Tis the Season

We had a beyond fabulous Thanksgiving. We spent time with family, met new members, and sat in Tony Romo's locker! (more on that later!) With the past week being Hubby's sister's wedding, we had a new brother to welcome to the family. With the wedding, cousins and family came down to celebrate in the festivities. We met some of the spouses of cousins that we had yet to meet due to their living Far North. We had so much fun meeting and spending time with the family, playing Apples to Apples a billion times and found out that Monopoly on the Wii can be very fun.

Saturday, Hubby and I left Miss Mia with her grandparents and drove to Dallas to attend the Texas Tech/Baylor game at the NEW cowboys stadium. I won us tickets and a tour of the Cowboys' locker room. I will post more about the trip and pictures soon, becasue they are amazing. Lets just say the game was great, as was the outcome, and I sat in Tony Romo's locker!

But now that Thanksgiving is over, my schedule is about to get nuts for a few weeks with the semsester winding up. But luckily our presents are all bought and the tree and all decorations are up, but I still want a few more traditions to take place before Christmas arrives!

While browsing the blogs last week I came across a great list for your advent calendar. I really liked it because it was experiences instead of things. I tweaked the list a bit to fit our needs!

Advent Calendar

• Exchange gifts
• Make Christmas cookies for friends
• Watch Meet Me In St. Louis and sing out!
  
• Address and mail Christmas cards
• Go the bookstore and pick out one new Christmas Book
  
• Make thick hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows
• Put up a ribbon sash for Christmas cards
• Put up a wreath
• Make a gingerbread house
• Make a popcorn garland
• Sing or listen to Dean Martin's Christmas Carols!
  
• Drive around to see neighborhood lights
• Go out and see public light display
• Open a gift (new stocking, pajamas, or pillowcase)
• Make a family traditional dessert
• Exchange ornaments with my family
  
• Eat out at a festive restaurant
• Go to a seasonal movie
• Host a Christmas dessert party
• Attend a city tree lighting event

‘Tis the season.

Wedding Weekend..and Thankfullness

This weekend marked Hubby's sister's beautiful wedding in Spring (just outside of Houston!) So the whole family drove down into the wee hours of Thursday evening to Houston. Friday morning we all woke up early for a princess-birthday brunch from Hubby's family. All the Michigan family was there too since the wedding. She had a fabulous time.

Saturday was the wedding. Miss Mia was the flower girl..one of the most beautiful flower girls ever! She was so well behaved the entire day. Walked down the isle with her small bouquet and was very still and quiet during the ceremony.
Before the wedding, while others were taking pictures in other places, Mia tried out center stage. She quiet enjoyed it!

What a beautiful flower girl!!

After the wedding came more pictures and the reception. We all enjoyed a lovely lunch and yummy cake. Then came the toasts (which Hubby had to give one, and it was really sweet!) and the dancing. After restraining Miss Mia to not dance along with her aunt and new uncle, we let her dance the rest and she was more than ready to oblige. She twirled, commanded others to dance beside her, and best of all had several dances with her daddy!
Aren't they just adorable? With Thanksgiving tomorrow, I am so unbelievably thankful for my family. I am thankful that we are healthy and happy and warm. I love that I have a daughter with a personality the size of Texas who keeps us laughing and guessing what is coming next. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Backyardigans Birthday..

Today marked Miss Mia's 2nd birthday party. When we asked her who could come to her party, her first reply was "Mymone." (Translation: Tyrone, the Backyardigan Moose) So we went searching for all party items Backyardigans..and found quite a bit!

We all woke up rather early this morning for last minute party prep. Mia thought some of the Backyardigans needed diapers..so she tended to that part!

Here is all the Backyardigans with her delicious cake! It was chocolate with vanilla butter cream frosting..so yummy! Everyone had seconds!
The whole set up! Backyardigans coming from the ceiling!
These balloons were the hit of the party!
A close up of some of the garland. I took pictures of Mia these past 2 years and made a time line of milestones. On each clip, I wrote a small caption. Loved how it came out.
Miss Mia with her party shirt and party hat on! The shirt was a cute custom made piece, complete with the Backyardigans peeking around her '2'.
Mia and her BFF Drew-Drew eating some cake and ice cream. She was more excited to have him at her house than anything else!
Opening Drew's present. He bought her some bath toys and jewelry. He already knows how to treat her! = )
So many presents!
When it was all over, she sat in the middle of floor with all her loot. She got baby dolls, books, DVDs, baby stroller, jewelry, outfits, cozy coupe, and os much more. What a lucky and loved little girl. I can't belive that she is already 2. Where did the time go?

So I thought I was done for the night, but then I checked out Kelly's Korner before I went to bed, and had to tell y'all about her latest post. As evidence by past blogs, I love kids, they have my heart. As an undergraduate, I worked with low-income pre-school kids in an amazing after-school program..but that is another story.

So Kelly is El Salvador with Compassion. Today she and her husband met Daniela, a young girl they have been sponsoring for a few years. Someone luckily videoed their meeting. The sweet little girl closes her eyes because she wants to be surprised by meeting Kelly, and because she is just a bit nervous. The video will warm your heart! It will also make you want to take them all home!

To see the video, that had me crying, go here.

Hubby & I have sponsored children in the U.S. in the past, and I'm thinking we need to broaden our scope too and have an international sponsorship! I love how God works in ways we never think about!

One more chance to get candy

We took Miss Mia to my West Texas hometown for the weekend so that she could spend some time with three of her favorite things, (Nana, Pawpaw, Chickens!) and go to my old school's fall festival and trunk or treat.
Before the festival, we of course had to go feed the chickens, at least fifteen times.
Then Pawpaw let Miss Mia drive on the farm. She really loved all the buttons, especially the radio.
Then the little bee went to Guthrie CSD to trunk or treat as the sweetest little bee. She got so much candy!
Then she and Hubby went on a small walk so they could see the rest of my sweet little town.

She had a fabulous weekend, but then got really sick, and has been sick ever since. She now has the flu, poor baby. So we are staying home, drinking fluids, and watching lots of Backyardigan videos.