New Years Eve 2013

Ben played at the JW Marriott again this year for New Year's Eve.  My mom came and stayed at the house with the kids and we stayed the night there.

We checked in around 2pm.  Ben headed down to the bar area to start set up/sound check so I went down with him to see if I could go ahead and grab a table.  Well once again it was an awful set up and people were already squatting tables.  Yes, squatting!  They would take turns going to get ready so they wouldn't lose their tables.  I was so frustrated, as 3 hours later, there would be no seats.  I headed back upstairs with the intention of just taking my time.

Ben and I got ready, headed back down around 7:30pm.  Luckily, and I use that word loosely,  our friends Chad and Rochelle found this tiny little bench to sit on.  You couldn't even see the stage but it was a place to sit.  We were literally like vultures just waiting on people to get up.  We finally found this table of women that looked as if they were leaving so Rochelle asked them if we could have their table/seats.  It was a make shift table with chairs pulled around it so we just added more chairs for our growing party.

The night overall was fun but when Ben plays I do truly just like to hear him sing.  I eventually got up and stood by the stage just to hear him for awhile.  There were a ton of people there and they were all having a great time..so that's what's important.

Midnight came, we kissed and the party continued.    As Ben played his last song, Sweet Home Alabama, I headed upstairs to order us room service, so I thought.  They had a 3 hour wait.  I would have been 3:30am before we got our food.  So we decided to go looking for food outside the hotel.  We went to this 24 hr Mexican food restaurant not to far from the hotel but found only two employees and a lot of people waiting.  Next stop....Taco Cabana and we found there that they had run out of food.  Next stop.....Jack in the Box and we found there that their credit card machine didn't work and they were out of ice.  So we settled on some egg rolls, chicken strips and a piece of chocolate cake.  Great combination when you are starving.

We headed back to the hotel and slept until 9..which is late considering we are up, these days,  when Emma and Cash tell us to be up.   We packed up and grabbed some breakfast at IHOP and then headed home to our sweet babies.

I hope 2014 brings us nothing but happiness, success, peace and tons of laughter.  Happy New Year!

Christmas 2013

This Christmas was extra special as it was our sweet Emma's first Christmas and our first Christmas as a family of four!  Of course Emma had no idea at her young age of 6 months what was going on but it was just fun having her a part of all the excitement....and excitement there was.

Cash's Christmas list - 2013

We are a family that gets so excited about what we get each other that we literally cannot wait, and sometimes don't, to give each other our gifts.  Ben is the worst..and for good reason as his gifts are always amazing...well thought out...and bought with so much love he could burst.  Well the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree because my sweet boy took his own money and bought me a gift.  A gift he picked out all on his own with no help and he couldn't wait to give it to me.  So the night before Christmas Eve we decided to all open a gift.  Cash's gift to me was a pair of pearl dangle earrings that are just beautiful.  I truly love them.  Aside from him giving them to me, I actually really love them.  My son has beautiful taste and I was so proud of him for taking such initiative.  He asked Ben to take him and when they got to the jewelry store he took complete charge....hmmm...sounds like someone we know..and love.  He did the same for Ben...he bought him socks because he knows his dad likes cool socks, and some Jack Black products.  Cash notices when I am wearing the earrings and when his daddy his wearing the socks.  It means a lot to him that we love his gifts...he has such a tender, loving heart.  For that I feel so blessed.

Christmas Eve
So I heard of this great tradition where you give Christmas Eve "gifts" to the kids which are boxes filled with pj's, snacks and a movie (typically a Christmas movie).  So I decided to do that this year...even with Emma.  She got pj's and a toy.  Cash got pj pants, snacks and a movie.  He didn't seem very excited about this "new" tradition so we shall see how it goes next year.  I may have missed the boat from an age perspective. 

We went out to dinner on Christmas Eve to Wildfish with my parents and Andy.  It was really a great evening.  Good food, good company and a great atmosphere.  i was actually surprised there were so many people out to dinner.

After dinner we went back to our house and opened gifts from "each other" so that Christmas morning was all about the kids.  It was so fun!  We really wanted this to be a special Christmas for my parents and just feel if we can spoil them then we want to as they have always spoiled me, loved me, cared for me and treat their grandchildren just the same.  We are very blessed.

