Advent Calendar

I wanted to share my idea for an Advent Calendar. This is the 3rd year we have used this Advent Stocking Calendar that I made. The boys love it. Each stocking is filled with a piece of candy that can be eaten each day to mark getting closer to Christmas. I made it out of infant white socks that I dyed red. Then I decorated each stocking with goodies from craft stores. I use the little clothes pins to hold the stockings on a string of twine.





We will start using the stockings tomorrow!!! Do you have any special ways to mark getting closer to Christmas Day?

How's your head?

During the holiday season (more specifically Christmas) my head starts spinning the day after Thanksgiving and doesn't stop until New Years Day!

How's your head doing?

I'm the Big Three-O!

Yes, on that special day of November 24 I moved gracefully out of my "twenties" into my "thirties". I have only been in my "thirties" for a couple of days now...but, I am loving it! Actually, truth be told I have totally enjoyed being in my late twenties more then any age thus far. I am old enough to know there is a new day tomorrow AND to savor the "now", but young enough not to worry about who will push my wheelchair-Ha!

I am more confident, more comfortable, more adventurous, more settled, more in love (with my husband and children), more at peace, more satisfied, more God fearing, and closer to the person I want to become then I have ever been before! I look forward to the future with energy and humor. Those "younger" girls have nothing on me!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are off to spend time with family and friends over the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend! From our family (including Finkie the Flamingo) to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Nap Time!

Somebody please tell this little boy's mother to take him home for a nap!!!

Good Reads

I am always looking for a good book! I just don't feel complete without a book in progress. However, If truth be told I may have a book "in progress" for several weeks due to the season of life that I'm in...you know, two young children, a part time job, a house, a husband, laundry- need I go- Ha! Anywhoo, I attribute my love of reading to my mom who can read a book in ONE DAY!



SO all of that leads me to my "Good Reads" that I just created to try to keep the books I have already read in order. It also keeps the books that I want to read all arranged together for a quick look before heading to the library. Each book I have read has a rating for those friends out there that are looking for a good book! I am crazy over this! I have found many future reads on this site! If you are a reader I would check it out!

Last but not least I was reading last night in March, by Geraldine Brooks and came across a thought that just struck me, "For to know a man's library is, in some measure, to know his mind." Isn't that great! It got me thinking...I wonder what conclusions someone would draw anout me from the books I have read?
Hmmm.

Good Reads Ya'll!

Being Thankful

(I'm thankful I won't ever be the Thanksgiving turkey!)

During the holiday season many people take the chance to slow down and count their many blessings. I have MANY things to be thankful for that I don't want to EVER take for granted such as all three of "my boys", my family, my health, my friends, the list could go on...and on...and on! BUT today I wanted to think about the simple things that I am thankful for...the simple pleasure of life.

30 simple things I am thankful for, for my 30 years of life!:

1. the clean feeling after brushing my teeth
2. the silence in the house when everyone is asleep
3. the laughter that feels my house when everyone is awake
4. a good book
5. not having to share a dessert
5. sharing a dessert with friends
6. the smile on the boys face when I pick them up from school
7. watching out my kitchen window at my adorable husband and the boys playing outside
8. good smelling candles
9. good sweet tea
10. playing games with the K-Man
11. playing games with friends
12. burning wood in the fireplace and hearing the crackling sound
13. watching You've Got Mail
14. slowly drinking a cup of coffee
15. the thrill of walking into a craft or decorating store
16. buying things for those I love
17. good smelling lotions
18. the happy,excited,joyful feelings inside me the holidays bring
19. when the K-Man says, "your a good cooker!"or "your the best cooker in the world!"
20. reading to my boys at night after their baths when they smell so clean
21. listening to the K-Man pray
22. using my Fiesta dishes
23. laughing hard
24. the split moment you realize you may be caught up on laundry
25. a clean kitchen
26. a clean car
27. rocking on the front porch early in the morning or early evening
28. the feeling when you go to bed knowing you got SOMETHING done that day
29. watching the Aggies play (any sport) with my adorable husband
30. knowing God is with me like the gospel song says,"...every hour"

What are some of your simple pleasure in life?

Wordless Wednesday- Little Bit's First Haircut

Fun with Frosty!

I just booked two wonderful tickets for the musical, Frosty the Snowman . I am looking forward to the special mom and son time during the holiday season. I probably told the K-Man about it too soon because now he asks all the time, "Are we going to Frosty now?".

I have been thinking...

I have been thinking...



1. I feel so bad that I haven't had the chance to Tag anyone or follow up on the tags that I have been tagged- (Hee, Hee...did that sound funny to anyone else??) Shaka has been so fun to tag me both this award and "7 things about me", BUT have I held the rope...answered the call...been a good blogger friend...NOPE! Sorry girl! I have let the blogging world slide and it feels that a part of me has suffered. I love sharing with others about a whole lot of nothings and a whole lot of somethings. It's just plain fun! I also have missed making comments on blogs, I love to give advice and tell others how I relate-Ha!

2. I am feeling a bit on overload. Now that I work 2 days a week I feel that the other three days during the "work" week I am running around trying to get ALL the "at home" things done. I know I am not the only girl out there feeling this way!

3. I feel a huge house organization session building in my bones! I love to organize and when things aren't in "their place" (or don't have a place) I get busy! I think it helps declutter my mind to organize. It is kind of a release to get rid of things. AND I Love to TRASH things!!! Just ask my Mom, sister, or the flamingos...there are some great stories about me and waht ends up in the trash! When my house is cleaned and organized my days are so much smoother.



4.I did it, the other morning I bought the "Welcome to Walmart" lady a water (at 6:50 am before work-YUCK!). She was speechless. She just stood there for a couple of minutes..."thank you" was all she could get out. It felt wonderful! Then I started laughing to myself coffee might have been better that early in the morning!

