February To-Dos/Goals

February is here! January was so busy for us, that I don't feel like I was very successful with my January goals. My biggest goal in February is to give myself some grace and breathe, so that means many of my January goals are getting carried over into February and I am forcing myself to be completely satisfied with that. 

A peek at my January goals:

1. I've decided that it may not be the season in life to train for a long distance race. I had planned on running the Hot Chocolate 15K tomorrow, and had made sure to get at least a longer run in each week. This week I realized (after reading my very appropriate daily devotional) that sometimes we take on too much and although it's all good stuff, too much "good" can actually not be so good. I still may try and run the Rock-and-Roll Half Marathon in Dallas in March, or I may not. I'm not putting unnecessary pressure on myself. 

2. I didn't read the two books I had intended, so that is a goal that is being carried over into February. 

3. Read my daily devotionals every day. Between sick kids and feeling rundown, I was not as consistent as I would like to be with this goal. I would say I did this 4-5 days a week, but hope to be 100% next month. 

4. We did pretty well with our January budget, despite the girls' birthday and party. 

5. The playroom is so close to being complete! I'll continue working in February and hope to have this big item crossed off my list. 


February To-Dos/Goals:

1. Read two books. I hope to read the same two books this month that I planned on last month -- Ever After by Vicki Courtney (wonderful book about marriage that I am re-reading) and Decision Points by George W. Bush (I've begun, but never finished this one). 

2. Devotional EVERY day -- I want to continue reading Jesus Calling, which has a morning and nighttime devotional for a year and also Power of the Praying Parent. My goal is no skipped days this month. My days are SO MUCH BETTER when I include quiet time in them. 

3. Be active somehow every day. I am taking a step back from training for long distances. My new goal is to be active every day (walking 15,000+ steps) and then maybe have a more organized/intense workout (like running or actually going to the gym) 1-2 times a week. I hope to do some kind of short floor work daily in addition to getting my steps in. 

4. Finish playroom. I hope to cross this big (but fun) project off of my to-do list this month! We just have a few things left -- pictures of the girls, more wall art, finish our art wall, buy a large rug, and install a chalk board and mirror. 

5. Meal Plan. I want to get back into the routine of meal planning for the month and cooking at home five days a week. It's so much easier to eat healthy and stick to our budget this way. 

6. Keep MINT updated and stick to our monthly budget. It feels great to stick to our monthly budget and not overspend. We did much better in January and I hope to stay even more on top of our budget in February. 

7. House Focus: Laundry Room / Landing Cabinet -- In addition to finishing the playroom, our laundry room needs some organization. I hope to keep some toys in our cabinets in there to rotate through the playroom. Also, we have a closet in the landing area upstairs that needs to be cleaned out and organized. That space could be used so much more efficiently!

TWO!

Baby Girls--you're two! I just can't believe it. These last two years have gone by in the blink of an eye. I can still remember being so nervous for my first sonogram, only to find out that we had been blessed with TWO sweet angels. Your actual "birth"day seems like yesterday -- I can remember so many of the sights, sounds, and being freezing cold afterwards. I can remember the NICU routine and bringing you home, and all of the crazy, sweetness of your first year. Looking back at pictures from the past summer, I remember that we thought you were so big on our family beach vacation and now you look like babies in those pictures. It has been a wonderful year! You make my heart so full. The first year of your life was so special because of all of the "firsts" of motherhood, but this past year you have grown so much, accomplished so much, and really just come into your own. I have enjoyed every second of seeing you personalities bloom. There have been challenges -- probably the biggest being keeping you two stimulated and safe all day. You both like to go and move like crazy. Having twins means that we can't go and do as much as we all would like, because I am paranoid and maybe a little too "safe" and it makes me nervous to have both of you in a big open area (because you two never fail to run in the opposite direction). But we really try our best to have a lot of fun at home inside and outside and with lots of different materials and toys. I am loving this age so much! I can't say you two haven't had a tantrum (or ten), but the hard moments make the good moments that much sweeter! You two are both dolls and loved by so many people, but none more than your daddy and me!


Annabelle Jane -- 25lbs, 8oz. (38th percentile) and 37 1/4 inches tall (99th percentile)

Sweet Annabelle -- you are so determined, focused and silly. You completely have your dad's personality (mostly). You are very logical and once you have your mind set on something, it's not ideal for ANYONE to stray you in another direction. You don't throw many tantrums, unless we are interfering with your carefully-crafted plans. One of my favorite stories is from Christmas Eve. You wanted to go outside and play so badly at bedtime. Daddy and I, of course, said "no," so you went and put on your jacket and shoes and stood at the door. In your mind, you had taken the necessary steps for going outside and completely expected for us to open the door and go out with you. Needless to say, you slept in your shoes and coat that night. 

