The day I outgrew my gummy smile

This revelation actually came after a complisult from Karl (thanks, hubs)- yesterday he said, "I think your gums have gotten smaller." I shoved him {lovingly}, because that was kind of a harsh thing to say. But thennnn I looked in the mirror, gave my best smile, and lo and behold his complisult was a truthful one. For as long as I can remember I haven't been obsessed with my smile {which Karl knows}, even after my $4,000 braces. I have normal size teeth {I think?} but gums bigger than Texas which made for an especially gummy smile. When I was in college, after incessant complaining, my mom promised me cosmetic dental surgery to correct the issue before I got married. Clearly I forgot that promise because unlike my chubby cheeks, allergies, and attitude, my gummy smile is something I can say I have officially outgrown, and not thanks to any surgery... or maybe I should say that I have grown into it.  Or maybe I've just changed my smile?  I mean, who knows.  Either my self-esteem has just radically improved because I went from 'not caring what anyone thinks' to 'really really not caring what anyone thinks' or my smile really has changed or my gums really have shrunk. Wahoo regardless! Some pictures for reference to mark this milestone in my life...

2006.  Yes, those were extensions creating that luscious pony.  Forgettaboutit.

I hope my sweet friend Abby doesn't kill be for this pic but it was the best I could find of my smile- I mean, you can pretty much see back to my molars.

My new, gumless smile, isn't great?!?  Just kidding. Just an awesome picture of me. Kidding again.

2011.  I think the shorter I cut my hair, the smaller my gums appear.

Just your average update on the progression of my physical appearance... wanted my kids to be able to look back someday and see how their mother's smile changed over time.

Hannah K.C. Burton

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wordless Wednesday: Preparing for Company!!!

Entitled

Yesterday this 55 year old big angry black woman came out of me.  I am at a place where I feel so angry, and empowered, like nothing & nobody can tell me "no," that I can't possibly be a 22 year old small framed ginger girl, so that only leaves one person- a 55 year old big angry black woman.  Still confused?  Have I mentioned before that being a newcomer to military life isn't fun?  Oh have I?  Thought so.  Let me rephrase this- I think it is specifically the Air Force that does this poorly- this "Welcome to The Air Force you bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, newlywed, you!  Let us give you support and a booklet and an advocate and all the information that you could ever need!"  No.  I'm literally sitting here laughing at the prospect of that.  Now, I have a sneaking suspicion that the Army & probably even the Marine Corps does this, at least better than the Air Force has done for Karl & I.  Disclaimer: I wouldn't trade Karl's branch of service for anything.  The AF (Air Force) is wonderful for other reasons and I would choose it for us over and over again before I would choose another branch.  I will also take about 9% of the blame for not putting myself out there more and seeking out this 'support' and 'information' that I speak of when Karl & I first got married... although if I had I would've just been disappointed 10 months sooner than I am.  I checked this book (above) out at the library yesterday.  Back to my opener- yesterday this thing crept up in me... I am entitled to information, to knowledge that affects Karl & my life, to knowing how the system works.  I am sooooo sick of trying to get questions answered only to be shuffled around from person to person or for someone to look at me and respond in a, "how dare you ask that?  Don't you know you are just supposed to wait around and see how it plays out??"  Or "What?  You want to know now??  Before it's too late for you to do anything about it??"  No.  Not anymore.  I may not have a choice to comply or not with your office hours that look a little something like this: MWF- closed, TuTh- 8-10, 1-3 (y'all, this is SO NORMAL and not a joke!  Remember my husband that works hmmm, like 12 hours a day, sometimes 7 days a week??  Like 90% of this base has hours like this!!  That is a whole different issue...) but I am done sitting around waiting for Karl to acquire all the information or thinking that someone is going to come knocking on my door with a sliver platter full of sweetness, honey, & pamphlets.  We are in the throws of trying to figure out what is next for Karl after South Korea- that is, more specifically, what I'm talking about.  Well, that AND what South Korea will look like for him- logistics wise.  We have missed out on several things because of being misinformed or not informed at all.  For example, if Karl separates from the Air Force when his contract is up in 2013 he will have no choice on how he is able to pay for education (to put it simply)- this is a problem because had we been informed on the issue when he joined in 2007, he would have a choice, because he had to choose then.  But we missed that boat.  Sweet.  Just one example of probably the 3,000 that we have encountered.  I'm not trying to rewrite any laws here, step on any toes, or be disrespectful toward anyone- I have Karl's best interest in mind for sure.  I am just done feeling bulldozed.  We are just praying for The Lord's guidance in our future- Karl's career path, Air Force, blind steps of faith in where we will live (so hard for me).  So while I am not trying to secure or plan our future, I am trying to gather information so we have knowledge and are not ignorant about what may lie ahead or things we may need to do as responsible adults (financially speaking, things that need to get done for Korea, etc).  So, yesterday, after I reminded myself that 55 year old big angry black women don't cry, they get it done, I marched my ginger self up to the office that wouldn't answer their phone.  Don't want to answer?  That's fine.  I'll come to you and I'll get it done because I am fearfully and wonderfully made and I am entitled... OK I added the entitled part.

