It's Christmas Time

It's Christmas week, and friends, I am still not ready for Saturday! Are you?!

 Earlier this month I decided to "declutter" Christmas if you will. We typically try to squeeze in some holiday fun daily in December, and this year, my heart just wasn't in it. I just wanted to slow down. Life has been crazy, and I didn't need the holidays to be jam packed either. And, it's the best thing I could have done.  

Don't get me wrong, we've been busy, but piling in the extras on top of the other events just didn't feel good this year, and looking back, while some of our usual memories weren't made and traditions weren't had, we made some new memories and maybe even new traditions that we weren't planning on. It's just been a good change and a refreshing change of pace. 

 I hosted a cookie exchange earlier this month and I'm so glad I did! I have friends from all these little groups and it was wonderful to bring them all together; some of them I had only met on social media! But. we all agreed it was needed and so good to just be together and away from kids and responsiblities. 

I made krinkle cookies and sourdough banana bread- yum! 

As well as chocolate covered potato chips- double yum! 

We had fresh baked sourdough, dip, and a charcuterie board, as well as hot chocolate, wine, and lots and lots of cookies! 

DJ and I attended UT's athletic department Christmas party, and had a great time seeing everyone. 

We had food and drinks and we were able to catch up with some staff members who are returning to Texas and chat with friends; it was a great night out! 

And how fun is this balloon Hook 'em?! It was set up for recruiting and I had to get a picture. 

On Wednesday night, we had a signing day party with the staff; and again, it was fun to have a night out, but I was beat the next day! 

And on Friday, we celebrated 16 years of marriage with a date night to Steiner Ranch steakhouse, and then we looked at Christmas lights in Round Rock. 

The trees were so pretty! 

Sunday afternoon we managed to squeeze in our visit to Santa! I'm not sure how many more years the girls will tolerate this, so I'm cherishing it now as much as I can! 

We walked around Bass Pro and then had lunch at Hat Creek, because that's what we did last year. It's funny that I didn't remember that, but Megan sure did! 

As we've slowed down this Christmas and not tried to "do it all" we've really been blessed. I'm not stressed trying to make the holidays perfect and we'll make sure we have time for our super important traditions and just let go of the rest, and it might be the best gift of all this holiday season. 

 

December Life Lately

Once the girls got back from Arkansas & Branson on Thanksgiving break, we hit the ground running and life has been busy. Which is why the blog is so quiet. 

Gee bought the girls their Christmas pj's, and they looked adorable matching when they had a pj day at school. 

We went to a bowling birthday party on the 5th and the girls had so much fun! 

And I came home and changed, and just happened to put on a matching outfit with Gretchen so I made her take a picture with me. Also, she is now taller than I am. 

Silly selfies after school. 

Gretchen had her school dance recital, and we all went to watch and cheer her on. 

Her group was even chosen to perform their own choreographed piece! 

These girls wore matching outfits (as best as they could match) to church last Sunday! And, Adalyn's glasses are 100% fake; she bought them over Thanksgiving break, and told me she's saving them for 4th grade, but I told her she might as well wear them now. 

Sweet girls and their dad walking in to church together. 

I took Megan Christmas shopping so she could buy her dad a present, and I had her show me a few toys she might want for Christmas (because she's been the hardest to buy for two years running) and she found this gymnast cabbage patch doll that "is just like me!", and if I can find it when I go back to Target to finish Christmas shopping, it will be under our tree. 

That's been life lately. This week is full of Christmas parties and all the last week of school things! 

 

Marshmallow Play Doh

Adalyn's 3rd grade class, created an activity book for winter break fun! Each kiddo created a page and came up with an activity to be shared in the book, and we found an idea for Marshmallow Play Doh! She thought it sounded like the best idea ever, so we thought we'd share with y'all too, in case you need some winter break or snowy day fun! 

What You'll Need:

Marshmallows

Coconut Oil

Corn Starch

Food Coloring

What You'll Do:

Heat marshmallows on the stove using low heat, and stir constantly. Add 1 tspn of coconut oil and stir in as marshmallows melt. Add 3 tbspn corn starch, food coloring, and mix, mix, mix. 

We opted for a green color for Christmas! 

Let it cool then start playing! 

Our dough was oily, so make sure you don't play on a surface that can't be cleaned easily! Store in an air tight container!

Let us know if you try this activity! 

 

Thanksgiving Week

Well, we are back to reality today as the girls are home & back to school.... I'm off to work, and our evenings are slammed with activities. This week is going to be crazy to say the least. 

Let's take a peek back at last week. 

The girls fell in love with my parent's new puppy, Charlie. 

I'm not going to lie. I fell in love too. I am really hoping we can bring a new pup home sometime in 2022. 

Last Monday, my parents left with the girls and headed back to Arkansas. We decided the girls could spend Thanksgiving in Arkansas with family, and then take our annual trip to Branson with my mom, their aunt, and their cousin. Our girls would much rather be there, than home with us, where Thanksgiving is always non traditional around here. 