You love playing make believe, especially with little figurines (like Mickey, farm animals, and doll houses). It's so fun watching your mind work and your scenarios unfold. While Ashley is definitely the one that plays baby dolls more, you have your moments where you sweetly and quietly go over to the babies and tuck them in, swaddle them up, or push them in the stroller. It melts my heart! You will be a great mommy one day. You love, love, love Mickey Mouse and would watch him all day, every day if I would let you. You love to laugh and love to be tickled. You also are such a risk taker and love to hang upside down, climb, run, and play chase. I love hearing you squeal in delight as you play with Daddy. Lately, you've been extra cuddling and I love it. I hope you always love my hugs and kisses! You love playing with your sister and love it when she tickles you. Hearing you two giggle together is the sweetest sound! You have many words -- too many to count. You have been speaking in two-word phrases for a while and are saying some three-word phrases. It amazes me what you pick up and understand. You are so smart, and your dad and I are so proud of you. We can't wait to watch you grow this year! You are a smart, sweet, strong-willed, beautiful little girl and we feel so lucky to be your parents. 

Ashley Dianne -- 26lbs (40th percentile) and 34 1/2 inches tall (60th percentile)

Miss Ashley -- you are so caring, playful, and cheerful. You remind me so much of myself. You are such a "little mama" and I have been called that my whole life. You are so emotional (just like me) and that emotion can go one way or another. Let's just say we've seen you throw a fit or several, but we've also nearly melted from your sweet kisses and "I wuv woo's." Tonight was one example of your sweetness. You were tucking your babies into their bed, and we sang "Jesus Loves Me" to them together (like I do to you every night). I loved hearing you sing most of the words to them and seeing you rock them. Afterwards, you reminded me that we needed to say the prayer. You folded your little hands and bowed your head while I prayed, and then we said "amen" together. It was one of the sweetest moments of my life! I have never been prouder of you. 

Besides playing babies, you love singing, reading, and watching "Wheels on the Bus." Naturally, your favorite parts of the song is the part about babies and moms. You also love reading books. I love hearing you and Annabelle read books that your dad and I have read to you over and over again (and you know most of the words). I can only hope you both have a love of reading. You definitely are a little more cautious than your sister and are startled/afraid easily (again, like mommy). You still love me to hold you a lot, but I am secretly enjoying every second. You are becoming more and more independent and there are many things you like to do on your own. You are quite the talker and have more words than I can count. You speak mostly in two-or-three word phrases, and say lots of "pleases" and "thank yous." It makes my heart so happy! You repeat everything, and it's a constant reminder that we need to set a Godly example with the words that we use. You love your sister so much and love waking her up from nap. You run in there and practically shriek her name. It's the sweetest thing! You are very in tune to the feelings of others, especially Annabelle. You quickly report that "Annabelle is sad" or "Annabelle is crying" if something is wrong. I hope you and your sister stay this close for the rest of your lives! You are such a smart, strong, kind little girl and truly beautiful inside and out. We couldn't feel prouder and luckier to be your mom and dad!

For your second birthday, we celebrated with family and a few close friends. We had a donuts and pajamas party and everyone wore pajamas. We ate lots of yummy breakfast food and, of course, donuts. Your grandparents and Aunt Lynn got you two a bounce house and you love it so much! That was the best part of the birthday--seeing the joy on your faces as you bounced and played. You two are loved by so many, and I hope you never doubt how much you are loved. Most of all, you are loved by your Heavenly Father, and I hope you always feel His presence and love. If we raise you two to live your lives only worrying about pleasing Him, then we've done our jobs. That's my prayer for you--that you won't work to please those here on earth, but live to please God and live a life parallel with His wishes. Here's to year 3, sweet girls! There's no greater joy in our lives than being your parents. You were so worth all of the waiting and the heartache, tears, and worry that came with it. We still can't believe you are ours! Happy Birthday to you!! xoxoxo

Life Lately...

Holy moly--if I could sum up January in one word, it would be "BUSY!" I told a girlfriend today that January had been busier than December. I feel like I need to hit "reset" on my 2016 goals/resolutions and just carry over my January goals into February. Life did not get the slow-down-it's-post-Christmas memo. But you know, I am thankful despite the chaos. I am thankful we have friends and family who have important life events that desire our attendance. I am thankful that George got a promotion, even if that means more entertaining, more dinners/nights away, and more trips. I am thankful that I am running around like a chicken with my head cut-off to plan a "low key" birthday party for healthy, thriving, almost-2 year old twins (someone hold me--I may start crying now). Here's a preview of what's been going on in our lives lately...

