Ice and Snow and Fun....oh my!

As most of everyone is experiencing...the ice is upon us! Our trees are broken, our sidewalk is slippery and my car is unmoveable.  It's crazy cold out there!!  But Ainsley just wanted to stay outside and play.   She helped Joe a little yesterday while he was removing some limbs from our house-mainly she was doing her own thing. 

But she likes to think she was helping!  I finally coaxed her inside with a promise to play later.

Well, later turned into tomorrow.  Aunt Candice stayed the night with us, so all three grown ups got dressed-and Ainsley, too-and outside we went!! Ainsley can see her Mammy's house from our front yard, so I knew it wasn't long before we were headed that way.  Lucky for us, Noah, Sandy, KK & Crew were there.  So KK and Mammy got their gear on and came out to play, as well.  Sandy and Noah joined us, too! 

Even Joe and I had a little fun of our own!

Mammy taught Ainsley that she could eat the icicles!!

All in all we had a pretty good day!!  We had lots of fun in the snow. 

As much as I hate cold weather, I do thank God for our everydays.  It is very beautiful outside, and living in OK we don't get this every year.  Ainsley really enjoyed her day.  And isn't that what life is all about??

I will leave you with some interesting pictures of the ice around my neighborhood!

4 years and counting...

"Great things are not done by impluse, but by a series of small things brought together."  -Vincent Van Gough

And while it's a little late....Joe and I have now been married 4 years.  While that doesn't seem like much to those who took the road before us, we are very much elated to have one another. We were married on January 21, 2006.  And let me tell you, it was the best decision I've ever made. 
We got engaged on Febuary 4, 2005...in my mothers living room.  Nothing especially fancy or put together, just Joe on one knee.  And that's what made it so real and perfect for me.  Due to some family "complications", we actually had three wedding dates.  (Feb 28, Feb 4, Jan 28) And somehow, Jan 21st stuck!  :)  We were engaged 50 weeks...almost to the day.  It was a long stretch, but completely worth it.
In March I picked out my wedding dress and my bridesmaids dresses.   In May, I again picked out my wedding dress and my bridesmaids dresses.  And, I'm pretty sure I did the final picking in September!  (sweet Sandy tried on so many, I don't know if she knew which one she was wearing until I delivered it to her)  Shower after shower after shower, we were so blessed with everyone's support.  We wanted our wedding party to be mainly family.  My uncle married us...my family sang...our siblings were our maids and men.  We included some of our dear friends, also.  But when looking back on the people we chose, we wanted them to be family.  Of course, Joe has more siblings than I do so Smalls had to step in!  NONE (and I say it loudly) NONE of our wedding party actually lived in Chickasha, so we had to make some effort. 

(Top: Noah Willard, John Neal, Derek Hillman, Thad Dobson, Jay Neal)

(Bottom: Skip Weast, Amanda Evans, Sandy Willard, me & Joe, Candice Neal, Josh Neal)

Music was harder for me.  When I hear a song on the radio, it takes me to a certain place or event.  I wanted the music in my wedding to be special to me.  That when I heard it, I would feel like I was there.  The music I chose was Broken Road by Rascal Flatts; Something Like You by Nsync; Baby I Love Your Way by Peter Frampton and When God Made You by Newsong/Natalie Grant.   I didn't want common wedding music...it needed to be just mine.  Our ceremony from beginning to end lasted approximately 17 minutes.  That part was just for us.  But we wanted to enjoy our guests, especially since most of them drove in for the event.  And boy was it ever a fun party!  We danced our first dance to Shining Star by The Manhattans. (not that Joe ever remembers that!)  We danced the night away with our friends and family and returned to our little rented house with gifts!  It was fantastic!  We spent our wedding night in a "cheap" motel.  There are some memories that can't be traded!  LOL

I never got cold feet.  I was completely calm about everything up to and during the wedding.  I wasn't nervous...no shaking hands....compete calm.  That is how I knew this was the right decision.  For three years up until I ran into Joe that night-I had been in a miserable relationship.  I knew I wasn't in the right place.  I knew this other guy wasn't for me.  And somehow, I got to the point where I knew nothing would ever come along until I made it happen.  I would never feel like my fairytale was true unless I opened the door for the opportunity.  And seven days after I came home, my fairytale walked right into my life.  If that isn't God, I don't know what is!!

