The Big 3-0

Last Thursday I entered my 30s and as we do every year, we headed to Northpark for my birthday.  We listened to Santa tell stories, checked out the trains and ate lunch at Corner Bakery.  We heard so many amazing choirs sing.  The kids would just freeze and watch them until we coaxed them away.  It's such a wonderful place at Christmas time and we always enjoy our time there so much! 

My very favorite thing about my birthday is getting texts, emails & phone calls!  Jeff thinks I'm a dork but I count them every year and this year I had 22 birthday wishes! Thank you to all of you that made me feel so special.  I'm constantly reminded of how thankful I am for you.

Celebrating after dinner with family :-)

And friends!  Thanks to the conspiring of my amazing husband and sister :-)

Love these girls so very much!  They love, they encourage, they make me a better person and I'm so thankful for them.

I was so afraid of turning 30 all year long.  I think I started dreading it the day I turned 29. I loved my 20s.  I loved my college years and getting married and having babies.  I always say I want to freeze my kids at their ages but lately I've realized that I really want to freeze all four of us at our ages! 

Older people tell me all the time (especially in grocery stores) "You don't know it yet but these are the best years with your little ones and they go by so fast."  But the thing is, I do know it!  I feel like I'm right in the middle of the best years of my life and all I can do is take pictures and videos and watch the time pass. 

A few weeks ago I felt so convicted knowing that my heart should be thankful for 30 years and all that it has included.  And I am!  I'm thankful that I turned 30 and I'm so thankful for the family and friends I have around me!

Holiday Happenings

The last few weeks we have enjoyed a lot of time with family and friends.  Last week was super-hectic with Ava's school Christmas party and dance recital but we've had so much fun in the evenings watching Christmas movies and driving around to look at lights.  I love how excited the kids are about Christmas but I know how sad Ava is going to be when the lights and stocking come down.  Every place we go there is Christmas decor and she is always quick to point it out.  She sings along to all the Christmas music in the car and at home. Our favorite thing to do this year is to keep count of the the car antlers that we see when we are driving around.  We hit 20 last week and decided that every 20 deserves a candy cane when we get home. 

Keegan has done a great job of leaving the Christmas tree alone but I have his gifts wrapped in Mickey Mouse paper and he pulls them out all day to show me "Icky."  He doesn't even know that there's something fun inside.  I can't wait to watch him tear into his presents for the first time.  And it's less than a week away!  Here are some pics of our last couple of weeks......

Decorating cookies with princess Abigail

Christmas tree crafts with sweet Kenlee

 Lights in Deerfield!  Our favorite!

 Way more excited about 'driving' Daddy's car than the lights

Christmas Party at school

"Icky Mouse!"

The best gifts under my tree.....I know I say how thankful I am all the time but I am hugging these two a little tighter and longer the last few days.

 

Christmas in Texas Y'all

Ava had a mini dance recital at her studio Saturday night.  As you can see in the photos, it was a country-western themed performance with costumes and music.  It was precious!  Since she is in a ballet/tap combo class this year she performs two dances now.  We love how much fun she has with dance.  It was so fun to watch!

Before the show with best friend from class Juliette

So Proud of our little dancer :-)



A Wedding & A Letter to Santa

Last weekend we headed back to San Antonio for my cousin Eric's wedding at Tapatio Springs. It was such a beautiful wedding and the weather could not have been more perfect.  We enjoyed our time with family so much.  Here are some pics from Eric & Savanna's special day....

The beautiful bride & groom

Eric is a state trooper and Savanna is a deputy and they have the cutest story about how they met during a dispatcher's call.  They were called to the same location and had a hard time finding the place.  Depending on which one of them tells the story, one of them was lost and the other had it figured out.  They are absolutely adorable together!

Mom & Groom Dance





Me & My Girl

My Boys

I feel like I post this all the time but I have to say again that the four of us grew up seeing each other once or twice a week until we went to college.  We were closer than just 'cousins.'  And although we haven't lived close for years it's always so special to see them and celebrate life's important moments with them.

 A favorite pic from '88 :-)

Ava decided last year after her third unpleasant year in Santa's lap that she should write him a letter this year!  She stuck with her plan and together we wrote her letter on Monday so that we could give it to him Thursday night at our neighborhood's annual tree lighting festivities.  Ava addressed the envelope and I wrote the letter as she spoke it to me.

And brother's list on the back.....I love that she said 'He is a good boy a little bit.'

This was the first year she didn't cry! 

She handed him the letter and shook her head yes or no to his questions.  She smiled but refused to look at him. Ha!  And little man just continued eating his pretzel like nothing out of the ordinary was happening.  Food is his love language.

So excited to celebrate another Christmas season with these sweet babies!

Thanksgiving Week 2012

It was so nice to have an entire week without our usual running around schedule.  Ava didn't have preschool or dance last week so we were able to spend some great time with friends and family and a lot of time in our pjs.  We had so much fun decorating for Christmas, not only here but at Nana's and Grammy's house too!

Ava helped me make cookies and brownies for Thanksgiving on Wednesday.  And she really was a 'help' this year.  She seems so grown up and I was so thankful for our time together.

We headed for East Texas Thursday morning and spent the day with our ever-growing extended family!
There are 27 of us and there will be 28 in our family on Saturday!  My cousin Eric will marry his sweet fiance Savannah and we are excited to head back to San Antonio for their wedding this weekend. 
 We finally had all great-grandkids together for a third cousins photo.  These kids played hard ALL DAY LONG!

I don't think I've ever seen Ava so excited about leaves before...

Grandmama played a few Christmas tunes for us that evening then we headed back home, so thankful to be able to spend time with family that we wish we could see more.  It was such a fun day!

So far Keegan hasn't messed with the Christmas tree too much.  We'll see how long it lasts.  He does get upset when the lights aren't on in the morning and he tells Ava to light it up. 

He has really taken to his little cars lately-especially his Lighting McQueen.  He has a car in each hand everywhere we go and he loves to drive them around on my arms and legs at home.  But I think I may love it even more than he does.  If I could freeze time I would do it now. And he would drive his cars up and down my legs forever.  Words can't describe how thankful I am for this little man in my life.