CHRISTmas in Branson 2011

I can't believe it's that time of year again, but it's my all time favorite!!  I love the holidays and the memories we make with family and friends.  One tradition we have with the Mizell family is to go to Branson every December.  We stay at Branson Landing and only leave if we want to, it's great they've got restaurants, shops, lights, & much more!!

 The beautiful tree in the lobby of the hotel, Hilton @ Branson Landing

there is a fire place right behind the Christmas tree, that's always my favorite spot!! 

 The first night we ate at OUTBACK, not the chain restaurant steakhouse but the original..

We were semi-celebrating Bens recent finish from school (another post) so he splurged on a few entree options!!

 Trent & Katherine after braving the Tanger outlet mall on Saturday

 a few of my favorite stores....

I had two caramel apples from this jewel

Dick's 5 & 10 (five & dime) a staple in Branson

Mary Ann & Phil on our way to dinner Saturday night.  The nice thing about staying at the Branson Landing is most things you want or need are within walking distance!!

We always eat at White River Fish House on Saturday night, it's become a tradition

walking to dinner

relaxing before going to our table, there's a huge fire place we enjoy sitting in front of before being seated

awww

my love

Trent, Katherine, myself, Ben

Thank you Mary Ann and Phil for yet another wonderful Branson weekend get away!!

Happy Birthday Megan!!

On December 7, my second niece Megan Lynn turned 5!!  We had a celebration the Sunday before with a few of her friends and close family.  Of all places Meg chose to have her party at a hunting store!!

 Meg decked out in her camo, with a bow of course!!

They had a wall set up for the kids to shoot arrows, it was a big hit!!

 a few people saw all the cars and thought the store was open so a sign had to be put up..

the awesome cake made my Hannah, she's so creative!!

some of the goods

 Brynn is getting used to these parties!!

Wes and Hanny

 papaw Bo, Laci, & Brad

Meg and her bow she got from her meemee Kathy & grand-dad Bruce

 the birthday girl and her mom

Meg was pumped to get a strap for her (pink) gun, yes I said her gun!!

 Meg and nonny

can you tell what the side of the present picture is??  If not, it's a cash register.. not just any one a real one!!

 she was pumped about it too!!

 Megan had a wonderful party and couldn't wait to hand her party favors out to her friends. 

People say all the time, "yea she's a middle child, he's an only child, she must be the baby.." etc. People continue to tell me today I am the typical "middle child" Although I see what they're saying it does seem silly.. but if we keep with that theme Meg is definitely the middle child, she's actually her aunties mini me.  Which makes Amber and Brad a tad bit nervous :) I figure I can just teach her what not to do.. Megan is one of the smartest, make up wearing, most kind, high heel loving, craziest, big hearted, question asking, hunting enthusiast, beautiful girl I know!!

Auntie, Uncle Benny, & Avery love you more than you'll ever know little bird, HAPPY BIRTHDAY

THANKSGIVING 2011

I realize it's now December but I wanted to document these memories.  Thanksgiving for us started off with a big country breakfast at the Grant farm.  We started this tradition a few years ago and it's become one of my favorites!!  It still seems surreal that papaw Grant is not here with us physically, every memory I have of the farm has him in it.. papaws burn barrel was going strong, bittersweet.

I did not get my camera out because I was too busy riding 4-wheelers, playing with the goats, riding Cowboy (the horse), chasing the girls, loving on all the animals, and eating!!  I can't wait for Christmas at the farm, it's my all time favorite get together!!!!!

Thanksgiving night the Mizell's invited not only Ben and myself but my whole family to their dinner for the second year in a row.  It's always a riot when our families get together, we love to eat, chat, and laugh!!

 Mary Ann always decorates her dining room table so festive

additional dining table

 Mary Ann, Robin, Grammy, Laci, Hannah, mom, & Am

Megan and Trent.. I'm sure they're looking at pictures of deer that he has killed.  They share a love of hunting!!

 Ben and his beautiful sister Katherine

 of course the girls got prizes from Mary Ann & Phil

Brynnie & Auntie

 Apparently Phil and I put a few too many marshmallows on the sweet potato casserole (notice the fire below) this was followed by the smoke alarms going off :)

 some of the yummy (fat free of course) food

Hannah, crazy blue eyed Laci, & Amber

 Brynn & Nonny

me on clean up duty which I thoroughly enjoy.. really I have a fascination with cleaning..

Thank you Phil, Mary Ann, & the whole Mizell family for inviting the Griswolds, I mean Grants to your Thanksgiving celebration!!

Ben and I have so much to be thankful for.. at the same time we have heavy hearts for the ones who are no longer with us.  I try not to dwell on what or who's missing but cherish the ones we have and the memories we're making.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BBB!!

 On November 22, Brynn Bradley Bohannan turned 1!!!  That night our immediate family got together at my mom & dads for a little celebration. 

 She wasn't sure what was going on but was smiling the whole time and loving all the attention, especially our party hats!!

