V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!

After several weeks of diligent watchfulness and small test runs, I am ready to claim victory.

Baby is potty trained!!!



He really digs his Diego undies, and I am thrilled to not be changing diapers for the first time in 7 years!

Big boy...happy mama.

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 was very special for us because it was the first Christmas we have spent in our own home. We did a few things that Hubby and I pulled from our own childhoods, and a few things that might be set to become our own family traditions. Although we missed our families, we LOVED being home!

Daddy reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve

Ready for bed, excited for Santa!

Christmas morning, before the madness begins

Santa ate the cookies, fed the carrot to Rudolph, drank the chocolate milk, and left a note!

Goliath reading Santa's note

They got everything they wanted!

Christmas puppy love

Big gift for the brothers from their Mommy and Daddy!

Christmas Dinner (my first one to cook)--yum!

'Twas the Days Before Christmas....

Goliath after a successful performance in the Christmas musical at church

Goofing off at the winter party at school

On our way to Houston for Aunt Jenny's graduation

Jenny Day

Congratulations, Jen! We're so very proud of you!

(I'll be writing down the song for you so it can live forever...)

Celebrating Christmas at Poppy and Nana's house

Grown-up gift for a fast-growing boy

Little Middle the Storm Trooper

Baby loved his castanets and "boo-macas"

Ms. Felicia came over and helped the boys make gingerbread houses.

The siblings before a night out on the town

The guys paying the bills on our triple date

Back home, we baked some Christmas cookies to get ready for Santa.

Emmanuel

And Mary said,

"I'm bursting with God-news,

I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.

God took one good look at me, and look what happened--

I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!

What God has done for me will never be forgotten,

the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.

His mercy flows in wave after wave

on those who are in awe before him.

He bared his arm and showed his strength,

scattered the bluffing braggarts.

He knocked tyrants off their high horses,

pulled victims out of the mud.

The starving poor sat down to a banquet,

the callous rich were left out in the cold.

He embraced his chosen child, Israel,

he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.

It's exactly what he promised,

beginning with Abraham and right up to now."

Luke 1:46-55, The Message

May Mary's song be my song...all year long.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Questionnaire

1. Fresh or fake tree?

Fake, but pre-lit!

2. Favorite ornament?

This outrageous humongous diamond ring. Hubby bought it for me at the Houston Galleria on Black Friday in 1997. It was the day after he had The Talk with my dad about us being married, and 3 weeks before he proposed.

3. Favorite Christmas song?

"O Come All Ye Faithful". I love the invitation God gives us to come to Him in adoration and to live joyfully and triumphantly. A close second is "O Holy Night", and then a tie between "Santa Baby" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside."

4. Favorite Christmas tradition?

Up until I was married, my favorite tradition was the order in which we had Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve day with my dad's side of the family, had Christmas morning all to ourselves, and spent Christmas day with my mom's side. (That's the great thing about living in the same city as your relatives.) After we were married, we tried to alternate Christmas and Thanksgiving every year between our two families. But this year...drum roll please....we are spending Christmas in our own home. I hope to give my kids some of the same experiences I had growing up and establish a few traditions of our own.

5. Favorite gift ever received?

In 2004 my mom gave me a scrapbook that she made. She did pages of me as a baby, growing up, with my family, my activities and hobbies, my friends, my wedding, and my children. The last page is a letter she wrote to me. I pull it out every now and then when I need a boost--it's a tangible reminder that she is proud of me and loves me.

6. Favorite Christmas meal?

Steaks grilled by my dad and Grandmama rolls.

7. Favorite Christmas cookie?

Sugar with powdered sugar icing and sprinkles, like these that I made with my boys yesterday:

8. Favorite place to be?

Wherever the people I love are.

9. Favorite memory?

Gosh, there are lots. I remember Christmas Eve, circa 1982, when Cabbage Patch Kids were all the rage. I remember how badly I wanted a CPK, but it didn't seem like even Santa could pull it off. Somehow my Gran managed to find and purchase a CPK for each of her grandchildren--what a great surprise! I even remember my kid's name: Freda Elna. Loved her.

10. Favorite Christmas movie?

Elf. Hands down.

A Baby Changes Everything

Wordless Wednesday