New Year's Eve!!

Bill and I celebrated New Year's Eve with Jacque and Matt. Bill is not a night owl at all and Jacque and Matt are expecting their first child, so they are also early birds. This made us each other's perfect double date, lol. We began at our house with the obligatory pics in front of the fire place:

Then we headed to The Woodlands for dinner at Americas. It was so yummy! I had the empinadas for my appetizer - it could have been my meal! I had one whole one and just tasted the others - so good! I also had the tres leches cake for dessert and ate the WHOLE THING!! I'd been pacing myself all night with the whole 3 course thing so that I wouldn't make myself miserable, but the dessert did me in! Also indulged in a raspberry martini - best I ever had! I had the whole thing, too. It was kind of weak (thus I had the whole thing) but very, yummy.

Awkward guy pose, lol

After dinner we went around the corner by the Water Way where one of the big trees were set up for Christmas. We wondered around a bit and took some pictures. I really regret not bringing my good camera:( But they were still cute.

We got an early start (645 reservation) and made it back home for around 930 - how old are we?? LOL. I really do like this little New Year's tradition of a nice dinner out and home early, though. I was especially appreciative of it this year, as some spaz almost ran a red light and hit us - boo. It is still not quite midnight and my boys are sound asleep - so precious! I'd take a pic, but I wouldn't want to embarrass anyone;=)

So tomorrow starts my digital cleanse. No cell phone communication other than phone calls for one week, no twitter and limited Facebook. That means no cell phone internet, no text messages and emails must be sent from a computer. The only possible exceptions are emergency communications on Monday b/c I'll be in meetings all day. Other than that no real resolutions - don't like to make promises I can't keep and self-improvement should be ongoing. On that front, I am working on some things. Mostly concentrating on improving relationships (most importantly the one I have with my Heavenly Father) and trying to really hear when others speak, to be more present (mentally). Hoping the Digital Cleanse can help me to clear my head and get my sense of equalibrium back before my Spring class starts. Happy New Year to all! Have a safe a blessed 2010!

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One very spoiled little man...

So I have this week off from work, and with the timing of the holidays it has left me with a lot of free time. This has made one rotten fur son even more rotten than usual. This morning as I was folding laundry on the chaise, he whined, growled and danced until I invited him up to meet me. After he jumped up, he promptly curled up and we to sleep.

Noah, being more than a little needy.











At this point I'm thinking he needs a day back at daycare to play with his furry friends (or, more likely, hang out with the girls that work there as he doesn't appreciate the furry friends as much as the 2 legged ones), but at this point, why bother? He will be back on schedule next week, as will I. Boo.

I have quite enjoyed my week off, though. Monday I have the front of the house (living and guest areas) a good scrubbing and used my Shark steam mop (one of the greatest inventions of our time btw). Tuesday Gracie and I went to do some school work in the morning and then Stacie and I had lunch,did some shopping (well, Stacie shopped, I watched. And yes, it was painful) and saw a movie. After the movie we met Bill for dinner - lots of fun and relaxing. Today I accomplished the major task of finding a consignment shop that was accepting consignments! Yea! I had almost an entire wardrobe to drop off, plus multiple things from Bill's closet. I also purchased and gently used Louis Vuitton baguette (tiny bag w/ a removable strap). This is in anticipation of the birthday present I've been not so subtlety hinting for to the hubs. Lots done around the house today, too, of course. Lots left to do also. Christmas decorations are staying put until Friday, though. I them up for pictures of us all dressed up tomorrow night:)

Busy week in the works! Date night with Jacque and Matt tomorrow, deChristmasing the house Friday plus fun night with friends, the long-anticipated wedding of close friends on Saturday night and Sunday is regrouping for the return to reality! I'm really looking forward to 2010! This new decade is already shaping up to be pretty exciting! So many of my close friends are starting and/or expanding their families, I'm turning 30 (yikes!), looks like at least two friends are getting married, I suspect an engagement from another and the possibility of my first family of origin vacation since I was 20! Only now, we have 2 new members. Exciting stuff!! Can't wait to see what happens!



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White Christmas!

