Old Time Christmas Tree Farm

I am so excited to finally be able to share our Family pictures from this year!

I have been planning these for at least a month now, and was getting tired of holding in the secret.

Michael and I haven't had professional pictures taken since our engagements (almost 6 years ago) and we were long over due for some nice pictures.

Plus, we needed some with our baby Buster!

I already knew exactly what I wanted for our pictures, I just had to put it all together.
First, I had to find the perfect photographer.

Lucky for me, my best friend has a roommate with some incredible talent, 

and she agreed to do them for us.

Next, I had to find the location to fit my idea.

I typed in "Christmas Tree Farm" and what do you know, the perfect place was only about 20 minutes away from our house.

The last thing I needed were some cute poses, which is where Pinterest came in (always)

Obviously I had to make a secret board, thank you Pinterest for that feature!

And then we were ready.

We just needed the tree farm to open up after Thanksgiving.

In true Houston-weather fashion, it was over 80 degrees the day we took the pictures, 

but I will take warm and sunny over cold and rainy any day.

 So here they are, our 2013 family pictures.

^^ We had to give Buster his spotlight moment.

He was loving every minute of playing fetch in all the trees.

We are beyond thrilled with how the pictures turned out!

I love my little family so much, and these pictures capture us perfectly!

Thank you Ashlyn for your beautiful work!

Haul Out the Holly

We have been hauling out a lot of stuff over here, but none of it actually fits the holly variery.

There is a lot of red and green though (2 of the only 4 acceptable Christmas colors)

I think this is the best our decorations have ever looked.

As soon as we got home from Thanksgiving travels, 

Michael got right to work on the outside lights and spent all Saturday on the roof.

He even added lights around our porch and I just love it!

^^ Also notice our newest addition, Rudolf.

We got him for a steal at a Christmas market this year, and he is perfect.

 This isn't the best picture, but didn't he do a great job!!

I absolutely love it!

Just like always, I was in charge of the inside decorations.

I started before Thanksgiving, and finally, a week and a half later, I had things where I liked them.

My favorite is and always will be the tree.

I still wish we could have it in the living room, but there is just no space.

Of course, my brother-in-law could come cut a hole for me for Christmas ;)

So there you go.

Our Christmas 2013 decorations. 

I just love this time of year!!

Santa's (Texas) Wonderland

The cold is here back in Houston!!

While all my family deals with snow, sleet, and ice,

we are here struggling through the 40 degree temps and a bit of light rain.

Really though, it feels super cold.

Just like it did the night that Michael and I decided to go to Santa's Wonderland.

It seemed like a good idea at the time...

1) We were already in College Station

2) We had a Groupon

3) It was before Thanksgiving so the place was not busy at all

But after my tank top, sweater, fleece jacket, scarf, and pea coat weren't cutting it in the warmth department,  I knew it wasn't our best decision.

It did help that we found gloves in the dollar bin, and that I was able to pin my hair over my ears with bobby pins (which worked for 3 minutes).

All things considered though, I'm glad we went.

No, I do not plan to go back anytime in the near future, but it was pretty decent.

Apparently the cold froze my brain and I didn't realize until a couple weeks after going that it is a Texas-themed Winter Wonderland.

I honestly think I've just grown accustomed to the over-emphasis of the state at every turn.

But alas, it was on purpose.

Our Groupon gave us entry to the park, and a free hayride through the lights.

We went ahead and started with some good ole hot cocoa and huddling by the fire though.

I was not expecting much from the hayride through the lights. 

It seemed small and out of date, but it turned out to be quite impressive.

They had a swamp land, the alamo, and Jesus' Resurrection...what more could you ask for?

^^ I'm a sucker for a good light bridge

^^ Michael's favorite, of course!

^^ Up from the grave He arose!

This scene really was pretty though. And he really did come out of the tomb.

Or as one of my sweet child clients put it:

"There was a man hiding in a rock room, and then he flew up to the sky!"

His Mom was thoroughly embarrassed.

Out of the mouths of babes...

We ended the night with a picture with Santa.

 Okay, this isn't the real Santa, its just his statue in the gift shop.

The real Santa was charging way too much to take a picture with him, and lets be real, we came here with a Groupon so we aren't paying for any pictures.

Like I said, it was pretty decent.

On a normal Houston night with better weather, it would be lots of fun.

However, I still wouldn't pay full price - go for the Groupon!

Hope you're safe and warm this weekend!

Thanksgiving Break

No, Michael and I aren't in school anymore, but it still makes sense to call this past weekend our Thanksgiving break because we were both off work most of the week. 

We left 40 degree Houston Tuesday morning, and for the first time ever the car thermometer went up as we drove. I couldn't believe it.

We got to Tulsa in time for dinner Tuesday, and were so excited to see our girls.

One of the first things Emmy said was "Oh, I like your nails!" so after dinner we had a painting party.

 ^^Immediately after this picture, Emily scratched hers off.

Whatevs.

The best part of the day was tucking the girls in to bed.

Uncle Mike and Emily both said our bedtime prayers and they were off to dreamland.

