More pictures

We took professional pictures last month with Adam's family.  I wasn't extremely pleased with the pictures of our individual family, I felt like we didn't get a lot of time with the photographer and there wasn't a lot of diversity in the shots.  Well, I just received the CD with all the pictures, and found a few more that I really like.  So, I'm sharing them.  Enjoy!

Christmas Eve

Today we spent our Christmas celebration with my family.  My Uncle Frank and Aunt Cheryl came into town from California, which was really the best present of all.  But, we enjoyed a full day of presents, food, and fun.  I was more stressed than usual.  I couldn't seem to slow down long enough to get a drink to calm me down!!  So, now tonight I can relax.  The house is quiet.  It's a mess, but quiet.  Here are some pictures of my amazing family.  Enjoy!

 Aunt Cheryl and Annalie

 Cookin' it up in the kitchen

 Uncle Frank's gift to Grandma- a throw with our family photo on it!

 Jude's gift to Daddy

 Uncle Frank loved our gift: "The Encyclopedia of Immaturity" and an emergency bowtie :-)

 Addison gave Uncle Frank a nerf gun!  Uncle Adam was testing it out...

 KIDS TABLE!  (Jude looks possessed)

 DINNER!

 The kids (minus babies) got iPod Touches!  Thanks GAGA!

 All the kids! 

Our goofy family.  I love them so much...

po-po

I never would've imagined that I would be married to somebody who puts his life on the line everyday to protect people.  First the military.  Now he's a police officer!  We just got a call from one of his co-workers that another officer in his sector was cut in the throat tonight.  The suspect was shot and killed, but we're still waiting to hear back on his status.  Adam is off tonight, but that could've been him!  Same shift!  Same sector.

yikes.

So, it's 11:45 and Adam just left to go be with him.  He had watery eyes (and Adam never has watery eyes).  This hits home.  It's the first time anything like this has happened to a friend.  Somebody he takes advice from, looks up to.  He's on his way to the ER to be with him.

My immediate reaction was to reject!  NO!  It's OUR CHRISTMAS EVE!  He works on Christmas Day, so we're celebrating Christmas Eve.  Which makes this our Christmas Eve.  BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, I quickly snapped out of my selfishness and realized what this meant.  If that was Adam, would I want his friends to gather around him in support?  ABSOLUTELY!

Ultimately, everything comes down to God's will.  Adam could just as easily get in a car accident on his way to work.  Probably more easily!  But it's sometimes stressful to imagine what he does and the dangers that comes with his job.

I love my husband.  I am so proud of him.  I am thankful for who he is, and the strengths he has that not many have.  He's a righteous, good, godly, brave man.  And I am really thankful it wasn't him on shift tonight.

NEW WEBSITE!

I just found the most amazing website.  A friend of mine posted that she just saved $118 and her local, organic food was being delivered tomorrow.  WHAT!?!

It's true.  The website is called Greenling.  And I'm in trouble.  It's amazing!  Seriously.  check it out.

Not only does it support organic lifestyle, but LOCAL!  SO many local farmers that I can support.  Otherwise, I don't know about them and can't help them out.  I'm totally willing to pay a little extra to support the people who can garden and tend to their stuff the way  I CAN'T!  I wish so badly I could support my family with my own produce and grain, but it's not happening.  So I will support those that can support us! :-)

Not only food, but green living stuff.  Oh, I'm so excited.  GO THERE NOW.

tis the season

With Christmas just 5 days away, I'm surprised I haven't blogged anything about it yet.  I'm super excited this year to have Christmas at our house for the first time!  The last few years has been hard for me to enjoy this season.  It seems so tainted with selfishness.  My mom shared this link of facebook, and I just love it so much.  It helps me get excited about this amazing holiday.

Every store is packed full of more things we need- more ways to make them rich and us in debt.  I just want a little simpler Christmas.  I want to gather with my loved ones and express my joy and thanks to the God who provided atonement for our sins through Christ.  Who brought Him into this ugly, sinful world knowingly so He could be killed by the same children that claimed to be true sons of God.  Never has there been such love- nor will there ever be.  I want to magnify Christ.  In a holiday that is supposed to be spent honoring Him, I feel like He gets pushed to the side.  I am making a point to magnify Him this year.  Thank you Jesus for your obedience to the Father.  Your willingness and submission.  Most of all, thank you for your life- so that you could die- and provide a new and everlasting covenant with you that will never parish.  WE ARE SO BLESSED!

merry christmas.

Zilker Performance

Every year, Dance eMotions has the opportunity to dance on the Zilker Hillside Theater and perform our competition pieces for an audience!  It's a great opportunity to show our pieces off for others, and get our girls' jitters out of the way before competition!  Well, this year is a bit different for me since I have a daughter on a team now!

She is so sweet.  Always practicing.  She listens to her teacher and takes it very seriously.  If Miss Sarah (aka Auntie Sarah) tells her to go home and practice, she does.  She is very hard on herself if she forgets.  Or does 5 minutes instead of 10.  Oh, by the way, she's 6.  ha!  Anyway, last night, she was so great.  This was her second performance, and she's improved so much since the first, which was only about a month ago!  I'm truly so proud of her, but admittedly, it's hard for me to step back from dance teacher mode and into mommy mode.  I see all the positives, just like a dance teacher and mom, but also see the work ahead of us, like a dance teacher.  I pray that I am able to correctly divide the two jobs.  I don't want Abigail to never feel like I'm proud of where she's at.  BUT- I don't think my dancers feel that way.  I think they all know I'm proud of who they are as dancers now, but can still grow.  But, you know, sometimes you just want your mommy to hold you and tell you that you're the best thing ever.  I want to be able to do that for her when she needs it.  So, I guess I need to truly step back and let Auntie be her dance teacher, and I'll be her mommy.  :-)

The other girls, of course, looked amazing.  But, this blog is about my precious daughter.  It's amazing watching your children grow up.  I'm so honored to be chosen to raise these outstanding people. :-)

 One of my advanced dancers, Gabby.  I am truly so proud to be her dance teacher!  She's an amazing dancer and person!

Rising Stars 1... Abigail is far right

From the side of the stage.  Abigail is closest to us.

Ending position of lyrical.  Abigail is front right. (closest to us)

Most of our amazing performers.  LOVE THEM!  I'm a proud mama.

Man Card

At dinner tonight, Bappo explained to Micah what "turning in your man-card" meant.  He asked Micah if he had a girlfriend, he said no.  Bappo said "So you haven't turned in your man-card, yet?"  He said no.  Then Owah asked him "Micah, is Jordan your girlfriend?" He said no.  "Is Anika your girlfriend?"  Micah responds "Yes, but I haven't turned in my man-card to her".


seriously.

he's 3.

Micah and his "girlfriend" Anika