Max.

2 things define Max as a toddler/preschooler:

1. His superhero uniforms

-Ninja Turtle (Fall 2015)

-Fireman (Winter 2016-Summer2016)

-Police/SWAT/Army (Fall 2016)

2. His monkey lovey & Monster blanket. He is OBSESSED with both of them. 

Seriously, it is borderline alarming, but also sweet. 

He does have more than one monkey, if you notice the multiple heads sticking out, but he prefers GG's monkey most of all. 

Just when I thought that just maybe Max might look a little like me, I realized I was wrong. Toni found this picture from when she was younger & realized the resemblance!

 Of course, she wasn't in a dryer...

U is for Underwear. 

His expressions. 

Celebrating Noni & Bop Birthday Week!

*You will notice that he has ZERO food on his plate. Do 3-year-olds eat rice? Is that a thing? I mean, my 6-year-old doesn't either, so maybe it is just my offspring?

"Take a picture of me & Chloe!"

#poorsisters

'

I love the pics that I get from his school. 

This kid is the best at making us laugh, keeping us on our toes, whining, losing fights to his brother & giving us big hugs.

Christmas Eve

We kicked off our morning by eating icing off of cutting boards, which is really the only way to begin the Christmas weekend if you think about it. 

The Bishop family came in town to celebrate & everyone was excited, but Max's anticipation was probably the greatest. 

The chocolate Advent calendars are their favorite things ever because I let them eat the chocolate whenever they want each day, even if it is right after they brushed their teeth. I am such an unselfish gift giver. 

On Christmas Eve, we had the BEST lunch because Amanda decided to order Moe's. Let's be honest, nothing says Christmas like a burrito bar. 

Seriously, there are so many people and so many presents and so many things happening that this was totally the way to go. 

Mom always manages to bring us all together with family bonding experiences like "Minute to Win It" games.  It really was pretty fun-thanks, Mom!

We would glance over & Levi would be just helping himself to various bins of cookies, fudge, etc. It was hilarious. 

More games. This one was clearly a high level of stress-always thankful to Nicole for worrying for my success.

A few days before Christmas, Anderson told me, " I am so excited about Christmas because Kyler & Noah are coming to play with me. I just love that my amazing nephews trump Santa. 

I also love that giant dumpster back there because it really does come in handy with trash overflow. 

Again, with the games.....they actually did a lot better than I did on this game. 

Things I will never get tired of: these 2 worshipping each other. 

Also, note to self: do NOT let Max nap on Christmas Eve because Santa really wants to start his visit prior to 11 pm & since Max's bedroom is right next to the fireplace, a nap will prevent this every time. 

So many presents. So much love. 

Another addition to the helmet collection from Noni. 

Kyler's favorite gift-from Hughes. 

Max (& Monkey) got a booger game from Noni. 

And, a new ambulance! He was so excited about this!

Noni's calendar.

Hughes brought paint ball guns for everyone & the battle that ensued was nothing short of epic. 

Seriously hilarious. 

Also, it was raining & really cold and nobody seemed to notice....

One small casualty occurred when Reese wandered onto the playing field & was struck. 

Lily made everyone hot chocolate from Noni's hot chocolate set up. 

I love my moms for a lot of reasons, but one of the main ones is because of the fact that she does stockings for all 15 of us. 

All of the perfectly styled, properly dressed family pictures from Christmas just don't have anything on ours. 

And....how short am I?? Is the small for his age 6 year old almost my height?? How is this a thing??

After Noni's, we went to GG's where Max took very high quality pics of everyone. I actually love this one of Pappaw. 

I love that 3 of the 4 of them have Anderson in their name.

Uncle Curtis always gets roped into being a punching bag. 

Brandon & Pappaw. 

I am not even sure what was happening here, but it might be the only picture of the 2 of us from Christmas so I have to include it. 

GG did such an amazing job hosting and making everyone feel loved & welcomed, just as she always does. 

I don't know what was happening here, but I love this pic! Candid ones are so much more fun sometimes. 

A view from above...

Aunt LoLo "won" the fruitcake! I am so grateful that it is now out of our freezer!

Everyone always spoils our boys so much-they loved their new helicopter. 

The original Andersons.

After GG's, we went home where we did all of the little kid tradition things:  spread reindeer food on the lawn, put out cookies, changed into new jammies & read "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Then....we waited forever for them to fall asleep because all of the burrito eating and game playing was pretty exhausting & I was ready to sleep. 

a few videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuM6uIQi3xs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_fw8AYHyW0

Work.

I did a horrible job of documenting my work life for the first decade of my career so over the past few years I have been focused on really saving some moments. Work is just as much of my life as home is and I want to remember these times that have shaped pretty much my entire household.

I finally got a new laptop cover because the other one died a slow death from overuse. 

Seriously, I ALWAYS have my computer with me at work. It is like my most important limb.

I love working in a school, working around teenagers, getting to do things that I love and, most importantly, working with some truly awesome people. 

Like most posts, this one has just taken a turn into sharing about food. 

Seriously, we hosted this manufacturing event at AE and the company brought delicious doughnuts. Well, they also brought entire trailers and exhibits of manufacturing demonstrations/exhibits, but those doughnuts....

When the coaches let your boy stand on the sidelines, you know that it is time to just be grateful for all of the things. 

Another yummy doughnut! This one was basically like an entire cake in it's sugar content and deliciousness. I was at a school in Cookeville touring and learning all kinds of fun stuff....and eating doughnuts. 

Halloween-I wore my go-to dog costume of grapes. 

I had a chance to attend an inspiring event with one of my favorite people and was ready to go back & do all of the things at work the next day! 

Again. 

I am so, so grateful that there is no such thing as home/work balance and that, instead, it all blurs together like this. To be fair, I am exhausted, overwhelmed, frantic and unable to keep it all together about 99% of the time, but those few minutes that it does all fall into place keep me going during the other times. 

Lily got some VIP treatment at our Dance Showcase!

I mean, he was on the news as the ball boy at one of our playoff games. I really just cannot make this stuff up. 

Perhaps this best sums up my life way more than the rest of them-I got 20,000 steps (no working out; this is just plain work/life) and less than 5 hours of sleep per my fitbit. I need to include these pics so when I am nostalgic for "this time," I can remember that it was not all doughnuts & football. I mean, I guess I am grateful for the steps when I reflect back on all of the doughnut eating....

Speaking of eating, one of my fabulous co-workers snagged me some of her famous mac & cheese before our holiday meal because she knew it would all be gone by the time I got up there. 

I really do work with the best. 

Working at AE has provided me with some truly amazing opportunities and I realize that they are not everywhere. For example, on this day all of the district supervisors & a few people from the TDOE stopped by to hear a proposal of something we are working on next semester. I mean, stuff like this just does not happen other places and I am grateful for this time.