2021 in Review

Y'all! Hiiiiiii! Enough is enough already.  I hope to be back in this space more regularly - shooting for twice a month, but at the very least once a month (is that timeframe considered regular??) Anyway, I've been reflecting back at 2021, so thankful for our blessings, for our health, family, and even for the hard stuff.  That being said, I do sorta hope that 2022 is less eventful! 

A look back at the highlights of each month....

January: we got to fly to visit Grandma and Grandpa (and Aunt, Uncle, and cousins too) in Barrington, IL.  And also SNOW!

Henry is 17!

Happiest of birthdays to my Henry.  Henry, everything you do, you do you do BIG.  If it catches your interest you go all in.  I love your tenacity and hard working approach to what you take on, whether it's audio engineering, harmonica, morse code, Rubik's Cube, Braille, or mastering the perfect grilled cheese sandwich (three types of cheeses, honey, and occasionally some ham).  I love your sense of humor, and I love your tender heart.  I love YOU big, kiddo.

(This year's cake was homemade lemon with lemon cream cheese frosting.)

Birthday stuff

We had such a nice day celebrating our wonderful 19 year old.  After breakfast (sausage biscuits, yum) Havah and I headed out to pick up her favorite boba tea and then intended to head to Barnes and Noble for some book browsing.  However they don't open until noon on Sundays, so we ran a few errands instead (harbor freight wasn't in the birthday plan but she rolled with it ;).  Lunch out at our fave sushi spot, Kuri Sushi, which we were happy to see was as full of people as it has always been.  (Does it make anyone else so happy to see crowds of people living their lives?) After lunch we headed to the city pool, to hang out for a few hours. One of the things we like about this particular pool is they are the only one around here that still has diving boards. (Is that the case where you live?)  Havah and I mostly floated around watching Jon and Henry jump/dive/flip off the diving boards.  Side note: were laughing at how it's (mostly) all boys who love to get up there and show off.  After swimming we headed home, turned up the k-pop and all pitched in to make her fave birthday dinner, Larry's chicken.   Top off the night with maple walnut birthday cake (made entirely by the birthday girl), presents, and Downton Abbey, and it was a really special day for a really special girl.  

Happy Birthday, Havah!

Happy 19th Birthday, to my darling Havalah Ruth! It is my greatest joy to pause and celebrate this precious soul, my wonderful Havalah. Havah, your joy and inner beauty radiate from your face.  God is, and will continue to do wonderful things through you, my darling girl. Another year more amazing, another year more loved.

                                      We love you forever,

                                                      your mama

And these are some of her current faves. Take it away, Halla! :)

1. Favorite animal: Lion

2. Favorite color: Currently a tie between rose pink and hydrangea

3. Favorite OC (original character): Lysander (the protagonist of her novel-in-progress, Foxhunt)

4. Favorite food(s): "Larry's chicken," a unique fried chicken recipe that's special to our family

5. Favorite drink: Any form of matcha green tea

6. Favorite dessert: Texas sheet cake

7. Favorite thing to cook/bake: Anything involving pie dough

8. Favorite restaurant: Tie between Red Robin, Carmelo's Mexican Grill, and Taste of Texas

9. Favorite hobby: Writing

10. Favorite book: Pride and Prejudice

11. Favorite movie: The Lion King (1994)

12. Favorite TV show: Pride and Prejudice (1995)

13. Favorite male fictional character: Mr. Darcy

14. Favorite female fictional character: Jo March

15. Favorite music artist: BTS

16. Favorite song: "Dear Me" by Nichole Nordeman

17. Favorite artist: Thomas Cole

18. Favorite vacation destination: Tie between England and Disney World

19. Favorite school subject: Literature

20. Favorite thing to wear: Tie between a cute, comfortable sweater, a sturdy wide-brimmed hat, and the perfect pair of jeans

21. Most prized possessions: Her stuffed lamb, her Warren (another of her characters) plush, her Bible, her Austen books

22. Favorite thing about being 18: Tie between getting to vote, being able to sign up for various birthday rewards, and graduating high school

23. Funniest thing you can think of: Her favorite meme, which says, ""My babies!" I scream at a group of men who are actually older than me."

24. Goals for the next year: Spend more time getting to know God, finish the first draft of Foxhunt and outline the next draft, get an article published somewhere, get a poem published somewhere

25. Best memories from the last year: Being at Disney World with the Sherwoods, relaxing at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort, exploring Fredericksburg and Luckenbach, just being in her room on a warm, sunny afternoon

Happy Birthday, Henry!

