Our Snow Day

Happy "White" Birthday To Tim! He got SNOW on his birthday this year!

December 4th, 2009 was the earliest day on record that Houston has ever received snow. And what fun it was! The last time it really snowed was Christmas Eve 2004 - the year we were married. And now it snowed even more this year and Karys was able to see her first snow - so special!

We took advantage and went outside and played, built snowmen, threw snowballs and took a million pictures. I told myself I wouldn't post a ton of them on the blog, but there are quite a few.

Karys loved the snow. Brinks loved the snow. Tim loved the snow. I loved the snow. What wonderful and special memories we have made this December already!

And just for fun, Karys named our snowman "Frosty" - very original you see.

Tim took a different approach and decided to name him "Algore". Pretty clever indeed!

Happy Birthday...To Me!

I really wasn't looking forward to my birthday too much this year as it is the last one that I will have in my 20's....but it's been a surprisingly great day thus far!

While I was in the shower, Tim woke up an hour earlier than he normally would and fixed me breakfast! I was so confused and happy when I came out in the living room and he'd made everything, including coffee :) He let me open a little gift early and it was a waffle maker like I'd been asking for. Apparently I get the other gift tonight - I'm anxious to see what he's come up with!

Then I got to work and I have "Edward" sitting on my desk staring at me on the cover of the steamy new Vanity Fair along with a piece of white on white birthday cake (my favorite!) from Danielle, who knows just what I like! Then my wonderful sister baked me the most delicious white and purple cake and we celebrated with our team.

Thank you all for all your texts, calls, and facebooks about my birthday. It really has been great day - and it's only half way done!

Mr. Jingles

This year, Mr. Jingles made his first appearence at our house! He is our Elf on the Shelf. The story goes that Santa has his elves help watch over the children.

Every night he returns to the North Pole to tell Santa if Karys has been naughty or nice. And he comes back before she wakes up and is always in a different spot around the house. This is such a fun tradition to begin with her! So Mr. Jingles is a great way to keep her behavior in "check" and he will be with us up until Christmas Eve, until he returns to us after Thankgiving next year :)

Thanksgiving Weekend

This year for Thanksgiving we drove up to Killeen/Ft. Hood to spend it with Tim's dad and stepmom, who live on about 16 acres. Needless to say, Karys had a blast being able to roam and play outside on all that land! We also got to enjoy hanging out with Tim's stepbrother, Stephen, his sweet girlfriend and Ashton. Karys and Ashton were best buds!

We didn't take the camera out as much as we should have, but we did have a nice long weekend. Here are a few pictures from Karys hanging out with Daddy and Grandpa....

Giving Thanks

I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!

Lately I look at my life and am overwhelmed at all that I have to be thankful for this year.... for a husband with whom I am more in love with today than I was the day I married him, for our beautiful daughter who brings us joy every single day and for our sweet son who is growing big and strong in my belly that we'll meet in only a few short months.

May all your bellies and hearts be full this Thanksgiving!

Christmas Cutie

We recently had Karys' Christmas Pictures taken by the ever talented and sweet Stephanie Kent at Make It Nice Photography (same photographer who took Miss K's 2 year portraits in March). I cannot sing her praises enough. We actually have her booked in March for Blake's newborn pictures and Karys' 3 year portraits AND we have her booked next September for outdoor family portraits when Blake is 6 months old.

I think we've narrowed down a Christmas Card out of all these photos - yes it was hard! But you'll have to wait to get it in the mail to see it - it's a surprise! But I promise you, it's adorable.

Warning: Cuteness Overload Ahead!

Honoring All Who Served

We are thankful for all our Veterans, both past and present, and all our family in the armed forces.

Thank you for all that you do for us.

Not All Meatballs Are Created Equal

For those few of you who don't know, my family is Italian. And by that, I mean we (aunts, uncles, cousins... over 25 people!) get together every Sunday and eat spaghetti with homemade "gravy" made by my Nana. The meatballs are also homemade by my Nana and Aunt Laura.

Karys loves her "pasketti" and she gets upset if you don't put a meatball on her plate. Definitely a little Italian in training :)

When I picked her up yesterday from preschool, on her daily report it showed that they had meatballs for lunch. I asked her if she liked them and she said no, which surprised me since she usually loves them. I looked closer at her sheet and the teacher had circled "none" next to the meatballs - showing she didn't eat any!

When I asked her why, she proceeded to tell me they weren't good. That she likes Great Nana's meatballs.

I couldn't stop laughing and had to call my mom immediately.

At 2.5 years old we have already spoiled her on real Italian food and she won't eat the "fake stuff". Haha!

Halloween 2009

This year Karys had other kids to trick or treat with because Dylan, Ella and Kaler came over! We had quite the little group :)

Ella & Karys

Group picture before heading out:
Our Little Cinderella

Trick or Treating!

Cinderella Karys walking with Daddy

She gave up her crown and wand to Mommy for a bit :)

Opting for a wagon ride...

Mandie & Steph

I wish we'd gotten more pictures but Karys got sick all the way down the street and it was pretty chilly. Thankfully, my sister Ashley came and rescued myself and Karys and I got Karys home and put to bed right away. After a mild fever yesterday morning, she is doing much better now. I don't think the night air agreed with her. She still got some candy though! :)

We hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

Happy "Thanksgiving"

I'm not sure why, but I had been craving turkey for weeks! So this weekend Tim and I purchased a turkey and I planned on having a "Thanksgiving" meal at my house because the more I thought about what goes with turkey, the more I wanted the stuffing and the yams...you get the picture.

We invited my parents and my sister over for "Thanksgiving" for keeping Karys this weekend while we worked on her room and because I won't be with my family this Thanksgiving because we'll be in Killeen celebrating the holiday with Tim's family.

On Sunday my sister came over and we made a full meal, broke out the formal wedding china and got to work! We made a delicious turkey, yams, stuffing, homemade gravy from scratch, green beans, mashed potatoes, cheesecake and my mom brought over a pie. It turned into quite an event!

All this because "Blake" wanted turkey. Haha!