Most favorite thing...

I absolutely LOVE the face of a person who just received the PERFECT gift. It has nothing to do with cost or even anticipation. In fact, simplicity and surprise are usually key. It's the forethought and authenticity that create a magical moment like this one:

That's right. It's only a box of Fruit Rollups and a disgusting old Creamery polo, but for L, it was humor, love, and best wishes all wrapped up in tissue paper. It. Was. Awesome.

"Spoonful of sugar" anyone?

So, we kicked it...AGAIN. Sometimes my family exceeds even MY expectations. Check out this awesome-sauce...ness! Tis pretty amazing. SKILLZ, people. SKILLZ. (Shhhh, don't tell anyone I had to replace N the missionary...)

We made all the costumes except the red one (rented). On the coat, mom LITERALLY sewed strips of different colored bias tape onto white fabric and THEN cut it out and made it. And she killed it with the white one...and I raided my DI quite a few times. Basically, the costumes were PHENOMENAL.

I learned how to mix music so we had Step In Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Jolly Holiday, and A Spoonful of Sugar all meshed into 7 minutes. J and K danced the appropriate dance in front of the truck to Jolly Holiday, and the ones on the float danced to Step In Time.

Below, you can kinda see that K and dad rigged a way for the boys to step on small black bellows-ish thingys as they marched on the float, which shot red and turquoise firework-looking-things up and down out of the chimneys.  (Originally, I wanted to have real fireworks come out...but somebody told the mayor...) And C spent hours cutting all the colored lettering out of sparkly paper that danced in the sunlight. It was just awesome.

L and I walked along the sides and handed out (of our carpet bags) plastic spoons with either a scoop of Skittles or jelly beans wrapped in colored tulle with an elastic band around it...asking the spectators if they'd "like a spoonful of sugar?"...which they LOVED!

 Well, one more year down! The kids really enjoy it, and even started planning next year's before this one even happened! Crazies...

Ok, so just to emphasize my previous point....I MIGHT be old...

When did this HAPPEN?!?!  Love them all more than words can say, btw. (And that last pic? Well, the tall one in the back happens to be the gorgeous missionary in the previous post...)

 Where in the world did the time go?!  A, E, K, N....you slay me.

Good Gravy...sometimes I'm old...I mean proud!

Here she is!!!!!!!!!  All growed up and ready to take on the world. Much love, N...seriously...I pretty much can't even think about her or I tear up....

Good luck, sweetheart! Love you. Texas doesn't know what's comin...

That moment when...

...the Librarian feels like your guardian angel, your therapist, your friend, and your own personal urim and thumim all rolled into one. Holy criminy. She is a MASTER at synthesizing my life for me. Gracious me. Thank you for her, HF...obviously I need her.

Pretty Awesome Valentine...

First off, thank you to everyone (especially my family) who makes me feel loved all year. But, I just wanted to share this awesomeness with all y'all. This, was from my Valentine this year...and I must say, he is ADORABLE!!

 Gorgeous flowers.

Don't you worry...there were three KitKats in there...they lasted less than 2 days.

Yes, that's the size of his cute little one month old hand. (At least I think...either that or she's just seriously talented at free-handing it, which totally wouldn't shock me...)

Hopefully you can read the awesome-sauce poem Derek's mama helped him write for me. LOVED IT!

You know you live in UC...

When your Zumba instructor mixes in a good bit of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" into the routine...ha!
                   (literally happened last night)