An Update [12.22.10]

I had planned on 2010 being the year that I was ahead of the game. I planned on being "done" with all things work related when the kids were out of school so that I could relax and play and cook and shop and have fun with them and my holidays would be stress free. Well, you know (because I'll bet you set the same goals) how that played out!

Really, I don't know that the past couple weeks have been too stressful, just busier than I had planned. But overall, it's been great, and we've made some happy memories.

-Carson's Christmas Party - Last Thursday was Carson's Christmas party at MDO. They shared a Christmas meal together and then exchanged gifts. When he opened his gift (below -- what are those things called, anyway?!), he shouted, "I've been wanting this for my whole life!!!"

- Abby's Christmas Party also happened to be my first official duty as Room Mom. With the help of Abby's wonderful teacher, Mrs. Conklin, and some other super moms, we were able to pull together a fun party for the kids. We decorated cookies, ate, and at the end painted their noses red (which they thought was so very cool).

- MY Christmas Present - I broke all my rules and gave Aaron his Christmas present (a Kindle) a month ago. We normally don't really even do gifts for eachother at Christmas, but he had been dying to get one, so I thought I'd get it for him. I wasn't expecting to get anything in return. There just wasn't anything I wanted that bad -- or so I thought. Last night before dinner, Aaron quietly (but full of excitement) told me, "I got you a present." I had no idea what to expect, but I was intrigued! So... when we got home last night and he asked if he could give me my present now, of course I told him yes. And look what I got! A KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Oh. My. Gosh. "I've been wanting this my whole life!!!"

- So... naturally, today I made bread... so that I could use my dough hook. Easy. Tasty. And it makes my house smell oh so good. Yay for bread.

- Speaking of tasty yumminess. Our friends, Josh and Kelly, took us out to dinner for Christmas Monday night. They asked us to meet them over at the Quarry. And where did they take us??? Fleming's Steakhouse (a.k.a. the nicest restaurant I have ever been to in my whole life). Ah-maz-ing. Everything was delicious and amazing and wonderful and awesome. In addition to that, we were easily amused by the fact that they asked us things like, "Would you like bottled water or is the house water fine?" and, "Are the white napkins okay, or would anyone prefer a dark napkin?" Or when they'd do things like rush around and apologize when the "chilled forks" didn't arrive with our salads. I think our favorite of the night though was that when one of us would get up to go to the restroom or something and leave the napkin on the table or chair, the waiter would come by and neatly fold it for us. Then of course, it became a game, where we'd fold it, but then just make it a little bit off to see if he'd come fix it. (He did.) Okay, clearly we don't belong in establishments like this! It was an amazing night though, not only for the food, but the company. So blessed to have such great friends!

-My computer crashed last week. Hard drive. It wasn't even two years old. Was really bummed and it set me about a week behind in my work, but all is well now.

-I just found out that I got voted in the top 10 wedding photographers (in the San Antonio/South Texas area) for The Knot's Best of Weddings 2011! I'm pretty super excited about that one.

-Went out and spent a day with Sandy and her friend Jen from New York taking pictures just for the fun of it, and it felt great! Hope to be doing this more often.

-Packed up the kids one evening, went to Starbucks, and drove around looking at Christmas lights. We did this last year and it seems to be a fun little tradition.

-The kids and I are heading out in the morning for a super quick trip up to Dallas so we can be at Christmas Eve at Nanny and Pawpaw's. It makes for a lot of driving, but I'm really excited to get to see them and all my cousins, aunts, and uncles. I have a pretty amazing family and I'm always happy to see them.

Hope you all have a very merry Christmas!