Sunday, December 28, 2008

Home Alone














Here is the invitation I made for Grace's Birthday party. I didn't have time to order them online like I usually do. This will do though. (If you click on the picture you can see a bigger version of it) I can't believe her Birthday is only two weeks away. Time flies! I feel like we just moved back.

Right now the kids are at my mom's for 3 whole days! This is a first. They never stayed anywhere when we lived away and now that we've been back they go to my mom's to stay the night but only once, maybe twice a month. I really don't know what to do with myself. Troy and I are going to go to the movies tomorrow, I need to clean, I have a bunch of scholarships I want to apply for (for school in the fall) but other than that I don't know. It's so weird to be at home and nobody's here.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas...

Here are a few pictures of Christmas night. Enjoy.

Grace LOVED peanut










Poor dog.










Daddy took off her Christmas outfit and she was running around in her diaper.












Me and my baby.









She's all smiles.









Posing.












Me and my Uncle James









Me and Troy.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas

Here are a few of our pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. They are backwards from last to first (oops :)

Gracieann sitting in her sissy's new Princess nursery.












Grace opening up her gifts. She got lots of her favorite - Elmo.









Preston got a Build-A-Bear dinosaur.









They were SO ready to start opening presents.









More presents.









On christmas Eve getting ready to do a book exchange with their cousins.









My girls.









The tree right before we started opening our gifts.









She's so pretty.









Troy wanted to do a silly picture. It's more his style. :)









Family tradition - Family picture in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.












Me and my cousins Chris and Suz.









Me, Chris, and my Uncle Harry.










Me and my handsome hubby.












Me and Suz.









Me and Grandpa.









Best Friends!!!!









Bellarose and her cousin Hannah in the outfits I made them.












Gracieann in the outfit I made her.












Getting ready for another yearly tradition - making the ginger bread house.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

The girls on our way to pick Bubba up from school.









My sweet Preston in his Batman pajamas.












Another one of the girls going to get Preston. This time we were going for his Christmas party.













The one and only picture I got at his Christmas party. I guess that's what happens when your Room Mom and busy running around the classroom helping.













Well Preston is finally out of school. Yea! We had his Christmas party yesterday and it was really nice. We were so blessed with his teacher, Ms. Langford. She is so sweet, and kind, and patient and we just love her. Now I'm glad my baby is home with me for two whole weeks.

The kids are SO excited for Christmas this year. I think this year is different than past years because they are getting older. Especially Preston. He even noticed there were more presents under the tree for Bellarose (or so he thought) and wanted to know why. I was shocked that he would even notice that because a year ago he wouldn't have. First, I told him it's not nice to ask and he should be grateful for what he gets - however much or little it is. Then I explained to him that some of his things might have cost a lot more than Belle's and so that's why she might have more. After thinking about it I went and looked at their presents because I am usually very even when I get the kids stuff. I am obsessive about being equal. If one person gets this many gifts (whether it's my kids, my in-laws or whoever) then so does the other person and if I spend XX amount one person the other gets the same amount. And with the kids they even get the same things - Preston got a digital camera so Belle did too. Preston got a Build A Bear so Belle did too. I just try to be really fair. So it surprised me when he said there were more for Belle. Then I realized what happend - On all of Belle's presents there were princess labels and Preston's have Cars (the movie) labels. Well Bella wanted to give all the girls princess labels so my mom's presents, Grace's presents, and our cousin Hannah's gifts all had princess labels too. So Preston saw all of those and thought every one of them was for Bellarose. Silly boy. I explained to him what happend and he thought it was pretty funny.

