This year was a bittersweet one for us! It started out with a 77 day deployment for Craig and that was really hard since I had never endured him being gone THAT long with two kiddos. But, what kept me going was being a Mommy and my photography business. 2011 brought TLC Moments a ton of business that included weddings and individual sessions. My new branding is STILL a work in progress and I am hoping for more great opportunities and an abundance of sessions and events in 2012! Summer time was a tough one this year! While I ended my 20's and turned 30, Craig was away in OK for a good portion of that time in training, but he didn't disappoint as he surprised me with a wonderful Birthday surprise. He took me on my very FIRST airplane ride with the best PILOT in the world, himself, a lavishing dinner and a night stay at Wichita's Castle B&B. I thought our fairytale date was over upon returning home only to find my most favorite people in my life standing in my living room yelling "Happy Birthday!" I was in awe and was so surprised and shocked. My mom made a special trip from TX just to be there and that meant alot. Craig's mom Nadine couldn't make it but she had her hand in planning the whole thing which meant the world to me!! My best friend Jondra made my beautiful birthday cake and she was in on all the planning as well and did so much to make it special for me!! I love Craig for everything he did to prepare the most memorable birthday EVER!! We really enjoyed visits from My Mom, my Aunt Kathy, and Nana Nana and Gramps. We celebrated Taylor's 5th Birthday with a Fancy Nancy Birthday Party and all her closest family and friends!! They got a trampoline this Summer which they have thoroughly enjoyed! Early Spring/Summer Landon made HUGE milestones. He gained his "Potty Power", said good bye to pull-ups AND lost all of his "binkies" himself so he kinda did the weaning all on his own! July was another big month for us as we learned so exciting news!! We were PREGNANT with baby #3. Also, Craig pinned on Major and we celebrated at home with a small pinning ceremony. I was so proud! Our Summer ended on a very sad note. We lost our first baby.. our Chocolate Lab Oakley in August to Cancer. We all suffered alot and it was a hard, tragic time for us. But as they say, time heals and the Lord brought us through that storm and Oakley still lives in us through memory. Fall was so much fun, we met an amazing lady to help us out at home with the kids while Craig serves our country and while I pursue my dreams in photography. She has been our Saving Grace and the kids love her so much!! Taylor started Kindergarten at Park Hill and she loves that school AND her teacher very much!! She has met new friends and is learning to read and do math very well!! Landon was so thrilled to go to 'school' at Jack and Jill Pre-School where he remembered his sister went last year!! That is something he has enjoyed so much and has progressed at learning his Alphabet and Numbers as well. Craig did another short deployment this Fall and we were so glad to welcome him home in October!! Shortly after he returned, we found out that we would be welcoming another baby BOY in April!! I have been very active in MOPS at our wonder church in Wichita and have enjoyed attending bible study!! The 2011 Holidays brought on a tons of excitement for our family!! Craig moved into a new job that has been both challenging and rewarding and he is doing wonderfully, just as I suspected!! I have been busy doing the mommy thing managing the house, kids, pregnancy and photography. It's not always a piece of cake, but I LOVE what I do!! For Thanksgiving, we Surprised the kids with a trip to Florida and Disney World where we also celebrated Landon turning 4. We shared a Florida home with Nana Nana and Gramps, Granny, Aunt Katie and Uncle Matt. We also had a visit from Craig's cousin Ben. We spent 4 days at Disney and Landon had the experience of a lifetime.... Jedi Training!! Taylor and Landon thought it was the coolest thing to fight Darth Vader!! Another great highlight of our Disney trip was meeting all the characters and having dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table!! It was so neat to share this experience with Nana Nana and Gramps. We will never forget all the Magical Memories made. The other two days of the week were spent celebrating a Star Wars party for Landon and a hearty Thanksgiving dinner!! The kids really loved swimming in the 80 degree weather in November!! When we returned, we dove straight into Christmas. We decked the halls and began all the planning for our Christmas festivities. We added a couple new traditions this year that included our "Elf on the Shelf" Kayly who the kids absolutely adored and Baby Jesus in a Manger under our Tree. It's the little things that make each Christmas so special!!! Just before Christmas Eve, we surprised the kids with a brand new Chocolate Lab puppy who we named Hershel "Walker" of OZ! The kids were so excited!! So for the last two weeks, Walker has added alot of joy to our home and has also added a LITTLE bit more work. We love him to death and we know that once we are passed the puppy stage, he will be a wonderful dog and a great one to follow in his brother Oakley's pawsteps. As, 2011 came to a close, we are ready to welcome 2012 with open arms along with welcoming our newest Lauderdale member, our baby BOY!! We hope this 'note' finds you just as ready for 2012 as we are!!! May the new memories begin!! Love the Lauderdale's ~ Cheers
