You can tell a lot about a woman by her buttons...

I recently hit the jackpot in a box my mom sent from my grandmothers house, her button collection. I love buttons, the colors the shapes the styles and all the random things you can do with a button. So what can I gather from her buttons?
1. She had more sequins than buttons. Enough said.
2. She was organized (or tried to be). On the buttons still attached to labels she noted what jacket or shirt the button belonged to. She was that way with her shoes, kept them in the box with a sticky note label. If I had as many shoes as she did I would have to do that too!
3. She had a ton of clothes! This is just half of one of the bags!
4. She was great at buying on sale. Some of the tags still had the prices on them and the best deal I saw was a $360 jacket for $92. Way to go Granny!

What about my button collection? Well it's very small but does contain many sequins. I keep them in the one and only Tiffany's box I have, puts a smile on my face every time I need a button :)

Ageless Beauty

Since my 21st birthday I've had trouble remembering exactly how old I really am. After 21 there's 30 to look forward too? I'd rather not keep count. I had this theory in high school about age that went something like this....
16. You drive
18. You vote and go to college
21. You can drink (not that I am much of a drinker) and you're still in college
21+. you get a job, get married, have kids then you die.

Pretty depressing and definitely from the mind of a teenager but it goes to show how much I hate change that I couldn't see past 21. Yes God was laughing when he made me an Air Force wife.

He was also laughing when someone thought I was 27 the other day. I calmly said "close enough, sir" while inside I'm screaming I'M 25!!!!!! Yikes two whole years? It didn't help that two days prior I swear I had a wrinkle on my forehead that wouldn't go away allllll day. My first permanent wrinkle? Well let's just get it over with and blame Chase and start looking for those gray hairs.....

So let's get serious here. We are getting older. I have a few beautiful, gorgeous, amazing friends who all are completely different but are still lovely in my eyes who have been talking about Botox - You know who you are!!!
Can I be honest and say this breaks my heart? Because if they aren't pretty enough what does that say about me? If I get Botox what will be next, a face lift? Do I want my (future) little girl to grow up thinking God didn't make her pretty enough? OK I won't get started on my soap box of media/fashion murdering girl's self-esteem. But I will say that I have been struggling with holding myself to God's standard of beauty and not this world's.

Proverbs 16:31 "Gray hair is a crown of splendor, it is attained in the way of righteousness"

In today's world who wants that? Well I do. Ok I say that now but I may be kicking myself in thirty years when my boobs are almost to my belly button. And if any of you who know who you are do decide to get Botox I will still love you and think you are beautiful, especially on the inside!

Gingerbread House Contest

Let's start this post of with the best picture of 2011 to really get you in the Christmas spirit, seeing as how the season ended two weeks ago.

Poor Chase. In all honesty that's what I felt like doing quite a few times during the month of December.

So why is it after you have kids sitting on the couch watching The Christmas Story 5 times in a row isn't good enough anymore? Well whatever the reason I was all about making new memories and traditions this year and this is something Merrisa and I came up with and we had a blast. It was so funny seeing everybody's personality in little graham cracker creations.

First up! Is anyone surprised Brian built an airport complete with hanger,runway, and airplane? Chase is signing eat, and I couldn't agree more.

Oh yeah well my house had Rudolph, shutters, and a door knob, not to mention it was an octogon.

But I have to admit Merrisa's three story house was pretty awesome!

Apparently it was too much for Austin who feel alseep before the judging. His had a weird roof and an attached garage.


AND THE WINNER IS.......

A tie. Nanny could only narrow it down to the girls so we took that as a major victory and not one I will let Brian live down anytime soon.

Chase learned to take pictures.

Ok he really just learned to push the button but they are kinda funny. Like seeing the world through his eyes.

His favorite place, outside.

My house.
Me.
These darn shoes my mom keeps making me put on.

And last but not least my mama. We do have a picture of the inside of dada's nose but I had to draw the line.

Not only does he like to push the button and make a bright flash, he likes to run in front of it and pose for the camera. He has lots of faces...

My CRAZY KID pose. Seriously looks like the hunchback or something, hope his face doesn't freeze that way.

My fake smile pose, as cute as it is, it's fake.
My mom please take my picture pose, notice the soaked with drool look.
My haha I am doing something really fun right now (like destroying something) pose.