We are back at school and thriving! The girls' vocabulary, independence, and comprehension seems to multiply daily. I am so thankful for our wonderful school. We. Are. So. Blessed!

George went on a three-day pheasant hunting trip in Kansas with customers and some of our neighbors. He had a great time, but nearly froze to death! We missed him dearly and were so happy to have him home. 

Prior to George's hunting trip, Annabelle came down with a fever virus. It was my first time dealing with as a mom, and it scared me to death. Her only symptom was fever. Annabelle's ears were checked (twice), she was tested for a UTI (absolutely zero fun), and she had a chest x-ray. After five days, her fever stayed away (even without medicine), and she seemed to feel so much better. Praise the Lord! Dr. Google is a mom's worst nightmare when you have a sick baby!

Junior League has kept me so busy! Applications for our Provisional Class were due mid-month, so my awesome Co-Chair and I have been so busy with last minute details. Now it's onward and upward to the three meetings we have in February (on top of the three normal meetings we would have as League members). Whew! I am thankful for a husband that doesn't bat an eye when I am rushing around to my many meetings!

We celebrated our best friend, EV's, birthday on the 16th with a fun get-together at her house. We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends across the street. It's been such a fun parenthood ride with the Sanders!

Ashley didn't want Annabelle getting all of the attention for being sick, naturally. She came down with a terrible chest cold (viral respiratory infection) last week. Her little cough sounded awful, but thankfully she responded to breathing treatments and is on the mend! Praise. The. Lord. (Can we all please stay well?)

We celebrated Cousin Blaire's first birthday in Pearland and it was simply fabulous. Aunt Coco did a wonderful job leaving no detail unattended. We love our cousin and can't wait to see what year two brings! Daddy George flew out from Houston on Saturday afternoon (after Blaire's party) for another business trip. We were so glad to have him home four days later. He was very missed!

I'm back on the running wagon and planning on running the Hot Chocolate 15K in Dallas on February 6th. Running is so many things to me--a hobby, therapy, confidence-booster, exercise, etc. It feels good to run again, even if it's super sporadic and I am not nearly as fast as I once was (if I could ever call myself "fast"). 

George's management position keeps him busy. In addition to managing the Fort Worth office, he is still selling, selling, selling (or at least we hope so). He works so hard every day for our family, and we are so grateful. But we miss him sometimes, too! (or all the time)

We are in the thick of birthday planning! Our theme is donuts and pajamas and I am trying to keep it simple. Goodness, it's hard though! I can't wait to celebrate our sweet two year olds. They are such treasures in our lives!

Life is busy, life is crazy, but we are so incredibly blessed! I wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything else!

Christmas 2015

The holidays are such a special time of year, and getting to experience them with children is a true gift. My hope for the holiday season is that we would get to introduce the girls' to the magic of it all, but we constantly talk about the reason for the season -- the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We travel on Christmas (although that may not be the case too much longer -- we really want the girls to experience Christmas morning at their house), have been fortunate to see both families on Christmas Day since we've been married.

We left for Jasper on Tuesday evening. Our hope was that the girls would sleep the whole way and then transition easily to their beds and we could get a good night's sleep (since we wouldn't arrive until around midnight). Well, we couldn't have been more wrong. Ashley had just started antibiotics for an ear infection and woke up about two hours into the trip. She stayed away the rest of the time and Annabelle woke up when we arrived and the girls weren't back asleep until 4a.m.. Mommy and Daddy were exhausted.

We spent the 23rd - 26th in Jasper. We played outside a lot (it was crazy warm--almost 80), and enjoyed the time with our cousin, Blaire, and all of our other family. On Christmas Eve, we all went to Christmas Eve church at George's childhood church. My two favorite church services of the year are Christmas Eve and Easter. I love the significance they hold for my faith, as well as the tradition of getting extra dressed up and going (usually) with all of our family. Of course, the cousins all had matching Christmas dresses!

Christmas morning my parents drove to Jasper to spend the day with us. The girls were so happy to see them, and so was everyone else. It was so nice to have our whole family together. Matt and Cortney (and Blaire) headed to her family shortly after lunch and we lounged around the rest of the afternoon. The girls got so many fun toys that they could hardly contain themselves. George's parents bought them the cutest little Minnie 4-wheelers. Ashley was unsure from the beginning, which isn't surprising since she is so cautious. Annabelle jumped on and zoomed off, nearly crashing into our car. Since then, she hasn't wanted much to do with it. I have no doubt she will be zooming in no time!

