Armed Forces Bowl: Day 1&2

We spent this last week at the Armed Forces Bowl in Ft. Worth, Texas. I was so excited about going, because I hadn't been to the Dallas area in some time. Our first day was spent unpacking the hotel that we would be living in for the next 4 days. We took the computer, so G could watch some of the DVDs that she received for Christmas. I also tried writing this same blog post while we were there, but the internet connection was awful.
We brought a few toys with us (because as a parent, you know you need something to keep your kid's sane while away from home!) And, our bed was big enough that MC was able to lay and play around.

DJ spent his entire afternoon setting up his makeshift office and the meetings room, as well as going to practice and editing film. The girls and I also hung out with a friend and her little boy, and then we went to the "hospitality suite" to have dinner.

The next day, the girls and I got up and ran to Target with some coaches wives, because we had obviously not brought enough things of our own!

I needed a nap that morning, because MC woke up super early, but once we felt rested, we headed out to explore downtown Ft. Worth.
We stayed across the street from their convention center, and they had a really neat water fountain park. We explored a few of them, and then caught "Molly the Trolly" so we could ride around and explore.
We got off the trolley and G and I shared a chocolate chip gelato! It was divine!
And, we saw where Santa had been just a few days before! There was a ginormous tree and other fun things for us to see.

Next, we explored some of the shops downtown.
Here's G in front of a lamp post with an Armed Forces bowl flag hanging from it.
Here she is on the trolley. She absolutely loved riding the trolley. She made up a song about the trolley to the tune of Rudolph, and she kept talking about it all week!

We have had such a busy weekend! But, it's been an enjoyable one spending time with DJ and the girls and celebrating Christmas!

MC turned 7 months on Christmas Eve, and I'm really sad to admit that she is army crawling all over the place!
We hung out at the house on Saturday morning just enjoying each other and then we got ready for our Christmas Eve service at Church.
MC was diagnosed with her first ear infection earlier this week, so she's been rather fussy, unless she just ate- then she's happy! I had to take her 7 month pictures and her first Christmas pictures as soon as she finished eating so she'd be smiling & happy.
I dressed the girls in their Christmas dresses, G lucked out with two this year.
I finally broke down and purchased a teething necklace for me to wear for MC- you can see it around my neck. It was suppose to be a gift for MC, but I decided to go ahead and start wearing it. I've been wanting one since I was pregnant!
It was so nice to have DJ home since Friday! We really enjoyed having him and G loved just playing with him! We leave in the morning for the bowl game in Dallas. It'll be a wonderful week to end such a great season, and it'll also mean that we get DJ back for good! (At least until March!)

I'll be posting more pictures throughout the week- I took over 150 pictures this Christmas! I hope you all had a fabulous one as well!

G's Christmas Program

Tuesday night was G's Christmas program at her preschool. MC stayed at home with a babysitter, so DJ and I could enjoy the time with just G.Here she is modeling before we left for the program.
We managed to arrive early, which is very unusual for our family, so she and I took our photo while we waited.
And G invaded photos of some of her friends- she's not the most photogenic, but it's unusual for her to turn down a photo op!
Her class did very well, and they sang three songs.
G probably won't be much of a stage performer, she managed to lift her dress and pick her nose while she was on stage!
(The photo quality of these is awful, I apologize for that.)

But, it was cute to watch the kids sing their Christmas songs, which helped us remember what Christmas is all about!

Christmas with the Grandparents

My mom and stepdad came up this past weekend so we could celebrate Christmas together.... even though we live closer, DJ and I have decided to stay home this year and to celebrate with just the four of us.

I was super pleased when my parents said they would come up, so we could open gifts together, and that they'd babysit for our anniversary. DJ had football practice on Saturday, so I spent the morning cleaning and getting ready, and my parents arrived around noon.

We hung out at the house and took naps, well, everyone but G took a nap, while we waited for DJ to get home.
We also tried to get a few more pictures of the girls in their matching Christmas outfits that my mom made.
G was being a bit silly though.... se her orange headband? That was her 'crown'. And, she's worn a 'crown' for the last three days.
MC is always a bit more cooperative with pictures. In fact, when you grab the camera, she often looks up at you waiting for you to snap her picture.
Once DJ came home, we started opening presents. MC got a cute little rolling bug from my brother and sister in law. G received a Strawberry Shortcake.
MC's favorite toy was the paper though! It instantly went in her mouth.
We gave my stepdad a new laptop bag for his new computer.
G also got a My Little Pony toy from my parents.
And, she had tons of fun helping everyone open their presents!
My parents gave me a black Jade bracelet from Guatamala.
MC received this tea set from my parents too. G has had tons of fun playing with it over the last few days though!
DJ was busy filming, which is pretty typical of his day to day job!
And grandpa sat back and took tons of pictures.
And, here's one more of MC when we were all done!

