Project 365 ~ Week 52

We started our week being thankful.   If we pause to take inventory, we truly do have more blessings than lights on the Christmas tree.  So many little things we often take for granted.

Friends shared sad news over the weekend of their baby boy's passing.  He was due to be delivered the first week in January.   Unfair things happen to good people.   So, so sad.  Moments like this remind us to savor the moments we have with our loved ones.

Having said that, I took a few moments to jump with the girls on the trampoline.  Seemingly not unusual... So, what made this different?   Mama came out from behind the camera.   The photographer needs to do that more often.  It was all about savoring the moments.  The laughs.

Note to self:  Never, ever, jump with tennis shoes on.  It may leave one with a twisted ankle.

I know we looked silly making hand puppets at Panera, but we didn't care.  

Christmas shopping.  The only thing in this picture that came home with me was the cute lil' girl.  ;)

My Christmas gifts {yes, giftS} came in the mail while hubs was out of town.  DK bought the camera bag I wanted, replaced my busted lens, as well as a new {to me} camera.  Mama now has the D90, too.  Suh-weet!  I kept telling him it was too much!   Must read the manual soon.  ;)

Now, any time I get frustrated with my old mattress, or carpet, I'll just go take a picture to make me feel better. ha.

Hubs realized Jasmine wasn't in her bed and asked if I knew where she was.  We surveyed the living room.  No Jasmine.  We called her.  No Jasmine.  She is always at my feet, so we began to worry.  We called her from upstairs.  No Jasmine.

Knowing she has the ability to jump over our fence, we called her repeatedly from the back yard.  No Jasmine.  All of us began to panic a bit.  Nator started to cry.  The rest of us wanted to.  We called her from the front yard.  No Jasmine.

The garage was the only place we hadn't checked.  I remembered stepping in there to empty the trash.  Hubs said he remembered seeing her follow me in there.  I opened the garage door... and there sat Jasmine, waiting patiently by the door.  Silly dog.  Excitedly, she began jumping up on us.  I may have reacted the same if I'd been locked in a dark, cold garage for an hour!!

Note to Jasmine:  Don't follow my every footstep, and by all means, learn to bark at moments other than when strangers come to our door.

Dental check-ups.  I know... I wish we could have taken care of that while we were there last week.  This time, we met a new dentist in the office.   I was convinced that he just graduated dental school.  The girls liked him. 

We picked up hubs the day before Christmas Eve.  Outback anyone?  Yummmmm-O.

The girls were excited to give each other their gifts on Christmas Eve.   I think they asked 4,689 times if they could open them early all day.  ha. 

This is the first Christmas we've put the girls' gifts under the tree before the big day.  It was fun watching as the girls tried to determine if any box was shaped like their much anticipated American Girl dolls.  We let them open all of their gifts, then we brought out their dolls.   muahahaha!

After opening our gifts, we traveled to Granny's home in Louisiana.  The girls didn't want to send Jasmine to a sitter for Christmas.  Thankfully, she travels well... as you can see. 

More on Christmas memories soon...  Mama is tuckered out!

Project 365 ~ Week 51

This has been another marathon week.  No, really.  I'm pretty sure this is how a marathon runner feels after a crazy-long run.  Or when old age starts to creep in.

Ummmm... Let's go with the marathon theory, shall we? ;)  Lots of pix here, but only the tip of the iceberg.

We started the week attempting family pix for Christmas cards.  I know.  We're runnin' late this year.  It went something like this...

See what I mean?

With hubs in and out of town, we had to take advantage of this day.  The warm day turned cold quickly.  So coordinating outfits went out the window.   We opted for the lil' Eskimo look instead.

Cold + Windy + Very windy + camera on tripod + you see where I'm going with this = camera falling.

On concrete.

Sadly, I couldn't get to it in time.  The lens we use the most bit the dust, as well as the diffuser on my flash.  THANKFULLY, other than a few scratches, the body seems to be okay.  The little pieces that flew off were able to be reassembled and the photo shoot continued.  Speaks well for the Nikon, yes?

I have another great lens, but it doesn't focus if standing at a close distance.  Can be a bit challenging when the girls are sitting right next to me. ;)

There was a dentist appointment for Gracie.  A filling literally crumbled out of her mouth on Saturday as we were flossing.  Crazy.  It had nothing to do with the following...

There were errands for book exchanges, dance garments, and supplies for meals and treats to be made for parties/gifts.  It's homemade caramel popcorn time again.  Yummo!

A shopping date with hubs to find gifts for the girls.  Long gone are the days in which we could hide items in the buggy while they walk with us.  Talking in code doesn't even work anymore.

