Friday, December 31, 2010

Reflection Questions for 2010


These are some questions that I stumbled upon (from simplemom.net) that made me think and review the past year. I thought I would share.


1) What is the single best thing that happened this year?


2) What was the single most challenging thing?


3) What was an unexpected joy this past year?


4) What was an unexpected obstacle?


5) Pick 3 words to describe 2010.


6) Pick 3 words your spouse would use to describe your 2010 (don't ask them, guess...based on how your spouse sees you).


7) Pick 3 words to your spouse would use to describe their 2010 (again...don't ask).


8) What were the best books that you read this year?


9) With whom were your most valuable relationships?


10) What was your biggest personal change from last January to December of this year?


11) In what ways did you grow this year?


12) In what ways did you grow spiritually?


13) In what ways did you grow physically?


14) In what ways did you grow in your relationships with others?


15) What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?


16) What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?


17) What was your single biggest time waster this past year?


18) What was the best way you used your time this year?


19) What was the biggest thing you learned this year?


20) Create a phrase or statement that describes 2010 for you.






Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas 2010

Emma woke up and (with some prompting) went to check to see if the cookies that she left for Santa were still there. She was very excited as she told us that Santa ate the cookies...and drank the milk. She was just as excited to inform my parents and Mia about this exciting news.
Santa brought Emma some fun gifts...here are some highlights.Emma loves brushing Julianna's long locks! She is in love with her newest baby!!!
Princess jewelry...complete with earrings, big ring, bracelets, neclace and sparkly purse.
princess tutu...as soon as she opened her bag, she said..."Look, a princess!!!" Emma also

We went to to my parent's house for Christmas with my sister and her family. Mia and Emma went to the family room and were looking at the presents. Mia was being the wise older cousin and teaching Emma about the ways of Christmas.
Still looking...but now Emma has pulled up a rocker to be more comfortable.
Time to open presents!!!
Emma helping to build the race track that Mia gave her.
Ah...the job of the Daddy on Christmas morning :) Trav got to put together many items for Emma this Christmas.
Emma loved her new cradle and matching high chair!!! Thanks Lela and Papa!!!

Emma helped Trav put together the high chair.

Emma and Mia had a lot of fun together this Christmas! Emma was wiped out!!!

Thanks for having us over, Mom and Dad! We had a great time!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Cookies for Santa

Emma did a great job making cookies for Santa...with a little help from us :) She really enjoyed using the cookie cutters, rolling pin, and making a bit of a mess!





Plating cookies for Santa...mmmmmm!!!
Don't forget the milk!!!
She picked to put the cookies and milk on her little table by the Christmas tree. I wonder if she will be surprised when the cookies and milk are gone.
Christmas Eve 2010

Enjoying one last cookie before she went to bed...only on Christmas Eve would this happen :)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Girls' Night :)

Our friend, Sara, had a precious baby girl on 12/12/10. Erin, Emma and I decided that we would make our way to Dallas to welcome Sophie Elise into this big, crazy world :) A whopping 9 days old :) She was TINY!!! I have forgotten how little they can be!
Being me is SOOOOOO exhausting!!!
Erin suggested that a face mask could be fun :) We kinda look like we are zombies!!!
Even Emma got a little bit of blue on her face.
Painting on their mask masterpieces


This is a great bunch of girls!!! I had a FABULOUS time visiting with you! We need to do it again soon!!!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Gingerbread House

Emma got to make her first gingerbread house. She had a GREAT time putting the candy on the house AND sneaking a few pieces into her mouth. The next morning, emma came running into the kitchen pointing to her gingerbread house. Proud little architect!!!









Sunday, December 12, 2010

Catching Up...Christmas tree hunting and a Juicy Turkey

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, we went to Elgin Christmas Tree Farm to cut down our Christmas tree. We were excited to have this experience with Emma, but both of us were quite overwhelmed with having to pick the perfect tree :) It is not as easy as it looks and it is a bit competitive. We would be eyeing a tree and walk away to compare it to another tree and by the time we turned back around somebody had claimed our first choice. We finally found our tree...after about 45 minutes of walking around. It was a fun day and I look forward to the hunt next year! Here we go...the hunt begins :)
Emma was checking out the trees that were more her size.

Here we are in front of our tree before T put the saw to its trunk.

It went down pretty quickly.

T did a great job!

Emma found the piece that T cut off to even off the trunk and tried to put it back on.

The tree was perfect!!! Emma loved the lights and ornaments.
Switching gears to Thanksgiving....
Emma wanted a princess hair-do. She has been focused on princesses and pretty dresses.
Cheese!

T and I hosted his family and my family at our house this year for Thanksgiving. I agreed to make the turkey. This was my first turkey ever and it turned out great!!! I got some advice to get a baking bag and cook the turkey at a lower temp overnight. The meat was literally falling off of the bones. I would be happy to host again next year.

The breast had split and the breast meat just came off in one piece.
This is just a picture that I like. Emma G lounging and blowing bubbles.