Top 20 in 2010

1. What did you do in 2010 that you had not done before?
-Learned how to cut Aaron's hair!! Thanks Britni:)
-Went to her house...

-Started my business and made it official!
-Bungee Jumped
just kidding about that last one.
-Played dress up and "ring around the rosy" more times than I ever anticipated before becoming a mom to the most funnest kid around!!

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any last year. This year my NYR is to talk sweeter to my husband. He gets home from work and some days I am just worn out and take it all out on him. I have a problem with the "tone" of my voice being so edgy at times when my fuse is short. And I really want to work on thinking before I lash out. Make sense?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes. My cousin Natalie had her baby Kylie at 24 weeks gestation back in October. They have been on such a rollercoaster ride but it looks like Kylie is doing much better and I can't WAIT to go visit her soon!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. Aaron's grandfather just passed away a few weeks ago. So sad. He is greatly missed and Ava prays for him every night. It is the most bittersweet thing for me to hear each time I tuck her into bed.

5. What places have you visited?
Maine, Arkansas, Houston, Austin, and Sea World San Antonio.


6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
I would like to have a baby in my belly. We have been trying for #2 for a pretty long time and I am so ready to give Ava a brother or sister. I know it will all happen in God's perfect timing, however, and I am clinging to that hope!

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched in your memory and why?
February 11, 2010

Texas had a record breaking amount of snow. It was around a foot of snow that we had in my town and it was SO AMAZING!! I had no idea how to make a snowman since we never get snow. But I stayed outside ALL DAY enjoying it and taking it all in before Frosty melted away.


8. What was your biggest achievement this year?
My business grew tremendously this year and that would have to be my biggest achievement. I can't wait to see what 2011 holds for us!! THANK YOU to all my wonderful customers.

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had my second fever of my life in April! I had a really bad virus and was down for the count for a few days.
As far as injury...does getting my finger sewn through with the embroidery machine count?? That HURT! Especially when Aaron had to pull the thread out of my finger.

10. What was the best thing you bought?
My professional embroidery machine! And it's the greatest purchase I made as well!

11. Where did most of your money go?
To Ava as always! And second would be to my company.

12. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Four words, people!
Pants On Tha Ground


13. What do you wish you would have done more of?
Read my bible or did devotionals. I always have good intentions but I go to bed so late and wake up when Ava wakes me, and then work all during her naps. But I should have devoted at least once a week's nap time to it.

14. What do you wish you would have done less of?
Ate. Haha! I don't really have a good answer so I always go back to the "I wish I wouldn't have eaten so much" thought.

15. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't get much down time at all, so TV is something I usually only watched once or twice a week (nights). My must sees were...don't judge....16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, American Idol, and the Bachelor series.
My favorite kid program...Do I really have to tell you the answer? Well, just in case you don't know, Yo Gabba Gabba!!! We love that show in this house.

16. What was the best book you read this year?
So magazines and blogs count as books??

17. What was your favorite film of the year?
The Social Network
and
Toy Story 3


18. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
This year I turned 28. I didn't do anything crazy or wild. Just went to the museum with some friends and then went out to eat at Cheesecake Factory with my family and BFFs and their families.

19. What political issue stirred you the most?
I think the real question should be which DIDN'T stir me the most. I am very upset with all of the bailouts and talks of more bailouts. But I am hopeful it will all get better in 2012! :)

20. Who was the best new person you met?
I have met quite a few great new gals this year! I am blessed with such great friends in real life and through cyber world. I really am. Some days all a girl needs is some girl talk and I get plenty of it through play groups, my yahoo goup of moms, twitter chat, monthly meetups with my BFFs and just plain old talking on the phone!
I have LOVED meeting blog friends this year! I never thought I would meet and become so close with a few of the girls I met just through blogging!

We are heading to Austin tomorrow to ring in the New Years and watch the TCU Horned Frogs defeat in the Rose Bowl this weekend!

Happy New Years to you and may you have a blessed and prosperous 2011!!!

P.S. Check back soon for our super cute Valentine's wear!

Merry Christmas!

Up on the housetop Reindeer pause

Out jumps good 'ol Santa Clause!

Down through the chimney with lots of toys,

All for the little ones, Christmas joys.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Who wouldn't go?

Ho! Ho! Ho! Who wouldn't go?

Up on the housetop click, click, click!

Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick!

Our new button

What do you think??? I happen to like it just a little bit.
If you like it as well, please add it to your blog!

<a border="0" href="http://www.sheshemade.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/sarahjanell/sheshemade3.jpg" /></a></P>
And while you're at it, come back and leave me a comment telling me so.

It might just be in your favor...

Christmas Card Carousel

Today I am linking up with Faith's blog for the Christmas Card Carousel she is hosting. Thanks, Faith for such a fun topic to blog about!




I have to say that getting Christmas cards is one of the greatest highlights of Christmas. Sending Christmas cards is just as great...minus the addressing part. And double minus the licking part. Eew!
I love getting the perfect picture and finding the best card to compliment it. Every year since Aaron and I have been married we have done picture cards. I enjoy seeing pictures of family and friends when we get a card in the mail, so I just figure the same rings true for others.
It's especially fun to add pictures of a cute little subject such as Ava.
Here is our card this year.

(click on the picture to see it better)
Anita from A Piece of Pope made our card this year and I think she did such a great job! I will be using her in the years to come for sure!
I save all of our cards from year to year and add them to this big 'ol bucket. Each year we go through and look at them again, including our own cards from the past. In fact, just today we were looking at our card from 2005. I am not even kidding when I tell you that Aaron and I said at the same exact time "We were so thin!" Haaa!! Married life can sure add some poundage can't it?