When Dad leaves for a quick trip to Dallas, there's nothing better than a sleigh ride for distraction.  Riding on hay through the community, we gals joined others in singing carols.  We have some impressive Christmas lights in our community.  Fun.  :)

After all that excitement, we put our footie pj's on and caught up on the Biggest Loser finale... while eating lil' bags of caramel popcorn I set aside.  It would have been cruel to smell such yumminess the day before without indulging, yes?  Oh... and the footie pj's?  Hubs and the girls bought mine for my birthday.  I couldn't figure that one out either.  ha.  We lowered the temp in the house and I put them on to be funny, but actually thought they were quite comfy.  We all had to change before bedtime though.  Too hot.

Due to snow these past few years, the girls have been wondering when it will happen this year.  They don't realize what a rarity snow really is around here.  We're hitting record highs this year.  One can hope, right?

I know... this is where all the northern folks offer to send us some.  Our girls would thank you. ;)

We met our homeschool group for a yummy Christmas spread, book exchange, and craft.  {decorating lil' gingerbread houses with graham crackers}  We brought lasagna and brownies.  I know it's not traditional, but sometimes you have to bring what kids will eat. ;)

They had a great time!

Then there were the dance class parties.

Ballet...  Jazz...  Tap... and Hip-hop.   It was like the energizer bunny of parties.

And because I think I'm the energizer mommy... or completely insane, I also rented a carpet cleaner for two days, while DK was out of town.  So... we walked around the house in these ever-so-fashionable-shoes.  Jasmine even got a bath outside to make sure she didn't get the carpet dirty, too.  :)

Hubs made it back in time to attend Gracie's holiday dance competition performance.  Girlie-mom-exhausting-fun. :)

Curtain call.  That would be our little elf shouting, "Merry Christmas, Dudes!"  She is her father's daughter.  :)

Nator was involved in piano lessons and her first piano performance.  Her teachers {and parents, of course} were so proud of her!!  :)

Does Santa ride through your city on a firetruck?  Cool, yes? ;)

We ended our crazy week with having friends over to share a yummy dinner.  We love 'real' people... and they're sweet, too!   A great way to end the week!

Project 365 ~ Week 50

It was my birthday.  Did I tell you? ;)   We celebrated by hanging lights for the big day.  Ha.

I kid.  Hubs surprised me by taking us out to dinner to meet friends.  Totally unexpected. 
Me = Clueless.  We had a great time with them at the Boardwalk.  Good memories.

Icicle lights were the best thing to happen to outdoor Christmas decor.  They are very forgiving if not hung perfectly straight.  Agree?

Then we brought hubs to the airport on Monday.  {insert tears}

We enjoyed the new Pirate exhibit/class at the Museum and then a science class.   From there, we went to our local Lego store to make a free mini Christmas tree.

With all that runnin' in the big city, all I can say is... Thank. God. For. G.P.S.  Amen.   Oh, AND a quick call to hubby while he was out of town... or country helps, too.

Hub's cell pic view from the hotel.  Crazy, yes?  From there, he went to Calgary.  Yes, as in Canada. He's all over the map these days.  :)

Our romantic-long-distance-phone call went like this:
Hubs:  "Hello?'
Me:  "Hey, do I take this exit... or this exit?  And I need to know.... ummm... now."  {something like that}
Hubs:  "Yes, take this exit."
Me:  "Thanks.  My GPS didn't recognize the address.  Oh, and I'm using my iPhone to navigate, so I have to go.  Love you!"
Hubs: "Love you, too."

We sweet-talk each other like that.

 We stood in line for nearly an hour.  Impressive Christmas figures, yes?  Oi.

 
We enjoyed a kid's Christmas show.  The girls received autographs, but only wanted their picture taken with the main character.  ;)

We picked Daddy up on Saturday.  He came bearing gifts. ;)  A sweet lady gifted these gloves to hubs for the girls.  Do you recognize them from the Winter Olympics?  Sweet, yes?  Until you start boxing with them.

The first thing we did when returning home with Daddy?  Took a little family trip down to Starbucks for Mom & Dad to get a chai tea.  Yes, I held out as long as I could.  The colder weather and Starbucks just go together.  Sorry.  Then a quick view of Christmas lights.   Jasmine remembered Starbucks, too.  She was excited to get her warm puppy foam.  ha.   Jasmine + milk mouth = *giggles*.

Sippin' hot tea + viewing Christmas lights from the cozy car =  warm fuzzy Christmas memories.

We have loads of things planned this week, too.  If only I can remember to take pictures of it all.  And I forgot to mention the piano and 6 dance lessons this week.  My head is spinning.  And not just from the slight vertigo that's come back this week.  ;)

I'll be visiting you soon!

Project 365 ~ Week 49

After finding the 'real' Santa at Sea World and visiting all that San Antonio, TX had to offer, we hit the ground running here at home.  We picked up Jasmine from the dog sitter's home and dressed (down) for our Scrooge dress rehearsal and productions.

