New Year's Eve

Today is New Year's Eve. You all should know that.

I actually have lots of memories of this day from years past.

• My twin sisters were born 14 years ago today. Happy Birthday girls. I love you and you are still our "babies".
  
• When I was 14 I stayed at my Grandma's on this very day and she let me stay up until 3:00 am to watch Grease for the first time. It was the sing-along version. Now High School Musical has taken over. What happened to the old days?
  
• The year I graduated high school my new college/work friends went out to the country and stayed in this teeny tiny house the size of my living room and kitchen combined. There were around 10 of us and probably 4 beds. I don't know how we did it, but we did and had the best time of our lives.
  
• I was 19 years old, 3 months from turning 20 and came to visit my mom here in San Antonio for New Year's. She had just joined this new church around the corner and had gone to their Christmas Eve service and loved it. They told her to go to the welcome center to turn in her "guest card" and they gave her a Christmas CD. (Sounds oddly familiar) That day, she played it for me and on came a voice I will never forget. He was the youth pastor of the church and had done a reading on the cd for a certain song. She looked up at me and said, "That's the youth pastor and your going to marry him." I thought, Yeah right...whatever. Guess what? That new little church is River City. Guess who I married?

New Year's Eve has a lot of special memories for me. Hope you all have a great one tonight! May God give you special memories of your own for the 2008.

Merry Christmas...the day after!

Wow.....it's already Wednesday. This had to of been the busiest week of my life this year. Saturday - Tuesday was spent with family, church, friends and mounds of presents. Although it was hectic and crazy, it was a blast. This was the 1st year that Jackson actually enjoyed opening presents. Last year he just sat there and ate paper. This year, he opened up a present and said "Oh dude". Classic. :)

Jason got a grill/smoker and I got my beloved peacoat from J. Crew. Ahhh..... Did I mention that Jackson received a drum? Oh wait, not only a drum, but a cymbal and cowbell too. My in-laws love us a lot. :) In all serious though, it's his favorite gift and he didn't look twice at the most amazing Radio Flyer bike Jason and I got him. (No bitterness here)

More importantly, I am so blessed to have this Christmas with those I love. A week off is nice too. By the way, I do have pictures, but can't post them yet. I'll do so soon.

Happy Birthday.

Happy 31st Birthday Jason!!!!

Jason's birthday was yesterday. I surprised him Tuesday with a night at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel and dinner at Rio Rio with some friends. The hotel ended up upgrading us to a suite and had champagne and chocolate waiting for us! It was perfect!

We ended up having breakfast at The Gunther House yesterday morning. Amanda Espinoza took me there once and I was so glad Jason wanted to go back! Great food and it's very charming. The rest of the day was spent in Gruene and watching "A White Christmas" with the Azzaro's. Ahhh......I love Jason's birthday's. Ha. Happy Birthday Jas. I love you more than life itself. From Texas to Heaven to God and back.

On another note. We moved Jackson to his toddler bed and he stayed in it the entire night. He didn't even fall out once. Thank you Lord! It was a great night.

Out of bed.

Our 1:00 am wakeup calls...

Saturday: Jackson wakes up around 1:00 am screaming. We think...oh he's sick. Poor baby. Put him in the guest bed and sleep with Momma.

Sunday: Jackson wakes up around 1:00 am screaming. We think....oh he's still sick. Poor baby. Put him in the guest bed and sleep with Daddy.

Monday: Jackson wakes up around 1:00 am screaming. We think.....oh my lord, he's still sick!!! Poor us. Put him in the guest bed where he sleeps by himself and doesn't try to get out....


I think Jackson hates his crib. We'll be moving to a big boy bed this week.

Sicky Poo

Jackson and I are both home sick today. I'm so glad yesterday was Sunday and not today. Otherwise, I would sound like a dying pigeon. Not pretty.

Since I'm sick today, I've had the chance to reflect on some things.

