Year in Review

Happy New Years Eve everyone! Here's a look back at some of my favorite moments of the Big 08...


Mike and Zach were ordained in January! They went from growing up in church together, to working together, to being ordained together. We miss you Tomlinsons!


The Jonas Brothers concert in March! Don't judge me.


Being in Canton for the tornado. My mom and I went for a walk...who knew there was a tornado?? We didn't even know 'til it was over. And just for the record, 20 minutes after the tornado was over, someone took pieces of this tree, sliced them up, and starting selling them as souvenirs.


NYC with the McDonoughs!


San Marcos with my mom, sister, and Joseph. Little did I know that my mom was only days away from fracturing my finger in two places with her car door.


Moving to Frisco!


Becoming a Librarian!


Katie's Shower! I can't wait to meet Anne Grace!


Walt Disney World with Sam and Hannah.

Whew...it was a fun year! It seems like it went by so fast. I can't wait to see what next year holds!

Pasta and AstroTurf

Yesterday, I visited Uptown Village in Cedar Hill with my mom and sister. After lunch with my aunt, we walked around for a bit to see all the place had to offer. That's when we stumbled on this:


Oh yeah, it's a mac and cheese bar. You get your basic macaroni and then load on the toppings. Are you kidding me?? Where have you been all of my life Max Cheese?

We also had fun rolling around in the AstroTurf. I couldn't decide if the landscapers were on crack or if they were geniuses. Would you judge me if I used this stuff in my yard?? You know that our children are going to be allergic to everything, and I can see this solving a lot of problems.


Overall, it was a fun day in Cedar Hill. Oh yeah...and it was my dad's birthday too! He had to work, but we did a fine job celebrating for him. Don't worry...we took him out to dinner.

Until Next Year...

Goodbye Christmas...at least until this mound of decorations collapses at 1:00 in the morning. I finally finished putting up my decorations. I am a "get it done while I still have time to enjoy my break" kind of girl. Besides...Christmas is never really over. As my slightly creepy stuffed Polar Express Santa says..."The magic of Christmas lies in your heart."

P.S. Have you tried really hard to start using those reusable shopping bags? Has Christmas shopping ruined those efforts? I thought so. Just save those bags and use them to store and protect your Christmas decorations. Opry calls it multi-tasking. Movie quote anyone????


P.P.S. Saw this guy day after Christmas shopping. I would buy a smart car just to look this cute.

Merry Christmas!

Anne Taintor cracks me up!

Old Pizza and Tinsel

This has been such a busy Christmas season! I feel like I haven't had a moment to sit down and gather my thoughts, but now it is finally Christmas vacation. Just for the record, I did not enter the world of education purely for the breaks, but they are a very nice added benefit. If you don't work in education and are quite bitter about the breaks, then I am very sorry. If it makes you feel better, you are probably much less likely to get thrown up on or peed on each day when you go to work. Yes I have been thrown up on...and if you hate Crocs let me just say that those rubber shoes are a lot easier to clean than suede. In fact, they should put that in their advertising. "Crocs: The Shoe that Vomit Won't Ruin." Anywho...this post is not supposed to be about children's bodily functions. It's supposed to be about Christmas!

We have been to more Christmas parties than I can remember lately, but one of the most fun was our Synergy Christmas Party. Friends, desserts, and white elephant presents. Love it! There were some very interesting presents given out this year...have I mentioned that I love my class?

Mike and Shane sportin' their new presents...

A close-up of Mike's present...Oh yeah...that's Sam on the front. Mike hasn't taken it off since he got it.

Jason got some great stuff.

Yes...that's an old pizza...way to go Tomsons!

Brad with the shirt...we stole it from him. I don't know if he'll ever recover.

Snow Day

It's a snow day here in Frisco! Actually...it's more of a "there's a little bit of ice on the road" day in Frisco. Life in Texas...I'm sure we'll be wearing shorts by the weekend!

Christmas Tour

Today is the day! I have been waiting for Boo Mama's Christmas Tour of Homes for what seems like ages now...patience is not my strongest virtue. I most certainly do not have the best Christmas decorations known to man (I think we decided earlier that Disney World has that covered...more on that later). However, I wanted to play too! So here it is...

The Gingerbread People Welcome You!

Our two ornaments for this year: one for my first year as a librarian, one as a souvenir!

Because everyone needs a tree on top of the fridge...

Some cute friends...

Part of my Dept. 56 North Pole village...

Mistletoe...I think it's prettier in person.

The Kitchen...

My trees...Objects are much more glittery and bright than they appear.

Santa Claus...

Mantle...those purple candles looked red in the store!

I had a cute coat rack for these in our old house...I just got creative with them this year!

Fun Hobby Lobby Find...

Flowers...

And the tree...

Proof that I'm a librarian...One day my kids will appreciate the fact that I have books for every season!

Nothing to say about that one...

Pine cones and Ornaments...

Gotta love the "Happy Everything" plate...it comes in handy!

Dining Room...

Thanks for visiting! I could probably post pictures all night, but I have to draw the line somewhere!

A Very Disney Christmas

I don't know if you know this about me, but my family is pretty obsessed with Disney World. We love it. Mike and I even went there on our honeymoon, mostly because he knew how excited I would be to go back. That being said...we have met our match. In fact, I think we have even been surpassed by our friends Hannah and Sam Midgett. They LOVE Disney World. So...who better to go with??? After many months of planning and waiting, we finally went this week! It was so fun, and I definitely recommend going at Christmas. I could write for days and days about my favorite things to do and all of the Christmas decorations. Seriously, I think I saw more Christmas trees, garlands, and lights this week than in all of my Christmases put together. Today, though, I'll just stick with some of my favorites! They may not be in order...I can never figure out how to upload pictures on here!

Mike and I in front of Cinderella's Castle. So pretty! It was covered in icicles!

Hannah and I at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party...we had to come ready to play! The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. AMAZING! I have never seen anything like it, and Mike said it was his favorite part of the whole trip. Basically, back in the 80s a man started covering his house in Christmas lights and decorations for his daughter...and it was a very big house. Eventually he had to buy his neighbors' houses too, because it got so big and crazy (and isn't that the solution to everything????). Disney bought the display from them, and the rest is history. Just a little tip in case you ever go: make sure you are there before they light them for the night: it "snows" and most of the fun is being there when they first come on! The gingerbread carousel at the Beach Club resort...we stayed next door at the Yacht Club, but we had to make it over to see this thing!
Sam and Hannah on Toy Story Midway Mania...or something like that. A crazy fun ride!
Hannah and I...It's tough to be a bug!
50s Prime Time Cafe!
Goofy...good thing he has a life jacket! I love riding in the car with dinos...

LEGO Santa...a good time.
T - I - Double G - RRRRRR