The day after Christmas we traveled to my parents' house to celebrate Christmas with them. They kindly took the dogs that morning so they could have extra time to run and play at their house (the dogs' favorite thing EVER). We had a more comfortable drive to West Columbia, not being quite so tight in the car. Once we got there, the girls excitedly opened their gifts and excitedly played with Legos, a baby stroller and everything else. That evening, Tyson was hit by a car and passed away. As previously mentioned, we were/are devastated.

The next day was full of visitors -- Aunt Lynn came over and brought the girls' gifts. She got them Bitty Babies, which are American Girl dolls for little ones. They have been the best moms to those babies since we got home! Hunter, Meghan, Quinn and Hayes came for a visit that evening.  Monday Aunt Dixie and Uncle Matt came for a visit and we enjoyed seeing them so much. We had Mexican food Monday night, and everybody was full and happy. The girls had such a fun time playing with my old kitchen and toys and then all of their new toys.

We headed home on Tuesday, the 29th, and had our third Christmas when we got home. George and I got the girls a play kitchen, golf clubs (Daddy's special gift), pea coats, puzzles, and blocks. They had so much energy and did not want to go to sleep that night! We enjoyed the rest of Christmas break just taking it easy and enjoying each other. Plus, it was so nice not to have to rush out of the house in the mornings and really enjoy a second cup of coffee (and in pajamas). We had such a wonderful Christmas season with family, friends, and celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Year in Review -- 2015

I can't believe that it's January and another year is upon us! Time really flies the older you get, and I think having little ones just makes it go even faster. I cannot believe that I will have two year olds in less than a month. Two. Year. Olds. How did that happen? I am still so excited about being pregnant with them, and we have two precious, smart, strong-willed, kind and curious two year olds. I could maybe convince myself that my one year olds were still babies, but there's no denying that we are right in the middle of toddler-hood!

Twenty fifteen was a great year for us. We had so many highs and a few lows. We laughed, loved, cried, traveled, and figured out this crazy thing called life as a family of four. Life is so precious and we never know when our last day is upon us. I am so thankful to have our family and friends embarking on another year together and can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for us. Below is a recap of 2015. Enjoy!

January
We kicked off 2015 with a low key New Years Eve at home with the babies. Ashley made her third trip to the pediatrician (in the month of December) on New Years Eve and had her third double ear infection. This earned us a visit to an ENT to see about tubes. The fact that she wasn't crawling expedited our appointment. Annabelle continued to pull up and cruise and seemed to be very close to taking off by herself! We welcomed Baby Kate McCarty in early January and celebrated our best friend, EV Sanders' birthday in mid-January. Then on January 22nd, our sweet Blaire Elyse was born and she made Ashley and Annabelle cousins and Mommy and Daddy an aunt and uncle. Our hearts nearly exploded the day she was born and meeting her the next day was so incredibly sweet. We can't wait for the many memories our girls will have together. Ashley and Annabelle turned 1 on January 28th and we celebrated as a family on their actual birthday with dinner at River Crest. Then we had a big Winter ONEderland bash the following weekend with our families and many friends. It was perfect! Also in January, we visited the Stock Show and Rodeo (a Fort Worth tradition) and mommy even worked a shift selling rodeo program for Junior League. Teething really bothered us this month. Those one-year molars are no fun!

February
February was a cold month! It started out with our one-year well visit, and Dr. Worsley was very happy with everything. He was a little concerned with Ashley not crawling, but wanted to see if tubes made a difference. She had six double ear infections between October and January (and antibiotics weren't working), so tubes were in our future. We visited with Dr. Fewins and scheduled them for Wednesday, February 25th. We also had Ashley assessed for physical and occupational therapy through Cook Children's Rehabilitation services and ECI, just in case there was something other than ear infections causing her delay in crawling. Neither therapist thought that would be the case, but we wanted to make sure. Miraculously even with the ear infections, she was ahead of schedule verbally. Valentine's Day was spent as a family at the zoo and then mommy and daddy had a nice, early dinner at River Crest while the girls played at Little Crest. Daddy had to travel to Vegas for work and Nonnie came to stay with us for a few days. Fort Worth had a crazy ice storm that kept us home bound. Nonnie and Grandmother were here for the tube surgery day, and our sweet Ashley did great. And even better--she started crawling like a pro just two days after her surgery! Annabelle continued to cruise and walk holding onto things, and was quite possibly the world's fastest crawler. She didn't seem to have the patience to want to try walking. With two girls officially on the go, mommy and daddy didn't lack physical activity! We loved riding in our push cars, reading books, and we worked so hard on switching to a sippy cup.