1. I don't like being sick because I then see everything around my house that needs to be done.

2. I don't eat a lot when I'm sick.....except I'm really wanting some of that Tiramasu Gelato in my freezer.

3. Christmas is this weekend. OMG!!!!!!!!!! Crap.

4. I love my husband for the early Chistmas gift he got me.
2 words: "Bling, Bling".

5. The verse I read today in my New Life Bible.

"Do not hurry to speak or be in a hurry as you think what to tell God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth. So let your words be few." Ecclesiastes 5:2

What a great reminder for me as this week goes on. Slow down!!!

Socks for Christmas!

For fun, I took the quiz "What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?", and this is what I got! I actually like socks. Ha.

What's this whole "easily lost...." thing about though? Thanks! Anyway, go take it if you get a chance. I'd like to see who else is crappy. ha.

You Are Socks!

Cozy and warm... but easily lost. You make a good puppet.

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

Jackson

I figured I would update you all on Jackson. Most of you see him all the time, but for family and friends that are far away......here's to you.



My little boy is now 18 months old! Just a year ago he wasn't even crawling yet. He is starting to talk more......as long as he says something other than "No"....I'm good.

Seriously, everything is "No". Do you love Momma? "No".
Do you want a cookie? "NO." Do you want to sit in your poopy diaper. "NO". Well, at least that is the correct answer for that one.

His dancing skills are much better these days. I'm honestly surprised at how much he LOVES it. Him and his daddy really know how to rock out. There have been many occasions where we (and others watching) can not stop laughing. I will need to get this on tape.



I'm truly blessed to have this little boy. I'm always amazed at how much God speaks to me through his life. Being a mom is one of the greatest things I've ever done....yet so humbling at the same time.

Christmas Shopping

Jason and I spend most of our day Christmas shopping yesterday at Northstar Mall. It was actually really enjoyable. Jackson sat in his stroller talking, singing and enjoying cookies at every store we went too. (Yes,he had lots of sugar. That does not make me a bad parent on a day like yesterday!)

Williams Sonoma is probably my favorite place ever. My debit card does come out of my purse in that place. Unfortunately, it goes right back in when I realize I have no money to spend there. "sigh".

On the way home I started thinking about the best gift I had ever gotten as a little girl. Jason had to think really far back.....and I really only had to think back like 7 years ago. LoL. Okay, I'm totally kidding. Really. I know I'm never going to hear the end of this now. ANYWAY....my favorite gift as a little girl was when my siblings and I received a new TV. We didn't have one for like a year and my grandparents bought us one. It was the best Christmas ever...oh and then there was the year I received "Barbie and The Rockers". That was sweet.

So, what was your favorite Christmas gift as a little kid? This should be fun!!

December Beginnings

Our Saturday morning was spent up at the church from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm decorating the stage for the month of December. We were all exhausted after building set pieces, sweeping hay (which took me an hour), and setting up the stage. I am just amazed at how it all came together. It was well worth it though. I'll be even more excited as the month goes on.


Sunday night we went to my mother-in-law's company party. They invite all family members and it's designed to basically entertain the kids. They had karaoke, balloon animals, sketch artists and a clown. It was held at the newly renovated "Pearl Brewery". Pretty amazing if I say so myself. We had a great night though. Good food and a great time with the family.

He was laughing at me!!!

The greatest sister-in-law ever.

Wow.

I'll be taking some time this week to rest. I only have 2 things this week. Whoo hoo....I'm super excited to spend some time with my hubby. Since we've been married we have always had 2 or 3 weekly commitments. Jason just finished teaching the turbo class at church and now we will be home 3 nights a week. Seriously...you don't know how excited I am. This weekends sermon really challenged me. It's okay to say "No"!

Yeah......it's okay to say No. ......yeah...

Need Rest......

It's not even December 3rd and I've already attended 3 Christmas parties.

Only 42 more to go in 23 days!!!