Believe!

 

My friend Melissa made this teeny tiny painting on a teeny tiny easel for me.
Can you still hear the bells? 

We had wonderful Christmas celebrations with both sides. It was a whirlwind of a week, working through Friday, then going to Pearsall on Saturday for our celebration. We did our best! We did have a good visit there and went to Lolly's beautiful church on Sunday morning. Hannah shot her first deer this past week. We learned that Rene is pregnant again!
Growing families!

As for the Golden side, Jen wraps up Christmas Eve very well here: http://tierd.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/christmas-eve/
I got all emotional at the candlelight service because I could not stop thinking about the families of the children shot last week in Connecticut. How those parents were in our shoes, excited and so lucky and had those babies for 6 years and now they are gone. All their Christmas presents wrapped, under the tree. The last time we were at Trinity Baptist, we were with Dad, that was strange too. We went there because John and Katie weren't in town for our church service and we wanted to do the old go downtown routine!

We went downtown after the candlelight service. Had to touch the Alamo for good luck!

Everyone who participated in creating the Gingerbread House-
we had a professional on our team!

 

PJs

Stockings

Presents

Mom gave Jen and me a most special Christmas gift of her engagement ring and wedding band. She had the main stone removed and made into a new ring for herself and gave us the matching bands. I cried. She gave John Dad's Aggie ring. 



After Dinner





All the dogs got to play together on Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas to all!



Slow Down

100 days until due date!

 

 

Brant's company party was Friday night. The elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut happened on Friday morning. The party had a damper on it for sure. I couldn't tell if it was the because of the news of the day or if something was going on within the company/family that no one else was aware of. 

I can't stop thinking about all the people in CT affected by the shooting and what that would be like at my school. I am on the safety committee and have to review all the possibilities and plans each year. It's always a scary meeting to think of the what ifs. The teachers in that school did exactly as they were trained and although it probably did save some lives, still so many died. It sickens me. What else can we do? At least in other public places there are people around carrying concealed handguns with license to hold them and other possible outside protection. I might be an overbearing mama bear with our little one! I know it's like plane crashes, so rare. I just doesn't make sense. Not an accident like a plane crash. So incredibly evil.

Brant and I have decided we will go ahead and put the hardwood flooring in before March. We've been wanting to since we moved in, but keep putting it off and saving our moola. We're also going to go ahead and get new furniture in the living room. I'm glad Brant wants to do these things. And I think he's glad that I would be happy to keep what we have! We're a great balance for each other. We did a little furniture and floor shopping last night. (All our Christmas shopping is done and it's nice not to have to beat those crowds.) We ate at Macaroni Grill, one of our regular spots-at the bar, (Brant thinks it is funny to do this with his pregnant wife, but you get better service, so we continue!) I get these rushes of just being so happy. One of these happened on the way home from dinner. Full belly, holding my love's hand, looking at Christmas lights driving through the neighborhood, looking forward to the future.

Good omelet and fruit breakfast today, more flooring shopping, relaxing at home this afternoon and pot roast. Life is so good and so precious. It's nice to slow down and appreciate it.



25 Weeks

My students continue to be so interested. Now they really want to know what the baby's name will be and if I will bring it to show them. While feeling my belly one said, "So, do you know how old the baby is right now?" and I finally got the "So, how did the baby get in there?" A mother of 2 of my students had her baby at 22 weeks this week. 1 pound. So scary, but surviving!

 Progress in the nursery: we have painted the walls a regular khaki/tan/beige, "Urban Putty" and are trying to decide on an whether or not to do an accent wall. I think red would be cute with sock monkeys. Is red an angry color??? Ideas welcome. : )

 Lazy Lacey by the fire while I bake cookies. We've had three fires in the fireplace this week. So nice!

Happy 1st Birthday, Lacey!

One year ago today, Lacey came into the world! Here she is with her new Mommy and Daddy on January 29, 2012, when she came into our world. Happy first birthday, Lacey! We love you so much!

"Cousins"

 

6 months/24 weeks!

16 more weeks to go! The countdown has begun. All the Christmas gifts are wrapped and I am ready to work on the nursery during the holiday break!

Lainey gave a beautiful performance at her first piano recital this week!

Mom has already given us two sock monkeys. This is the first artwork for the nursery! My very talented friend at work painted it for us. So special. Thank you, Melissa!!!

Christmas at the Drechsel's 2012



Before we left for the party



Charlie's in the left corner under the tree-her favorite spot...when Lacey's outside!