Watch out,
Big Angry Black Woman

Florida:5 Texas:0

I've started helping my mom and some women from my home church plan a farewell party & youth group reunion for a family that is probably definitely the closest thing that I have to a second set of parents with kids that I love like I imagine I will love my own someday {by "parents," I mean friends, really, but I basically anything they say is as good as the bible so that counts as parents, right?}.  Chances are by the time I post this I will have written it at least 12 times because how on earth do I journal this experience adequately? {ANNND the party has actually happened at this point so this statement is now true} Anyone who knows me has heard me mention "Shane & Allison," or "The Johns'," a million times.  I rarely explain who they are, just assume you will figure it out along the course of our friendship or relationship.  The Johns' are moving to Jacksonville, Florida- chasing after The Lord's plan & path for them as I have watched them do since the day our family began intertwining with theirs.  I can't possibly begin to explain or letter the depths and lengths that our family has perfectly entangled into theirs and theirs into ours except to say that watching them move feels like one of my sisters is moving across the country and taking my niece & nephews with them.  It is so exciting to see them passionately and whole heartedly following His plan for them and I am excitedly awaiting visits to Florida and them back to Texas... but I never foresaw a day when I would visit home and they wouldn't be there.  Like, ever.  It's kind of stomach rattling and sickening in an extremely selfish way.  Shane married Karl & I, Callie & Jer, will marry Maddie to Matt, & I know will marry Em to her future husband someday.  I remember going to the hospital when their first baby boy, Seth, was born- he is almost as tall as me now.  Then we took S to meet his new sister, Kallie, when she was born and now she is almost too big to pick up and hold.  Similarly we held Seth & Kallie's hands running up the hospital hall to meet baby brother, Luke- he starts kindergarten this fall- I mean WHAT THE HECK!?!  Where on earth has the time gone?  My sister, Callie, lived with The Johns' for a period of time (although who hasn't!?!  Their home has always had a revolving door for anyone in need of a room, mad at their parents, bored, or in need of some time in a hot tub), Allison has rescued wedding dresses from stains, designed Cinderella letters & graduation announcements, Maddie & I have experienced Africa twice alongside Shane, we've shared holidays, fun & happy news, & sad times, like when Shane flew back from Florida to be with us when we lost Pa, with whom he had such a sweet relationship with.  I mean, I could literally write a novel on my deep appreciation of Shane & Allison and their children and how much they have poured into Park Springs selflessly and completely... but I'll stop because if either of them stumble upon this they will be embarrassed.  Sorry I'm not sorry.

What I love is that I know there are countless past & present students, women, praise team members, Arlington-ites, church members, and family members of church members that have similar stories- feeling so deeply and uniquely connected with Allison or Shane or one of their kids- that it literally hurts your heart to see them leave.  I cannot wait to see the youth group thrive because Shane has shown the students how to be self-led through The Holy Spirit or see the congregation pick up the slack because Allison has taught the church how worship can be carried out thru so many ways, like serving the church and others in a time of need.

annnnd since I wrote this: I'm back in South Carolina now after a trip home that included their farewell partie(s) and saying "see ya later," to The Johns Family.  Needless to say mine & Karl's 3 hour flight was a depressing one that was not a minute shy of 3 full hours of crying.  Guilty.