 Brynn and her nonny

 her "cake" (cup cakes) made by Hannah, Wesley's girlfriend or our good friend ha however you want to look at it.. she did a fantastic job, we hated to eat it!!

 Hannah also made two mini owl for Laci and Megan

 Why are you all wearing hats, singing off key, & taking pictures non stop of me??!!

 yumm, this girl has always loved icing.. just like her mom & nonny

 she didn't leave much behind..

 Amber & her three beautiful daughters!!  Laci - 7 Megan - 4 Brynn - 1

 Laci is all about making signs but I had to get a picture of the wreath my sis made for moms door, she's so creative.. her and Hanny have been making them for others!!

 courtesy of Laci.. of course she put rules on there!!

 the birthday girl!!

pre-game toddy!!

Brynn came into our family at a time when we needed her the most.. after some devastating losses for myself and our family she was a breath of fresh air.  She, like Laci and Megan do something for my heart and soul that I can't put into words!!

Happy Birthday BBB, auntie and uncle Benny love you more than you'll ever know!!

celebrating

Where has the time gone, tomorrow I will be 27!!  When people ask me how old I am I automatically want to say 21, there is no significance with that year it's just what feels right??  Phil, Mary Ann, Katherine & Trent came to our hometown last week to take us out for my birthday dinner.  They are always so generous and invited my fam to join in as well.  They might of second guessed that when Brynn projectile vomited halfway through dinner :) I am so excited that one of my gifts was a camera, my last one bit the dust over a year ago. 

The past few weeks we've celebrated a few other things.. My sis turned 29 again on October 23, we got together at my moms for some yummy fried food!!  I will never be able to make up for my sisters real 30th birthday (in 2009) instead of celebrating like you should a big milestone like that, she was sitting in the hospital waiting for her first niece to be born; stillborn.  She and my mom were literally around me 24/7 from the morning of October 23 to the afternoon of October 24 when she arrived.  If this would of been an exciting time then I wouldn't feel near as bad but the circumstances surrounding those days are ones I never want to repeat.  I know she would not of had it any other way and would repeat those days over and over again to be there for me.  I could not bring myself to post on the actual day itself, October 24 that we met and said goodbye to our Weslee.  I worked that day, my coworkers and boss didn't remember the significance of the day which I liked.. that way no one brought it up and I would not cry.  I tend to internalize my emotions.. to my surprise a beautiful flower bouquet showed up with my name and the sweetest words I've ever read near the end of the day.  Of course the girls in the office were freaking out and wanting to know the occasion.  The flowers were from Ben, Weslee's dad and my best friend!! 

October is now behind us and the holidays are fast approaching.  This is my favorite time of year, college football, cool weather, holidays, family gatherings, chili, Christmas decorations, and shopping to name a few!!    

Groundhog Day

Do you ever feel like you're reliving the same day over and over and over again.. I find myself having many days like that lately. My posts are pretty predictable as to what I'll say or what we've been up to. Every time I think to blog I wonder what in the world to say?? I work, Ben works, he goes to school, I clean the house, we both take care of Avery, see family at night many nights, play with our nieces, go to church on Sunday.. Most people have night time activities, kids priorities, parties, go out on the town, etc.. I wouldn't trade my life or what it's become but I do have days when I need/want a change. Ben reminds me often that come December, when he graduates, we can really relax and enjoy life. I know this is true but when the one change comes in the shape of a child, or lack there of it's hard to be content. We've had a hiccup with our fertility clinic and will no longer be doing any treatments or seeing them. I do have a peace about not going back but it doesn't change the fact that our ultimate goal is to have a baby. Sundays at church I feel like every song is directed at me.. trust God, believe in Him, He is sovereign, many blessings, rain drops, faithful. I always feel refreshed and revived but come back home to the same reality. What do I do to pass the time or keep my head up.. pray, talk to God, talk to Ben, cry.. it's such a vulnerable place to be. I truly believe one day we will be blessed beyond our imagination. It's that one day phrase that gets me....

embryo status

After reading over my last post I realized I didn't say what happened to the embryos we were hoping to freeze for future use.  Unfortunately the embryos did not survive so if we do IVF again we'll have to start from scratch.  There is so much that goes into IVF, I feel pretty educated on the matter but there are still some questions and concerns.  If you or someone you know is going through or debating going through IVF I would love to talk to you or them.. I remember feeling so helpless when starting this journey, it's so foreign!!  I would also love to hear any stories related to your journey with IVF and infertility.  I hear from more people about how they had trouble getting pregnant, lost babies, had miscarriages, and now they're proud parents!!  I do not like being labeled with "infertility issues" but I am not alone.  Although I wouldn't wish this heartache on ANYONE it's refreshing to know we're not the only ones struggling.. So I encourage you if you are walking this dark path to please look for the light, it's there!!  Some days it's hard to see but you have to have FAITH and believe in the One that's bigger, smarter, & greater than we could ever imagine!!