One other big happening for February is that mommy weaned from breastfeeding. I started out nursing and then ended up exclusively pumping for the girls for almost 13 months. It was such a labor of love and major commitment, but I am so proud to say that I stuck with it and provided the girls nourishment for over a year. I looked forward to being able to sleep through the night without having to pump, as well as be away from the house for more than a couple of hours! Freedom!! (well, sort of...)

March
March started off with crazy winter weather. On Friday, the girls and I drove to the church ready for a normal day of school. It was snowing a little bit, but nothing major. About an hour a half later, we were watching cars struggle up the hill in front of the church. I called George to come and get us (thankfully his day trip to Waco was cancelled) and it took him over an hour to go three and a half miles. We enjoyed a cozy weekend at home and longed for spring-like weather. The next week, the girls took off southbound to West Columbia to have a staycation with Nonnie and Pawpaw for a few days. Plus we wanted to give Daddy George a break and some time to enjoy with friends and by himself. We had so much fun in West Columbia, and I got to snuggle with Blaire, which was such a bonus! The girls did so great in the car (and mommy was very grateful, since I was by myself). We enjoyed our usual stop at Chick-fil-A in College Station for lunch and diaper changes. We were so happy to see Daddy when we got home! We also met Stacy at the Dallas Aquarium and celebrated Pawpaw Buck's birthday on March 17th (despite two sick girls). We headed back to West Columbia at the end of the month for Cousin Blaire's Baptism. We enjoyed an Easter Bunny breakfast with Megan and Taryn (and their little ones) and Grandmother and Nonnie. It was so much fun! We were not big fans of cow's milk, and it was a struggle for mommy to get us to drink it. We started eating more "big kid" foods and our feeding schedule mimicked that of toddlers. We are growing so fast!

April
We started off the month going to Jasper for Easter. It was so special because Nonnie and Pawpaw met us there, plus we got to spend the weekend with Uncle Dom and Aunt Rachel and Uncle Matt came up for the day on Saturday. We had so much fun with everyone, and loved Easter Sunday at Daddy's childhood church. We worked and worked on walking, but we weren't ready to go hands-free just yet. We really enjoyed having a big yard to play in and pushed anything and everything all over. Mommy turned 30 on April 8th and we celebrated by the entire family getting a terrible stomach bug. Nonnie came up to help, and she even got sick! It wasn't fun at all. We also attended the Pancake Picnic at Cook Children's put on by the Junior League. It was so much fun (and we love pancakes)! Mommy and Daddy attended a wedding in Dallas and prepared for their first big trip away from the girls -- Mexico for four days. It was a much deserved and needed vacation, but I was incredibly nervous and anxious to leave the girls. Although I know they would be in the best hands with Grandmother and Pawpaw. April is a month of birthdays in our family and we celebrated Mommy's, Grandmother's, Matt and Taylor's (they share the same day), and Rachel's birthdays. So much fun!!

May
May began with Mommy and Daddy going to Cancun (with Nonnie and Pawpaw) for four days. To say I was anxious is a huge understatement. Lots of tears were shed, but I made it though and totally enjoyed the time to focus on George and my marriage. I know that marriage has to come before children and that the relationship between parents needs to be nurtured so that it can be strong. But that doesn't mean that it isn't hard to do that all of the time! We got back from Mexico and packed everybody up again to leave two days later to go to Granbury for Mother's Day. Matt and Cortney came in from Houston and Rachel and Dom joined us, too. It was a fun weekend having the cousin's together. Ashley and Annabelle each took some steps, but neither were quite ready to take the full-time plunge to walking. School ended for mommy and the girls and Daddy was very busy with taking customers to Colonial (a PGA golf tournament in Fort Worth). Less than a week after school was out, Ashley started walking. We were so proud! About five days later, Annabelle started walking too. Although her first "step" was about 20 steps, which is so typical for our mover and shaker! The girls continued to chat our ears off and become more and more independent. They enjoyed playing together and we loved nothing more than to hear two sets of giggles! Nonnie and Pawpaw came up for Memorial Day, and we loved spending time with them.