So, if you need a therapist to deal with their move, I know a good one.

Trying to figure out how soon is too soon/rude/inappropriate to make the 4 hour drive from here to Jacksonville, I might beat them there :)
Hannah K.C. Burton

305

305 days!  Karl & I have been married for 305 days {well, if you count the day of our wedding :)}, or 10 months!  WAHOO!  I am so so so in love with Karl & just beyond happy that we are married.  Feeling blessed that we have had such a joyous 10 months {albeit, trying & not perfect, but certainly joyous}!  Trying my best to just live moment to moment since a) planning & being future-oriented usually bites me in the butt and b) a few more months and we will be looking South Korea square in the face.  Woof.

Love this guy & this marriage!
Mrs. Hannah K.C. Burton

Happy Fathers Day!!

Happy Fathers Day, Dad!!  Since he hasn't answered his phone today (mmhmm), I guess his favorite daughter will have to do a blog shoutout to send my love to Texas to literally the best dad in the world.  Literally.  I told Karl yesterday that he is going to be the greatest dad, "almost as great as mine." Ha.  Kind of rude, but he sure does have a lot to live up to in my eyes!!  And no, I am not pregnant.  So, to the best psychologist {Dr. Phil has nothing on you}, funniest face maker, only person that laughs at mom's jokes, and man that will literally do anything for any of his girls {one time, he asked my prom date to the prom for me by going to his door in a banana costume... he has also dressed up as Hannah Montana and made a music video to try and win Maddie tickets to a concert}, HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!  I love you!!

Love you, Dad!  You are so cool & a real thug.
Hannah K.C. Burton

Arriba!!

Last weekend Karl & I returned to South Carolina after a wonderful 10 day trip back home.   Our primary purpose for the trip was a family vacay to Mexico.  The Cuppetts L.O.V.E Mexico and my dad planned this whole trip for us!  Karl & I have been leaning on The Lord & this vacation thru the past couple of rough work/homesick months here so we were just absolutely beyond excited to get home!  The trip was awesome- we were at this exact same resort just 2 summers ago with no boys; it blows my mind that in 2009 I was merely dating Karl, Callie didn't even know Jeremy, & Maddie hardly knew Matt.  Now, 2 years later, we are at the same place with 2 husbands + 1 fiance!!  Having guys with us definitely changed the vacay- we the boys had a football & frisbee in tow, played hours worth of chess on the beach, jumped off the pier multiple times, kayaked, and had lots of swimming contests- not your average Cuppett vacation but a welcomed addition to our normal family fun!  Prepare for picture overload.

I seriously felt like The Brady Bunch the whole vacation.  If you think that toting around 4 look alike ginger girls gets some attention from strangers, try upping the family number from 6 to 9.  We took lots of stares and questions- "Are you all together?  Like all of you?"

 The day we arrived, we encountered a pretty rough start to our vacation- it was pouring rain the second our plane landed and didn't take a break the whole first day... that would've been fine had it been the only... the only thing I can think of right now is "ball buster" and that isn't blog appropriate..  bump in the road that we encountered.  However, Karl & my room was upstairs as was Callie & J's and those woven/straw/thatched roofs are not meant to withstand {what we later learned was} Tropical Storm Micah.  So, an hour later and with not an inch of dry clothing on us, we switched rooms and headed to dinner.  This is where the ball busting continued... last time we were at the resort it was totally great.  I mean, I wouldn't say that this resort is "Honeymoon worthy," but it was great for an awesome family vacation.  Most importantly, this resort has the best beach on the whole island, which is really why we go there.  Well, back to this trip and this dinner- we quickly realized that the food had definitely gone from 3 1/2-4ish stars to 1/2 a star in the two years since we had been there.  It was bad, y'all.  Every meal from the first to the last was spent begging for something edible and complaining to management incessantly.  This led to ordering Pizza Hut and having it delivered one night and then management approaching us on the beach the next day with a conversation that went a little like this, "We saw you had to order out pizza last night.  We are so sorry our food has forced you to do that.  We would like to invite you to a special dinner as a way of apologizing and trying to make you feel welcome."  We all looked around at each other suspiciously not knowing what a "special dinner," would entail.  Later that night we found ourselves eating off of fine china and being served pricey wine while those around us weren't.  Redemption?  No.  Nice and finally delicious?  Yes.  Awkward because the other diners saw that we were being served different food than them?  Yes.  If you know our family, you know that confrontation and customer service are two things we don't shy away from... mmhmm.  The food didn't rain on our parade too much though, we had an absolutely stellar time and ate lots of Pringles..

