spring break 11...

i was still without a camera for spring break this year, but we did have some fun so i want to make sure i document it. the pictures i do have are all from my photo friend extrodinare- misty!

we started out the week with a fun overnight at b and pop's house with the cousins and rara. we packed a lot in 24 hours and had so much fun!!! you can click here (sarah's blog) to see pictures from our time. we watched movies in the "movie theater," made s'mores in the firepit in the backyard, played hard, swam in the hot tub and even made a fruit pizza. it was great to have some good quality time with some of our besties and have a fun change of scenery for a couple days.

the rest of our week we had planned to spend time with the haynes crew who was driving across the state from el paso. the haynes gang was hit with a fever virus, surprise trip to the er, and some car issues so those plans were altered quite a bit. olivia had been counting down the days until she would see lilli and i was just as excited to see the haynes girls, so we made it work and did get to spend a day with them in allen. i figured the kids were already on antibiotics, we're safe! ha! i know that is not really how it is supposed to work, but oh well. the kids had a blast playing together and i was in heaven sitting and chatting with two of my dearest friends in the whole wide world.

whole kid crew! these kids are going to love eachother no matter what! their mama's will make sure of it. in all reality, they really do have so much fun together.

lil and olivia so excited to be there, even if it was laying on the couch. poor lilli. :(

"the littles" as we refer to them. posing in all their moonbeam cuteness.

"the bigs" or baby bffs. what a trio they are!

for the final days of our break we headed out to the lake and farm to spend some time with my family. it had been so long since we had been able to get away, so it was a PERFECT ending to our spring break.

a picture perfect day...

we made another trip to the dallas arboretum this time to see dallas blooms. it was BEAUTIFUL!!! i have lived in dallas for most of my life, have a membership to the arboretum, and yet i have never been when the tulips were in full bloom. we are usually a week or two late with our spring visit to the gardens, but this year it was perfect timing!! i am so thankful for the morning we spent walking around, taking pictures, and playing in the wide open spaces.

i of course wanted the kids to get all dressed up in their easter clothes so we could get some easter pictures with the flowers as our backdrop. with a little bit of bribery o and j did pose for some pics. i think they look so cute in their pastels. asking them to pose together is still too much to ask, but we did get some good individual shots.

nana came too. she is always so helpful when i am determined to get pictures of the kids AND she loves the arboretum, so she is always up for a visit with us. bonus for nana this trip, she got in a few pictures with the kids. they sure love her, if you can't tell from the HUGE smiles on their faces when they are with her.

then after pictures, we did a wardrobe change so we could really play and enjoy the rest of our time.

we walked around and thru the azaleas...

jack walking thru the flowers and in no mood to take more pictures!! such a boy!!

olivia posing around the pink azaleas.

we played in the fairy tale playhouses...

jack in the "jack and the beanstalk" house.

olivia reaching for rapunzel's hair.

and we ended our trip throwing pennies in the fountain, making wishes...

awww, spring is really here and i am so thankful for a fun morning with my mom and my kids.

a dinner date with millie...

terrible quality iPhone pic, but too cute not to share.

the kids and i went out to allen for a special dinner date last night with gram millie. i know i have talked about gram millie on my blog before, but i'll fill you in again. gram millie is my mom's mom, my grandmother, and great-grandmother to o & j. she is an amazing lady. since she doesn't read my blog it is ok for me to reveal that she is 94 years old (i think that is right, it's at least close.) and going strong. she has had a lot of changes in the last several months. she lost her husband (papa terry), moved to assisted living, and moved away from all of her friends. all in all she has handled all the change amazingly well, but she still loves a little extra attention, so we were excited to have the opportunity to get her out of her house and spend some time with her. we had a great evening. she wanted to go to cheddar's, so cheddar's it was. after dinner, she told the kids we could get dessert, so we introduced her to the famous cookie monster. we should have ordered 2 because i think they have shrunk in size and between the 4 of us it was GONE in minutes!! yummy!! i know she had fun because on our way to take her home she was already trying to plan our next dinner date. we dropped her off, said our good-byes, and headed back down 75 toward home. on our way back to our house olivia kept talking about how much she loved gram millie. of course, jack chimed in too, agreeing with his big sister. as they were talking i too felt so grateful for the relationship we have, the love that is shared, and the incredible gift she is to our family.

