a few derby pictures all in one place...

In the past few months, R has played in derby games that I unfortunately couldn't go to due to work. I'm always super disappointed when this happens, because I really enjoy seeing my sweet, handsome man be so decidedly awesome! (I mean, I get a fair amount of that all the time in our home, but he doesn't get to hit people on roller skates at home, you know?)

Luckily, that's what Facebook is for! There are quite a few photographers who make it out to the games, so there is always a nice selection of pictures uploaded in the days after a game. Below are a few I want to keep in my little blogger treasure box. :)

January 20th, 2013 - Post Apocalyptic Mayhem!

Zombies v. Survivors :)

(via Duane Baker Photography)

(via Don Huddy Photography)

November 25th, 2012 - Beards v. Buttholes!

 (He's right below the girl with the yellow shirt on the right-side of the picture)

(both photos via Duane Baker Photography)

Hands down, coolest, most handsome boyfriend ever. :) I finally managed to be able to schedule a day off for his next game, and I'm just so excited!

photos from my iphone

New Year's Eve outfit (pajamas and heels!) | Gelato before "Les Mis" (the lavender/chip is my new favorite thing!)

The girls are very meticulous about placing their sleeping masks on their pillows ;P

 The hair stylings of Sadie (notice the beard) | Sadie and R3 in front of the fire

Lots of compliments from Maggiano's (we'll take it!)

2012 | a year in review

2012, my sweet man and I learned so much with you. We learned how to love and trust and support each other even better. We dealt with our crazies and laughed until we cried. We learned to say "I love you so hard," right in the middle of an argument. We learned how to share covers, stop snoring, and lock doors.

With others, we learned when to forgive and when to just accept. We learned to better pick our battles. We were reminded that patience is one of the highest virtues. We learned to focus on the good consequences over the bad ones because even the bad ones have the smallest silver linings. We were shown generosity that blessed our souls and understanding that brighten our spirits when things looked dim.

what was awesome in 2012:
- meeting the kittens in January
- a sweet floral arrangement from my sweet man I was not expecting on Valentine's Day
- Richard skating in the St. Patrick's Day parade on Greenville
- we made up our anniversary date
- going out of town on my birthday for hot-tubs and yum-yums
- finding the perfect apartment for us :) (and lots of Craigslist finds to go with!)
- having a month just with Meggie :)
- roller-derby bouts in Oklahoma :)
- The Clean-Plate Club
- Richard being so understanding and supportive about my new role in all of our lives
- road-tripping with everyone to meet and hang out with R's mom in Tennessee
- meeting all of Richard's friends and all the reasons to get together :)
- Tonya's wedding!
- Richard skating at the derby nationals
- having CJ over for birthday dinner with R (and then going to the gay bar, obv!)
- Sadie swimming with confidence
- R starting his other tattoo sleeve

- all of our new fish-tank friends!

- how much the name "Rudiger" made us laugh
- trying a new hairstyle (bangs!)
- feeling like Hilary lived near-by for a few weeks
- our first couples' Halloween costume (bee and flower!)
- R's birthday week
- inheriting Grandpa Jim's iPhone
- introducing R to Hilary's parents
- baking more often

- the start of Kylie Scouts
- all of Emmy's crazy and/or creative pursuits

- going to see Rush with Richard
- finding flow at my new position at work
- riding the Titan with Richard
- comfortable hugs+hand-holding+kisses from R3
- the kittens meeting my family on a snowy Christmas day

what wasn't so awesome in 2012:
- red-light tickets
- hail-storms and subsequent windshield replacements
- my laser hair-removal procedures didn't work
- not being able to grill on the patio of our apartment
- getting way too tired on Thanksgiving (oops!)
- having to explain grown-up things to the kittens in age-friendly terms
- lack of personal responsibility in serious situations

Baby, it was our first full 365 days together, can you believe it? We're a bit tattered and worn after this year's adventure, but it's quite a becoming look on us, I think. :) I love you with all of my heart, and I'm so grateful for all the joy you (and your party!) bring into my life.