Do they look like street urchins?  This was their mini-Broadway debut.   

And an impressive debut indeed, yes?  See them sticking their tongues out (to Mr. Scrooge)?   I'm all about raising refined young ladies.  ;)

We met friends from our homeschool group at a tree farm.  We enjoyed a hay ride, bonfire, dressing scarecrows, decorating a 'real' tree (ha), jumping hay bales, 'sleding' down a dirt/hay hill, building a sand castle, and learning about trees.  More pictures to come soon! :)  Thank God for iPhone navigation!  My GPS decided not to work and this place was in the middle of nowhere!

Hubs was working late.  Unsure if we'd get any snow this year, I decided to take the girls to 'snow in the park'.   It's fake, but we'll take what we can get.  Maybe it will be enough to confuse the mosquitoes?  ;)

It's always a little more fun when you run into Santa's elves!

 And it came complete with a 'snow-hill', too.   One time and they were good.  ;)

This is what Gracie looks like on 'cloud 9'.   She l-o-v-e-s horses... almost as much as dance.

Wowzers.  What a fun-busy week!  

We've really enjoyed having our trees up for an entire month now, but I think hubs is working on the outdoor lights today.  Do you put out a lot of outdoor lights??  We've gone with the 'less is more' theme outdoors.   Although... I enjoy admiring our neighbor's hard work.  ;)

Thanksgiving Edition: Project 365 ~ Week 48

Did you miss me?  Did you even know I was gone?  It's okay.  ;)

Sunday, we took the girls to the movies {Megamind} before heading to the airport.  Yes, I know, we just came from there.  While hubs was in Mobile, AL, the girls and I worked hard on creating Thanksgiving lapbooks.  Mom even {re}learned a thing or two.  ;)  We have quite an interesting history, you know.

We picked up hubs on Tuesday, packed, brought Jasmine to the dog sitter, and headed to San Antonio Wednesday evening.  Making a stop along the way, Gracie decided Buc-ee could be her husband one day.  It's her new favorite store... next to Justice, of course.

When hubs has a couple days off, we must take advantage of it.  Right?  :)

Thursday.  Happy Thanksgiving!

On Thanksgiving day, we found our traditional location for lunch.  The Black-eyed Pea.  It works perfectly for us.  No cooking all day.  Or leftovers to tempt us into eating the average 4,000+ calories they say most Americans consume on that one day alone.

We always go around the table telling what we are most thankful for.  Sweet memories.

After our big lunch, we headed out for a fun-filled day at non other than Sea World!  We haven't been there since 2007.  Our last family get-a-way.  We all agreed that we shouldn't wait 3 years next time.

Feeding the dolphins is so much fun.  If it were free, I could have done it all day.  Nator fed one too, but the girls were not really into holding cold, dead fish.  If you're quick, you can actually pet them.  So sweet.

We enjoyed the Shamu show, Believe, as usual.  This time, we got to witness a baby orca coming out during the show trying to mimic it's mama.  Super sweet!

The day started out comfortable, but quickly dropped about 25 degrees.  And it was win.dy.  Brrr.   Buying 3 souvenir blankets, we bundled up the best we could to enjoy the last show of the day... for us.

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Friday.

After loading up on arctic gear at Burlington Coat Factory, we enjoyed a yummy lunch at Salt Grass.  Mmmm...

Next stop was Holiday in the Park at Fiesta Texas! 

The Majesty of Christmas production.  What a treat to watch live donkeys, sheep, and a camel come down the aisle... all playing a part in telling the story of the birth of Christ... at Fiesta Texas.

We enjoyed a Looney Tunes show, and Dad won his girls each a Tweety!  He's tweet like that.

Yummy hot chocolate, while listening to Christmas carolers, then Dad took the girls on the merry-go-round.  

To cap the evening, we rented some cool sports-cars.   ;)

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Saturday.

For a change of pace, we took the girls to watch the much anticipated movie, Tangled.  So cute!  We spent the rest of the day at the River Walk.

A quick tour of the San Fernando Cathedral, the first place of worship for Texans.  The remains of the Alamo heroes are entombed here. 

We made wishes in the water fountain.   Nator wants snow.  Crossing fingers.

A stroll around the river walk, ice cream, pictures, the Disney store, history, and the signature river boat tour.  It really is magnificent this time of year.

We capped off a very full day with a refreshingly chilly meal outdoors at the Hard Rock Cafe, enjoying all of the Christmas lights displayed along the River Walk.   Highly recommended.   It you can get a seat next to an outdoor heater, that is.  ;)

More pix to come soon from our last day at Sea World on Sunday...

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A peek into our whole vacation for the fam! :)

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