february, etc.

My goodness, this month was kinda insane... and went out with a bang, too! The ice-storm earlier this week was a piece of cake compared to Snowpocalypse Friday. I spent FOUR HOURS in the car going to/fro Little Elm to pick up the littles from school for a dental appointment... that was cancelled 10 minutes before we finally arrived. GAH. You know how hard it is making dental appointments for 3 dumplings, when Wednesdays and every other Fridays are your main options? It's not that much fun! After walking back into the house in a daze, I drowned my missed-appointment sorrows in veggie chili mixed with mac and cheese... it was absolutely disgusting and completely hit the spot. ;) And then my amazing husband cleaned the bathroom so I could take a nice bath while the kiddos ravaged the snow. I try not to complain too much here on the blog, but let's chalk this up to "keeping it real:" Friday SUUUCKED. ;P

Anywho, 10 hours of sleep and a bottle of wine later, I feel back to normal! Here are some more fun parts of February that are worth remembering wayyy more than Snowpocalypse Friday. ;)

Repo, the sweetest dog at C3 Auto, who kept me company while they fixed my CD player. You outta check out their shop if you're ever in need of a new car! Great group of people, all about customer service. :)

The cutest little macarons in our breakroom one day. 

My favorite watches of the month. Chelsea Peretti, Beginners (!!!), and Obvious Child.

An amazing Galentine's Day afternoon, hosted by Shaleah, with the sweetest, most creative yums and the most wonderful group of gals. :D

See just some of the yums here!

The cutest "party favor:" homemade candles in tea-cups! Shaleah is adorable!

And Tomo, making sure we feel loved as we left. :D

Notes from my family that make me smile. :) (I have no clue if Grandpa Jim knew he was Facebook messaging me, he probably doesn't either, but I'll certainly take it!!)

An amazing feast a la Tonya: almond-crusted fish, a bounty of squash, and the most delightful salad I've had in a while. :)

This meme, which always makes me laugh.

Adult sippy-cups at "The Book of Mormon!" The most handiest theatrical concept ever!

Silly selfies during "The Book of Mormon" intermission. ;)

Lady Gaga's Oscar performance, which I'm still emotional about.

Meggie french-braiding Emmy's hair one night. :)

How pretty the snow looks when it's falling and I'm inside without having to drive anywhere. 

Sadie, post-Snowpocalypse Friday drive. :D

Emily (in my boots!)

Meg by the firepit, Emmy in the hammock, while Sadie and R3 attempt to roll a ball of snow to make a snow man... didn't work out. ;)

Important memos.

This! Still!

Other awesome memories, not pictured:

- Chas spending the night with us, watching the SNL 40th anniversary and eating pizzah!

- One of the fishes in our fish tank having a BABY. 

- Fun, professional things with Yesenia!

- Lunches and pow-wows with Janine, who encourages me to eat donuts (thanks!)

- A new indoor work-out routine for R & I... that completely kicked out butts, but hey! We're doing it!

- Meghan making her Da a sandwich, just because he asked. ;)

- Stephen going to the grocery store with me. :D

- drinks at home with Matt, because he's awesome

- Getting my real-estate business going, slowly but surely!

the BEST valentine's day :)

Valentine's Day this year was so special. Our beloved Tonya & Stephen moved to the area from Colorado this past week, and Valentine's Day was the first day we could all get together as a family and love on each other. The kiddos have been dying to hang out with their new cousins since meeting them at our family vacation in Colorado. Dying! Our sweet kittens are pretty sentimental in general, but I've never seen them react to anyone the way they glued on to T & S. It just makes my heart sing when the best comes out of our weird little blended family. :)

To make matters extra awesome, Darrah and the boys came over as well and the weather was absolutely beautiful. Oh, and burgers! We made burgers! And afternoon bubbles. And back-yard soccer. And Richard helped Darrah finish her taxes! Can you feel the magic? It was a pretty magical day (considering I had to work ;P).

Fair warning, I took alot of bubble pictures. Dumplings + bubbles!

Meghan had a date with Nick and got all dolled up. :) 

Just look at that hair!

Emily was parked right by the window, keeping us updated on Tonya & Stephen's arrival. :)

And at one point, R3 was singing "Wrecking Ball" while playing video games. It... was so hilarious. :)

These pictures are so blurry, but I don't care! They make me so happy. :)

My girls! :D

Stephen helped R3 build the catapult he was given for... Christmas. Slow and steady, guys!

A sweet moment on the couch with cousins. :)

And attacking Sully with the fully-actualized catapult!

I guess it's pretty succinct to say flowers and chocolates aren't really my thing on Valentine's Day. ;) With these sweet folks as company, who can blame me!

so long, january!

And in a blink, it was February! :D

Special Treats: New Years' Day celebration drinks. Can you guess which belongs to me and which belongs to R?!

Never-ending proof that my mom is super hilarious (and doesn't know it half the time!)

This shirt! Can I wear this shirt to open-houses?

R and Sadie, sweetly watching a movie one Saturday morning.

Meggie before an interview, looking exceptionally cute and interview-y! :D

Tried a new "jernt" (joint, in R speech) which was equal parts charming and delicious!

A slumber party with R3 and Emily on the couch one evening... 

And what happens when Emily leaves her beanie at our house!

Burgers with Darrah one special Saturday evening...

... which also included making-over our neighbor, Jake!

Sadie's sweet "yay!" addition to our calendar. :D

Helping some beautiful people find a house worthy of them. :)

The gorgeous Texas sky on the way to Tennessee.

Luxe looks at the local Waffle House (no shame!) ;D

Brother hand + Sister hand <3

A full house with kiddos!

The sweetest text from Tristan & Shaleah. <3

Sadie's been super moody lately (pre-pubescence, here we go!) and I made her write a gratitude list this morning... she choose to write in cursive all on her own!