Can't wait to see other's cards! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

A Party In Our City: Yo Gabba Gabba

If you read my blog much or if you follow me on twitter, you know that this house (yes, I said house) has big love for Yo Gabba Gabba .
All of us.
Even the manly husband.
One night Ava was watching toons in our bedroom and an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba came on and within seconds she was jumping and dancing on the bed and in total awe of the musical mahem. She was hooked right away.
I had heard the show was pretty much straight out of an 80's atari game mixed with a dose or two of acid, but I was never convinced of such.
In fact, I will argue with anyone out there about this show. It has great messages in all of the songs, including "Don't Bite Your Friends" "There's a Party in My Tummy" (song about eating a variety of foods) "Keep Trying, Never Give Up" and "All My Friends are Different" (song about loving your friends even if they are different than you) and I find it very appropriate for my child to watch.
Ok, so I've made my point. Ha!
I was super excited to make Ava's custom Foofa Skirt and shirt.

She was a big fan, but I was unaware until I showed her the super cool outfit, that Toodee was in fact her very favorite character. Whoops. I guess there is a great excuse now for me to make a Toodee outfit next!!
Anyway, my mom had bought these tickets for us back in August and we were so pumped that the day had finally arrived.
Ava was thinking we were going to a movie, so she was floored when we actually got to the concert theater.

We found our seats and had a little snack/posed for the camera before the show started.


My mom got us tickets on the floor, and at first we were a tad worried that Ava wouldn't be able to see.

But there were no worries at all...

Dad's shoulders work just as well!

It was showtime and Ava wasn't sure what to think for a good 15 minutes! She was in total shock and I'm really not sure if the kid blinked for the longest time.



Some highlights from the show...
BROBEE


FOOFA and PLEX


TOODEE



MUNO


After intermission we got the best surprise ever. The characters walked among the aisles to get on stage.
And guess who Ava got to hug?!?!


I have to say that Toodee spent some serious seconds checking Ava out. It was so, so sweet!!


If you know Ava and her personality and her GINORMOUS love for everything in costume, you can read her face so well. SHE WAS TOTALLY STARSTRUCK! I love the way she pet Toodee. Haha!
The dancy dance special guest was "The Flaming Lips". Ever heard of them? I hadn't but Ava's super hip Aunt and Uncle had and they were totally jealous. That just makes me laugh so hard.
Clapping and checking out the balloon falling from the ceiling onto the crowd.

Balloon in hand. All is right with the world.

We had SUCH a fun night and we are so thankful for a great mom/Nee Nee to get us such great tickets. Ava has talked about this night all day long and I know she won't forget it. She keeps asking if we are going again. She says "We go see Yo Gabba Gabba tomorrow, riiiiiight?!?" in the highest pitched voice you have ever heard. She is such a silly girl.

It's so fun to make these memories with her and to see her face light up with so much joy. Being her mom is the my most favorite thing in the world!!

Christmas with Friends

First off, I want to thank you all for your prayers, warm thoughts, and patience as our family endured the hardship of losing Aaron's grandfather last week. We were all close to Papoo and it was such a sad week. This is the first of many losses in Ava's life, but man, to say to a child someone they loved is in heaven and they will see them again someday but not again here on earth...that is harder than I even imagined it would be. I didn't say those exact words, as she is only 2, but she did ask where Papoo was when we went to the farm friday afternoon. She said "Oh yeah. Is he sick?" and I just told her he was in heaven. So she now says "Papoo is in heaven" and I know that means nothing to her now, but one day it will and I pray we can keep his memory alive with Ava. I have blogged about him before. He was a man with the utmost integrity among his community, and he was known for the love he showed to his family and the loyalty he had for everyone among his many friends. He leaves behind a great legacy indeed.
This is the last picture I have of him, and it was taken 4 weeks before he left this earth. His hands are very discolored as he had a skin infection and had lots of swelling. He lived a good, long life and his poor body was just worn out. Can you tell how much Ava adores Meemaw and Papoo?

He will be missed.

Yesterday was a fun day and we were ready for some fun!! We went to our friends' house for some Christmas cheer!
Jenn had many fun things for the kids to do, set up in different stations. It was a PACKED house, so this organization was perfect! She is most definitely the hostess with the mostess.
We got to decorate cookies,



eat those cookies,

eat some more yummy treats such as pizza, hot chocolate, and red velvet cakeballs (delish!),


make Santa crafts,

do some vaccumming,

and best of all...see Santa!!

Doesn't he look like the real Santa?!?!
To say Ava was thrilled to see Santa would be the understatement of the year, y'all!
AVA. LURVES. SANTA.
Period.
We were in the second group to see him, and she was pretty much begging nonstop until it was our turn to go see him. I'm surprised she didn't wet herself when it was our turn!
I'm also glad she didn't wet herself for that matter.
Ok, back on subject.
Sitting on Santa's lap.

She told him she wanted a Princess Castle and rainboots and Toy Story 3 movie. I love this age because you can basically ask them if they want the things you may or may not have already bought, and they are all "yeaaaaaah that sounds FUN!" hehe.

After Santa and Ava bid farewells, she had to get one last hug. Or three. I think there were a few high fives involved too. She was smitten!

Santa wanted a picture with the moms as well. Eew yuck! I went to my happy place and pretended this Santa was only interested in toys and elves and reindeer and cookies.


We also filled stockings with toys and necessities for underprivileged children at Jenn's school where she teaches. I was so glad we did this as Christmas means so much to the kids, but it's also important that we remember those who are less fortunate and to teach Ava to give and find joy in giving rather than receiving...that's what it's really all about.

I trust you are having a wonderful Christmas month and hope we can stop in the midst of all the hustle and bustle and find joy in the small things of every day life, as well as blessing others in times of need.