(image via)

best christmas ending ever :)

On the drive home from Granners, the kittens were still madly in the Christmas spirit ("We're finally on our way home to play with our toys we got 12 hours ago!"), and they sang the whole ride home. Ughhh, it was the cutessst. I finally realized half-way home that my iPhone can record these things (woo!), so unfortunately I don't have documentation of a rather unintentional British rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas" ("Two tuhtle doves / And a pah-tridge in a pehhhr treee!"). BUT, here's all the kittens sing a good-old fashioned "Rudolph."

When I realized how adeptly my iPhone could record video, I was so excited to ask the kittens to sing my favorite song they ever sing ever! I have no idea what it's called, but I call it the "Num Num Song." This never fails to make me giggle and appreciate how lucky I am to have such amazing little boogerheads in my life. :)

And then, if that wasn't enough, Emmy immediately suggests "Let's do a tropical version!" and jumps straight into the unofficial Carribbean remix of the "Num Num Song." (Mind you, Emmy has never had a formal music lesson in her life which only solidifies the insinuation she is frighteningly genius.) I couldn't breath, I was laughing so hard! BEST KITTENS EVER. When I finally gathered my facilities back at the apartment, I asked Emmy to perform it again so I could record it.

(I'm so fortunate the kids are such camera whores. If I ever miss anything and need them to do it again, they will gladly do so because they have had that much longer to perfect the pose or performance!)

BEST CHRISTMAS ENDING EVER. ;P (Notice how all the girls are singing/dancing and R3 is playing Xbox in the background. That's about right.)

merry, merry, merry merry christmas!

Hooray! I have finally been able to sit down and edit all of our Christmas photos! It's a belated Christmas miracle! On Christmas Eve, Meggie was in charge of creating all of the sweets we gave to family/friends as gifts, which included chocolate-covered pretzels with peppermint dust, chocolate fudge bars in festive shapes with peppermint crumbles, snickerdoodles, and chocolate chip cookies. (This girl is a confectionary genius, if you haven't figured that out.) 

After the littles went to bed, we pulled out all the presents and lined them up around the tree. One of R's traditions is giving all the kids their own wrapping paper they know exactly where to go when it's their turn. Isn't that smart?

And then came the big day! (More pictures after the jump...)

christmas dinner

The Sunday before Christmas we had Christmas Dinner with all the Moores, and it was so fun! The spread included turkey, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, broccoli+rice casserole, asparagus, creamed onions, and rolls. (Our little apartment kitchen can pump.it.out, man!) Although I had to work every day up until Christmas, Richard had the weekend off as per usual, which means I came home on Sunday and everything was donereadytoeat. Um, best boyfriend ever?! Yes.

Watching a movie before dinner.

The food lasted all of 10 seconds. And then Cody and Ryan cleaned up everything!

Darrah asked me to take a quality picture of her with her boys. Isn't this cute?!

And then Darrah asked me to take a quality picture of Cody for his graduation announcements. I was so flattered! Look at that "blanket for a backdrop" action. I even amaze myself sometimes. ;P

The cherry on the cupcake was this picture which includes 1) An actual picture of Meghan's face which looks so sweet and adorable and 2) Richard playing with a squid hat the littles got at Six Flags the day before. This picture is, well, everything. ;D

a gift from debbie and aaron

When Richard and I went to Matt and Ioana's annual holiday party, we had the pleasure of receiving a crazy awesome gift from Debbie and Aaron. Turns out Debbie's job had given her some free passes to Six Flags, and she wanted us (the six of us! seven including Nick!) to go with her adorable family the next day. Um, put on your sunglasses! There's Holiday Joy beaming from my face!

Meghan's relationship with Six Flags is analogous to my relationship with Disneyland (ie, very sacred and very exciting), and the littles were obviously all in. Since we had to wait until I got off work to go, we were only able to ride a few things, but hey! Free tickets for eleven people to Six Flags!

Sadie, generally indicative of the evening's mood.

Veronica wanted a picture with Richard after Emmy's. 

The most focused picture I could get of Matthew. ;P

After our first ride, Debbie and Aaron took Veronica, Matthew, Meggie, Nick, and a very brave Emily to ride The Titan (the biggest roller-coaster in the park). While R and I reeeally wanted to go, too, we didn't want to take Sadie and R3 just to have them stand in line for something they wouldn't want to ride. We all split up, and R and I took the two littles on some kid-friendly adventures (the train and the swings).