(included are "you" (me!), "daddy, me, Meghan, my other siblings, my school, to have a roof over my head, to have food, to have great parents, to have warnings*, and to have a great education")

*how great is that? ;D

Trying out Sweet Firefly as a family for the first time! Peach sorbet! Super yum. :D

Worth remembering but not pictured:
- sweet treats from Mary during her property search!
- Olive Oil's (our new go-to!) with Bob and Bia
- hanging out with Chas
- Going for a walk regularly throughout the week, even when I don't feel like it!
- starting volunteering at the Eisemann Center! Sooo much fun!
- watching "Fashion Police" with my husband (because he gets it!)
- Meggie getting a job at Tutti Fruitti - an adorable combo :D
- The Moore Burrito Bowl - all day, every day, "when is burrito bowl night again?!"
- folding/stamping mailouts all evening with R while watching Kid President and giggling alot :)

i feel ya...

This Sunday AM...

Richard III: *makes a bowl of cereal, starts walking to living room to watch Futurama*

Da: No, dude, eat breakfast at the bar.

R3: *quietly finishes cereal* 

R3: *heads back to the living room*

Kylie: No, dude, we need you to take a shower since your mom is picking you up way earlier today.

R3: *quietly detours to the bathrooms, takes quick shower*

R3: *heads back to the living room*

Kylie: Dude, make your bed real quick.

R3, in very hilarious annoyed voice: OH MY GAHD, I JUST WANT TO WATCH TV.

R3: *quietly heads to room to make bed*

Kylie & Da: *giggling hysterically*

He did get to sit down at watch TV, for all those concerned. ;P 

a saturday in ennis!

This week has been really super great, and yet I still keep thinking about this awesome time we had last weekend! This past Saturday, R and I drove down to Ennis to hang out with my mommy and have lunch with Grandpa Jim! We had fried catfish, sweet potato fries, and coleslaw at Grandpa Jim's place (which mom called in to the kitchen on my fish-eating behalf, thankyouverymuch). It was so great to visit with him and see the other people in his retirement home. :) Afterwards, we went over to mom's for some drinks, laughs, and Honey Do's, and it was so much fun!

Other accomplishments of the day:

- fixing mom's wobbly chairs

- making technological break-throughs in her ancient computers!

- making technological break-throughs on her iPhone!

- going out for margaritas later!

- and realizing that bean&cheese nachos really is me and my mom's shared meal of choice (extra quac, plz!)

And to top it all off, it was a really beautiful, crisp sunny day! It was such a great way to wind down the holiday season and get ready to get back at it! (as much as I can want to get back at it... ;P)

2014 | a year in review

What an amazing year 2014 was, filled with chaos, beauty, and lots and lots of love. My sweet family and I learned so much from each other, and while I'm really looking forward to 2015 I'm kinda sad to say goodbye to this wonderful year.

Last night, Richard and I stayed in with Meggie for a quiet, relaxing evening. R and I got to FaceTime the babies (the greatest thing ever--thanks, Christmas!) and enjoyed fresh crab and a killer risotto with broccoli/peas/&parmesan. We rang in the new year during the last 10 minutes of "Godzilla" (such a fun watch!) which included the sweetest little text from Emmy that made my heart swell. :) I fell asleep not long after midnight in the comfiest bed next to the sweetest husband fully aware of all my blessings and how beautiful and joyful our lives are together. :)

What was awesome about 2014 (by no means a comprehensive list):

- Emily mastering the pogo-stick

- Taking Meghan's senior pictures :)

- "The Lego Movie!" and how much R, the littles, and myself loved it :)

- face-painting at work!

- watching the Winter Olympics (in between real-estate homework!)

- sleep-overs with Hilary

- birthday dates with the kittens (Sadie saw "Frozen," Emily saw "Malificent," R3 went to the aquarium, and Meghan went to Adventure Landing :D)

- a beautiful dinner with friends at Toulouse

- "Meghan, will you watch RuPaul's Drag Race with me?"

- finding a beautiful new home to rent

- upgrading to a king-size bed, man!

- my new hammock :D

- and trying Whiskey Cake for the first time! (for my birthday!)

- watching "An Idiot Abroad" with R and Meghan and laughing alottt

- seeing Eddie Izzard with my mom!

- watching almost all of the Disney princesses movies with the girls over the summer (important!)

- sneaking off to Shake Shack (with Hilary!) after our wedding :D

- Meghan graduating early in August

- our family trip to Colorado! and seeing Tonya and Stephen!

- vegetarian nights with my husband

- getting my real-estate license and joining Ebby :D

- meeting beautiful people at my new job

- Meghan getting her driver's license

- seeing the "Marriage of Figaro!"

- rosé all day, every day

- swim parties at Nancy and Nery's 

- our reception/house-warming party with all of our favorites (and a surprise Aaron visit!)

- taking a trapeze lesson! omg!

- driving around one night with Richard to get take-out menus ;)

- Richard's demo!

- Richard and Richard III going fishing for his birthday and Father's Day :)

- cleaning out the garage to fit my car!

- our new washer/dryer that make doing laundry sooo much easier!

- sharing veggie smoothies with Emily and Sadie :)

- falling in love with fried eggs

- shopping for new clothes for real-estate!

- Emmy's clarinet concerts :)

- feeling way more confident about this whole "step-mom" game ;)

What was not so awesome in 2014:

- the terrible saga of trying to clean out our storage units

- my poor car, Pepper, saying good-bye :(

- all the real-estate course-work homework! ugh!

- R3 breaking his leg (but he's a champ, of course!)

2014, you were full and adventurous and crazy and stressful and made us feel so alive and warm. Thank you, thank you, for all you taught us. <3