Christmas cards are out!

Most of you have received this card already, but just in case! One of my favorite things to do every year, and this year with a big announcement. We are all very excited, especially Ella. Mama has been feeling YUCK, but slowly getting better. This week will be the begining of the second tri for me and hopefully Ill be feeling much better too!

Day 24 Thanksgiving!!

I have so much to be grateful for today! Im surrounded by family in the USA on a USA holiday, I get to cook which I love, with my Mom Sister and Grandmother, there is so much more (and some you will have to wait for my Christmas Card for!)....Im just blessed to have TODAY!

Day 23 Big Nana

My family arrived today! Im thankful today that my Grandmother (Big Nana to my kiddos) is able to join us, and that my kids have the opportunity to know her. I hope to have half the spirit she has when and if I am lucky enough to be her age. She lives every day more than some people half it. What a great example on how to live a GREATful life for my kiddos!

Day 22 My Soda Stream

Today Im thankful for my soda stream. I love this thing. I just like fizzy drinks but Im tired of the sugar and fake sugar everywhere. I fizzy everything, lemonade, iced tea, wine (ok not really) and my current (and much needed these days) favorite, sparkling orange ginger tea. Mmmmmmm! Calming!

Day 21 Bonnie Kitty

Bonnie (as in Bonnie Blue Sky) is our British Blue we brought back from Scotland. She is the sweetest calmest cat ever and she LOOOOOOOOVES Ella. You have to be thankful for the family friend right?! (not pictured our recluse cat Jazz that sleeps under my clothes in the closet, she only comes out for Dylan :)

Day 20 Grandparents!

Kids at heart :)

Day 19 Random Festival Day/Inspiring People

Im grateful that I found out about the Via Colori festival this weekend. I have always wanted to go to a street art festival and this one did not disapoint. The girls had a blast and were really excited to try out their creative skills with chalk.

Day 18 My YaYa's

I wish I had a more recent picture of all of us together, but I will get one soon!
I always felt like I missed out growing up with a group of girl friends (100%my fault) but still I wish I had tried harder. These awesome ladies in my life adopted me in and even though Im always the farthest one away and dont get to keep up on the everyday things I wish I could, they always make me feel like Im "Home" and never left out.
Thick and Thin...Love my Yayas!

Day 17 Open Produce Market

I LOVE this place. I only recently discovered it and I sneak off every chance I get. I just love the way it feels to walk through a market like this, reminds me of New Orleans, and Venice, and Rome...it gives me this weird freedom feeling...just love it. This is Canino's on Airline: Amazing fresh produce, even more amazing hard working people, and top it all off with a taco truck in the back...can you say Gordita!

Day 16- My sewing center

Ok so I more appreciate that I have a sewing corner, a place to keep the machine(s) set up mess and all...as you can see ;)...I use to sew out of the dinning room and it about drove D crazy! At least now I can hop in and out when I have bits of time to create!

Day 15- RAIN!!!

Finally! Im getting sick to my stomach as I run around Memorial now and watch them paint and cut down dead trees, its so sad! After not hearing thunder in Aberdeen for three years I was looking forward to summer showers in Houston, not so much this year! Very grateful to be soaking wet today!

Day 14-Local meat market

Im grateful that I have found this place, and also that a community has kept it open...and thriving. Im not much of a meat person anymore but when I do need meat this is the place! 50ft long counter of any meat you can think of, cajun to german, Ox tail to smoked knuckle bones (Im serious), Porterhouse to freashly ground chuck, complete with large dill pickle (or pig foot, whatever you fancy) out of the jar on the counter top, haha. Its like a mix of what D and I grew up with and CLEAN. No ammonia or fillers here! Just hardworking men and woman working away WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM, right in front of you. And the prices are fantastic! THIS is where your meat should come from!! Not a platic wrapped pink slime filled crap you get at the supermarket.  This place is only 100% grass feed short of perfect.

Day 13- The Sunday Paper

Strange for something like this to stick out on my Sunday mornings, maybe, but it does. I love everything about Sunday morning, no rushing, eggs with the works, or pancakes, smell of coffee (since I dont drink it and D is home), pajamas, and a messy table. Sad thing is I think I have probably only read a handful of articles from the paper, I have to admit its the coupons....while D is reading away and Ella swipes the funnies and Ainsley looks through ads for toys, I cut coupons. I totally suck at the whole couponing thing,  Im almost certain I somehow spend more money when I bring coupons with me to the store, but cutting them out on Sunday morning with my family...one of my favorite parts of the week!

Day 12-Decorations made for every Holiday!

I was overwhelmed at the Nutcracker Market with all the Christmas decorations, and although Im a big believer in waiting till after Thanksgiving to let it rip music and all, Im chomping at the bit to plug lights in and hang up all the cute stuff I got....Im thankful for this little guy and how he makes me laugh as I walk in the front door and reminds how important this holiday is too!

Day 11- My Mommy

I dont have a picture :( ...but I got to attend the Nutcracker Market with my Mommy for the Day. It was nice, its been a long long time since its been just me and my Mom on a playdate. Loved it.