Bill and I spent Christmas in Granbury with his side this year. We drove in on Christmas Eve and, shortly after our arrival, it began to snow! And then it just wouldn't stop! We had hours of snowfall that accumulated a couple of inches and hung around for the majority of Christmas day. It was a treat for me! Though snow seems almost common now! Who says we need to worry about global warming? LOL

Vicki's tree

Us in the snow!
Lex showing off her new scarf

Santa's littlest helper

Kids and grandkids in the damage

In their matching pjs decorating cookies for Santa

Snuggling in our Snuggies after the celebration

Christmas day we made the rounds to see what Santa brought the girls. We stayed at April's for a while and played with Lexi on her new Wii.

Christmas with my side was done early. Maw Maw Jeanette, Aunt Pearl and Maw Maw Margie (though she opted out of pics, lol) all came to celebrate with us.

Mom's tree

The girls in their matching Hannah Montanna tshirts

The girls took our picture. Can you tell?

Josh playing Santa

Showing off some swag

Mom and Aunt Pearl

Tacky Christmas and Weekend Recap

The weekend started off well enough - Bill had his poker night at the house on Friday night while I had a shopping trip with Julie and dinner and a Christmas light tour with Geri, Rodney and Glenda. Saturday was a fairly lazy day and then we went to Second Baptist's Saturday night service to hear our neighbor, Carlee, sing in the Kid's Choir - and missed her performance by about 90 seconds! We were so disappointed:( But, the Second worship team did an AMAZING service and Carlee got to sit with us, so that was nice. We did a little Christmas shopping and had dinner after.

Sunday was our first annual Tacky Christmas Party! It was so much fun! We had fun group, some from work and some from church. Everyone seemed to really enjoy seeing and/or meeting each other and everyone ate way too much! I think I over did it on appetizers and Bill definitely over did it on dinner! But it was all so good! So here are the long awaited Tacky Christmas pictures. We had quite a variety of get-ups!

Troy and Greta went for "cheesy" in their matching sweaters;=)

Noah's t-shirt was light-up! VERY tacky!

Regina and Kevin went for a slightly more "cheesy" theme also.

Julie and David went all-out bling! 3 light up pins on David's tie and Julie's necklace and earring blinked!

Bill's tie lights up and sings - an old birthday gift from Grandma Betty. It's a classic!

Jacque, Matt (the mistletoe inspector!) and AnnMarie (hiding in Jacque's belly)

The kids! Reese and Noah

Noah and me in my full ensemble - rhinestones on my shirt? check! sequence on my skirt? check!

Tammy and Eric (1987 Bill Cosby tacky!)

All in all it was a great weekend - with the exception of the monster cold I woke up with this morning! My husband was nice enough to go to the store for some Nyquil, Kleenex and bread (just b/c we were out and I need some for tomorrow). But he came back with Kleenex brand dinner napkins!! LOL! Oh, well! 2 out 3 ain't bad, right??? Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and I can't wait to hear about everyone's holiday!

I'm done with my Christmas decorating...for now;=)

Well, I am finally done! I have the majority of this year's decorating done. I have big plans on what I'm going to add for next year, though. So here it is:

The mantle is by far my favorite thing do. I added the glitter trees this year and the nutcracker (a gift from my mother in-law). The cross is my old tree topper. It doesn't fit on the new tree, but looks nice on the mantle.

The big tree! It will definitely see some changes next year, and maybe even before. I hadn't anticipated my topper not working, so I'll be getting something to add to the top.

A lot of our ornaments have a special meaning. This drummer boy was Bill's as a child and has his name engraved on it.

Our granparents must have shopped at the same store:) This one was mine and also has my name engraved.

Noah posing ad I get an overall view of the living area. He's such an attention hog:)

The breakfast area.

The snow globe and centerpiece (along with some of my nicer ornaments) were gifts from Maw Maw Liz. She made the centerpiece herself and Ive used it every year since I've had my own place. On this very table, too.

We normally hang a sled with snowmen and our names on the door we received from Paw Paw Buck and Mama Jean for our wedding. It is in hiding this year, unfortunately. I picked up this wreath and added some ribbon. It will keep the place until I unearth the sled.

The little tree in the dining room. This will most likely be moved into the breakfast room next year to make way for the second full-sized tree.

This tree contains ornaments that were used to decorate at our Granbury reception. It also has some fun, personal ornaments on it.

This is a wine glass painted with crowns and says Queen. I am the wine queen! A gift from my Texas mom.

One of our wedding ornaments.

Every year I buy Bill a yorkie ornament because of Noah. This year will make number four. This is the second one.