Happy Birthday Sweet Husband!

Michael does not like to make a big deal out of birthdays, so I do as much as he will allow me to get away with. I just want him to know how special and precious he is to me! As much as I do love him....he likes expensive and big "toys." For example, most of the items he wants cost over $100. So, we have to save up before purchasing them. Or, when I ask him what he wants, he responds by saying "nothing" or "I have everything I want." This can be frustrating at times for the gift giver. Well, LAST night...the night before his actual birthday, he drops the hint that we would like to have the Bourne Trilogy on DVD. A light bulb went off in my head....we can afford that! Just to clarify-We are not poor by any means. We just are very careful with how we spend our money. So, today I went online and purchased the DVDs. They should be here by Friday. I told Michael about them when I gave him his cards. Yes, cards is plural. I can never just pick one, so I got two. He was excited, which made me happy.

As I mentioned previously, Michael doesn't like making an ordeal out of birthdays. Even when I asked him what kind of cake he wanted me to make, he said that he didn't want me to. He just wanted a lasagna and ice cream. So, I bought a bucket of Homemade Blue Bell Cookies and Cream and cooked a lasagna for his birthday dinner.

Fortnuately, my wonderful mother-in-law and father-in-law got a cake and invited us over to celebrate. Can it really be a birthday without cake and ice cream? I think not! We had fun visiting and eating at my in-law's NEW HOUSE! Yes, they have moved! We are super pumped for them too!

What a cute birthday boy!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Happy Birthday to Michael!

Happy Birthday to YOUUUUUU!

And MANY MORE......

Our First Dose of Parenthood

Michael and I are having lots of fun taking care of our little one. (except for having to get up in the middle of the night.) Colby is a sweet little guy! I have mentioned before that we got him before the six week mark, so we are bottle feeding him. I thought it was so cute, that I wanted to share it with the blog world. I am going to be starting him on some mush (rice cereal or oatmeal) this week. He is starting to stay up longer and play more, which is very entertaining to watch. At first, he was TERRIFIED of the floor. (Our floor is stained concrete). He would whimper and cry if he stepped one paw on it. Now, he sniffs around exploring and plays with no puppy crying!

Today was a big step for our family. It was the VERY first time we left Colby alone at home since we got him. We set him up good in the bathroom, making sure he would be comfortable. As soon as we shut the door he starting crying. I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest. Michael just told me to not come near the bathroom. Fortunately, before we set foot out the door to leave for church, he was sound asleep. He was asleep when we got home, so I have convinced myself he was sleeping the whole time we were gone and did not even notice we left.

Our Newest Addition to the Case Family

Introducing: Colby Scott Case

Those of you who have known me...know that I have wanted a beagle since I found out the breed existed! My dream finally came true this Christmas. My mom and Benny bought me a beagle puppy from a "good ol'country boy." I put this in quotations, because he told us this about twenty times in the fifteen minutes we were there. His place looked like something out of Deliverance, so I am seeing this as a rescue too. Plus, Colby had a lot of fleas on him...that Michael and I are having to pick off one by one, because he is too young for flea medicine. He had two six and a half week old pups, but they were spoken for. Then, he had a litter of puppies that were three to four weeks old. I know you are not suppose to take a puppy from its mother until six weeks. BUT, he (the breeder) said it would be okay, and of course I fell in love with my Colby. So, we took him home!

Kate loves Colby. She kept looking at him and smiling. I think she like the fact that he was smaller than her!

After we got back to Luke and Amanda's my stomach starting feeling nauseated. I thought I was just nervous about having such a young puppy to take care of. Well, I knew that it was more than just that once we got in the car to head home. Fortunately, there were gas station bags and gift bags in the car, because I threw up four times on the way home. My brother and sister-in-law had just recovered from the stomach bug, so I picked up where they left off. Every time I went for a bag Michael had to grab Colby out of my lap. I was wondering how in the world am I going to take care of Colby while I am soooo sick! Michael did a fabulous job that first night, and he took the next day off work to make sure I was okay. Plus, MY MOMMA came to visit along with Benny of course. She was a major help! I couldn't have done it without her help, especially when Michael had to go back to work. Momma and Benny stayed for a couple of nights and it was great to have some extra time with my Momma.

Colby is having to drink puppy formula. He couldn't take a bottle at first, so I had to feed him through a syerenge (I don't know how you spell it. It's the thing doctors use for shots.) Momma got him to start taking a bottle. Next week I am going to start giving him mush, so by the time I have to go back to work he can hopefully be starting to eat soft puppy food and milk.

We love our new little man. He is also starting to want to play just a little. He still sleeps a lot. Michael is scared to touch him, since he is around so many sick dogs at work. He just wants to be extra careful until Colby has his shots at six weeks.

How could you ever say no to that face?

Well, I am off to make oreo balls and finish wrapping presents! I will write about all the Christmas festivities later:) Merry Christmas to EVERYONE!

Love,

The Case Family

Let it Snow!

