All About Hillary ~ Part One

Can I just say quickly how much I love this! (I mean really, come on, who doesn't love to talk about themselves...) 

The first question comes from Mary. She wanted to know what Bobby does for a living.

My hubby is a GM for a lighting company. That is some seriously exciting stuff right there y'all. (not really :) His true passion is for building and construction. He was involved with various parts of those industries until a couple of years ago when the housing market just totally crapped out. It's just a really volatile industry to get into, especially when you have  family to think of and support. Maybe one day when things are a little more steady out there he'll get back into it. I know his heart is still pining away... Anyone remember this post? It is a hilarious detail of my hubby's work...





The second question I received came from Tristan! She wanted to know what my favorite thing was about each of my children.

This is a hard one! I know that each of us has about a zillion things about our kids that we just adore so I'm going to narrow this one down to characteristics.

My favorite thing about Graham is his sense of humor. His sense of humor is so dry sometimes it's easy to miss the joke that he's making. I usually catch it the bulk of the time and just die from laughter. He seems like such a grown up to me when he pulls off these jokes of his! He has near perfect comedic timing and it just makes it all the better!

Grady's best characteristic is his pure zest for life! He is so active and exuberant about almost everything. He's a blast to take anywhere new. He loves to learn and ask questions. He's very full-force most of the time (which can get a tad tiring for me) but I really think that this is the gift that God has given him! I always laugh and say that it's my job to direct all this zest. Grady will either use his zest for good and cure cancer or for bad and be the next Enron CEO. :) HA!

Griffin will be hard to nail down on this one. He's still so little at just 15 months. His little personality is just really starting to come out. He does seem to be very easy going though. I think that my little sweetheart has learned that he just has to be patient and wait in line since there are two older (and louder) brothers to contend with! I love that he can go with the flow and just hang out with whatever else we have going on as a family.

My sweet online friend Gretchen wanted to know if I wasn't a stay at home Momma, what would I do?

I think I'll take this as "if I could do anything that I wanted to do what would it be". I would be a novelist! I'd get a cozy office set up and write, write, write! In my imagination my boys would all be in school so that I'd have  guilt-free time alone from the hours of 8-3 to write, research and attempt to get published. One of my favorite novelist (because I love the combined genre of history AND mystery) is Deanna Raybourn.  I read her blog of how/why she does her writing, stalk her on facebook, and read ever.single.word she puts out. Did I mention that she was born and raised right here in San Antonio? I think that the reason I adore her so much is that I'd write very similar to her!

Stay tuned! More Q&A to come tomorrow!! (oh yeah, and I'll draw the winners at the conclusion of this all!)

Griffin's Namesake

I just came across this tidbit and wanted to add it to my blog for "safe keeping". :)

After Griffin's awesome fight to get here we wanted to give him a strong family name. 

It just doesn't get any better than this! 

It's a tiny bit hard to read. For just in case I'll re-add it again here. 

"Progressive patriot and citizen soldier in Texas War for Independence. A member of Green DeWitt's colony. Came to Texas with his family in 1830. Served as guard for women and children fleeing Gonzales before the approach of Santa Anna, 1836. Is burried on his 4,428 acre land grant extending south from this site. "

David Burkett is Griffin Burkett's great grandfather times 6 (and hopefully Bobby and I are counting correctly)! 

Questions, Questions!

Get those questions in guys!

I have some really great ones so far that I'm super excited to get answered! I'll probably break them into a couple of different post so I can spend as much time answering them as possible. I'll start tonight so today is your last day to leave a comment to either the previous post or this one.

Get going on those questions to enter my giveaway!

The Forgotten Drawer

When I was pregnant and getting ready to have Griffin (and by ready I use that term very loosely) I had Bobby bring down our pack n' play and set it up in our bedroom. Griffin really had nothing set up in his room to speak of. No furniture, no decor, nothing really in his closet.

I decided on the day that Bobby set up his nighttime/nap time sleeping place that I should at least get a place ready to hold some of his little clothes and maybe some diapers and wipes. In my heart and mind I just wasn't yet ready to think of Griffin actually being here with us. I was still too heartbroken from Caroline's loss to actually put my faith into anything tangible.

That afternoon I forced myself to crack open my heart a little bit. It opened just wide enough for a little used drawer at the bottom of my chest of drawers. I carefully placed some little onesies and a couple of other baby things and then shut it quickly. God forbid something bad happen it was just a little drawer that could just stay closed forever.

We all know how happily this story ends. :)

The other day I had started a New Year's purge and was cleaning out closets and drawers. I happened to pull out Griffin's little drawer that had escaped my notice all these months.

Oh the joy!

My very sweet little "helper". He is most often these days my shadow! :)

And don't you just adore the very decorative football that I have staring at me every night. :) It needs to find a new home but I just haven't figured out where yet.  

My helper and his cute marker covered hands. He also brought his favorite accessory with him. A tiny car!

The little blue whale and crab sleeper on top is what killed me when I pulled open the drawer. It was the very first outfit that I made myself buy and it was also the first outfit that Griffin wore in the hospital!

Griffin with my Momma while we were still in the hospital.

That drawer may stay just like it is for a very long time. What once symbolized the great "what-if's" in life now holds precious memories.

Getting To Know Me (And A Giveaway!)

As I'll be blogging picture-less for the the next week and a half (unless a small miracle happens and my new camera gets here sooner than expected...) I'd like to do some posts that don't require any pictures!

I propose that y'all toss me some questions that I can answer about myself. Feel free to ask me about anything about myself  that you've never seen on here before.

To kick this up a notch and make this a little bit more fun I'll draw some random winners. Two to be exact! One winning question that comes from a follower and another winner that is a non-follower but that reads my blog (If you fall into this category be sure to leave me your email address to get a hold of you!).

Ask away friends!! :)

Updated: I guess you'd all like to know what the prize will be? ;) How does a Target gift card sound?

Getting Back To It.

This

Plus this

Equals...

Hillary can get back to blogging again!! 

I went to check the mail this afternoon and found the above gift card in our mailbox. Bobby kicked butt last month and his company sent him a very fun "thank you" card. :) That added with some Christmas money I received means I can Blog again! With Pictures! 

My good friend Gretchen will be pleased indeed! Gretchen, get ready to re-discuss the merits of new lenses. :)

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2012 and Hello 2013!

I can't wait to see just what this year has in store for all of us! May everyone be blessed with prosperity, unfailing health, surrounded by all your loved ones and much joy!

Time For New Beginings

By Taylor Addison

"This is a time for reflection as well as celebration. As you look back on the past year

and all that has taken place in your life, remember each experience for the good

that has come of it and for the knowledge you have gained. 

Remember the efforts you have made and goals you have reached. Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought. 

Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears.

And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come. 

Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings

and the celebration of life."