Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Helloooooooooo 2014

2014......seriously????  Weren't we just partying like it was 1999???????  Oye.....time goes by far too fast - but since the clocks don't seem to be slowing down and we keep flipping the calendar pages.....guess I'll just do my best to cram as much fun as we can into each day.


New Year's Eve was perfection.  We toasted with the kid's before they went to bed - and it was such a thrill to enjoy this with the little ones.  Best sparkling cider I've ever sipped!







Grandma Suzie babysat (THANK YOU Suzie!!!), so Mark and I headed out with no real plans.  We started out with a sushi dinner.  YUM.  I heart sushi, but it seems all sushi restaurants are fairly chill and quiet places, which means I don't see them as kid friendly - so sushi is usually just a rare date night treat.

During dinner we discussed how we should ring in the new year....we were both tired so we thought going home sounded good - but we didn't want to be ridiculed for not staying out...so we kept pondering it.  We could go see a movie...but who wants to ring in the New Year watching a movie.  All of a sudden Mark declared - "we have to go - get in the car - you drive and I'll navigate."...he'd found a movie at the drive-in that would be done at 11:45 - giving us just enough time to get downtown Fort Worth - perfect!

We enjoyed the drive-in experience (despite the fact that perhaps we forgot to turn the car on since we were so into the movie so the battery might have died and required a quick recharge before continuing to watch said movie....details) - and then it was a quick trip downtown as soon as it was over.   We found a great parking place and walked to Sundance Square...just in time for the big countdown to 2014.

Last pic of 2013

First pic of 2014 - Happy New Year!

It was a perfect way to ring in the New Year!  Hoping that means that 2014 will be a year of many great things and lots of fun!


2014 To-Do List

Here is a running list of things I hope to do at some point during the year....lots of these are carried over from my 2013 list that didn't quite happen...so we'll see if we have better luck crossing them of the list this year. 
 
  • Learn a bit about photography and utilize Mark’s fancy DSL camera 
  • Ride the TRE to Dallas – Zoo?  Fair Park?
  • Monthly ‘date nights’ with the hubby that are fun and exciting (even if it’s just sitting home and playing cards or Wii!)
  • Get a new house that has a big ol’ yard for the kids to play in
  •  Maintain my blog – and keep it a bit more up-to-date
  • Partake in random acts of kindness
  • Utilize the Entertainment Book/Groupon and try out new restaurants or places at discounted prices!
  • Put my  laminator to use for fun activities for the kids
  • Host a ‘Pinterest Party’ so we can make some of those fantastic ‘Pins’ into a reality
  • Make a Key Lime Pie…..from scratch 
  • Walk the pugs more often
  • Read More Books! (and/or Listen to Audio Books during the commute)
  • One-on-one kiddo dates
  • Paint Brianne’s nails
  • Bake cookies/treats/bread with the kiddos
  • Learn new braids and hair styles for B
  • Enroll Brianne in ballet classes
  • Get both kids in swim lessons (perhaps Friday night swimming at grandma’s pool will count?)
  • Make homemade playdough
  • Check out the Perot Museum (preferably on one of the First Saturdays when it’s free for Bank Of America account holders!)
  • Check out the C.R. Smith Museum
  • Weekend getaway to Glen Rose to see the Dinosaur Park and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
  • Attempt a few recipes with quinoa
  • Send snail mail to family and friends

I'm sure there are other activities that should be added to the list...so if you have suggestions or ideas that I should add...let me know!

Wishing everyone a (belated) Happy New Year that is filled with lots of laughter and love!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Wowzers - Christmas break was fabulous!  This was our first year not traveling for the holidays - and while it stunk that we didn't get to see all of our family...it was such a treat to be home and able to relax and soak up all that quality time with the little ones.

We stayed rather busy.   Making cookies, arts and crafts, story time at the library, multiple trips to the zoo, checking out the science museum, play dates with friends, driving around to see Christmas lights, the Armed Forces Bowl Game, trips to the park, and on and on.....so the house didn't get cleaned or organized - but we had a wonderful time - so I'd call it a success.




Love!


Christmas morning consisted of shrieks and "Look at this, mommy!" and "WOW!!" and laughter and joy that I wish I could have bottled up and saved for a rainy day when I need a smile.  Such a thrill to enjoy the excitement and wonder of Christmas thru the eyes of a 2 and 3 year old!

Pajamagrams just may be the best gift EVER!  It was beyond adorable to see the kiddos in their matching jammies...and just so entertaining that Mom and Dad matched the little ones!




Hey Auntie Alison, these Kinos are great...but they are a little big! :) 

Picture Recap of Our Fun Filled Break:


 Story time on a rainy day!  Love that the Fort Worth Library is offering a Special Needs Story Time that has tons of fun activities and crafts!  All Aboard Story Time!
 On a chilly morning we bundled up and headed to the zoo - spent most of the day inside with the gorillas and the reptiles.

 We drove thru the Lights of Interlochen. Pretty impressive to see how that neighborhood goes all out to decorate!


Light Symphony on 7th Street - Bryce loved it - Brianne hated it and headed back to the car with Grandma!

We made Cookies!!!  Using the sugar cookie recipe that my mom always uses - so nice to have a taste of home for the holidays...even though we were miles away!
 
 
Decorated with love - and by a 2 year old boy who left his mark on them....
  
Sharing his cookie with his sister - priceless

 Fun at the park!





 The path to the park near our house is under construction....but we powered thru and despite a little mud and off roading - we made it!

Christmas Day Soccer - Trying out the new Soccer Net!

Another day at the zoo!
Sorting all of his monies (using his fancy piggy bank from Great Grandma Mary!)


Museum Fun!
 Snowman Craft!



 We had a magical Christmas, and a fabulous break.  I'm so very thankful for this time we had together!  Heading back to work and school is going to be quite the adjustment - but we'll manage.  Looking forward to seeing what fun and adventures 2014 brings us!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!