A couple of weeks ago we had SNOW! Our first winter in our first home...we got SNOW! It was absolutely beautiful! It came down on a Friday night and stayed for most of Saturday. There were still patches left on Sunday. No school was missed. Who knew it would snow in a normal winter month like December. Normally, we get snow in really odd months, like February or March. We took some pictures of the Winter Wonderland:)

Our house was covered!

The backyard view

The neighborhood

My NEW Haircut

I had previously written about how I was going to do some changing in my life, so I thought...why not start with my hair? I had been wanting to get it cut for a long time but had to wait due to the infection on my scalp. I wanted to make extra sure I was cured first. So, I decided to do something completely different and I love it! I had thought about getting bangs before and even discussed it with my BFF, Emmylou, but I was scared to take the jump. So, I LEAPED today! I have had bangs before, but it was totally in Jr. High. I am happy with my decision:) Oh! I also got most of the layers cut out. They were driving my crazy...but it is all good now! I even still have my ponytail! Good thing I got my haircut before Christmas pictures!

The Hubby Update

Michael took his Pre-Physical Training Test this Tuesday, and he passed EVERYTHING! I knew he would. I am so proud! Love you sweetheart!

Reflections in the Mirror

This all started by me taking a couple of "mental health" days off work. If you are a school teacher, you realize these are a necessity at times. Either way, I took them. Well... when I forced myself to take off work to get some much needed Christmas shopping done, I also found myself being extremely self-reflective. Which apparently proves I had too much time on my hands to think. But there are many times when I make myself busy, so I do not have to think about anything. I believe God was giving me one of those "BE STILL" moments. (He gave me one before, abruptly, on my father's wedding day/moving to the Saltillo rental house. I got locked in a bathroom with no windows or cell phone for about two hours. Michael had to literally smash the door in.) I woke up and was washing off my face, and I took a moment to look in the mirror. I thought "who is that looking back at me in the mirror?" I saw a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, graduate student, and teacher. BUT I didn't see MYSELF anymore. I have gotten so caught up in playing all the roles life demands me to play that I have lost myself in the process. It was a very humbling and eye-opening experience. I also realized that I had gotten my priorities out of order, because the role that is most important I had pushed a side. The role of being a child of God. I guess I had just taken Him for granted, but NOT anymore. My mission now to not forget about who I am as a person and to keep Christ in the front and center of my life. I talked to my hubby about all of this. And he is very supportive as always. I told him that I am going to be doing some changing for the positive, so I can look in the mirror and see myself again. I know this is not all going to happen over night, but "God is not done with me yet." I might even blog about the whole process. Let me know your thoughts. I do not want to bore the blog readers.

MiniUpdates

It is getting down to count for Michael to be going to the Academy. He leaves on January 18th. Which I believe is Martin Luther King day, so I will thankfully be off work. He is starting to run a lot and workout. I am not looking forward to him being gone, but I know this is a major step forward for him in his career. Love you Sweetheart!

I finished my class, Classroom Management, with an A! I was super excited to keep my 4.0. This class was not the easiest class. I am glad it is over. Now I will be able to relax during the holidays and spend some time with family:)

I Did NOT Skip Thanksgiving

I LOVE Thanksgiving! It hurts me that America jumps from Halloween to Christmas. It is obvious when you walk into the mall, and the department stores have Christmas decor out like on November 1st or before. Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas too, but Thanksgiving needs to me remembered as well. Okay, I am getting off my soapbox.

One perk of being a school teacher is I get the whole week off of work! I was in definite need of some major rest. Try spending eight hours of your day with teenagers! But, I can honestly say, that I truly enjoy my job. I got One downer is that I had to work on a graduate school project all week, but I got it finished and submitted. I only have my final left to take. Also, Michael had to work all week...even on Thanksgiving. We made the best of things, as much as we could. I got to talk to all of my family on the phone for Thanksgiving and watch the parade on television. Everyone was good, so I was thankful. I did miss them. This is the second year in a row I have not gotten to see them on Thanksgiving. Michael and I went to Cracker Barrel to meet up with his family, and we all decided to get a dinner to go and take it to Michael's parent's house...so we could all be together. I even got to do a little Christmas shopping while we waited. Mrs. Karon thought she was going to have to work, and fortunately she called in :) Here are some pictures of the Case family Thanksgiving.

me with my hubby

the guys

the girls

Brandon and Heather are ENGAGED!

Brandon, my brother-in-law, met Heather on the internet and had an instant connection (no pun intended). Heather is from Pennslyvania....a really long ways a way. Distance did not keep these two from falling in love. Brandon popped the question when Heather came down to Mississippi to meet the family. The big day is set for August 28, 2010!

The Bling

The future Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Case

Michael and I had decided that instead of buying each other gifts, we would get one get to the both of us. So...we got a NEW television! Michael is so proud of it. He found it on the internet (like he does everything), and we had to go pick it up at the Best Buy in Louisiana. I am guessing they are the only Best Buy store with this particular model. We had fun on our little road trip.