Blessed Beyond Measure

You know you are old when your daughter grabs you in Best Buy to show you this giant crazy looking thing and has no idea what it could be!  Imagine her surprise when I explained it was a computer monitor.  Ha!  And to think these aren't all that "old!"

Certainly don't want to forget this little one curled up on my lap for the trip to Athens! The coolest rooster in town!! Hugging up on a cute Santa we found on the square in Athens! And I want to remember this moment forever.  She was full of giggles and smiles the night after Christmas.  She was listening as I told stories and then she told some of her own.  We had so much fun together.  Love this kid!

I couldn't be prouder to celebrate another year with my perfect 10!!  She inspires me to be a better person every single day.  She cares about others, makes good choices, is sooooooo smart, and loads of fun to be around.  We are so blessed to have 10 amazing years to celebrate.  Hoping 11 brings even more smiles and goodness!!

He loves this place.  All of these windows make for one very happy cat!  My beautiful girl! The calm before the storm!!  We must have been VERY good this year!!  Love this pic with my dad taking a picture in the background.    A little deer hunting in the front yard with one of Nixon's favorite new toys! We had so much time visiting family in Athens!  What a relaxing way to spend our holidays!  Surrounded by family and friends!

We had such a great time spending some time with the Gorka family.  We loved getting to see Holly and Michael and even helped Papaw decorate his tree!!

Nix asked for a cookie cake this year!  I was MUCH smarter this year and didn't get myself into the silly bind that I did last year with those fancy cookies.  And she begged me to bring it to her YMCA after school program to celebrate.  The top picture is about as close as she ever got to me.  Guess having mom at your party isn't as fun as it used to be!

I love watching her have so much fun in choir.  Choir was such a big part of my life . . . so it warms my heart to see her love it as much as I did!!

 You gotta love a face this happy about getting something they want!!!  Big smiles.  This picture cracks me up.  Look at Nixon's face filled with excitement!  Then look at Bryan's face with the same expression.  I guess he was impressed with one of Nixon's new toys!  Ha! Santa even brought the kitty's a present!

Breakfast with Santa has become our yearly tradition.  And this year we added in friends.  Brandi and Baby Philo joined us and we had so much fun!!!  I love Santa!!! We had a blast making smores!!! Philo wasn't a fan of Santa, but he sure was interested in where he was going! Playing in the hay never gets old!! My how we have grown over the years!  Just look at this little girl!!!

I am so proud of our girl for being chosen as one of the spotlight students for Fairness.  In her years at school she has now been chosen for Courage, Honesty and Fairness.  How did we get so lucky to have such an amazing young lady?!  Love her!

If nothing else, this November has taught us to be thankful.  Take every moment and live it to its fullest!  We have had some sadness, but in the midst of it all . . . we are blessed beyond measure.  I am so thankful for family and friends that remind us to be thankful.

Today I am thankful I didn't wait until her birthday for her to wear her new boots.  She LOVES them!  And they look so cute on her.  They make us both smile!  Why wait?!!

Thankful for the chance to meet Time, one of the Budweiser horses.  He was beautiful!!!!