And a Happy New Year!

We started the new year off with a little gathering with some neighborhood friends. The kids had a great time silly stringing each other, overdosing on sugar, and making sparkling grape toasts at the east coast midnight. With Adam finally done with his CFA studying and off of work for another week, we spent some much-needed time putting the house back together and organizing the garage while the kids played on the neighbors zip line and jumped on the trampoline until their little legs were wobbly and they succumbed to a rare afternoon nap. Thanks to Uncle Andrew, we got to take the kids to their first Grizzlies game. Hayes was in awe watching the Grizz girls dance, and Gray actually got into the game and took home the brochure as a special keepsake. He couldn't believe his luck when he got to go back just a few weeks later with our friends, The Beasleys, who had a suite for the night. Lovie put on her annual theme party and this time, it was a pirate party for Gray, who got to invite his friend, Will. They walked the plank, ate pirate grub, made a treasure map, and had so much fun that this is what he looked like on the way home.... And while Gray pirated his "booty" off, we took Hayes to the Dixon for an art workshop. I think Adam may have enjoyed it more than she did though. Meanwhile, I was busy planning my 5th Staxtacular party to benefit the students of the Stax Music Academy on behalf of the Memphis Grizzlies. It turned out perfectly, even with lots of changes this year, and ended up another huge success. The best part was that when I woke up the next day, the house was spotless, the laundry was done, the fridge was stocked, dinner was planned, and Adam and the kids had fixed up my studio on the 3rd floor so it would be ready for me to jump right back into painting, now that my event was over. In our 14+ years together, Adam has bought me beautiful clothes, made me delicious dinners, taken me to wonderful places, and paid me countless compliments, but never have I felt so loved! It was awesome and I am so thankful for my sweet husband. While I'm bragging on my better half, I have to say how proud I am of him for being one of the 40% who passed the first level CFA test this December. He studied like crazy, spending lots of nights and weekends with his head in a book and sacrificing pretty much all of his free time to devote to this test, and it all paid off! Now it's back to the books for him as he begins studying for his level 2 test. Wish him luck if you see him! And, we FINALLY got a real snow! It wasn't quite big enough to make a snowman out of, but we caught it early enough to sled down the hill in front of our house and make the kids their first snow cream. Now Gray can stop begging to move back to Memphis, since he's convinced that it only snows there. Sheesh! Finally, in preparation for our upcoming trip to Mexico, the kids have been taking swim lessons and it is like night and day from last year. They are using their arms, kicking hard and being so brave. I am one proud momma and can't wait for the rest of the fam to see them in action in just a few weeks.....eek! Mexico, here we come! Happy New Year! The Pattersons