10 months!

It baffles me how fast and SLOW time has gone by...crazy! I like to imagine Austin would be mobile, babbling/talking, teething. All life events I can only dream of, miss you little dude! RIP Austin xoxo love Mom!

Phoenix with the Gabriels

My best friend had her baby Aubree, so I went to go visit and enjoy the sunshine :-) It was a mini vacation to enjoy being around my bestie and her family. I thought about Austin a lot and all the things I didn't get to experience with him. I miss that boy SO much.

Shifters...yes please

Not gonna lie, after a night shift I can always use a drink so this morning Bernice, Laura and I went to Bully's and had mimosas and breakfast. It is nice to have co-workers to go out and have fun with. :)

NYE 2012

Happy New year. We started the year off by having a party at our house with some close friends. Before midnight we traveled up the hill to watch the fireworks. It was perfect beginning except the cold weather. I was so glad we avoided downtown Reno and were in a warm house. Cheers to 2012!

normalcy?

Chris and I have suffered a lot this year but our marriage is very important to us and try very hard to have date nights to keep the fire in our relationship strong! Last night we took advantage of our "free time" and had dinner (qudoba, my new fav. craving) and a movie (New years eve). Chris and I are optimistic for 2012 even though he was bored to death at the movie ;) I love this quote from the movie
"...It's suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by. To remember both our triumphs and our missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt cuz that is what new years is all about- getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about what if and start embracing what would be. So when that ball drops at midnight and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight but all year long"
Here is to remembering Austin and the time we got to spend with him but we can't dwell that he isn't here. We must live our lives and always remember our little dude! xoxo love MOM

holiday greetings

Happy Holidays, from the Hawks! This year has definitely been trying but not only on us. We lost Chris' g-ma Campbell, birthed Austin 7 weeks early, lost Austin, Joplin Mo had a tornado, there was an Amtrak train crash, I-Hop shooting, air race crash, my boss found a brain tumor, co-worker has to have surgery for potential thyroid cancer, and on and on! Needless to say I am counting down the days until this horrible year is over! We hopeful 2012 will bless us with a healthy child who plans to stay around with us for our lives, so Chris and I can be grandparents and Kaylee has a little to "raise!" She longs to be a mother to someone. So cheers to the end of 2011, bring on peace, love, happiness and 2012.

A dose of winter...in Iowa

Like it or not the lives around me continue. This weekend I traveled to Iowa for many reasons. Originally I was going to meet my nephew for the first time and see my family.

Then it dawned on me that my first niece Hannah was turning 11...wow talk about flashback! I remember driving (in a blizzard) to see Hannah in the hospital the day she was born 12/10/00. Also I won't be able to see my family for Christmas so this was my time. Chris just started a new job so he couldn't go and Kaylee was in school so solo I flew (Thanks mom for flight benefits!) I got in Thursday night and to my surprise my brother Scott was there!

He came home before being sent away to Dubai as a surprise for our family. His son is adorable and they are happy to be expecting a little, fingers crossed for a girl, in June.

It was nice to spend time with my family but there is no place like home, with my family. xoxo to my Hawks Chris & Kaylee