Christmas Morning

Christmas morning at Bryan's parents' house.

Looking at a jewelry making kit from Santa!
Tearing open a package to see what's inside!
Opening more clothes, while she's already sporting some new ones! Modeling a new jacket and rain boots!

Cookies for Santa

On Christmas Eve, Sarah and Aunt Rachel made cookies for Santa. They used cookie cutters to make them extra special, then decorated them with colored frosting and lots of sprinkles! Santa ate the big angel and left Sarah a note about how yummy it was!

Let it Snow!

While we were in Keller for Christmas, it snowed, and we all loved it!

Sarah bundled up as the snow started falling. Sarah playing in the snow just a few hours later!

Making a snowball!

Preparing to throw!!

All Dressed Up

On Wednesday, we got dolled up to go see The Rockettes. For the past three years the girls in Bryan's family have seen The Nutcracker, but this year we changed it up a bit, and the show was fantastic!

Sweet Sarah Sarah and Mommy Sarah and Grand Nana

Christmas!

Last Saturday, Sarah opened her Christmas gifts from Bryan and me. We just love watching her face light up as she tears into her presents!

Christmas Tree

We finally put up our Christmas tree last night! We've been so busy, and it unfortunately was put on the back burner. We listened to Christmas music and all had a blast while decorating though!!

Sarah's favorite part of Christmas is putting the ornaments on the tree...

especially when Daddy helps her with the high ones! Adorable!

Spelling Words with a Side of Ego!

Once Sarah and I arrived home from school today, we practiced her spelling words while she thought about which snack to have. When I got to the word "best," she said, "Best. I am the best. B-E-S-T." Excellent...I wonder if she gets that from her father?!

Praising God!

Today, Bryan and I went to our OB appointment and saw our 10 week old baby! We are so excited!! Both Bryan and our doctor said the baby looked healthy and normal!

Reading Everything

Tonight, I made pasta for dinner. Sarah finished eating her tortellini and salad before Bryan and I did, and I guess she got bored of our conversation...because she picked up the Parmesan cheese bottle and started reading it! She read the nutrition facts, the recipe for their meatballs, everything. It was too funny!

Awards Ceremony

Today, Sarah's class had an awards ceremony to celebrate their achievements for the first nine weeks. I told Sarah on Monday that I would be there. She was really excited, but also told me not to embarrass her. (Are kids supposed to say that in the first grade?!?!)

Sarah received four awards: one for not being tardy ever, one for never being absent, one for being a super citizen, and one for her academic achievement! I am so proud of her! She can't wait until Papa Bear gets home to show him!! Along with her awards, she also received free meals at 4 restaurants and a free ticket to a Spurs game!

Trick or Treat!

We had the best time trick or treating tonight! Our neighborhood's not that big, but Sarah sure did get a lot of candy!!

The cutest cowgirl... this side of the Mississippi! The anticipation!

Bryan and I kept having to tell her not to look into their windows by the front door! Haha! We met up with one of her friends from class and went with them the rest of the night. (Sarah thought he looked scary!) All of her goodies!

Pumpkin Carving!

After school yesterday, Bryan and Sarah carved our big pumpkin and had a great time doing it! (For some reason, Bryan decided to do this project in the foyer...silly man!)

Sarah scooping away! Sarah watching "the pro" do it! Writing on ATM. Sarah drew the big "T" and helped with the "A." Sarah carving it. She made the funniest faces!

Too cute!

Sarah and Daddy showing off their work!

Gig 'em Aggies!

Dance Class!

Today's dance class theme was "Pajama Progress." The girls got to wear their jammies, and the parents got to watch them in the gym and dance room, (instead of in the waiting area). Sarah was excited to wear her pajamas to class initially, but before we left the house this afternoon she kept asking if I was sure it was PJ day. She said, "Mommy, I'll just be humiliated if I get to class and no one else is wearing their pajamas!"

