Your husband is RETIRED at 27?!

Yes, my husband is retired. From rugby that is. And that WAS until TONIGHT! Apparently back in the day my hunka hunka burnin' love was a mad rugby player. Legit played flyhalf (?) in superleague rugby, which I didn't know what that was until a friend of mine in graduate school explained is the equivalent of being the QB for the Dallas Cowboys. Hopefully Cash is better than Romo though. Uhh...

 

Anywhoodle, he was retired from the sport after moving back to Midland a few years ago and sustaining several major injuries. I've never even seen him play!! Can you imagine being married to a professional athlete and not seeing them play? Me either. So Saturday he spent the afternoon showing me old game film. 1--I was stoked to watch him. 2--I was slightly more stoked to know my children have a huge possibility of being speed demons. (So...sports were kind of a big deal in our family.)

 

At one point he was trying to get on with the US Rugby Team. LEGIT! Then he "retired" and gave up that dream. But...did you know rugby is going to be an Olympic sport in 2016? And momma wants to go to the Olympics! haha. That's a stretch, but I have been begging him to get back out on that field and PLAY!!! I knew when he watched footage of those days gone by he'd be out there tonight. Guess who was right. Yep. Me. He's been gone for pert near 2 hours playing the sport he loves. Oh, it does my soul good to know he's doing something he loves so much.

 

For the record--he's not retired in his career. Big guy might have some gray hair but he still has a job, albeit licking rocks, but he has a job.

 

Speaking of jobs...In the past few weeks I have started my own new job, and I must admit it has been wonderful!!! I'm finally starting to get the hang of some of the ins and outs, but when I say that inevitably something else comes up that I don't know! Never ending learning but I wouldn't want it any other way.

 

With my first ever 8-5 job I do find myself reminiscing on the good times over Christmas when we went back to my parents' farm to celebrate said good times.

 

First things first--when we got there, my dad decided he'd give me a kindle. My friends in book club think I'm in the Stone Ages, because I walk to Barnes and Noble for all of our book selections. I haven't broken the Kindle out yet (there's just something about the smell of a real book), but I'm stoked to use it on trips. (Thanks, Dad! Not that you read my blog. But thanks!)

 

What what--a girl's first e-reader

Since we went to celebrate Christmas, we celebrated forty-eleven times! Whoop! At my Granny and Pa's house we always have a bazillion people and a gazillion kids running around. I just love it!

My cousin Tyra brought her new boyfriend to our Christmas this year, and he was such a good sport that he agreed when Granny asked/made him read the Christmas story from the Bible. My little cousin Tony read too, albeit in his Jamaican voice. I don't know where that came from...but you never know about that clan! (I mean..do y'all remember my blog about Uncle Larry??? Okay then...apple meet tree.)

cute little babies all across the back porch bed

Braeson and Addison got about 3,254 presents each. I think they need 1 more to be satisfied. Hmph! Seriously though...the adults wouldn't quit building the kids' Legos and playing with their BeyBlades.

notice who is not playing

Real mature, guys. Real mature.

I was P-U-M-P-E-D to see all of my family at once AND have my husband with me!!! First married Christmas=a complete heart.

love this back porch. love this man.

It actually snowed on Christmas day in the Ozarks!!!! Don't poke fun---this is serious business. My mom hooked up an old car hood to the 4-wheeler, and we went sledding "Jethro style"! Although Cash had made fun of me for pert near 2 years concerning this matter, he even giggled like a little girl when he was riding around. And Brae LOVED riding with Cash. I think having an uncle has done the kid some good. :)

 

Ahh..mountains. Snow. Trees. So many things I had forgotten what they looked like!!

 

 

"sledding" with my boo on Christmas Day

 

 Have I ever mentioned how much I love Braeson and Addison? No amount of miles could keep me from these hugs. I am so in love with these two it's unreal.



 

the sweetest hugs of all

We got to go to my home church where we got married, watch tons of b-ball in Ozark and Alma, visit with old friends, and even seal a spot in the local newspaper. Cash feels pretty legit now that he's been in the Spectator two weeks in a row: once for killing his aoudad and once for visiting an elderly lady on Barnes Mountain who happens to write an article every week. That's what small towns and good times are all about!

I hated to leave, but it was nice to come home and have this book sitting on my doorstep!

Ahhh...our wedding photo book!!!

Oh, wedding day, what sweet memories I have of you!

Last Friday Addi Doodle was in basketball homecoming! It was hard to be away for that, but I am so thankful for technology! She sent me a video of herself getting ready and said, "I wish you were here, Aunt A!!" Ugh. Tears. Ugh.

a real life princess

Little princess went to cheer camp Saturday and got to perform at halftime tonight. My family doesn't really know anything about cheerleading, but I do know this: she's the cutest, sweetest, most precious little cheerleader of all!!!!

Oh..and an update on my Brae Bear. Thanks for all the prayers! After several tests they felt his kidney issue was calmed down to the point they are only testing once a year. However, his heart has started "fluttering" so we're waiting on more appointments at Children's to see what we have going on there. In the meantime he is still as rowdy as ever and kept his uncle and I very entertained when we fed him calf fries for the first time ever. We didn't tell him what they were, but when he found out he was on the verge of passing out. Ghostly white I tell ya. The kid still loves them though. Weird. He and his Uncle Cash. Buncha weirdos.

