Cinderella

When I was pregnant with Katherine I spent hours and hours and hours on her name.  It seemed nothing was a perfect as I expected that she would be.  I wanted her name to represent everything amazing.  I joked with my friend Velena about naming her Cinderella Christmas.  Now I see that may have been the best name for her.  Every day feels like Christmas with this girl - she brings joy to me that can not possible be described. 

On this day she decided to come in and help me with the dishes...She was adorable in her princess crown and Dora the Explorer garden gloves.

Luckily Cinderella Christmas has finished her chores and is now allowed to go to the ball with her handsome Prince.

       

Worked out great that her name means PURE GRACE 

Nice to Be Close

I am so happy that my Mom lives nearby.  We are close in proximity but also have a connection that is very close emotionally.  I can't tell you how often she and I are thinking the same thoughts, cooking the same dinner or thinking about the same random person.  In September the kids invited Grandma to school to have lunch on Grandparents Day...luckily she was close enough to come and share a special day.

Miss Dolly Designs

I have an amazing girlfriend, Dolly - she is all heart and talent.  Here are a few things she has created for Missy May recently...
She has also monogrammed backpacks and towels that I can't put my hands on the photos just now.

Dolly has a way of making us all feel very special.  Her kindness and thoughtfulness EVERYDAY is touching.  Thanks Miss Dolly - We love you!!

Silly Kids

Cleaning photos off my computer today - came across these silly memories from 2010.  My kids bring such joy to my days and nights.  Can't imagine life without them...

The girl in the hood - going to the pah-tay!

 Car Wash Day - Mommy got the full detail job and Katherine is SOOOOO done.  Nothing more to do than just flop down.

 Headed to bed after midnight and found these guys surrounding my bed and in random places throughout my room...My protectors.  Thank you Connor!!

 This poor Barbie only came with a swimsuit but she needed to go to the store.  So Katherine insisted we make her some clothes to put on.  Here is what we came up with - on the fly. 

sNOw Way!!

Texas has had some great snow this year!!  This week we are snowed in (mostly iced in) along with most of the rest of the country.  It's nice to slow down and sit for a while...being trapped hasn't been too bad for me.  I always have enjoyed my time at home...

Here are some fun photos I took of the kids during the early January snow we had.  Kids look a little like orphans as they are wearing hand-me-downs from older brothers, cousins and Mama.  Poor Texas kids....we just don't get enough of winter usually to justify the winter gear in each size as they grow.

Letting Go

My new part time job at The Container Store came at the PERFECT time.  As I am finding a lot of comfort in organizing my home, my life and my stuff.  This past year has been a project filled year...tackling one room or area at a time...to reclaim it (or me).

I am proud to say that most of the 'stuff' was easy to say goodbye too.  I have been in 'let it go' mode a lot lately...part of it is just a need for room to breathe and part of it (the bigger part) is that its good therapy to just 'let it go'.  I loved this book mark that Half Priced Books is giving out - it was as if it were made for me!!!

I am a HUGE saver - Most of the items I keep are MEMORY related.  I heard a professional organizer describe 'clutter' this way...

There are two kinds of clutter -

Memory clutter (holds you in the past)

I-May-Need-This-Later (planning for imagined futures)

Both take away from the PRESENT which is really the only thing we are guaranteed.  So I learned to MAKE memories always rather than holding on so tightly to memories of the past.  Life is ever evolving and changing.  It's so important that every day be filled to the brim with expressions of today's love, admiration and the making of new memories.  It is those memories that will carry you thru each day...not those of yesterday. 

A few items that I finally let go of....

 Bridal Shower cards from 10 years ago.

 A specific card because the signature of my dear friend Velena was on it. We lost her to cancer and it's been very hard to let go of this - but letting go of this did not at all lessen the memory of her.  In fact it made room for happier memories of her - instead of the negative feeling this had of a LAST writing from her.

 DEAD flowers - not at all smelling good...very dusty.

More dead flowers - dusty and dirty...but mostly DEAD.

There - done.

Now on to today!!! :)

2010 Our Year In Review

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