i'm gonna take another short break...

but this time it is not because of space on my computer, but because i don't have a camera or a computer.

about a week ago our house was burglarized and the very mean people who came into our house took my camera, computer, new iPhone, cash, the tv from our bedroom, and some jewelry. basically most of my favorite things- if i'm being honest. we are all fine, just annoyed and feel a little violated. in reality, it was a pretty no big deal burglary-- we were not home, they only took a few things, they didn't trash the house, no one was hurt, and the kids were not freaked out by the whole ordeal.

so i am going to take a little break, but i will be back soon. promise. i'll have a new computer and camera. :0) trying to see the bright side of things.

around the house...

yes, that is where we have been for the last several days due to ice and snow. we have had the craziest winter weather here this year. i'm not sure about you, but when i have lots of time around the house it causes me to clean out, move things around, dream about the potential in our house!! if you are feeling the same way you should check out fifer renovations and fifer furnishings for inspiration. i am lucky to call the owner family (christman is by brother in law) and have several pieces of his furniture in our house...

our mantel...

tv armoire...

doll house bookshelf...

and jack's bookshelf...

these are the pieces in my house that i am satisfied with and know i will have forever.

i have a LONG list of things i would still love for christman to renovate- the kitchen, laundry room, and all the bathrooms. due to budget issues those will have to remain in my dreams for now, but if i have to stay in this house another day i might start the projects myself. :) kidding, totally kidding, that would be a HUGE disaster.

snow days.s.s.s...

yes, there were 4 of them!! i will admit that it made me a little crazy to be stuck in the house for fours days, but we did have some fun in the winter weather while it made it's 4 day stop in north texas!!

jack and o right before we headed out to play in the snow!!!

we loaded up and went for a walk around the neighborhood. we were some of the very first people to make footprints in all the beautiful snow. jack got to ride in our "texas sled." :)

then we all laughed at mark when he took a fall while pulling the wagon. there was still all that slippery ice under the crunchy snow.

and we ended our adventure with some family pictures...

What a fun day and fun memories that we made together!! Yay for SNOW!!!

(now it can melt and we can all go back to work and school!)

2010 in review...

it has become a tradition our the blog that i take a look back at our year and pick out a picture or two from each month that makes me smile and represents a special memory. {click here} to see 2008 and {here} to see 2009, but now on to 2010 in review...

january
our little family of four went on our first family vacation to disney world.

february
snow!! and lots of it!!
o loved the snow and building snowgirls. :)

march
bowling with the bowlins-- fun family times.
trip to san antonio with the herridges. it was a super trip that ended with...
the mens baylor basketball team in the final four!! we headed to houston to cheer them on. go bears!! sic em'!!

april
celebrating easter at the lake with the bowlins and fifers. so much fun!
jack in his suit on easter sunday!! so handsome!!

may
olivia's first dance recital at the majestic theater downtown.
jack and kenzie's 2nd puppy paw-ty at the little gym.

june
the beginning of a summer of fun at the lake.

july
fourth of july at the lake with the blanchettes- fun, fireworks, and family.
olivia was a beautiful flower girl in aaron and sabrina's wedding.

august
one last family trip to the lake before the summer comes to an end.

september
the kids were loved playing in the backyard on a warm afternoon, especially swinging. i remember thinking about how thankful i was to be a stay-at-home mom to be present for moments like this.

october
my little spider and black cat enjoyed lots of pumpkin and halloween festivities.

november
jack moved to a big boy bed. he is growing up so fast.
we had a special family dinner to surprise grandma and grandpa.

december
said good-bye to my precious grandpa. oh, how i miss him.

another year filled with so many blessings, but this year also had it's challenges. we remain grateful to god for his faithfulness, love, mercy, and grace through it all.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22- 23