final holiday roundup...

some final holiday good things {among the others I have already posted}...

-decorating my sister's new place...there is nothing like bonding over turquoise paint! {mom made this gorgeous vintage bauble wreath for ChiChi's living room...gorgeous! and Ms. Rebecca gave her the beautiful old finial in the center...such sentiments!}

-spending time with my grandfather over coffee...he makes the best roasted pecans! He's even shared the secrets and mine still don't taste right! He gave hubby and I each one of these...and I am so enjoying mine. I read it in the mornings and am keeping a notebook full of the insightful pearls God reveals.

-meeting darling Foster...what a little doodle bug and ham...as you can see! already sticking his tongue out at his momma at 3.5 months! I am so excited for the D's on this precious precious bundle {that was so greatly anticipated!!} and so glad I was able to come and "baby hog" for an evening!!!

-Mom had our room {my childhood room} all glitzed up of course with this precious green tree and vintage perfect pink baubles...and darling finial!

-spending time with dad... and Henry {and no...Henry was not harmed in this shot...even though it looks like dad is forcing him to take a pic!}

-Stanley as always...had a wonderful time in Texas!!! {wilson was not as willing to be photo-ed}

he's back...

faithful as he always is...santa clause came to town again this year! We stretched and squeezed in all our families and had a wonderful day full of blessings, time together, fabulous food {all day long}, special gifts, laughs, and yorkie boys {all 4 of them...plus our 2 = 6! yes we are wholly and collectively a yorkie family!}

a.m. at my side of the family...

mid-morning at hubby's side...

lunch at C Grands... {no pics...new year's wish : get better at this ash!}

dinner at my parents...

{ I love these gorgeous chair covers that my mom made this year for her Christmas table and they'll stick around for Valentines too! ...ruffles, silk, rhinestone baubles, and gift cones...handmade and fabulous! }

a very special day spending it with all we love!

santa claus is coming to town...

Hubby and I are so thankful to be home this Christmas!! We hope to stretch and spend as much time squeezing everything in that we can. All the family is in safetly {lacking our BIL...traveling in today safetly we pray} and we are excited to be smoothered with family!

.............

As with most of everything mom does...she always goes all out and above on Christmas. So from her home to yours...merry Christmas!!! You will notice...she has a secret {or not so secret} love for Santa!!

come on in...

{ entry }

{ living room }

best wishes for the merriest of Christmas friends!!!!

i'll be home for christmas...

guess who's coming home for Christmas tonight!

{ all prayers for safe travels and successful landing in Tyler are appreciated!! }

a warm house...

Our Chi Chi {my sister} bought a house a few months ago. So tonight...we had over her dear friends to make new memories in her new home!

We celebrated...
...that the walls are painted
...the curtains are hung
...there is a fire in the fireplace
...warm cider on a cold Texas night...
and most of all...
we celebrated this huge step for my little sister!

We are so proud of you Chi Chi...you homeowner!!
{ Meg {on the L} was ChiChi and I's first babysitting job...she was less than 6 weeks old and I fell in love!!! She is now in 7th grade...I think thats how old I was when I started keeping her....yikes!!! }

{ love these babies that aren't even babies anymore }

I gave her this pillow...but of course, it has a story all its own. I wanted her to have something warm, cozy, and a reminder of the past. The crown and green wool center was a sweater that we shared. It made the move with me to Cleveland, but was one of the many clothes that we exchanged and traded and was in the pile of "you can have this, but give it back when and if you ever want to get rid of it" {yes...that is a legit category with our clothes swaps!} This one made the move to PA too, but soon landed in the get rid of pile...therefore, it was time to send back to sister...in a new way of course! I asked my mom to make it into a pillow for me {again, I can't sew a stitch!} and she and Ms. Rebecca put their creative juices, talented hands, and luscious fabric scraps to work...and {as everything they touch} wooolllaa! gorgeous!!! she loved it...and yes, recognized it immediately!!!!

{I did a horrible job at pics...meaning I overly enjoyed catching up with everyone that I forgot to capture all the little moments! I didn't even get a pic with the hostesses...thanks so much mom, Ms. Rebecca, and Ashleigh...I think we welcomed KK in her new house in style!!}

the graduate...

another one down...one left to go!

What a year of graduates for our family...all the boys graduated this year...hubby from medical school, Dallas from HS, and Austin from college! I am so grateful I was able to be home in time for my brother's graduation...and hubby would have loved to have been there...{he will be flying in soon}.

Austin graduated and we celebrated... so many many congrats bub...we are so proud!! The Commencement Speaker was the same speaker that was at Dallas' HS graduation in May...a fascinating man with a wonderful story!

...the celebration...of course Mexican food would be involved! Since Austin has been a tiny tot he has had an obsession with hot sauce...and would eat it with a spoon when he was little. So it is only fitting that his party revolve around fajitas and a Mexican fiesta!!!

{ all 4 of us ...#2, #4, #1, #3 }

{ austin's favorite girls }

{ the newlyweds }