So excited for the train!

R and I were admittedly disappointed about not being able to go on The Titan (I had ridden it a few times in the past, Richard never had), but when we caught up with everyone after a while Aaron immediately said, "Dude, Debbie and I will look after everyone. You two go ride that!" If I needed any more proof that Aaron is relentlessly precious, there it was! Richard's eyes lit up like fireflies, and we ran to the line right before the park closed. Deee!

Richard loved the roller-coaster and was stoked Aaron gave him the chance to keep up with his 9-year-old daughter (apparently The Titan terrified Emmy, but she was proud of herself for riding it!). I really enjoyed the chance to scream my head off (get all that holidaze pressure out!). Some days I just stand in awe of the amazing life I get to live with such an adorable big kid by my side and wonderful people who enjoy the journey just as much! We are so blessed to be so tired all the time. :)

matt + ioana's holiday party

The Friday before Christmas, Matt and Ioana hosted a yearly holiday celebration (which is a guaranteed good-time evening of yum-yums, dancing, and fire-pit-ing). These guys are seriously good hosts, and their gentle "adults only, please" rule is a nice change of pace when the holidaze is at its peek.

Debbie had the genius idea of suggesting we simply warm the wine on the stove (even though we were sans mulling spices), and the result was AHMAHZING.

Aaron and Debbie (arguably, the best picture I took all night!)

And then we came home to this in our bedroom. :) Before we left home, I told Emily and Sadie that if they might see Peter Pan when Daddy and I were gone (since he visited Wendy, John, and Michael after their parents left for a party, obviously!). Emily apparently made a variety of Neverland-related drawings and put them up around the apartment, to which Meghan (not the most sentimental babysitter) made her take down before Richard and I came home. But this sign made the cut, and my whole evening (which is saying alot :D).

"deck the halls with lots of coffee!"

Yesterday I was at work from 6:30am - 6:30pm whiiiile having the worst tummy ache ever, and then, to top it all off!, Richard had already left for derby practice when I got home and wouldn't be back until late. Ugh, what a nightmare!

But when I looked back on my Thursday today, all I could help focus on was all the little lovely things that happened throughout the day. I got lots of compliments on my (Day 3 Top Knot!) hair, I ate Christmas cookies all morning and worked them off all day, I had queso for dinner while taking a bath (role model, ya'll!), Richard was so so so so so sweet to fill my car up with gas when he got home from practice, annnd I fell asleep watching Charlie Brown cartoons on Netflix. Not too bad!! 

And while I was super tired at work today (how much sleep does it take to recover from a 12-hour Christmas shift?! forever?!), I came home to folded laundry (thanks, Baby), the Christmas grocery shopping completed (THANKS, BABY), and long drawn-out hugs from Meggie.

The good just always outweighs the terrible.

I certainly have the sweetest man in the whole damn world, and he sure brings quite the adorable party. I remember getting along just fine without him, but now I just can't even imagine it. :) We have the kittens for Christmas this year, and I'm so very excited for every single moment spent outside of work.

Quote of The Day:
I had already got onto R3 and Emily for making too much noise in their room by saying, "Hey! Simmerrr." Then when I walked in again to temper the noise (10 seconds later), R3 immediately turned around, looked straight at me, and said, "Yes?Simmer.Ok!" and turned straight back around to continue more quietly.

(title quote via, image via, :)

"life is simple and clear"

Only the discoverer of Tutankhamen's tomb would know how she felt upon finding this treasure hidden by a little boy 40 years ago. 

Yesterday was a tsunami of emotions. Let's just say I took a nap to avoid more tears and was really sad my mom doesn't have cell-phone reception on her cruise! I love being a girl!

But everything was much better when Richard came home from work; he's such a sweet listener and so silly and we made nachos for dinner! Afterwards, we finally watched "Amelie," which has been one of my favorite films since ever and I've been longing forever to watch it with him since he had not seen it before. I just love it's arching emphasis on simple pleasures and acts of kindness, which makes it the perfect film to inspire when you've had a not-so-great day.