I worked Monday & Tuesday. Tuesday, we had dinner with DJ's staff and then went out afterwards. Wednesday, we had Thanksgiving lunch with the team, and Thursday morning I woke up to an empty house and enjoyed watching the Macy's parade from my bed. 

My mom snapped this picture of the girls on Thanksgiving day. They celebrated with lots of extended family and had a great day!

Thursday night, I headed to a friend's house for a friendsgiving meal. It was wonderful. DJ was at the team hotel for meetings. 

Our game on Friday was at 11, and I made it just in time ;) It was cold, and since I didn't have the girls with me, I just hung out in DJ's office and watched the game. 

The hardest part was figuring out which of the screens had the best view. 

We ended the season with a win, and we were excited to celebrate! 

Friday night, we met friends for drinks and headed out to 6th street in Austin. We stayed out way too late and paid for it on Saturday! 

While I was laying in bed on Saturday (seriously, all day long) the girls were living their best life at Silver Dollar City! 

On Sunday, DJ helped me get out the final few Christmas boxes and we finished decorating the house! You can follow along with all the decorating over on Instagram. 

And, our elves came back just in time for the girls to arrive home! 

Also, not sure about y'all, but just looking at my calendar and December is going to FLY by! 

Christmas Gift Ideas for Men

I'm not sure about your husbands, but DJ is so hard to buy for! He is typically busy with football while I'm buying Christmas presents, and then right before Christmas, he gets me a list. Meanwhile, the Christmas shopping is done, and I'm left hoping that he enjoys what I picked out for him. Sigh. 

Today, I'm taking some guess work out of gift giving for you! Keep scrolling for some gift ideas for the men in your life. 

Combining oily gifts with a non-oily gift is a great way to get your significant other on board with essential oils. When we first started using oils, I was all in. DJ needed some convincing, but now he uses them often! 

If you're not a Young Living member, you can click here, and shop. There's no need to purchase a membership, just add products to your cart and check out. Easy peasy. 

Peppermint is a great oil to start out with for you man. It has so many benefits and uses including relieving head tension, muscle aches, and as an energy pick me up. Pair with this pair of gloves, and you've got a great gift idea! 

Peppermint

Deep Relief. 

Oh friends, if you haven't tried this or given this to your man, then do yourself a favor and get it! DJ and I are starting to feel our age and Deep Relief is a life saver! The other night we went out and sat on barstools and both of our backs were hurting the next day! Deep Relief to the rescue!

It's great for sore muscles, joints, headaches; to use after workouts, and to use when you're just feeling your age!

Pair with a neck massager like this one, and bam, gift giving problems are solved. 

Shutran Shave Cream is the best! I order this for DJ every month and it's a great shave cream with clean ingredients. Add this to his stocking, and gift him a new razor as well. 

If your guy is active, then Cool Azul Pain Cream is a must. Think of it like an icy hot, where it really soothes your sore muscles. Grab him tickets to his favorite sporting event, a new set of golf clubs, or head out for some hiking, and you have another great gift idea! 

Digize is a favorite around our house. It's perfect for relieving tummy problems, but did you know, you can also use it for your sinuses! #mindblown

Pair Digize essential oil with his favorite beef jerky, case of beer & koozie, and you're all set. 

I hope these inspired you for some great gift giving ideas! Follow along over on our Instagram page, and we'll be sharing more ideas all month long! 

 

Washed

Last week, our two youngest daughter's were baptized! This was a day worth celebrating, and we are so proud of them for their confession of faith. Adalyn prayed and asked Jesus in to her heart during her children's church service, and Megan asked Jesus in to her heart over a year ago, and then waited for months to share the news with us! 

We were planning on having Megan baptized before COVID hit, but once our church closed down for several weeks, we held off. We've been back at church for several months, but Megan never enjoys being the center of attention and we decided to hold off on baptism until she was ready. Once Adalyn asked Christ in to her heart and wanted to be baptized, we told Megan she could be baptized with Adalyn and she was all in. We met with the children's leader and discussed baptism, and scheduled it for the Sunday of Thanksgiving week. What a wonderful time to be baptized! 

Our church gives shirts for those being baptized to wear. 

Gee and Papaw came down for the celebrations. 

3 sisters on Earth, and in Christ. 

Amelia came too! 

A quick family picture before heading out the door. 

We arrived at church, and these girls were ready. 

Gretchen was able to video the baptisms for us, and thanks to online services, their grandparents watched from Arkansas, and we received lots of pictures! 

Adalyn went first. DJ and I had the option of baptizing the girls, but we wanted to leave it to the professionals! Ha! 

Then it was Megan's turn. 

We took the girls out for lunch and then came home for cake and presents. 

Pops & Grandma Dee gave the girls music boxes. 

Gee & Papaw gave the girls praying angels. 

DJ, Gretchen, and I gifted the girls necklaces. 

Megan's was a cross with her birthstone, and Adalyn's was a heart with a cross and pearl. 

Nana is sending them blankets. 

As a parent, our biggest blessing is to raise daughters who know and love Jesus, and all of them have asked Jesus to live in their hearts. We are so, so proud of them.