June
When June rolled around, we were settling into a summer routine. We started Summer Fun at UCC, which was two days a week in the morning. It was a great way for us to stay in our routine of going to school and for mommy to have a little extra time to get things done. It was an unseasonably cool June, so we enjoyed lots of outside time. We tried to get to the River Crest pool as much as possible and enjoyed a trip to the zoo with Lindsey and EV just before Baby Will made his arrival. The first weekend in June was the annual member-guest golf tournament at River Crest--Crestival. Known as "Golf's Biggest Party," there are events from Wednesday through Saturday. The girls enjoyed a weekend in Granbury and George and I got to have an adult weekend with the Sudbecks at home and enjoying all that Crestival had to offer. We also celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary that weekend (amazing--I am so incredibly lucky) and Baby Will Sanders was born. It was a special weekend for so many people! The next weekend, we traveled to West Columbia for a Sip-and-See for Baby Reese Ryder. The following weekend, Nonnie and Pawpaw and Dixie and Matt came up for the weekend and we had a great time. We played, brunched, and then the adults enjoyed a fun Fort Worth summer tradition--Concerts in the (Botanical) Gardens. The next week, Ashley tested out of PT and we were so excited. She qualified for PT before getting her tubes and we decided to continue with it since she had already qualified and just focus on walking. She tested several months ahead on every category and we were so pleased not to have any more concerns. The girls continued to move and grove and it was amazing to witness their new tricks that they seemed to accomplish daily. Annabelle is definitely our little dare devil, and nothing seems to high or scary for her. We ended the month with another Concerts in the Garden, but this time with customers. It was so much fun!

July
Summer was in full swing by July! We had done so many fun things and were trying to stay as cool as possible. I made a summer bucket list after seeing the idea on Mix and Match Mama's family blog. I thought it was a good way to have an intentional summer and for those days when everyone needs a change of scenery (maybe not actually going somewhere, but doing something new), it was so nice to just look at my little list on my phone and pick something. The first event of the month was the girls' first trip to the dentist. Grandmother went with us to help and everyone did great --and got a great report! To kick off the Fourth, we attended our third Concerts in the Gardens (of the season) with the Amersons. Then we continued our celebration with George's family over on Friday, the 3rd, and a weekend in Granbury on the 4th and 5th. Billy got a new pontoon boat and the lake was finally up enough to use it. The girls loved their first boat ride and we all had a great time. George left the next week for a work convention and Grandmother and Nonnie spent time with us. We went to the Zoo, the park, and the Splash Pad and had so much fun. Then we road tripped down to West Columbia for several days. We enjoyed seeing so many friends and family! The rest of the month we played a lot outside (in the mornings before it got too hot) and with our friend, EV. The mall near our house has a wonderful toddler play area, so many mornings Lindsey and I would have the girls there by 8:30 to play before the mall opened. It was a life saver and a great way to get energy out! The girls turned eighteen months at the end of the month, and it was hard to believe we were halfway to two! The surprised us every day with their verbal and physical development. They were becoming more and more steady on their feet and really enjoyed each other.

August
We started a new tradition this month -- the annual Buckmaster family vacation. We chose Galveston since it was close to Matt and Cortney (and they had taken so much time off with Blaire). After so much packing and preparing, we headed down the afternoon of August 5th and were as prepared as we could be for 5.5 hours in the car with two toddlers. We had such a wonderful break with our family. The girls loved the beach and had so much fun each day. We ate dinner at Salsa's Mexican Restaurant one night, which is w here George and had our rehearsal dinner over seven years ago. Nonnie and Pawpaw came up for the day and dinner on Saturday, and we enjoyed seeing them so much. It was a great trip! After our trip, we soaked up what was left of summer before school started back up. We went to the trampoline park, played outside, went swimming at River Crest and played almost every day with EV. We are so thankful that her family lives just across the street! They make life so much more fun. The girls were into climbing and being as independent as possible. While it's all fun for them, it can be challenging chasing two toddlers that seem to go two different directions! However, I tried my best to savor every crazy second! I started training for work towards the end of the month and then the girls had Meet the Teacher and we all started back on the very last day of August. It was nice to be back in a routine. Somehow I seem to get more done after working for three hours a day then I do if I am home all day!

September
The arrival of September meant on thing -- favorite season/time of year was upon us: FALL and FOOTBALL (college football to be specific). We headed south to Nonnie and Pawpaw's house for Labor Day and George and I continued one of our favorite traditions as a couple on Saturday -- attending the first Aggie game. We have been to most of the first Aggie games during our almost-12 years of dating/marriage, and we love it. College football is our special "thing," and I love it. The girls stayed over with Nonnie and Pawpaw and a great time was had by all. After Labor Day, George began his month of traveling. He was gone several times over the next three weeks (including two of the weekends) and we missed him a lot. I was super busy with Junior League and kicking off another year. My role for 2015-16 is one of the Assistant Provisional (new member) Co-Chairs, which means that I will be chairing the Provisional Class (with my awesome Chair) in 2016-17. So much planning and thought goes into the girls' year the year before they are even provisionals, and I enjoyed learning about that side of League business. Nonnie and Pawpaw came up in mid-September to see the girls and I while George was gone. I hosted a couple's shower for Emily and Michael that weekend, which was fun. The next week, the stomach bug hit our house and the girls and I rotated it back and forth for a month. It was AWFUL and not fun at all. The girls continued to surprise and amaze us with their language, gross-and-fine motor development, and blossoming personalities. They were loving and thriving in school and I could tell a huge difference in their development and independence in just the month they had been there. They really love books and reading, which makes my heart happy! :)