My sweet, sweet husband..once again...spoiled me unbelievably!  Ben is such a giver...he absolutely loves to give.  He is gracious and humble when he receives but he is a better giver.  One of the many reasons I love him.   Its not just me that wants to spoil my parents...but him as well..if not more..which I just love so much!!

We gave Andy a razor and brush from the Art of Shaving which was a really nice set but we had no idea what to get him.  He had mentioned wanting an IPad a day or so before so Ben told him that if  the shaving stuff was not really something he wanted that he would take him to get an IPad...and off to Target they went...on Christmas Eve.  Andy was super happy about his IPad and that's what we wanted.  Mission accomplished.  While at Target, and very typical of Ben, he is searching for other things to buy Cash.  I could scream but I knew he was going to do that.  He brought home some remote control boat..which now doesn't work.  Its the late night, last minute purchases, that never work out.

Emma had no idea what all the hustle and bustle was about but she was very happy and excited to be in the midst of it all.  We had her and Cash in their Christmas pj's...ready for Christmas morning!

So everyone left...and the magic began....

We put the cookies out for "Santa", put the kids to bed and Santa's helpers got to work.  All the toys were put out after the kids were fast asleep and we were off to what we thought would be a good nights rest before the big day.  WRONG!  I did stay up a little bit after the gifts were put out just straightening up and Ben kept telling me I better get in the bedroom as he was so nervous about Cash getting up.  I told him..."no, don't worry, he's fast asleep".  Well, typically, that was the case but not this Christmas Eve.  We weren't in the bed 45 minutes and in runs Cash so excited because "Santa" had come to his house already.  Our lamps were still on...tv was on and we were wide awake...he had no realization that we had not even been to sleep yet or that it was just 10pm.  So up we go..into the living room so Cash can show us all he got for Christmas.  It was comical to say the least.  After we saw all he got and opened everything we had to tell him that it was really early in the morning and that we would all have to go back to bed for a bit.  He never clued in and I told Ben that was the only time I was so glad that Cash couldn't tell time!!  He played with his toys for awhile and then went back to sleep.  We got up Christmas morning and he was just as excited.  Speaking of Cash being excited...this was the first Christmas we actually saw him excited...which was so nice to see.  I think we lowered our expectations this year and just hoped that what "Santa" brought him he would love...he did.  I always tell Ben that Cash is so much like him in that way.  It takes a lot to get Cash excited about something you buy him and Ben is very much the same...but what I did see this year which is so similar to Ben is how much Cash loved giving.

Christmas Morning
We got up around 7am, which is when Emma woke up, and Cash played with his gifts.  It was sort of nice that all of the "Christmas morning" stuff was done already.  We got to relax, have breakfast, and prepare for Christmas lunch.  Its a tradition for us to have gumbo on Christmas Day so I started the day by chopping vegetables and making a roux.  It smelled so good in the house!  I couldn't wait to eat!  My mom was bringing deviled eggs and the potato salad.   I don't know how I learned to make a gumbo..other than trial and error as I didn't spend a day in the kitchen with my mom.  Now, that said, I spent many an evening on the phone with her..especially that first time I made a gumbo..so I guess it was enough that she walked me through it and the rest is the genes.

My parents came over and brought the gifts "Santa" left at their house for the kids.  Andy came over as well and we all just relaxed and enjoyed the day.

 

Before my parents left my dad and Ben decided to shoot the basketball around a little bit.  I took some great shots of them playing, my parents with Emma and you will see Ben and his perfect photo bomb!

We ate great food, laughed and truly enjoyed the meaning of Christmas....to us....family.

Thanksgiving 2013

It's another McPeak Thanksgiving and its our Emma Beth's first.  This is my favorite time of year and it was even more special because we have our sweet girl.

My mom usually makes the mac and cheese, cornbread dressing, sweet potato, and deviled eggs.....which yes sounds like everything ...and it sort of is.  I order the turkey from Rudy's and this year we included a ham.  Everything was so good!

 He cracks her up.

 Emma in her Thanksgiving outfit with her Nana.

 This was all before we ate....

 Intense conversation about Cash's drink...and you can see my Gracious Gift wine with glass full.

 Enjoying our hard work...or my mother's hard work.

 Emma got to enjoy some sweet potatoes and apples for her Thanksgiving meal.

The end of a long wonderful day..still smiling!