Bryan and I loved watching her up close today, and I think she had a great time showing off! Doing her tap moves and her ballet moves.

Saying Grace

At the dinner table tonight, Bryan served Sarah's plate, then started serving his own. Meanwhile, Sarah took a bite of her garlic bread. I simply turned to her and said, "Sarah." She looked at me and replied, "I'm sorry, Mommy. I won't swallow." I laughed and told her to finish her bite, then we'd say grace.

Last Night of Call...for Two Months!!

Tonight, Bryan is on call at the hospital. But, this will be his last night of call until January! Hot dog!! Although the 70-80 hour weeks are still hard on him, bless his heart, being able to have a home-cooked meal and sleep in his own bed for over two months straight will sure be nice! I can't wait to see him tomorrow!

A Day with Sarah!

This morning, Sarah and I hugged and kissed Papa Bear goodbye before sending him off to a night of call with his coffee cup and paper lunch bag in tow. As always, we were sad that we weren't going to see him for a day and a half. Yet, I had stuff for Sarah and me to do lined up. We started with laundry. Haha! Sarah helped me throw in the clothes and turn the knobs, and she loved it! (She'll make her husband very happy some day!)

Then, we went to Costco. Yes, with her baby in tow. Yes, people either laughed or thought it was a real baby. Yes, I didn't care what others thought, because it made Sarah happy to take her baby! And she said baby loved Costco!

When we got home, we baked banana bread. 

Afterwards, we enjoyed the nice afternoon outside. Sarah loves this pinwheel!

And she loves the tire swing! Watching it spin.

Both of us enjoying the ride!

And who doesn't love sidewalk chalk?

Caramel Apples!

Last night after dinner, the three of us made caramel apples, and they were so yummy! I don't know why we've never done this before, but this will surely become something we make each fall now!

Sarah went first...choosing the biggest apple of course! She dipped hers in peanuts, sprinkles, and M&M's.

While we were eating, Sarah told daddy that he is a "Citizen Hero" because he works so hard as a doctor. The smile on his face was huge! It was such a sweet compliment that came out of nowhere. (Sarah got that term from Social Studies, where they talk about people in our community who our Citizen Heroes.)

Date Day!

Yesterday, Bryan was off, so after we dropped Sarah off at school, we had a date-day. (I love those!) We rearranged the living room furniture (fun!), went to go see a movie, and then once we picked Sarah up, we all went to Freebirds for dinner. That evening, Sarah went to a "Boo Party" at her Little Gym. While she was there, Bryan and I did a little bit of Christmas shopping, talked at Starbucks over hot chocolate, then watched one of our favorite shows before picking her up. It was a great day!

Sarah in her cowgirl costume.

Once Sarah was dressed, she kept saying, "I reckon" and "Yeehaw"! It was too cute!

I didn't do her hair or anything since she was going to be tumbling and playing while at the Gym. I can't wait until she gets to be completely dressed up for Halloween!

Sarah took this one of me and Bryan. (Boy, my legs are pale!)

Parent Teacher Conference

I just got back from a parent teacher conference. Her teacher, Ms. Zarate, (whom I adore!), said that Sarah was doing exceptionally well. She also said that Sarah is a fabulous writer, very determined, task focused, and genuinely kind. Yesterday, Sarah was moved up to the highest reading level in class, and she was beside herself as she was telling us about it on the way home from school! Ms. Zarate described it more today and said that this level is where Sarah should be by the 4th nine weeks of first grade. And we're just now ending the 1st nine weeks! We are so proud of her!

Carnival Fun!

Today, we went to Sarah's school carnival. Sarah had a ball!! She played lots of games and spent a good 10 minutes in the bounce house--after a corny dog and a cherry snow cone!

This pinwheel was Sarah's first prize, after knocking down 3 milk bottles with a ball! At the fishing pond! Needle in a haystack.

Sarah golfing. I golf in pearls too!

Look at that concentration! Haha!

Bryan took this one of his girls!