Again, thanks for the prayers and messages you all have sent.

Have a good one!

XOXO...
Avery Jane

Be Kind...Rewind

This afternoon yours truly is undergoing the knife laser. I've had glasses or contacts since I was about 10 years old, so it got me to thinking about all the new things that have developed (or I've come of age for) since then. And thus, all of the fun things I've never done without corrective vision.

I've never...

• driven a vehicle
• seen my husband
• used a cell phone
• played on a home computer
• hugged my niece and nephew
• had a job
• put on make-up

without some sort of help from the ol' eye doc. I wonder what the world is going to look like when I don't have to put on an extra set of eyes to see it.

That being said I wanted to do a little "Shoutout to 2012" post before we leave for A-R-K-A-N-S-A-S on Saturday!

They say what you do on New Year's Eve is a precursor for the rest of the year. On Dec 31, 2011, I was in Midland, Texas, with my then-boyfriend. So...statement considered true! Since then...

**We got engaged in March!! Ruidoso, New Mexico, has been my favorite place on Earth since then!!!!

one of the happiest days of my life!

 

**Bobby Petrino wrecked his motorcycle, and after that all bad things broke loose for Arkansas football.

 

Oh, Bobby

 

**In April my parents and I took Cash turkey hunting for the first time in his life. He didn't see one but heard a few. It's a start! (And I think he's kind of hooked now!)

Arkansas turkey woods=love

**Throughout the summer we celebrated with wedding showers--for us and some of our friends! Wedding bliss abounded.

**My sister threw me a baseball bachelorette party in July. Go NWA Naturals!

my little Katie bug <3 td="td">

**In July we obviously got hitched. Best choice I've ever made. Ever.

Calvary Baptist Church, Ozark, Arkansas

**I moved to Cash's hometown of Midland, Texas, after the honeymoon. Here I've met the greatest friends a girl could ask for. They've helped me more in a new town than they'll ever know.

Savannah, Kellye, me, and Heather at Ross and Barb's wedding in Santa Fe

**After President Obama famously said to business owners, "You didn't build that." my husband's CEO had signs made that he placed outside the ClayDesta Center.

'nuf said

**Clayton also threw another ranch party in October, this time with Clint Black as the main entertainment. These have become the most anticipated weekends of the year for me!

Happy 81st birthday, Clayton!

**We also went to the Midland County Women's Republican ball in October right before the election.

MCRW Pink Elephant Ball 2012

**The first weekend in November Cash and I hosted our first Thanksgiving dinner with both sets of our parents. Check that off the "done" list. I don't know if I've cooked since! ha.

First Thanksgiving

**The day of the election we were anticipating celebrating with friends. Friends still came, but we didn't celebrate anything but the right to vote.

**Also in November John L. Smith officially became the worst coach in Razorback football history. Well, I think it's official.

In his words...SMILE

**Earlier in December I got to surprise my family with a little impromptu trip to Arkansas since I wasn't working. I hung out with all my grandparents, some of my cousins, and of course the immediate fam. I even saw my great-great-grandfather's moonshine still, which makes me itching for my own piece of history.

**Simultaneously, Cash went on two hunts in the same week: springbok and aoudad. We've eaten both, and we have loved them!

Cash and his springbok

**Arkansas hired former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema who better be flippin' good and help us win some games in the SEC, or I'm signing him up for a motorcyle of his own. Good news is he already has a young, hott blonde wife. No need to hire one from the volleyball team.

I'm a Bielemer. haha

**And of course, last but not least, I just accepted a job with a local bank. I could not be more elated. After interviews and phone calls and applications and considering all things "banky", I wanted this bank more than you can imagine. After my second interview, the bank president took me into his office for about 10-15 minutes and talked with me. I had already been through questioning and analyzing and knew I wanted to be there. But as professional and kind as he was, it made my half of the decision even more solid. The next week they called and offered me the job, and I literally just hit print on the final paperwork.

**January 2 I'll be glasses-free and a banker, which makes Cash and I possibly the most hated couple in America: banking and oil. As one man told us last night we should expect a lump of coal for Christmas. Cash pointed out that as a geologist and oilman, coal might actually be a great present for him! Win-win!!

I hope you all have a MERRY CHRISTMAS, and wonderful New Year, and a blessed 2012. From our little house to yours...

Yeah, I spelled "Christmas" wrong on the first try. hahahaha

WPS!!!!

~Avery Jane~

Need To Breathe

I don't really need to breathe anymore than usual today, but their CD is sitting next to my computer and it made me think how much I love jamming to "Washed by the Water". It steals my heart. And my rhythm.

So a few weeks ago Cash was invited on a "safari" (I say safari very loosely here-more later) hunt in South Texas. He was also supposed to be at his work's deer camp the following week too. When he told me, I was elated for him, but he said he wasn't going since I would have to be here all alone for a week. Bahumbug. I told him I had no problem missing him from Arkansas like I could Texas, "Go and have fun!!!"

