Blessed Beyond Measure

Well . . . we got Willie "fixed" over Christmas break.  It was traumatic at best.  Lucky for us she is a trooper and is taking her time recovering and resting.  I can't wait to see her silly self bouncing off the walls again!

I cannot believe she is getting so big.  I am so proud of the young lady that she is becoming!  I love this kid more than words can say.  Here's to another amazing year!

Oh what fun we had celebrating Christmas!  We must have been VERY good this year.

 We had so much fun celebrating Christmas with the Gorka side today!  What a great way to kick off a week of celebrations!

We are having some nice quality time here.  If I didn't know better, I would think I lived with teenagers!

We went to eat lunch today and were shocked to find that Santa had come while we were gone.  What a big surprise!  We had so much fun opening our presents today and are thrilled that we will have some time this week to play with everything.  The favorite present . . . as you can see in the picture from her face . . . was the Sharpie pencils in her stocking.  We could have saved a ton of money and just bought pencils.  Guess the kid takes after her mom!  Nixon's second favorite had to be the bull horn.  What a great idea Santa.  Thanks.  She. Talked. On. It. ALL DAY.  Seriously.  All day.  Willie especially loved the school set.  She spent lots of time learning addition facts today.  I think she is smarter already!

Breakfast with Santa at Spring Creek Christmas Tree Growers farm has to be my favorite Christmas tradition!  We love it!  And Santa always remembers Nixon and Mrs. Santa always remembers that her birthday is on Christmas!  She beamed when they came in the room.  I know as we grow older this tradition will slowly fade, so I made sure to take in every second.

What fun it was to get to attend Nixon's Wax Museum.  I was so excited about going that I just took the day off and spent it with my girl and my parents.  She did a great job as Jackie Kennedy!  And isn't she cute with her bestie Avery- also known as Cleopatra.  She looked adorable wearing one of my dresses from college, my moms shoes, pearls and gloves, and an amazing pillbox hat my mom made her!  So thankful that Nana is crafty!

This tree makes me smile every single day.  It is the brightest red.  And it is so small.  But, won't it be grand as it grows old.  I love that it is there every day to make us smile!

So, our little Willie loves our fish.  She spends hours watching them.  She even climbs on top to stare at them through the little hole we feed them in.  I have only seen her stick her foot in once, so hopefully they will keep a peaceful relationship!

I love that in Houston the weather says fairly decent year round.  Unfortunately, we have had unusually cold temps here lately keeping us all inside.  Lucky for us we took advantage of some park days just before the cold spell!  We have a new park that we love and couldn't wait to put in some quality time getting to know all it has to offer.

We aren't Christmas card people usually.  But, my friend Emily always begged me to make Christmas cards.  And as our card wall filled up with amazing Christmas cards every year, they really made me smile.  We are joining in this year!  Thanks to Holly Young Photography for the amazing pictures and C and C Paperie on Etsy for the adorable family card!

So . . . I am not a huge fan of change.  I like boring.  I like ruts.  And the older I get, the less I like change.  So, moving schools was a huge Move My Cheese moment.  Of course, I chose to move my cheese.  But that didn't make it any easier.  It took me forever to get my room set up exactly how I wanted it.  And I fell in love with it.  My room last year was about four times the size of my current room, but I grew to love my new room and it's cozy nature and truly fell in love.  Enter the THEY moved my cheese moment.  Great news.  I am getting 12 computers.  Which need six tables.  Which really is great news.  Except where should I put them?  So . . . I have finally re-arranged my room.  See the picture above?  That's the arrangement I have chosen.  Isn't it perfect?!  Now, seriously.  I am working to improve my outlook and looking forward to having a new classroom arrangement...

Yes, I know there aren't 31 days in November.  But, once you get started being so thankful, it is hard to stop.  And to think . . . I didn't even get to list everything I am thankful for.  I have such an amazing family, support system, job, daughter . . . I am blessed beyond measure indeed.  Today, I was thankful for a day in our pj's.  Yep, we never changed out of them!  The house is all decorated for the season.  We have started the advent countdown.  Nixon is playing the new Bible App for kids and loving it!  We have a lot to be thankful for on this first day of December! Our good friend Piddle has returned.  And he brought his best friend Pixie with him to make this Christmas season even more special!  He found Nixon's Christmas list and can't wait to take it to Santa. The stockings are hung with care just waiting to be filled with Christmas goodness.  As we pulled them out of the box, Nixon asked why there were fou...