I feel so blessed to have family close enough that we could open gifts with them, without us having to travel. And, now i'm super excited for us to have Christmas with the girls this weekend!

6 years later

Six years ago, this weekend, I was getting married! I think back on that day, and remember how excited I was to be marrying DJ. He is such an amazing husband and father. He puts up with so much from me and from our girls. He is so supportive, and helps me to realize that no matter how difficult things may seem, we'll get through them.

Our marriage has already been through so many ups and downs, but not because of typical marital problems that some may think of, but because of everything that we go through year after year. In six years, we have lived in four states, seven houses, and have had two daughters. It's a whirlwind surviving it all, and as soon as we get settled, we move again. I think this past year has tested us in so many ways, and it's such a blessing to know that we survived it.
My parents came up this past weekend, so we could celebrate Christmas with them, and to also give DJ and I a much needed date night. He and I enjoyed dinner at Bonefish Grill, and then we drove all around T-town. We use to love to just get in the car and drive and explore, but we haven't been able to since we moved here. G gets too bored, and MC hates the car seat. It was so nice spending time with just the two of us, although we both agreed that dinner was much quieter than it usually is!
G asks me where she was when mommy and daddy got married. She wanted to know who watched her while we had our wedding. It's been difficult to explain to her that she wasn't always here and that there was a time in our lives without her. She's also been begging to watch our wedding, as she's somewhat fascinated with them, so I finally convinced DJ to take our VHS wedding tapes, and transfer them to DVD!

He and I watched our wedding last night, but G was already in bed.... maybe I'll have her watch it this week.
We spent today hanging out with the girls. DJ had daddy duty while I went to the gym, and this evening we had a bowl meeting about our trip next week.
I don't think I could imagine our lives any differently than what we are living right now. We spent our honeymoon at a bowl game, and we're going back to another (our 4th in fact), and we have two beautiful, precious gifts from God. Everyday, I know that I am so blessed, and i'm so thankful for my marriage and my girls.

Christmas Lights- FAIL

Last Saturday, DJ and I took the girls out to look at lights. It's definitely a fun, annual tradition that we like to do around Christmas.

I haven't been feeling very Christmasy, because i'm so busy with work right now, so I thought this would be the sure thing to get us in the Christmas spirit.

I even dressed the girls in a Christmas outfit.
MC is starting to sit up on her own, which just makes me sad that she's getting so big! She's been sitting up for about two weeks now!
G snuggled in really close for this picture! I really do hope that they grow up to be amazing friends.
G enjoyed riding in daddy's truck looking at the sights.
We went to the OKCastle in Muskogee, because it's been advertised like crazy. It was also too cold to go through a 'walk through' light display, so I was happy we could sit in the car and be warm and cozy! However, we were highly disappointed, because we didn't see many lights.
Rather, we saw miles and miles of blow up lawn Christmas ornament sitting all over the place. Who knew that there were so many kinds?

I hate to say this, but it just felt a little white-trash to drive through and look at these. So, the trip didn't put us in the Christmasy spirit we were hoping for.

But, we did end up getting a few laughs along the way. Mostly in disbelief that this is all we were seeing!

I think it was a Christmas Fail.

Paint Chip Christmas Trees

I picked up the girls early on Monday, and decided that we had some extra time for G to work on a Christmas craft project that I wanted her to make.

These are super easy, and all you need is: paint chips, scissors, glue, ribbon.
This is a great activity for teacher your tot or preschooler scissor skills!

I picked up some green paint chips from a home improvement store, and traced triangles on the back of them. Then, we cut them out.
I also picked up some yellow paint chips, and made stars with those. You can also use star stickers or scrapbook pieces.
Next, I cut out simple squares and let G glue them on as 'ornaments'. Again, you can use stickers, sequins, pom poms, or any other craft supplies you have lying around.
Then, I used hot glue to put a ribbon loop on the back of them.
These make great ornaments or you can use them as gift tags!

Paint Chip Christmas Trees

I picked up the girls early on Monday, and decided that we had some extra time for G to work on a Christmas craft project that I wanted her to make.

These are super easy, and all you need is: paint chips, scissors, glue, ribbon.
This is a great activity for teacher your tot or preschooler scissor skills!

I picked up some green paint chips from a home improvement store, and traced triangles on the back of them. Then, we cut them out.
I also picked up some yellow paint chips, and made stars with those. You can also use star stickers or scrapbook pieces.
Next, I cut out simple squares and let G glue them on as 'ornaments'. Again, you can use stickers, sequins, pom poms, or any other craft supplies you have lying around.
Then, I used hot glue to put a ribbon loop on the back of them.
These make great ornaments or you can use them as gift tags!