Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I've been behind getting my posts updated, so as I sit here for a few minutes before I get dressed to go to work on this Eve of the New Year, I thought I would throw together some photos from our holidays.
We celebrated Christmas Eve at our house this year with a Mexican Food Fiesta-complete with Aunt Kathy's bean recipe.  Missed not having my brothers here, hint hint.  Maybe next year we can all do Christmas together!
 I think the most entertaining event of the night was our annual kid competetion gift.  This year I wrapped up gift cards in two plastic bowls I taped closed with packing tape, then proceeded to cover it with layers and layers and layers and layers of packing paper and packing tape until the gift ball was a little bit bigger than the size of a basketball.  Then we give the kids oven mitts and one minute each to try and get the gift open.  They keep going until the winner is the one who finally figures out the trick to packing tape.  Let's just say it took a few turns, but Parker finally won.  But with much help from the girls who realized that brute force strength was not going to get it open, but to try and find the start and end of the packing tape and peel it away!  Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of it, because I was too busy laughing and videotaping it!

The Hailes, Gunthers and Rawleys Christmas 2012

One of Christmas tress

this is just the gifts from our exchange!

Me, Mom and Kim

Ethan's pile of gifts, and a dog butt

Frankie liked Ethan's dancing sock monkey

Parker loved his new docking station alarm clock

And all his new golf shirts

Haileys new Coach wristlet

And these strange leopard print Sperrys

Merry Christmas from the Rawley crew!

 

The kids were all very happy with their gifts this year, and very thankful and grateful.  I love all my new jewelry-thanks Anthony for hooking a hubby up-and my new Bose headphones so I can start rocking out while working out again!

 



We enjoyed our annual NYE lunch today at Fogo de Chao and this year took my nephew Taylor and my Dad.  It was fabulous as usual-and fun to watch the boys flip their cards over and watch a slew of gauchos show up with their specialities!

My daughter is in Wichita for a NYE Party, the boy is at his cousins-complete with a bottle of Sparkling Red Grape Juice and a mad game of Monopoly.  Brian, the bald kid and the dogs are chillin out watching DVR'd football games, and I'm getting ready to go to work.  So, if you're going out tonight-be safe, don't drink and drive, I would hate for you to cause an accident or get a DUI, but most of all, I would hate to see you on my CT table

.I can reflect on 2012 as a most interesting year for us to say the least. A lot happened, and we had lots of family and friends there to support us. We are looking to pay it forward in 2013. If we've realized one thing this year, it's how forunate we are, and even when things looked at their worst-our laughter and positive attitudes pulled us through.

 I'm as happy and content as I've ever been today and am hoping 2013 continues to bless us.



 

May the New Year bring you much health and happiness!

 

Love,

Brian, Kari

Hailey, Parker, Ethan

Harley, George and Frankie

Tears

As I logged in to type this post, the TV program Face The Nation just ran the photos along with names and ages of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting.  I have purposely stayed off the Internet and FB, and avoided the news this weekend, but in this last 30 seconds of silence I watched.  Out of respect for those innocent victims and their families, I watched and I wept.
From the safety of my bedroom, with my children snuggled in their beds, tears stream down my face and onto the computer.  The words on the screen are blurry from my tears. Now I offer a prayer for those grieving families for some strength, peace and comfort in the days to come.   And prayers of strength for all those exposed to the evil act that happened at that school;  the surviving staff and students, the First Responders-EMS and Police Officers, and the hospital staff who received victims unable to be saved.

Over the last couple of days as I have spoken with friends about this horrific tragedy, voices got quiet, eyes never met, and the conversations were short as heads were bowed and shook. Lumps formed in our throats and tears in our eyes.  As a mom, I don't want to think that this is possible in my children's schools.  But in fact, in reality, it could have happened anywhere.

Times have changed.  The days of tornado drills being ran monthly have given way to "active shooter" drills and "lockdown" drills in our schools.  I can't help but feel helpless to these changes.
As a parent, I want to protect my children, yet I want them to be very aware of the world we live in today.  Which leaves me with that helpless feeling. Worrying about strangers has given way to worrying about guns and drugs in schools.  
 I question how have we gone so wrong as a society?  Are we all so busy that we can't take the time to look out for one another?  Yes, is the answer.  And I am just as guilty as the next person.
Maybe if we all took a little time out of  our busy lives to notice a struggling, sad, disconnected peer, some of these young people wouldn't feel violence is the answer.

I will not debate gun control, mental health issues, God and prayer in school, or any other issues people want to blame this tragic event on.  I will tell you I intend to spend more time with my family getting back to the basics.  Stressing the importance of  treating people with kindness and fairness. Eating dinner together. Turning OFF the TV and the Playstation, the iPhones and the iPads.  I think we have forgotten the importance of time.  The time we give to our children, our spouses, our friends. Our precious time is whittled away from the everyday things like work, and before you know it, that time is gone.  Time is the best gift you can give, especially to your children.  And while those families no longer have time with their loved ones, I will not squander the opportunity I have with mine.  My responsibility as a parent is to grow and foster a contributing, caring, productive member of society, and I promise to spend more time doing just that.

As a police wife, my heart goes out tonight to law enforcement families. 4 LEO's have been killed in the line of duty this weekend.
In Memphis, TN a 9 yr veteran, mother of four, was shot and killed serving a narcotics search warrant on Friday.
In Washington County, Missouri a Sheriff's Deputy for only two months lost his life on Saturday.
And tonight, in Topeka, Kansas,  2 officers were fatally wounded.   At this time the suspect is still at large.
My husband celebrated his 44th birthday this weekend, and I thank God every day he walks through our front door after his shift protecting our city. But the fear is always there.  After 14 years together I never take for granted the time we have together, as each shift could be his last, but I have learned to accept what is, and law enforcement is what he loves and what he does.  

Lots of tears this weekend.  And lots of prayers.