Merry Christmas 2011!

Clockwise: Gale, Kristen, Derek, Katy, Jennifer & baby bro

Merry Christmas, everyone! The presents have been feverishly unwrapped and breakfast devoured. My little baby brother is currently playing inside his play house, dressed head to toe in his new camo gear, new wallet tucked into his pocket, headlamp around his forehead and binoculars on his wrist. Gale, my step mother, is decorating the outside of the house (it's made to be colored) and my dad is working on the roof.

Kristen is reading her new book "Love Has A Face", Katy is showing us pictures of the view from her new pad, and my big little brother Derek is trying to figure out Kristen's camera.

Umm... this is all for ME?!

Frittata and Apple Crisp

It has been a truly wonderful Christmas.

In the pandemonium that is Christmas morning, I forgot to start my frittata! Thankfully it was quick to throw together and Kristen chopped the veggies while Derek fried up the bacon. I will post a recipe tomorrow, it turned out amazing.

Key point- don't panic about breakfast Christmas morning. No one is worried. Throw a frittata together and it will be delicious. If you have time, make an apple crisp ahead of time. Gale prepped one and baked it this morning-it was delish.

All my love,

Christmas gift for the nephews!

As Christmas is nearing, I am preparing a package of presents to send to my sweet nephews. Adrian is 6 and little Wyatt is 2. They are the children of my step-brother and his wife and they live several hours a way. I see them a couple of times a year and absolutely adore them.

They are so smart and funny and well-behaved, not to mention gorgeous! Not that I am biased or anything...ugh! Wyatt's curls are to die for!

This Christmas season I will be sharing a few gifts that I have personalized for them. My favorite, though, is the one I am going to share with you now.

One of the things I enjoy the most when they come to visit, and I believe they do as well, is reading to them. I have always enjoyed reading to kids, but it is so much more special when it is family! While doing my grocery shopping this evening I happened to notice an endcap that had recordable books.

I am going to record "A Charlie Brown Christmas" this week and send it in the Christmas box. I hope they enjoy it. I know I am so happy to send it to them, since I can't be there to read to them, but they will have this gift from Auntie, to listen to my voice whenever they like.

I grew up with my Auntie living in Texas, very far away from me. Every Christmas she and my Uncle sent a box out to us and it was so exciting to see what she had picked out for me. Houston was always a step-ahead in fashion, so she kept me very stylish! One of my Christmas memories.

What was the most memorable you gift you received as a child?

P.S. Linking up at all my favorite party place listed on my link party page, as well as a new place to kick up my heels --The Stewart Estate!

Pretentious children

I will be the first one to admit I was a pretentious child. My poor parents. It came from me being an only child and grandchild for 12 years, as well as the only niece.

One Christmas when I was 6 or so, my dad got my mother and I track suits. I, apparently, hated my track suit. With a passion.

Notice my mom's smile? It was the you had better smile and say thank you or I will beat you senseless smile! (Just kidding, she didn't beat me. Often. ;o) )

The next day, lo and behold, look at what I am rocking!

And surprise surprise, the following Christmas, what am I wearing??

So this track suit went from being the bane of my existence to apparently my most favorite thing ever.


Do you remember an item of clothing you got that you thought you hated, but it quickly became your clothing staple?

(Dude, what is up with uuuuugly brown couches?!!)