January

It's hard to believe January has almost come & gone, and I haven't posted even once, ha! We have been busy getting back into the swing of things since Winter Break, and I have almost no pictures to show for it! It's just been a lot of "regular" days, which don't always seem like the most picture worthy or blog post worthy type of days...but the regular days are usually my most favorite kind of days!

We had the most delightful Winter Break. I think it may have been the longest period of time where the girls were home from school AND Derek was off work AND we were all at home. Usually if Derek ever has that much time off of work, we are traveling somewhere. While we certainly missed our families this Christmas (we're already thinking about maybe Christmas 2020 in St. Louis?!), it was nice (and a little weird, too!) to have so much time at home for things that have been on the back burner...like finally going to see Frozen II & getting our garden up & going! I kept telling Derek it was too soon for a garden, but we have had the most delightfully mild January..we'll see what February brings!

{they are clearly my children..they always love getting their calendars ready for the new year!} 

{a giant leaf we found in our pool!} 

And the end of January brought my birthday! Brady's school was chosen as one of  five finalists in the state of Texas for an educational grant award, and I was asked to join a round table lunch with the judges panel on the day of my birthday. So I spent most of my birthday at Brady's school for that, and then that evening we went out to one of our favorite family restaurants--Cheesecake Factory! It was a delightful quiet evening at the restaurant, we had a great server, and all 3 kiddos were so well behaved & fun! It was a really great night! I don't have a single picture to show from my birthday other than pictures of the cards the girls made for me..I couldn't have possibly loved these cards any more if I tried! I know I will cherish these cards for the rest of my days.

And quite possibly my favorite memory from the whole day was courtesy of Brady. After we'd taken the girls to school, Brady was eating his breakfast while I was zipping around the kitchen getting things done. I noticed him looking intently at the bouquet of flowers, gifts, and homemade cards from the girls that were sitting on the kitchen counter, and then he said in the sweetest, most sincere & solemn voice: "I don't know how to make presents." Then he paused, and I could just tell the little wheels were turning in his head. I told him "Oh that's okay, buddy!" He quickly continued: "I don't know how to make presents...because I'm not a girl yet.. But I still love you though!" Can you even?!?! Probably one of the sweetest, most genuine things anyone has ever said to me!

I hope all is going well in your corner of the world!