Day 10-Washing Machines

No explanation needed

Day 09 Friends we Love like Family

Im grateful that even though we move often Ella still has a friend she "grew up with" in two different countries! These two have been together a lot in four short years...

Day 08- Mothers Day Out with teachers that care!

I double heart St Rose ECC, where both girls go twice a week. Its a great way to recharge (and actually have a hair or doctors appt as a SAHM) but also the girls love it. Their friends and teachers and awesome homemade food = very grateful!

Day 7-Reminders

That make you smile. Remind you to breathe, stop rushing and enjoy every single moment we are given :)

(this one on the way to the grocery store run today, I couldn't get all the way over to turn into the store because of this guy, but just when Im about to get frustrated......probably shouldn't take pictures and drive!)

Day 06- living in a great parish

I believe this is the first time in all our moves that we absolutely love the parish our home is in. We have always found a church we love, but always after some searching. Attending the church in our parish (seriously on the same street as our home) gives a sense of community that I havnt been blessed with before.

Day 05- Saturday afternoon naps

I dont get to do this often, I normally cannot fall asleep durning the day...but very grateful that my hubby played with the girls outside while I caught up on some shut eye that I missed while he was gone.

Day 04 Lunch Dates with Papa

Im grateful that we live close enough to D's work so that we can meet him downtown for random family lunch dates!

Day 03 Trippin' over tiny shoes

...as mad as it can make me that the bottom stair is a catch all in our house especially when it includes Mama's toes and the cause for a tumble....I know one day in the quickly approaching future Im really going to miss little tiny shoes randomly thrown around the house :)

Day 02-This guy...

...and all the hard work he does which allows me to be as flaky as I tend to be. His black and white straight and narrow fuels my world of curvy gray.

Month Of Thanks...Day 01 Sisters

So it would be easy to post picture after picture of the girls for 24 days, but Im trying to be more specific...I am grateful for the how much my girls love each other. The passion Ella has for protecting her little sister and the admiration in Ainsleys eye melts me. So yes right after these pics they hit each other, but still...Its nice to know they will have each other...forever.

Month of Thanks...

I cant lie, Id love to say I thought of this on my own but I have a friend on facebook doing a daily photo of thanks for the month of November. I love the idea of this, in todays world how often are we truly grateful? Everything we want is arms length away. Its something I work at often...to be humbled with gratitude. How blessed I am to be born into the life I live, able to make the decisions and choices I have made to get me to this day, when so so many do not have that luxury. From the big to the small (somedays I really am grateful that the biggest accomplishment of the day was to take a shower) sometimes we just need to be Thankful!

Pampered Chef

Everyone who knows me knows how much I heart Pampered Chef! About a month ago I called my cousin who sells it to make an order b/c I broke my favorite stoneware and to pick up some upcoming wedding gifts. Well one thing lead to another and a long story short Im now selling PC too! Not that I have the time or anything :) Im not one of those people who can make a lot of money at things like this, you have to be really gun ho and over the top, but PC really does sell itself, I have never met someone who didn't love it after receiving it as a gift.
Well here I am 28 days in and one show and $100 bucks away from my 30 goal! Yay!
remember Christmas is just around the corner! wink wink ;)

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Grrr! I need time to figure out this new template. Considering a 365. crazy. well yes....

My Best Friends wedding!

We headed to Vegas for the second time in a year (yippee!) to celebrate one of my besties' wedding. 

I got to play photographer for the day and had a ball with my beautiful friend. My long time friend married my parents neighbor, which makes the 3hr drive home that much sweeter. It was such a fun weekend with a short but beautifully simple ceremony (that I was not allowed to take pics of). 

We had a fab time, and Im so grateful we were able to share the day with them and mostly that my friend found someone that makes her so happy.

Congrats to Shay and John, here is to many many years of happiness!

wanna-be British bridesmaids

Mama lesson #178: when its time to potty train

It must be time to potty train, or breakout the duct tape...
Ainsley refuses to leave on her clothes...and diapers....

Last Friday as I was putting the girls clothes away,
 Ella yelled from downstairs...
"Mama, Ainsley is taking her clothes off!"

"Ill be right there!"

"Mama, Ainsley is taking her diaper off!"

"Just a second Im coming!"
...
...
...
"Mama, Ainsley took off her diaper and she is using her poo like a crayon on the floor!"
...
Love. My. Life. (repeat, repeat, repeat)

Ill spare you the picture :)

I heart summer :)

This could get me in trouble....

But I am obsessed with this tan-lined booty :)

I pretty much have a weird thing with nakedness....or rather I pretty much dont have a weird thing with nakedness. I think this country's relationship with nudity is pretty screwed up. That said I let the girls run around naked whenever they want, mostly because I dont feel like redressing them when they are in and out of the pool all day, but also I want them always to be comfortable with their body...Im not sure where and when the line is drawn, but for now.....
Im sure  my opinion will change one day (maybe??? I really think growing up in a "comfortable with nakedness" household is great for self-esteem and overall body image...just ask Heidi Klum, HA!.) and maybe I should considering the last time we went to someones house that had a pool, I turned around to put my bags down and there was a trail of clothing from the gate to the pool where E was standing in her birthday suit trying to introduce herself to the other kids already swimming :)

...but for now I cant get enough of this booty.