Richard and I adore all sorts of movies, and I find it hilarious and heart-warming how excited we get watching an awesome movie together that one of us hasn't seen. Anything from "Empire of the Sun" and "Unfaithfully Yours," to "Midnight in Paris" and "Wildcats."And while we certainly aren't the same person (he'll never ask me to watch "American History X" and I'll never ask him to watch "La Dolce Vita"), we were so obviously made for each other that I could just burst. :)

We also watched some "Breaking Bad" and went to sleep at a totally responsible hour, which is equally glamourous! 

Hey, Richard, thanks for being there to turn a completely hectic/neurotic morning into a totally rad evening. You make everything better and way more fun. I know everything is extra crazy right now, and we both feel a little "blah," but always I love and appreciate you so very much. :)

(screen-cap via here)

your personal libraries :)

Hilary posted this a couple of weeks ago, most likely after seeing this post, and it made me smile from ear to ear. Why? Because I completely forgot about doing this. But when I saw this, I totally remembered getting tipsy, and figuring out who was/wasn't working at Cheddar's that night, and driving around College Station giggling like GENIUSES.

There was this great Louis CK interview on the WTF Podcast a couple of years ago, and I always remember this one part where Marc Maron brings up something that Louis CK completely forgot about. And then Louis, being a genius, equates the memory to when ancient civilizations used to take-over their enemies' libraries, and, when their enemies collapsed, these civilizations were able to absorb all this information that would have been forgotten and give it back years and years later.

Isn't that beautiful? I honestly so rarely think about college and College Station because the memories that come rushing back are about stress and feeling misplaced. And then there's Hilary, who continually makes everything more wonderful and precious than (cynically) imagined. <3

let's do this.

Ugh, I still feel relatively sinus-y, achey, and prone to complaining, so let's focus on the delightful things! :)

- The littles and Mr. Man had a great time at Charlie's this weekend. (Pictures below!)

- I made a super veggie soup (daikon! bok choy! collards! leeks! etc!), drank lots of tea, and then followed it with Cheetos and Snickers ice-cream, because I'm AWESOME.

- Had a nice little catch-up/more Cheetos time with my handsome man after the kids went to bed on Saturday.
- We had a great week of sales at work.
- My sweet man texted me when I was work, making me feel loved and pretty.
- I took this detox bath. (40 minutes is sooo hard! I felt my heart pumping the entire time, and I took breathers outside the tub every so often, and my whole body was red foreverrr afterwards!)
- Sadie's tummy. Oh my goodness, I used to be obsessed with her sweet little heiney, but now I moved to tummy time.
- Sadie laying in R3's lap on the way home from the grocery store Friday. Ughhhh.
- My mom started her cruise today, and one of the last things she texted me while she had service was that she got the girls feather boas. Ky Scouts uniform?!
- I saw an old man at the grocery store wearing Converse, and I fell in love.
- Finally remember to charge my iPod. Woo!

(While I didn't go to Charlie's, Richard knows I love a good cell-phone picture of anything. Thanks, sweetie! You are the best best best!)

All the littles got into some fishing, because they are their Daddy's babes. :)

(Look at Sadie with her ballerina bun holding a fishing reel... o.m.g.) 

 LOOK AT THE TUMMY. OMG.

 This beautiful girl! Ugh, I'm planning on sending her to the Hilary School of Heartbreakers.

R3 helped Charlie make a bonfire (nice!) 

Roasting hot dogs in a mini-bonfire. I wouldn't be surprised if this was candid or posed to the last detail.

I love using my blog as a space to remember the positives, because if I was living in a vacuum I would do nothing but continually bitch about how tired and cranky I am, and how justified it is!, all the time. But when I take a step back, I remember just how blessed and fulfilling my life truly is at this point. I have a sweet, amazing, handsome man who loves me dearly and is super sweet to me (Ugh, I appreciate and adore you so hard, Richard), step-kittens who are adorable and vivacious and more of their Daddy to love and who challenge me to be better, a job that appreciates me, and friends who are so sweet and supportive and hilarious whenever I get a chance to catch-up (and/or stalk online). La-di-da! That's worth blogging aboot!

So now, I'm going to drink some wine, find something on Netflix, and listen to Richard and Matt be precious and boyish watching the Cowboys game in the other room. (OMG, R just offered Matt popcorn, and I could just die because boys are so adorable when they are hospitable to one another.) :)