Here is a video I took of Preston's class singing their Christmas song. He is in the second row behind the two girls in the front - One has a butterfly on her shirt and the other has a long sleeve, pink shirt on.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Happy Birthday Daddy











Yesterday, December 15th, would have been my dad's 50th Birthday. It's been 22 years since he passed away. A long time! About a month ago I e-mailed all of my family and asked if they would like to go and help me celebrate his Birthday. So last night 28 of us went to Los Generales (good food and more importantly great mango margaritas) and celebrated. We ate and then everyone shared their memories of my dad. I loved listening to everyone talking about him. I was only 4 1/2 when he passed and do not remember much of him. It was so nice and I know him and my Naney were there with us in spirit. The only people missing were my Uncle John and Aunt Linda who were in Houston but they were thinking about us all. It's so weird to think about what life would be like if he were here, what he would be like, what he would look like. I know he would have loved his grandkids so much. And I know my life and my brother's life would be a lot different.

Preston, my little Preston, wants a wii so bad. He plays it at his cousin's house and loves it. The poor kid thinks it's called a "weed" so anytime anyone says, "what do you want for Christmas" he happily informs them that he is getting "the weed." I keep telling him that's not the name but he insists on calling it that. Then I told him that it was all sold out so we wouldn't be getting it for Christmas, maybe his Birthday so he's decided he's going to start saving up for it. Last night at dinner he went around asking everyone for a dollar to go towards his "weed." The things they say. :)

We have been out of heat for the past seven days and for those of you who are in SA you know how COLD it's been. It's 45 today. They've come out several times but just called and said they finally got what they needed and are coming to bring us back in to the land of the warm. I can't wait!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Coughs

We've had a house full of sick people this week or as Bella say's, "Everyone has the coughs." Troy has been out since Thursday night and today is the first day he has actually gotten out of bed. How ironic is it that it happens to be the day that the Broncos have a big game today. :) Preston was home from school two days last week and us girls have "the coughs". I guess it doesn't help that our heater went out! So we joined our gym and then have not been able to go and enjoy it yet. Hopefully Tuesday.

One more week of school and then Preston's home! I'm so excited. He will be home for two whole weeks! I can't believe Christmas is right around the corner. The stores are crazy which is not something I enjoy and it's why I usually get all my shopping done by November. I got most of it done this year by then but there are a few things I still need to get and am not looking forward to the crowds. Today me and Jessica are going to the outlets in San Marcos. That I am excited for.

Well I better go for now!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Work It












We officially joined a gym today! There is a great gym near our house called Lifetime Fitness and they have an awesome kids center for the kids to go to. They also have a pool with a water park (inside and outside) which I'm sure the kids are going to love. I'm excited to start and so is Troy, I just hope we actually use it. I'll keep you posted.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Bella's Grace






















































































Here are a few of the things I made and took to the craft show this past weekend with Suz. We had a good time, did pretty well, and plan to do it again.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Turkey Time










We had a really nice and relaxing Thanksgiving. My Aunt Kathy and Uncle Harry, Cousin's Suz, Chilton, Gunner, Rowdy, and Christine came over. They didn't come until 2:00 so it gave us plenty of time to prepare and even better I didn't have to make a turkey because my Aunt brought it. So I made green bean casserole (for the first time!) and it came out really good. I think we all, as Troy would say, put ourselves in a food coma! It was delicious. They stayed until about 6:00 and then headed home and we had a few minutes of rest and then Troy's sister and her husband came over. They were in Austin visiting his family and drove down to visit us. Troy hadn't seen his sister in three years and he'd never met his brother-in-law so it was great to see them.

The only bummer about Thanksgiving is that it's the day before black friday and that is Troy's busiest day of the year. Every year he has to be to work by 5:00 and works until 5:00 or 6:00 at night. I am a retail widow during the holidays. It is what it is I guess.

This was our first year back in San Antonio and actually spending it with family (instead of just the five of us) made it extra special. It is a little hard around the holidays, though , especially now that we are here because my heart aches a little more than usual that my Naney's not here with us. I miss her so much and would give anything to have her here with us. I guess that is what it is too.

So long for now!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Here's another gift I hope to find under you.





Jenna hobo by Beirn - LoVe It!!!!