Life Lately

Hey, hey Monday! I'm sharing a bit of life lately with y'all today.... we've been busy, but we've also squeezed in some lazy afternoons, and honestly, we've just been trying to be together. I feel like I haven't had a ton to share, because we've just been in the moment. We're also in that mid-season weirdness of DJ being home more, but also still being gone, while trying to squeeze in some Christmas, but still having hard times adjusting to the move, school, life, and daddy being busy. 

And, it's not like this because of the move... it's just like this most December's when we have a bowl game around Christmas.

After the championship game, we had a full morning of DJ home, but then he had to be at work that evening, and he worked late, and then later in the week he went to New Orleans for a pre-bowl planning trip, and he had two practices, which meant a late night and early morning.

Anyway, it's just been a waiting game of sorts around here. 

When we were in Ft. Worth, we visited "cowboy" Santa. And, while I hadn't planned on visiting Santa that weekend, this may be my favorite Santa visit ever. The girls were so excited, and you can't get more "Texan" than a cowboy Santa. The girls each received a stuffed horse from Santa, and they all thought that was pretty darn cool! 

When we got back from Ft. Worth, the girls put on their Christmas pajamas from Gee. We've had them for a few weeks, but I wouldn't let them wear them until it was officially Christmas! 

Our elves also came back while we were away, and left notes along the entry way, letting the girls know that they were back. 

The next morning, DJ was home, so we decorated the Christmas tree and watched the bowl selections.

This is the 2nd year in a row, that, I have had a simple tree. We just let the girls put up our hodge podge of ornaments, and ya know what? I love it. 

The star was the finishing touch ;) 

The next morning, the girls woke up to their advent bags filled. Each day has a little activity for us to do together. I try to plan ahead, and on days that we'll be busy, it's something simple like reading a book, or doing a random act of kindness for someone. Other days, it's family movie night or taking cookies to the firemen. We started this tradition last year, and Megan asked about it several times before we decorated for Christmas. 

Megan wrote two of her friends letters, so we walked to the mailbox after school to mail them. 

We also received another package of goodies from Gee, with oversized sleepshirts for the girls. They're child size, but they would probably fit me! The girls didn't care and wanted to wear them to bed....... so they read a story, and after we tucked them in, they changed and put on pj's that actually fit! 

Megan started back to gymnastics a few weeks ago. She's there for 3 hours twice a week, so while she was on break, Addy snapped this picture of her. 

This little buddy and I went to buy our new stocking holder one day after school. She loved the one on one time and insisted on holding our package. 

Megan's reading has blossomed this year! She read me this entire Amelia Bedelia book before bed. 

Megan is also star of the week this week, so we worked on her poster this weekend and added a few family pictures. The poster will be displayed in her classroom so her friends can learn more about her, and then on Friday, she'll present it to the class.

So, that's a little Life Lately for ya!