Happy Birthday to the coolest kid I know.  You are such a sweet, funny, sensitive dude, in so many ways exactly like your dad, but also a lot like me.  You have no idea how much I cherish out daily walks (and talks), and the way you share what's on your mind and heart.  I love you forever, you wonderful kiddo you.  HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY!!

Celebrating Havalah!

Happy 18th Birthday, Havah Ruth!

Henry's Birthday Weekend

As my kids get older we pretty much give them the reigns on what they want to do for their birthdays. After much contemplation Henry elected to have a weekend in San Antonio doing his favorite things.  That included choosing our hotel, restaurant, and sight seeing activities (within budget of course lol :) On a whim last year, while in SA, we ate at the Tower of the Americas and ever since that night, he's been dreaming about their Prime Rib.  It was fun to return for his celebration :) 

Here are a few snaps of Henry's birthday weekend:

saying goodbye is hard, even if it's only for 2 days

Happy 15th Birthday, Henry!

Happy Birthday, Henry! You are the funnest, lovable, hilarious, and smartest kid I know.  I treasure all of our inside jokes and friendly competitions. :) I love taking walks, being pickleball partners and hearing what's on your mind. You are truly the joy of my heart.  I am so proud of you and beyond thankful to be your mama. Happy birthday! I love you forever. 

The Birthday Girl!!

Happy Birthday, Havalah! Thank you for making me a mama, and for bringing more joy and love and FUN into our lives than we ever knew was possible.  I am so proud of the confident, artistic, kind, and intelligent (to name a few :) young lady you are today.  I love you forever and always and thank you for making the last seventeen years my favorite years.  Happy birthday, beautiful girl!

things that describe Havah from her friends at a co-op team building activity

Life Lately - October 2018

Hi Y'all! I'm trying desperately to keep up on this little old blog.  I'm toying doing the photo a day December challenge, but maybe I'll tweak it so that it's not quite the same as last year.  Riveting information, I know, ha!

October was a fun month, with Houston gracing us with gorgeous and slightly cooler temperatures.  We purchased matching coats this fall, and actually got to break them out a time or two.  Whoohoo! We celebrated Henry's birthday at the beginning of the month, with his main present being tickets for Monster Jam at NRG Stadium.  He and Jon usually go to the Pit Party beforehand, where he gets to meet all the drivers.

Late in the month we tagged along with Jon to San Antonio while he attended meetings. While he was busy we went on a historic Mission Tour. Following the Mission Trail, we started with the Alamo, in the center of town, and worked our way out of the city, seeing six Missions in all.  We were there just a few days before Dia de los Muertos so and saw many ofrendas at the Missions.   Also along the way we stopped into Lulu's for one of her famous three pound cinnamon rolls. While I was expecting this to be dry and cheap-y tasting, it was actually served fresh and warm and really very good! Jon surprised us with dinner reservations at the Tower of the Americas, to celebrate our birthdays.  While in SA we usually eat Texmex (duh), but this was really fun - and a little like being back in Seattle at the Space Needle, (except the landscape is a wee bit different ;)

We finished off October at a Ted Cruz rally, where we were so fortunate to get to hear President Trump speak.  His energy and enthusiasm were off. the. charts. He spoke for almost TWO HOURS. That was a lot of fun, and definitely felt like a once in a lifetime experience.

Anyway, y'all, thanks for stopping by! Hope to be back soon!

twins :)

Henry made me breakfast in bed on my birthday! 

the annual post Halloween candy trade

while the boys were at MJ, we had a little girls' night

Henry’s Birthday Weekend

A (very) brief round up of our weekend in Dallas celebrating our Henry's 14th birthday! We usually give our kiddos the choice of a party or a weekend trip, and 9 times out of 10 they choose the weekend getaway.  We gave Henry the reins and he planned everything from start to finish.  He is always telling us he loves everything from the 1980s (so funny!) and wanted to start things off with a few hours at an 80s style free play arcade.  He proceeded to set some high records and enjoyed every minute. Even Jon, who lived through the 80s, ha ha, beat a game once or twice ;)  Then we headed to the historic Fort Worth Stockyards to take in the daily longhorn cattle drive.  We finished up with dinner at Blaze Pizza and then back to our hotel for presents.  The next day was spent at Six Flags over Texas, followed the following day by a trip to the Dude Perfect headquarters in Frisco, where H and H got to meet Ty and Cody (if you might remember, they met Garrett last summer).  A literal dream come true for Henry!!  Such a fun weekend! On the way home he told us that it was the best birthday he's ever had.  :D October is off to a great start.  Hope to be back soon!


As a side note - does anyone know how to blog using blogger on some sort of mobile app? If you do, will you let me know?  Thank you!!!