Together, Joe and I have learned a lot from each other.  Well, I have!  There have been compromises...disagreements and agreements.  I can safely say that we haven't had more than 2 real "fights" our entire relationship.  We just work together.  We work toward each other.  We know it takes work.  And I wake up everyday knowing I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, with anyone else in the world. 

Joe's Birthday

Joseph Lee Neal was born on January 2nd.  I have had the pleasure of celebrating five birthdays with this man.  Let me tell you about him. 

Joe, the person:

Some of you know the quiet guy who just stands around and goes with the flow.  His yearbook stats are FANTASTIC!  He is completely and utterly one of the smartest people I know.  He is also very modest.  He believes in right and wrong; that there is no "inbetween".  He works hard and plays hard.  He likes to watch TV....ok, he likes to watch sports.  He can sit and watch a football game and never say a word.  That doesn't mean that he is unhappy or bored.  He takes it all in.  He watches, he listens and he observes.  I think sometimes he is still amazed by what greatness people see in him.  I remember telling my mom that he was one of the nicest people I'd ever met.  He doesn't talk just to "talk".  When he says something, it's worth listening to.  He just does what he's supposed to do.

Joe, the husband:

This man is my partner.  He listens to me talk and talk...and never do I feel like he is being bothered.  :)

He always tells me that he appreciates me.  He always says thank you-even when I didn't do anything.  He isn't afraid to dress up on Halloween.  He even got along with my crazy ideas!  He is my perfect match.  We are so much alike and so different that we fit together perfectly.  When we first started dating, I never felt uncomfortable around him.  And I know with all my heart, this husband of mine doesn't even know how perfect he is.

Joe, the father:

This is a man I fall in love with everyday.  I knew the moment we found out we were having a girl, Joe would change in a way he never expected.  At first, he didn't know what to do with her. (As most first dads are) But as she got older and began playing, he jumped right in.  They run and play and sing together.  She fixes his hair.  They eat plastic dinners at her table together.  They watch her "toons" and sing all the songs.  He is her favorite toy.  At anytime during the evening, I can find the two of them with "babies" or dancing to a Yo Gabba Gabba show. He is never too harsh-but not too easy with her either.  He only wants the best for her and is willing to do whatever it takes.  His face changes when I tell him about her day.  He is the only other person in the world who finds her as amusing as I do! Not to mention that they look EXACTLY alike!!

I love this man unlike I love anyone else in the world.  He has given me everything I've ever dreamed of.  I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful child, a home and he supports me.  Even when I don't know that he even wants to! 

Joe, you are everything to me.  I love you!  Happy Birthday!

Leslie

Let's get it started...

I'm making the switch!  For so long, I could only blog about Ainsley.  And now it's about ALL OF US!

We started the new year as family!  Joe and I drank our champagne and Ainsley slept as the ball dropped and brought us into 2010.  We have high hopes for this year. 

We will all be a year older-Ainsley will be 3 this year!  And, if all things go well, will start a preschool class. 

She is so big these days.  She's talking more and much more clear. 

We all made resolutions.  Just the normal for Joe and I.  Every year we say we are going to lose weight-and then the year passes.  I think that food is just WAY to good to pass up somedays.  Not to mention my strong addiction to Pepsi!  We made resolutions for Ainsley, as well.  But I think they are going to require much more work from her parents!

Ainsley's Resolutions

1) to sleep in her own bed

2) to only use her bink at bedtime

We shall see!!  :) 
I hope that everyone who reads our blog will enjoy hearing about our crazy life!

More to come soon!

Leslie