That's how I found myself in Arkansas for the first time in 5 MONTHS!! Eeeek. I was so excited.

My mother-in-law was heading to Dallas, so I rode with her. Then my sister (and a surprise to me--my mom!!) met me there. We shopped and ate our hearts out (La Madeleine. What!) then headed back to the A-R on Sunday morning.

When we got back, we had to stop at Wal-Mart real quick.

Mind you: my first trip to Arkansas in 5 months.
First stop: Wal-Mart.
First visual: a family taking a group shot out front.
Not a joke. You can't make that stuff up.

Then we went to pick up my niece and nephew, and I HUGGED AND HUGGED AND HUGGED Addison and bawled my eyes out. Braeson? He ran from me and wouldn't let me get near him. Ugh.

Mom and I headed to their house later, and once we got in and changed we went on a squirrel hunt!

most of the new pups

The day Cash and I got married my mom's female had a litter of pups! I hadn't even seen them! We took about 8 or 9 dogs out on the hunt, and it was awesome to just walk around the woods. I don't know the last time I had even seen a tree! ha.

The next day I ate lunch with my grandpa at the Senior Citizens' Center. All the old ladies would say, "Oh, are you Milburn's granddaughter? Are you Avery?" I just said yes, ma'am...yes, ma'am...repeat. Grandpa finally told me, "They'd be shock to hear I had more grandkids!" Old man---how much do I love him?! I kind of felt bad for my sister and cousins since they're non-existent to his friends, but what the hey? He loves me the most. :)

We went to my grandma's cousin's house later where I tried to buy my GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S moonshine still he used back in his bootleggin' days. I just thought it would be the neatest piece of history to have, but the old man wouldn't budge and said NO WAY is it ever for sale. Jerk.

great-great-grandfather's moonshine still

One day. One day.

Later in the week Mom and I went to NWA to my brother-in-law's basketball game but stopped in Fayetteville/Springdale to shop a little. Guess who I got to see?! Seriously my best, best friend whom I haven't seen in FOREVER!!!! She lived in Budapest (yeah, HUNGARY!) this summer, and then I moved to Texas before she came home. It was so great to see Les and hear about how life in NWA is for her and Zach. Gah, love them!!

love her!!

At the game I started hollerin' at the refs, just because it's fun for me to holler. My niece started elbowing me in the ribs and said I was "embarrassing" her because "no one else in the entire gym is yelling." I informed her she was a 6 year old liar. But in the end she won, and I quit. Figures.

The two rugrats had Christmas programs 2 days later, so we got to go back up to NWA for that. This time Braeson actually came within 10 feet of me. :) How cute are kindergarteners and 1st graders in Christmas programs?! Awwwwwww.

my heartbeats, my loves, my everythings <3 td="td">

Oh, yes, Cash had his hunts. The first one they dubbed a safari hunt? I call it cheating, but nonetheless. I guess you can hunt on a high fenced ranch in Texas and equal it to a safari hunt in Africa. Same animals I suppose.

Cash bagged this springbok the first night he was there! (A wildebeest, red stag, and impala were also taken within 24 hours of Cash's springbok. This is why I call it cheating.)

Look at scruffy mcgruffy with his trophy!

It was awesome for him though! The company is mounting the head and tanning the hide for us. I actually am pretty pumped to get those back, but it'll be about a year. The meat has already come in, and we had springbok steak for dinner last night. He also had some made into "slim jims." Oh. My. Goodness. Delic!

The next week at deer camp he ended up getting a female aoudad instead of a deer, and he had a lot of it made into sausage. I made breakfast with it yesterday morning, and it was really good too. This is why I love being married to a hunter! What a man--hunts the animal and feeds his family with it. Ain't no wastin' in the Pullin house fo' sho!


As much as I loved visiting, I couldn't help but smile a thousand smiles when I saw my husband a week later. It felt like we were dating all over again when he picked me up at the airport on a Friday night!! Lol.

CWEI Christmas Party 2012

We had four Christmas parties last week: book club, Clayton Williams Energy, Young Republicans, and a dress-up one. I loved seeing all the friends I've made in the past 5 months!! I love this town!!!!!

And of course for the costume Christmas party I had to dress up as...

Ohhhh yeah, baby!!!

Can you guess?!? No one at the party had any idea whom I was. A friend back home and my niece and nephew figured it out in 3 seconds. So...good luck! ha.

We did our first married Christmas yesterday! My husband way way way spoiled me! He even spent 2 hours after church yesterday watching Anne of Green Gables, part 1 with me. Although I'm not sure he would admit it, I'm pretty certain he liked it!

Cash and Jett

Jett, that spoiled boxer, loved his Christmas presents too. But he and Bequette fought over the new stuffed squirrel all day. That thing is going to be chewed to pieces before we leave Saturday to...GO. BACK. TO. ARKANSAS!!!!

What?! We have a new head coach!!!!!!! BRET BIELEMA, BABY!!! WOO PIG SOOOIEEEEE!!!!!!!!! One more party first though! Woot!!!! Here's to another awesome two weeks awaiting us! Love this time of year!!!

WPS!!!!

~Avery Jane~