts for one another after we got lil' man all snuggled into bed. christmas morning we woke up to a little boy asking about the cookies and milk if they had in fact been eaten by santa- and much to his wandering mind- they had. then he spotted it- the presents spread out over the living room floor and the smile that crossed his face was priceless..."whats that?!?" he said..."what's that do?!?" "hoho, prizes!!" he was one excited little boy- and it had only just begun. i spent the next couple hours making some food to take to my mom's for our annual christmas lunch where we exchanged gifts and ate and ate and ate, GREAT food. still, our christmas wasn't over. we came back home and there was the presents he had waited and waited to open wrapped in his special "cars" wrapping paper- it was finally the time and i think he honestly didn't believe us when we told him that he could finally open his presents from momma and daddy. it was a wonderful time!! we have spent the rest of our time attempting to clean up and arrange all the new toys (did i mention that i do believe we own all of toys-r-us now?!?!). all the smiles and laughter, excitement and anticipation, time spent playing with the kid, snuggled up with the hubby watching t.v., is really the best of all the gifts that i have been given- and it's the gift that keeps on giving, i get to enjoy them everyday! now all our christmas is taken down and stored away- awaiting next year when we will take it out, put it up and enjoy the traditions of the holidays. as i sit here and write this i cannot believe that a new year is vastly approaching and i can't help but wonder what all it will hold, i'm excited...it's a big year for me- it's my 5 year anniversary with the hubby and i turn 25 years old (a little bittersweet, but mostly exciting- it feels officially adult like- although i have been an adult for a while now, it just sounds more "old" i guess you could say). i am eager to bring in the new year with my family and to celebrate my brothers 21st birthday.

i have a feeling, deep in my bones, that this year...

this year is going to be...

GREAT!

(downtown small town friendly)

(Oooh, i think he likes what he see's)

(christmas wishes)

(christmas at grandma's)

(my santa baby...love his shirt)

(ready to dig in!!!)

(me and the boys)

(finally time to open his presents)

(scattering the reindeer food in the yard)

(making santa's cookies...man, i love that kid!)

(daddy and lo)

(watching the cookies "make")

(decorating santa's cookies)

(then licking the decorated cookies...)

(ready for santa: cookies, milk and note...CHECK!)

(christmas morning, REALLY excited)

(checking out everything santa brought him.)

(he's a skittle-a-holic)

(pit stop!)

(at nana and papa's christmas day)

(his unwrapping face, lol...

finally at home to open prizes

from momma & daddy!)