Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas!

Now this year's card was a bit of a challenge. As usual, I procrastinated. With the deluge of bad weather, school stuff, and basketball games it was really hard to get the crew together. So at the last minute, I called on Mimi and Chief to be my assistants. We were shooting INSIDE - yikes! And, I was attempting to borrow an idea or two from Pinterest that I had seen. I had no idea how things were going to turn out - always thinking the worst. I must admit, this was the most difficult shoot to date. The bottom picture in the card that everyone loved so much, pretty much summarizes it all. Here are a few that didn't make the cut -

The PJs were perfect and purchased first! I had plans for designing my own card to accompany them. However, like I mentioned before - stuff happens. So thankfully, and once again Snapfish to the rescue! I stumbled across the PERFECT CARD!

It doesn't get any better than that!

Christmas day family and fun was fab as usual. Since Addi and Ashton are the only kiddos around, the celebration has officially been moved to Ponzano. No complaints...

Addi sports her new Beetle with Bug as a passenger. 

Santa and family didn't disappoint...

Christmas dinner - 

Good times!

Oh What Fun

The holidays are just around the corner, and I haven't written a single post. Ugh! Something about this special time keeps me in a fury of madness. This year, things were really fun as I did get to spend more time with my crew - celebrating together. Here's a recap of events so far:

A few early ice days, two to be exact, away from school to kick off the month of December. A lack of fluffy snow didn't stop Addi from enjoying some time outside. Ashton was a little under the weather and couldn't gear up for the occasion. This was a big event for North Texas that left most folks paralized for a few days. Nathan and Katlyn managed to get outside for a bit also and go sledding - manufactured sled of course...

Thanks to Ash for the iPhone photos -

Got my trees up and house festive for 2013! 

The crew, Mimi, L and I had the hardest time getting to Prairie Lights! What a disaster. I had the brilliant idea of wanting to take the "new" route to the lake via Lake Ridge since none of us had ventured that way before. Bad move - I kinda forgot that most of the metroplex traveling to Joe Pool would use those same streets at some point. So, after several detours, we actually ended up going all the way around Hwy 360, through Mira Lagos, and coming up the other side of the lake. Despite the extra mileage, I KNOW that was the faster route. Still took us a while to get "inside" the park, but it didn't disappoint. It was L's first time.

Bug enjoys the show.

A quick snapshot in the Lighted Forest; it was cold that night and getting late :-(

Pre-school Update

Well, a little more than 2/3 of the semester has passed, and Addi is doing really well at Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy. She's in Mrs. Dudley's Pre-K class, has made lots of friends, and is learning more each and every day. Not sure what Ash's plans are for next year and beyond, but I've enjoyed being able to take her to school every morning. We park at Dubiski in my favorite spot. (If someone beats us there, Addi is certain to point that out.) Then we walk across the street - hand in hand - until she gets to Mrs. Dudley's room. GPISD began participation in the federal Breakfast in the Classroom program, so as soon as she pulls out her red folder, puts away her backpack and lunch bag, she gets her daily grub. She doesn't always like what's being served, but the kids have to get one of everything, and then anything that they don't want gets placed on the "share table" for others. If we're on time, she usually gets a chocolate milk. If not, well . . .

Needless to say, it's impossible to keep up with all the work that a preschooler produces, but here's a little bit of what I've been able to catch posted in the hallways at school. I definitely need to get more from Ash. No need to keep everything, but digital archives of a lot of things will be a cinch!

Saw this posted on the frig - 

And definitely the BEST school pic thus far - kinda cute!

Random Sundays

The fall has been a fun time at Mimi and Chief's on Sunday evenings. Bug finally has the walking, I mean running thing down now, so he's all over the place. I think part of the delay was his perpetual double ear infections. :-( This kid has had a rough go of it compared to his sister.  He's on number five or six at the moment; I've lost count. Ash finally had enough of antibiotics from his pediatrician, sought out her own ENT specialist, and Ashton is scheduled for surgery at the end of December. Tubes. Not what we wanted to hear, but it's what's best - very common, and will definitely keep the fluid out of his ears. His speech should also improve and all that Greek that he speaks will finally make sense to us.

It's fun to see him everywhere just like it was watching Addi. He seems to be more adventurous, even more of climber, more rambunctious. Boys will definitely be boys, I guess.

The haircut from his Daddy that made him look entirely TOO OLD!

A few weeks later - hair grown out and Tainty's glasses for the crew - 

A few awful selfies since I'm ALWAYS behind the camera - 

Nothing like Mimi's dishes to use for entertainment . . .

And Mickey's Hot Dog dance

Trick or Treat in 2013

This year the crew and I had lots of company. The entire Mira Lagos gang and extras joined the fun along with Ash and Red. I got there just in time because apparently everyone else was waiting and ready to go! Have you ever seen one of those Halloween "groups" that travel like a pack of wolves? That was us.

My Ladybug looked adorable in her Doc McStuffins costume even though she was not digging the stethoscope - too close for comfort, I guess. I thought being "Doc" would make things easier since she hasn't had the best of luck with healthcare workers :-/

Addi's buddies, Reese and Brielle, were there of course, and Bug and Sidney rolled in the red wagon - their first "real" outing.  (Ashton slept in the stroller the entire time last year.) All in all, it was a good night. Addi kept trying to eat candy along the way - would get left behind by the others - and of course, would become frustrated in the process and then run to try and catch up.

The little dragon hung in there as long as he could, but ended up falling asleep in my arms on the return home. He was rejuvenated shortly thereafter though - with Doc's help . . .