October
October finally brought a little relief from the heat! We joked that summer and fall were just about a month late this year. The first weekend of October, we ventured over to Lewisville for a fun weekend with the Sudbecks at their country club. The boys didn't actually get to play in the member/guest golf tournament due to Peter's travel commitments, but we had so much fun just spending time with them. The next day, Annabelle and I were the next victims of the stomach bug and we spent a lot of time cuddled on the couch. There aren't many things I hate more than a stomach bug. Yuck! George traveled more this month and I worked Christmas in Cowtown, Junior League's holiday gift market. I think every year it gets better and better! The girls and I headed south for the weekend while George took customers to the Alabama game in College Station. Unfortunately, the game did not have a favorable outcome for the good guys....maybe next year! The girls and I enjoyed a night at Nonnie and Pawpaw's before going to Aunt Dixie's the next day. We had so much fun there playing at the park and feeding ducks. The next day on our way home, we stopped by Kellye's for a fun and casual play date with her sweet boys, Cousin Blaire, and Gracie and Catherine Phillips. We loved playing with everyone and it was so special for me to see my kids playing with my childhood best friends' kids. It wore us out we took a good nap on the way home! The rest of the month was spent trying to stay dry (we had crazy floods), celebrating Lindsey's birthday (and trying to take our minds off of an UGLY loss to Ole Miss), and celebrating Halloween at River Crest and then on our front porch with neighbors on actual Halloween. The girls were Minnie this year, which is perfect because they are borderline OBSESSED with anything Mickey or Minnie.  The girls really got into singing this month and loved singing "Wheels on the Bus" and "If You're Happy and You Know It." Watching them sing and dance brought many smiles and laughs to our faces!

November
November was a big month for our family. We started out the month continuing our football tradition with the Amersons by traveling to the Aggie/Auburn game. This year it was in College Station, so we headed down on Friday afternoon. We had such a fun weekend (despite the rain, cold, and scoreboard), and I think it refreshed all four of us. George had big news at the beginning of November -- he was promoted to Sales Manager of Fort Worth/Waco. He was one of the four original salesmen to open the D/FW office and has worked tirelessly to ensure it's success. I am so proud to be his wife and so proud of this huge professional accomplishment for him. There's no one more deserving! We celebrated George's birthday and then traveled to Nashville to watch the Aggies play Vanderbilt. Charlie and Mallory and their sweet little Laurel met us there from Kansas City. We had such a fun weekend exploring Nashville, catching up with them, and witnessing an Aggie W! We hosted Thanksgiving for the fifth year in a row. This year, Matt and Cortney (and Blaire) spent the holiday with her family, so we had my parents, George's parents, and Rachel and Dom. We had a great dinner and fellowship. I love having both of our families together -- and we're lucky that they love it, too!

December
We blinked, and it was December. It seemed like we were just experiencing one-year olds, weaning from breastfeeding, first steps, summertime, and the first football game and now the year was coming to a close. I made a vow at the beginning of December --that I would not do anything this holiday season that could make me lose my patience with my precious children. This meant not putting elaborate decorations in places they may "edit" them, not jamming our weekends and weekdays with holiday "traditions" that I felt pressured to do thanks to social media and Pinterest, and just saying "no" to some things so we could get back to the real reason for the season and spend time together as a family. I committed to one holiday "thing" per weekend and one bonus happening in between the time school was out and we left for Christmas. The first weekend, we took part in a block "progressive happy hour" and had a ball. We know all of our neighbors, but it was so much fun to get to have deeper conversations with them versus the "hellos" and "how are yous" we all say in passing. This forced me to get my Christmas decorations up quickly (since we were a host house) and I liked having the extra time to enjoy them. The next weekend, we enjoyed breakfast in our pajamas (well the girls) on Saturday morning, and then we attended Breakfast with Santa at River Crest that Sunday morning. The next week, we enjoyed our annual Christmas dinner with the Amersons and Sudbecks and then that weekend went on a golf cart ride with hot chocolate to look at Christmas lights. We also made Christmas ornaments for grandparents, which was much easier this year. The week before we left, the girls and I did some baking and I think it's safe to say that they loved every second! I'll do a separate post on Christmas, but we had a wonderful Christmas with both of our families. It was perfect, except for one big thing. While at my parents' house the day after Christmas, our precious boxer, Tyson, was hit by a car. It has been devastating. The emotions are plenty and George and I have shed many tears over his passing. The only silver lining (if there is any) is that it was instant and there was no suffering. Tyson was 9 years old and we had seen some signs lately that his health wasn't that great anymore, so who knows how much longer we really had with him. Coming home without him has been so tough. Our house is quieter and not as much like home without that big, lovable boy running around. My father inlaw said it best-- he had a lot of love to give, sometimes too much, but he was a loving and lovable dog and loved by so many.