Then when I went back in the other day she was there. It might have been my crazy mind, but I think she looked at me a bit longer...maybe wondering if I was "the girl". I just smiled and told her to have a good day as I giggled to myself!



5. I'm going to miss watching the Next Iron Chef. I watch VERY LITTLE TV! Who has the time!?! It has been so fun to watch it on The Food Network with My adorable husband and the K-Man. Yes...I said the K-Man. Last night he was sitting with me and started jumping up and down, "I wonder who will win! I'm so excited!" I have brain washed my child with cooking shows...could be worse! Any-Whoo, Micheal Symon won, much to our families joy!

6. Does laundry just drive you crazy??

7. I'm seriously so tired of my kids having runny noses and coughs! I am taking little bit to the Dr. today for his 1 year check up ( a bit late...I know! I know!). I have been in and out of there so much for various reasons I'm almost embarrassed! But really...why should I, I am helping him pay for his Christmas gifts!

8. Speaking of Christmas. I'm trying to totally enjoy Thanksgiving to the fullest, but with all the Christmas Trees and holiday decorations everywhere it is making it hard! It's Halloween...(My birthday)...Thanksgiving...then Christmas!! Plus our family needs the extra time to think through how in the world we will ever see everyone over Christmas!!!!

9. I have been getting up at the crack of dawn to try to get somethings done...like bible study, blogging, shower, coffee...it has been working at least the last couple of days!

I told you I have been thinking. I'm sure you are asking yourself..."How does this girl sleep at night."

"I'm the Lucky One"

Let me tell you a story about a lucky girl who has the most wonderful husband and friends. Sit back and enjoy the adventure of a girl celebrating her 30th birthday!



Once upon a time there were 4 birds (I mean girls) that left from Houston to visit the flamingo that had migrated north to a small country town in Texas. Their goal was to surprise her and make sure she didn't have to turn 30 alone.



They left their families (some leaving their children for the first time for an over night trip) with their WONDERFUL husbands and drove a LONG way to capture their friend! With lots of laughter and fun they arrived in the small town.



After parking in the neighbors yard and having to retreat once not to be seen, it was off to decorate the house with...



[Ohhhh...before I continue the story let be back up a bit. This planning had been in the works for over two months. The girl's adorable husband was a main organizer in this exciting adventure. He not only cleaned the house and picked up the whole day the girls were to arrive (to the sweet girls confusion and joy!), but also had Grammie come to keep the boys AND bought a plane ticket so the bird could ride back with the girls to see everyone at the League City church, along with the other flamingos that weren't able to come, then fly back home. AND ALL of THIS on the FIRST weekend of DEER HUNTING SEASON!!!!]

Ok- back to the story.



The girls decorated the house with FLAMINGOS and PINK!!!



Never enough PINK!



After the flamingo being dragged by her adorable husband to a pizza place that could have delivered to the house (another story.) She arrived to a HUGE SURPRISE!!!!! She walked in and noticed some hanging flamingos...What is this?...Did my husband get someone to decorate for me?...What is going on?...Could it be?...The flamingos HERE?...SCREAM, CRY, LAUGH, HUG, JUMP, SCREAM!!! It was the Biggest Surprise EVER! After a long day of confusion the grateful girl was beside herself with joy!



After the initial shock, there were PINK gifts to open and a charm to be placed on her life filled charm bracelet.



The girl introduced the flock to the country and how to sit on the deck and look up at the stars. The night was filled with MUCH coffee, laughter, stories, plans, eating, and joy!



However, the story does not end here...The migrated flamingo was able to show the girls where she now lived and the new chapter in her life that only began months ago. The girls got to see the small town post office where good mail is sent out and the "blink and you'll miss it" town she now lives in. They ate at an old cafe and went to the farmers market(to name only a few things done that day). Then it was off to Houston. They talked, laughed, and sang until their mouths were sore from smiling!It was the most fun had in a car driving 6 hours! The whole time in Houston was full of hugs and catching up with friends.

While there are MANY special details that were not told in this story...you can now see why this girl thinks, like the country song states, "I'm The Lucky One". AND "They all lived happily ever after"...knowing they would flock together again soon.


I am honored to be the bird (I mean girl) in this story that has been touched so deeply by all those who were a part of this special weekend in my life. Thank you and I love you all!

Happy Halloween

Have you ever seen such adorable boys...ok, I'm sure your kids are cute too!



As soon as we woke up we had to put on our pumpkin shirts and start the Halloween festivities with iced pumpkin donuts. Whoopee sugar high!!! Then it was on to the Library to read books about Halloween and trick or treat around the building.



After watching every Halloween cartoon and special we could find on TV during the day it was off to our "country loop" hayride. We are so blessed to have a "neighborhood" (of about 15 homes) where we know everyone and we all feel safe. We all ate Pizza then it was time to load up on REAL HAY and have a REAL HAYRIDE around the loop!



Here are those two adorable boys again...oh, I mean two adorable dinosaurs!!! Yes, Little Bit was a T-REX and the K-Man a Triceratops. Could you imagine the K-Man being anything else? Me neither! AND Little Bit can growl with the best of them!



There were a TON of kids with such fun costumes. "LOAD 'em UP!"



Here is a SMALL glimpse of the madness of children running to each house!!!



Yes, I know...what handsome guys! This is a picture of my adorable husband with his two favorite Dinosaurs!



Toward the end of the hayride our Triceratops ran around with the other kids. All of them had gotten the phrases "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you" down pat.



Here is my adorable husband and Little T-Rex greeting the trick or treaters at our house. I must say the whole night was a blast...a bit chilly, but nothing a little candy couldn't fix!