2011

What does 2011 have in store for you?
I can't wait to get this year started. There is going to be a lot of changing going on around here. I'm not talking dropping a few pounds changing, I'm talkin' BIG changes. First of all my dad will be retiring after working for EVER! My father in law will be retiring as well. Woo Hoo, two more people who can help with picking up and dropping off the kids. (Just kidding guys ... or am I?)
Our family will grow with the addition of Amanda and Chris' new baby due in June, my bestest friend Nikki and her husband Greg will become new parents in July (I will be making my trip to Georgia) and my baby Layla will be starting Kindergarten.
So much is going to happen, I trust that God will keep us all safe and sound.
I am getting ready to embark on something so exciting and I can't wait to share it with you however I need to get all my ducks in a row before I share.
What does this year hold for you? Are you glad to see 2010 go?
Here's wishing all of you a Happy New Year!

Christmas Night

Christmas Night Continued ...

Christmas at Aunt Rosie's Enchiladas YUM!!

Christmas Morning ... ours began around 6:30am!

Magic Reindeer Food on Christmas Eve

Hot Cocoa !

Cookie Day!

Mom and Dad

This is my most favorite picture of Mom and Dad, they are so groovy!




Today, 43 years ago my mom and dad got married. They had an awesome Christmas wedding. Her attendants wore red and carried red poinsettias and my mom rocked the Priscilla Presley look-a-like wedding dress. Here's to you Mom and Dad, thanks for showing me how to live with someone and give all to them. Thanks for being pretty cool even though we never said you were. I still can't believe you guys drove past Woodstock and didn't know what was going on!! Love you soooo much.

Breakfast With Santa!

While we wait for Belle to come home from Austin, Layla and I have had quite an eventful weekend. Saturday afternoon we as a family went to Layla's friend, Kyndall's, birthday party. We had a great time and she played with her little group of friends while me and Daddy snacked on some delicious deer sausage and laughed with some of the other parents there.
Sunday we woke up and got all "spruced up" to have brunch with some of the same friends she played with the day before but this time we were celebrating her friend, Holli's birthday. Those sweet girls were so excited to see each other again (they could probably get use to seeing each other all the time) and they were all in their Christmas best. We met at the Aquarium in Kemah and the girls just loved seeing all of the fish!
Then ... he showed up. Santa Clause came walking around the corner and you would have thought Elvis was in the building. Let me just tell you this guy was great. Layla looked at me and said, "Mom, look at his beard!!!" then proceeded to be very shy and wanted to just observe from a far. He was absolutely wonderful. I have never been around such a patient "Santa" and he even kissed the birthday girl on the cheek for pictures.
Layla came home to tell Daddy that she saw the real Santa and she was so excited. I hope she treasures that morning for a long time.
If you have a little girl, try getting all dressed up and take her to the closest tea room or nice restaurant, they like getting all dressed up and they love watching you in that type of setting. I think it is so important to share those times with them. Also, thank you Larissa for hosting such a cool "girl party"!

Christmas Holiday

Today is the first day of my official Christmas vacation. I can already feel my spirits lifting and my mind is planning our cookie baking day, however I really want to lay on my couch and watch mindless Christmas cartoons with the kids. Belle has one more half day tomorrow and then she is free!
I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas! I will probably take a break from blogging until Christmas is over ... UNLESS something extraordinary happens.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Star

There is a tradition that runs deep in my family. It's not one that my immediate family practices but it is one that I have grown up with. Ever since I can remember my dad has made sure that we all have a turn putting the star on the tree. There are lots of pictures faded with time showing Michelle with a "bowl" hair cut and terry cloth jumpsuit reaching for the top of the tree while in Dad's arms. There is a picture of me giggling while wearing shorts and flip flops (Christmas in south Texas) placing the star on the tree while Dad is bending the top limb so it would be easier to reach. Finally, a picture of Amanda smiling with just a shirt and diapers with a kool-aid mustache (third child syndrome) looking at the camera while holding the star, her grip is strong and it was probably a struggle to get her to let go.
We continue this tradition with the grand kids. Yesterday Jackson was given the honor of putting the star on the tree while in my dad's arms. He was so excited with the loud applause that followed his effort. I know this sounds silly to some but you have to know the story behind this star.
About 40 yrs ago my mom and dad were in Virginia because of the military. They bought a tree for Christmas and decorated it with their meager collection of ornaments and while it was beautiful it was missing a star. They didn't have any money to buy a star so my dad cut one out of cardboard and wrapped it in foil. Ever since that Christmas we have used the same star. Mom tried one year to put an angel on the top of our tree and we had a hissy! That star is so special to us and represents such a wonderful image and memories we hold in our hearts. Mom doesn't even try anymore and she loves it as much as we do. It's been re-wrapped a couple of times but it is the same cardboard and it is so neat to hold it in my hands and think that something so simple could last for so long.
What is your favorite tradition?

It's that time of Year!

One time when I was a little girl I went over to my friend's house a few days after Thanksgiving. I walked into her house and *pow* her Christmas tree was up and decorated! I thought, "how cool!" We always had to wait until mid December because we bought real Christmas trees and Mom didn't want to burn the house down before Christmas with a dry, real, Christmas tree.

When I finally had my own Christmas tree to decorate with my husband we have always used artificial trees (you can buy a candle that smells like a real tree) and we have always put it up the day after Thanksgiving. Usually that Friday starts with me and the girls going to the Christmas Cottage in Kemah and picking out one ornament a piece. This is really hard for me because I want several but I can't buy five when I told the girls "ONLY ONE" and I really want to get out of there without breaking five million things. This year the wonderful owners of the Cottage were handing out hot apple cider, it was especially good because it was freezing.

Anyway, after we decorate our tree we just go from house to house in our family and "light that fire" so to speak. Aunt Rosie's tree got put up in record time and my mom's tree was quickly decorated as well. Grandma's next but we have to wait, I think she wants a real tree this year. I wonder what the girls will think when they can't bend a limb to make an ornament fit?

FINALLY!!

It is a sad day when I have to go to different house to update my blog. I'm sooo sorry that I have fallen behind with all of my news, we have had a really hard time with Verizon. I'm trying to find love in my heart for Verizon, I just can't right now.
Well, the Christmas season has hit the Rutledge family. Today my daughters and I will be attending a Christmas Tea, this will be Layla's first time to go with us. My sister, Michelle, always has such a festive spread so I am so excited.
Tomorrow is the 2nd Annual Christmas on the Hill parade and Layla will be in it. I am actually on my way now to purchase Christmas candy, red pants, white shirt and hats and gloves. It's supposed to be a cold one tomorrow.
Well, that's all for now, hopefully we will have our issues resolved soon so that I can keep everyone updated. Until then, Merry Christmas!