^^All the girls piled into Emily's bed

^^Sweet baby Kayley

On Wednesday we all took a trip over to the Jenks Aquarium.

This is by far the best aquarium that I have ever been to.

Okay, I've only gone to one other in Seattle, but that one was really terrible.

We had so much fun running around with the girls and looking at all the fish.

^^Ashley said later that she was feeling grumpy in this picture

^^Emily begged me to take her picture with this nutcracker.

And then she asked me to mail her a copy.

It goes out tomorrow.

Girl has me wrapped around her little finger.

Wednesday night Matt finally got to town and we all went out to celebrate his 30th birthday.

We were so excited to give him his mug from the first Starbucks.

And he was even more excited to receive it!

Of course, Ashley and Emily were just excited to play with Buster.

 Our last day in Tulsa was spent with my father-in-laws side of the family.

We don't get to see them much, so it was really fun to spend the day with them.

Not to mention that Michael's Grandma is a phenomenal cook!

 ^^With the girls on Thanksgiving

^^Johns family photo, 2013

Michael and I left Tulsa on Friday, and met my best friend Kelsey and her boyfriend for lunch.

I didn't get any pictures :( but it was such a great lunch.

Plus, we got to spend a little bit of time with my grandparents, 

and break of the long drive a little bit.

Of course, I can't go through Thanksgiving without thanking God for my own little family.

I am so thankful for my guys, and the love that they give me.

I am richly blessed.

Its My Party

Birthdays are a big deal to me.

I'm still not sure why I love them so much, or why it is so important...

probably because I just like to be a diva,

but Michael is always such a great sport and goes way beyond my expectations.

 This year my birthday fell on a Wednesday.

A Wednesday that I had clients almost every hour from 9 to 6.

And a Wednesday (like every other) of teaching the middle school girls.

Michael made sure to make me feel extra special all day though.

First, I had donuts for breakfast.

Then, I got flowers at work.

(okay, I might have hinted at these things)

That's on top of the sweaters and earrings that Michael got me.

 I'm spoiled...I know.

Another sweet surprise was from the most adorable 6th grader and her grandma.

 ^^Is that not the biggest balloon you have ever seen? 

I loved it!

Last, Michael surprised me even more with a cupcake party at church.

This was totally unexpected, and unnecessary, but I appreciate his efforts so much!

My mind was completely blank when I blew out the candles and tried to make a wish,

and I realize now that at this moment in my life, all my wishes have come true.

I am blessed beyond belief, and can't thank God enough for my husband and my life.

Parent Weekend

I have so many future posts to write, I don't even know where to start.

But, since my Mom has already complained hinted to me that she was waiting on this post,

I decided that I would start here. 

Several months ago Southwest had a sale on flights, and my parents and I picked the weekend before my birthday.

The good thing about flying is that they get to be here longer,

the bad thing is that it really puts some limits on our shopping abilities.

We hit up the all usuals: Clarks Outlet, Dress Barn, and Kohls.

Being so close to the holidays though, we added in a couple Christmas markets and Pier 1.

^^The Christmas treasures my Mom took home with her.

We went out to Katy to a big Christmas market there and it was fantastic.

They had hundreds of booths, and almost all of them were very reasonably priced.

I got a couple of great things too, but you'll have to wait to see those.

After all the shopping, my parents treated us to Taste of Texas to celebrate my birthday.

^^So happy to be able to celebrate my birthday with them

^^The most delicious dessert, Snickers Pie

^^I had no idea that ToT has lattes, and now I will be going a lot more often (at least for dessert)

^^Even Sister got in on the celebrations with the most perfect gift

*It is enjoying its new home at the front of our tree.

There are so many wonderful things about Taste of Texas - the salad bar, the jalapeno jelly and bagel chips, the cheese bricks, the melt in your mouth steaks, just to name a few - but our favorite thing might be all the beautiful Christmas decorations. 

^^Beyond blessed by these people

We had so much fun spending the weekend with them!

Mom made Chicken Fried Rice with 18 different vegetables.

We went to a double feature at the drive-in (Last Vegas was their idea)

Mom sewed on at least 5 buttons to different shirts of ours.

We spent a couple hours at B-Dubs eating everything on the appetizer menu.

And we all crammed into our back room on our futon to watch the Broncos win over the Chiefs.

It was a wonderful, perfect birthday celebration and I am so thankful that they made the trip!

Love you Mom and Dad!!

Paid in Full

Michael and I recently achieved a milestone in our lives.

I am thrilled to announce that WE NO LONGER HAVE A CAR PAYMENT!

We are so excited and looking forward to putting that money to use somewhere else - like student loans!

When I graduated from college my parents helped me get the car by paying a down payment for me.

 ^^ The car I got when I turned 16, good ole Cavy the Cavalier.

The Honda dealer gave me exactly $250 for it, and that was generous.

^^ When I first got my Honda! Love at first sight!

It has been a long time paying the rest, but I absolutely love my car so it was worth it.

 We even paid it off early.

We got the car in May of 2009, with a 5 year loan, and we paid it off exactly 6 months early.

We feel so blessed to own such a great, and dependable car!

And we are that much closer to being debt free!!