We rang in 2016 with Rachel and Dom, but had the McCarty's and Sanders over for dinner (before their kids went to bed). Cheers to an incredible 2016!

January To-Dos/Goals

I set monthly goals for myself to help accomplish my "big goals" of the year. Here are my goals for January:

1. Read two books: The books I am reading this month are Ever After by Vicki Courtney (wonderful book about marriage that I am re-reading) and Decision Points by George W. Bush (I've begun, but never finished this one). 

2. Train for 1/2 marathon: I love Hal Higdon's training plans and they've never steered me astray. Let's hope I can stick with it, at least the long distance runs. 

3. Daily Devotional: I am reading Jesus Calling, which has a morning and nighttime devotional for a year and also Power of the Praying Parent. Both are very short and doable to read each morning back-to-back. I like the Power of the Praying Parent has specific prayers that you pray each day for your children. 

4. Stick to our budget/keep MINT updated. November and December were crazy spending months. I want to get back on track with our monthly budget and stay on top of categorizing our spending. 

5. House Focus: PLAYROOM: I want to organize/decorate/purge the girls' playroom as part of their birthday gift from us. After the influx of toys from Christmas (let's just say they are so loved!), it's certainly needed. 

Here's to January! xoxo

Goals/Resolutions

There's something refreshing about beginning a new year. It feels like a fresh start, especially after the wonderful chaos of the holiday season. Although we loved every second of the craziness of December, I look forward to settling back into our everyday "normal" routine and beginning another year with my sweet family of four. I like to begin the year with goals and resolutions in place to work towards and to help me stay on track. Here are mine for 2016:

1. Run a half marathon. Before the girls were born, I was a running machine. The year I got pregnant with them, I ran a marathon in January, a 10K in February, a half marathon in April and then was pregnant with them in July. Running means so much to me and I want to get at least one race under my belt before we get pregnant with baby #3. Right now my goal is the Cowtown in late February, but I will be happy with any half marathon complete in 2016. 

2. Read two books a month. I love reading! I read so much on a computer or my phone and as part of my desire to "unplug" a little more this year, I want to read two real books a month. 

3. Get involved/connected at church. We joined Arlington Heights United Methodist Church last November. Between traveling, the girls being sick, George traveling for work, etc. there seems to always be something keeping us from church. I want attendance to be regular. I want the girls to get used to the nursery so that by August, George and I can attend Sunday School and then "big" church, and it won't be a big deal for them to stay in the nursery for two hours. It's important to me that my children grow up with a church that really feels like home develop a relationship with God at a very early age. 

4. Get up early daily for daily devotional/quiet time/me time. When I was still breastfeeding/pumping, I got up at 5a.m. to pump and used that time for my daily devotional and just some "me" time (reading blogs, etc.). I've slowly started sleeping a little bit later and some days, don't do much of a devotional at all. My goal is to wake up at 5:30 every morning and have an hour of time before I have to start getting myself and the girls ready for school. 

5. Focus on one area of the house per month. I want to pick one part/room of the house each month to purge/organize/deep clean/decorate and then move on at the start of a new month. I am notorious for "jumping around" when it comes to home projects and I think this will help me to be more efficient. 

6. Blog weekly. This seems like a big goal since I have been pretty inconsistent on the blog front over the last couple of years, but I love documenting our family's life and know the girls will love reading over this blog one day. I think setting a weekly goal of blogging versus monthly will make the posts not seem so daunting and long (as wrap up posts can be). 

7. Focus on my family. This is a vague goal/resolution, but I want to spend less time "plugged in" and on social media and more time paying attention to my wonderful husband and sweet babies. I want to constantly pray for them and do something special for them monthly (no matter how big or small) so that they know how much I love them. 

Cheers to 2016! I hope it's a great year for everyone! xoxoxoxo