Our UNtraditional Christmas

We had a very different Christmas this year.  We stayed in Texas and just enjoyed having our little family together.  Last night I suprised Nick with an overnight trip to the Gaylord Texan.  We had fun ordering room service and going to see the Ice exhibit (freezing!)

Christmas Morning, Blake's hair is crazy...

 Our time at the Gaylord..

Playing in the room

Having room service

Seeing the sights..

At ICE.  that's one COLD baby.

Early Christmas

 Christmas with Nana and PaPaw.

We LOVE this kitchen, thanks Nick for puting it together and thanks Nana and Papaw for an awesome Christmas present!!

and here's a video of blake being entertained...

Sorry for the slack on pictures lately, but it's really hard to get a good picture of Blake because she is ON THE MOVE!! The kid doesn't sit still, and she's wanted to be held a lot lately.  There's this Darius Rucker (remember HOOTIE from the Blowfish??) song called "It won't be like this for long"....It is such a sweet song.  It helps me remember to cherish this time.  I found it on youtube, so take a listen..

On a funny note (which Emily pointed out it was funny to me today, it's very Blake)  We bought her these pink fuzzy croc shoes the other day, and she REFUSES to wear them because she wants to carry them around with her, so we end up putting a different pair on her feet and let her carry the crocs wherever we are going :)   Like out to eat lastnight and to preschool today. What a silly girl. 

Like I said, pic's are slim pickins...but here are a few for our poor family that won't see Blake Christmas.

woooo pig soiiiiiee!!

What I'm Reading....

This is the book I'm currently reading.  Have any of you read it?  I'm about half way through and it's very interesting...I think I may have to read it twice, it's deep.  Even if it did make me paranoid being in a crowded Walmart with Blake tonight.

Our New Church

We are so excited to have found Richland Hills Church of Christ.  We are officially members and can't wait to grow and serve here.  Check out the website:  www.rhchurch.org

They have already blessed our family with Young Children's World (preschool for Blake), Women's Bible Study for me, opportunities to serve and give, and wonderful worship and teaching.  

On a funny note, this morning  Nick forgot his computer bag at home (which is kinda bad for him because ALL his work is on his computer...) So I load Blake up in the car (it's like 17 degree wind chill here this morning), load me up (still in my house shoes and pj's) and go to be a good wife and take Nick his laptop.  I haven't splurged on starbucks all year, seriously, so I was going to treat myself to a tall extra hot gingersnap late' for the drive in. But after I've ordered in the drive thru (like I would go in without even having brushed my teeth!) I realized I didn't have my wallet.  It was instant panic, waiting to pull up to the window and be humiliated. I look awful,  haven't washed my face, brushed my teeth or my hair... Just a sweatshirt pulled over my pajamas.  The barista was so sweet, she gave me my late for free!  I fully intend to go again this week, order a late and insist they charge me for two so I can pay them back...but how nice is that??  And my late was delicious :)

Have you seen this show?  If not, you should.  It's my favorite reality tv show.  It's Jon and Kate plus 8.  In a world with shows that infringe on our morals, this show is completely innocent. They have twins and sextuplets.  I relate to Kate, she's a nurse, and type A...like someone else I know :)  It comes on TLC  Mondays at 8.  It makes me want to have tons of kids!  Aaden is my favorite, he's the little boy with glasses, so cute.  So check it out and let me know what you think.  

WELL....I've finished the Twilight series, so I guess it's time to get back to real life...which for me includes blogging :)  Since I have been incapacitated the last few weeks I have very few pictures to share.  

But here are a few little updates.

Blake has survived her first ear infection/sinus infection.  I knew she was sick, but for weeks had just figured it was a cold...so I tried to let it be, but finally decided she just wasn't herself and took her to the doctor.  I felt horrible I had let her go that long with an ear infection.  lesson learned.  She is back to her happy self now for which i am very thankful.

We got a Wii!! So come play with us!  

We are staying home for Christmas.  While I'll miss family, I'm very excited to have Christmas day to be at home with Nick and Blake, we always have fun together and I think this will be a very special Christmas.  

A few pictures:

Lex with her pig tails, I can't wait for Blake's hair to grow!!

Chillin

Playing with the V-tech

Photo Shoot

I'm trying to choose a picture to send out with Christmas cards, and here is your chance to let me know which picture you like BEST!  Your input counts, so give me your opinion!

These are not the final proofs, I would still have some work to do on them, but I wanted to share them first.

Love,

Sarah

And here are some just for fun.

Marathon Blog

There has been so many random things lately, I thought I would post as much as I can remember in this one big blog.

Here are a few more birthday party pictures.

Opening presents with daddy (thanks jodi!)

Blake's "smash" cake

Enjoying her cake

Heading up for a bath after cake time...this is her new favorite thing...to put her hands out and say "Waaaasss daaat???" so precious.

A fun new toy, this has already been used so much!

Claire and Blake playing in the back yard

Nick and Blake went for a quick trip to Akransas so Nick could hunt.  Blake spent the time with her Grammie and PaPaw.

Reading books with PaPaw

This picture cracks me up

While they were gone I worked way to much (in my opinion :)  I had a absolutely INSANE 17 hour shift on Thursday. I actually cried while giving report that night.  It was horrible. I had two patients code within 3 hours of each other...not good.  They both made it through that night though.  I am so thankful to have a job with the kind of flexibility and hours that nursing offers me, but I would also like a job that I knew what each day might hold.  With nursing, you never know. 

I took Blake for her one year check up today...everything looks good.  I don't have the numbers in front of me but I remember she is > 95 % for height.  The doctor kept saying "She's going to be very tall."   Which I love.  She had 4 shots and had to have her finger pricked so they could run her hemoglobin.  She handled it like a pro.  And as always, the doctor was impressed with what a smart, happy baby she is :)  I'm so proud of her...She's doing so many new things.

I snuck my camera in a got a few pics of us waiting for the dr.   Isn't her hair getting long?

Her "Was dat??" look.

Our trip home, can you find the yellow bandaids?  There are three.