A Christmas Eve Tradition

In David's family growing up, they always opened one gift on Christmas Eve. In my family, we opened one gift but that gift was our Christmas PJ's. Getting new pj's on Christmas Eve was always a highlight for me and I wanted to continue the tradition with my own family. Here is David and the girls in their new Christmas PJ's.

David and the girls

Here is a better picture of Naomi's pj's showing her cool eye mask. (She loves it!!!)

Peace Offering

Last week, Jenny took me out for awhile. Naomi was a little distressed that Mommy was leaving without her. So Jenny promised Naomi that if she was a good girl for Daddy that she would buy her something special. Naomi was excellent for David. Therefore Aunt Jenny gave Naomi a gift (play make-up). The only problem was that Kaylee did not get any make-up. Any mother with two girls close to the same age knows that this creates a problem. Oh yes, we had fights. Kaylee was upset because Naomi was not sharing. And Naomi was upset anytime Kaylee found it and started using it. After two days of fights, I broke down and retrieved from the Christmas stash the make-up that I had bought for each of the girls. And then peace again reigned in the Brown household. PS: Daddy has had at least 3 make-overs from Kaylee already.

Kaylee showing off her fake nails

Pepperoni and Mushrooms?????

Last night, David order pizza for our dinner. I was asleep when he ordered it. When I woke up, he told me that he had ordered a cheese pizza and a pepperoni and mushroom pizza. I got grossed out when he told me about the pepperoni and mushroom one. So very kindly I told him thanks for ordering the pizza with mushrooms but I prefer sausage with them. He then told me he only ordered what I told him to. What?!?! I didn't tell him to order that. He told me yes I did while I was resting on the couch. Hmm, I didn't remember telling him that. So I guess, I was sleep talking. YUCK!!! Oh well, I ate the pizza anyways. And I made sure that David knows that for now on I like sausage and mushroom. NOT pepperoni!!!
PS: For the record, I do like pepperoni. In fact, I love supreme pizzas. I just don't like the combination of pepperoni and mushroom.

Teacher Mini-Album

Tomorrow (actually more like in a couple of hours) is the last day of school before Christmas Break. Therefore, Naomi wanted to give her teacher a Christmas gift. Since I am a crafty person and have lots of stuff, here is what I came up with for her to give to her teacher. It is a miniature 3-ring binder made into a mini-album. There are five dividers in the album each for a different thing they have done so far this year. What do you think?

Front of binder
First divider

Second divider

Third Divider

Fourth Divider

Fifth Divider

What a section looks like

View of the back

PS All materials, stamps, etc are from Close to My Heart

Shhhh, it's a secret

Today when David and Kaylee picked me up from school, I asked Kaylee if she wanted to go get a Christmas present for Naomi. Kaylee told me that she and Daddy already got a Tinkerbell wand for Naomi. And then she said, Mommy and we got a present for you too. We got you a Christmas Bear. Poor David, he was trying to tell Kaylee to keep it a secret but she kept telling me about my bear. I decided to allow Kaylee to get another present for Naomi besides the wand. It was so cute to see her trying to get the perfect gift for her sister. (She sure has expensive taste.) Kaylee finally settled on a Barbie with a dog for Naomi. All the way home, we kept coaching Kaylee not to tell Naomi what her Christmas present was. Well, wouldn't you know as soon as Naomi came home from school, Kaylee told Naomi, "Guess what I got you Christmas presents. I got you a wand and a Barbie." Poor Naomi was trying to plug her ears and sing and the top of her lungs. But Kaylee kept telling Naomi all about the Barbie that she bought her for Christmas. The moral of the story: If you want to keep a secret, don't tell Kaylee.

My Hair Cut

Back in October, I got my hair cut in an inverted bob style and highlighted it. It turned out really cute. I love my new beautician!! However, I forgot to take pictures. This past Saturday I went in for a trim. So here is my new look.

PS: Funny Story!! Today one of my male students asked me if hair stops growing once you get it cut in a bob. I looked at him kind of strangely and wasn't sure if he was serious. However, he was totally serious. So I told him that I just cut my hair again on Saturday. And he said oh that makes sense because he was wondering why my hair was staying short :o) Kids got to love them. (By the way, this student is a Senior!! Are you worried about your future?)

Mommy Can We Have One

Going to Utah means spending time with the girls favorite person, baby Emmalee. They both love their cousin soooo much. They would love a baby in our home. (Sorry girls, not anytime soon.) Since Emmalee is a little older now, she interacts with them more. Emmalee especially loves Naomi. Both girls can make Emmalee laugh and smile. Here are some pictures of the girls and Emmalee.

Naomi and Emmalee
Kaylee and Emmalee

Naomi playing with Emmalee

The little momma's

You hold, I 'll feed

The three girls

Naomi and Emmalee

Snow in Houston!!!

Call me a skeptic but when the weather forecasters were calling for snow today I did not believe them. But alas, I was wrong. Right around 7am it started to snow very very lightly but by noon there were definite flurries. Our school district decided at 9:30 today to close the secondary campuses at 12:35 and the elementary campuses at 1:40. Talk about a madhouse today at school. Oh well, at least I got to go home early and spend more time with the girls. The girls are in heaven by the way. They saw snow last week in Utah for Thanksgiving and they were in love with it. Here are some pictures so far of the girls and the snow. I am sure we will have more.

Our bush out front
Kaylee and her snowball

Naomi and her snowball

Kaylee catching snowflakes on her tongue

The girls throwing snowballs at the car?!? Hey at least it is not me

The girls getting snow for their snowballs

Look at the snow on our roof

Let's Switch

Tonight Kaylee informed me that she did not want to go to her babysitter tomorrow she wanted to go to school. I told her she was not old enough for school. Then she asked if Naomi could go with her to the babysitter tomorrow. I told her no that Naomi had to go to school to Kindergarten. Then she said let's switch kids. She will go to school and Naomi can go to the babysitter. How funny is that? Even David got a chuckle out of it. I think this kid is going to be a lawyer when she grows up. She already has great debating skills.

Last Night I Cried

Five and a half years ago, I took a job here in Texas to be close to my family. It was a hard thing for David and I to do because we were leaving great friends and my husbands parents. However, we knew that this was what the Lord wanted us to do. And I truly missed living close to my parents. These past five years has brought a lot of challenges and changes for us as a family. We bought our first house and Kaylee was born. And then for the last couple years, my parents and for awhile my sister and niece actually lived in our home with us. Right before Thanksgiving my parents packed up all their belongings and moved to Illinois. Even though it was a challenge for all of us to live together for that long, we were truly blessed by their presence in our home. Our home has been truly empty without them here. However, the full ramifications of them moving did not fully hit until last night as we were driving home from our Thanksgiving trip to Utah. I had called my dad as we were driving thru Ft. Worth to let him know our progress. When I got off the phone with him, I realized that unlike any of the other road trips I have taken these past few years with the girls this time when I arrived home my parents would not be here. Oh how I truly missed them right then. My parents have been truly a support to us these past few years and I miss them so much. Mom and Dad thanks for these past two and a half years. Your presence will be missed in our home. And the girls miss their grandparents very much!!