On Tuesday we all went snorkeling.  The Cuppetts LOVE snorkeling and we were all really excited to get Karl, Matt, & Jeremy in on the action.  It was super fun and an awesome afternoon & evening with a beautiful sunset!  So nice!

 Maddie has an underwater digital camera that is so fun!  We have been enjoying it for several years now and really take advantage of the underwater feature!  The water in this area is absolutely crystal clear and gorgeous shades of blue!  Ahhh, heaven!

This was a TOTAL flashback to SBX when my sorority sisters & I were all abandoned in the Caribbean  while we were snorkeling.  Fortunately, no such event happened this trip.  I don't think I could've survived it without them :)

Matt bought a ukulele before the trip and serenaded us with some seriously perfect music while we were on the beach.  Matt is one of the awesome musicians who did the music at our wedding- it's so fun to hear him play some of our wedding songs, especially while laying out on the beach in Mexico!

I got thru several books this trip- I'm just starting to regain my love of reading after it was stolen from me by this jerk called Nursing School.  I read "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," by Stieg Larsson {slow but good in the end, I think I'll continue on and read the other 2 books in the series}, "Heaven is For Real," by Todd Burpo {quick, fun, encouraging read that totally made me light up!!  Karl thinks it's "fake" but I think it is awesome and totally legit! A great pick after losing my Pa recently}, "Two Kisses for Maddy," by Matt Logelin {I love reading this guys blog so I enjoyed his memoir- wouldn't be interesting for most people I think... and depressing too... but I still liked it.}.  I recently finished, "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett {highly, HIGHLY recommend... like my favorite book right now}, and now I'm just starting "Something Borrowed," by Emily Giffin and have "Bossypants," by Tina Fey on the backburner- I know... couldn't I pick something not on the Best Seller list?  No.  I don't want to waste my time when someone is already telling me what is good and worth my time.

 We successfully talked Mom out of matching white shirts + khakis for the whole bunch like we {and countless other beach vacationing families} have been subject to for the past decade+

 AHH look at the water!!! Dying.

See that boy in the baseball hat in the corner?  That's Callie.  Ha.  Sorry, girl.  So funny I couldn't resist posting the pic.  You look so happy.

 There was a kids play area that we didn't touch the first time we went to this resort.  This time, however, we had 3 boys that were definitely ready to get into anything fun & exciting, including the kids play area.  Three times we found ourselves racing down these slides and dumping water on each other, it was so fun!!  Annnd leave it to the guys to use our floats to go down the slides with and make them extra fast!

In my parent's will, if they die before Emma turns 18 then Callie & Jeremy get her.  Hahahaha... so we joke about them being her parents.  See C&J's little daughter being creepy back there?

 Several rain showers while we were there but none lasted long enough to drive us indoors.  Thankful Tropical Storm Micah ended a full day and a half sooner than forecasted- PTL!

our "human pyramid" that almost killed me.  and produced some seriously awkward pics.

This was such a fun trip and we are so thankful to my parents for helping us get there & for planning the whole thing- it was AWESOME!  Praising The Lord for {not surprisingly} working this trip out perfectly amid several crazy circumstances, getting us all there safely, and providing us with the resources to take such a relaxing and luxurious vacation- we are spoiled, blessed, & well aware of it.

ANNNND back in Sumter, loving life, & trying not lose my little tiny ginger tan
Hannah K.C. Burton