highlights

Whew, we had a busy week and now that it's wrapping up, I'm finally relaxing. I'm kicked back in bed with my macbook and a cup of tea in preparation for another busy week. But first, here are this week's highlights:

*a follow up appointment and good report for 

elliott at arkansas allergy and asthma

*a tea party with an old friend

*taking dinner to a couple from church 

who just welcomed a new addition

*celebrating gary's 29th birthday

*a midweek play date with friends, 

*joining a local running group

*going on my first run since last April 

*an online "hangout" with the order

*giving our 2 week's notice at elliott's daycare

*enrolling e in a mother's day out program (a $330 a month savings!!!)

*cooking 3 times in one week

*a birthday party for e's friend, max

*chaperoning elliott and paisley's chick-fil-a date

*a baby shower for a sweet friend from church

*movie night with caleb and laura

*homemade cookies

*a day trip to arkadelphia to visit gary's grandparents.

I have a feeling this week's highlight will be the "mommy time" I have planned for wednesday: a visit to the dermatologist, followed by a massage and a pedicure. My poor toes are long overdue for some TLC!

My [top sales]man!

Friday afternoon I took off work early to attend a Christmas party for our family's business. Gary has been a salesman there for the past six years, starting as the Oklahoma rep in 2006. Since then, he has moved in house, and you may recall that he was top three in sales the past two years, coming in third both years. But, this year he increased his sales by 23%, earning him the title of top salesperson at Jenkins Enterprises in 2012.

I had an idea that he might be number one this year, so I invited his parents to surprise him at the Christmas party where they would recognize the winner. It was so fun to see the look on his face when I pulled up to his office with my in-laws in the car with me.

Elliott wanted to drink out of Dad's new cup :)

I'm so proud of you, Gary! You have worked very hard this year to keep your current customers happy and build your business. You are a talented salesman, an amazing father, and the husband I always hoped I'd find. I truly am the luckiest girl in the world.

More from our time in Texas:

Just wanted to share a few more pictures from our time in Texas over Thanksgiving. After all of the holiday festivities were over, we got to spend some time visiting with our friends who live there. We met two of Gary's childhood friends and their wives at Torchy's Tacos for lunch one day.  The food was delicious, and it was so cute to see his two friends loving on Elliott. We also got to meet up with one of my college roomates, Tate, and her husband, Jesse along with Laura and Caleb who were on their way home from visiting his grandparents. We also continued to enjoy more time with family at my in-laws house, eating several yummy meals, playing with E, discussing politics, and watching the Hogs add one final L to their record. It was such a relaxing weekend.

Elliott's First Thanksgiving

[Disclaimer: This post will be a little long, and very photo heavy, but we got so many great pictures with our new camera over Thanksgiving that I had a hard time narrowing it down, so bear with me.] 

Gary and I spend Thanksgiving in Texas with his family every year since we always have a 4 day break and can maximize our time with them better than at Christmas. I always look forward to visiting with them, having a change of scenery and eating a delicious Thanksgiving feast at his Aunt and Uncle's house. This year was especially fun because it was the first time for Elliott to be with us, and his Gary's grandparents and his aunt and uncle on his Dad's side came to Texas to join us.

We arrived in Wylie around midnight on Wednesday night.  Thankfully Elliott slept the entire drive and went back down easily when we arrived.  We stayed up late visiting with my Mother and Father-in-law, and got up early to play with Elliott Thursday morning. Gary and his Dad dug out a large box of Gary's Ninja Turtle toys from when we was a kid, and Elliott was instantly interested in the action figures. It was fun to watch Gary go through them and reminisce on his childhood and then to watch Elliott play with them as though they were brand new.

After a fun day playing at Grandma and Grandpa's, we all headed over to Gary's Aunt and Uncle's home in Allen to have Thanksgiving dinner with his Mom's side of the family. I wanted Elliott to get to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal with us, so I brought him a jar of vegetable turkey dinner. He also got to try some of the foods on my plate. His favorites were broccoli, rice and cheese casserole, the rolls, and his Grandma's mashed potatoes.

We enjoyed sitting at the "kids table" visiting with Gary's sister, her husband and their cousins. We're so thankful for our loving families and our wonderful friends this year, as always, and especially for Elliott and the joy he brings us all. Hope your Thanksgiving was full of laughter, fun and family! I've got lots more pictures to share from our time in Texas when I can find the time to blog again, so check back soon.

::over the weekend::

our roadtrip to wylie, tx:: family, food, shopping, laughing, 

love, dairy queen blizzards, the lumineers on repeat,

a sick little boy putting on a happy face for grandma and grandpa, 

clean up on aisle 12 in ikea...

xoxo!

The Texans come to town.

This weekend, Gary's parents, sister and brother-in-law came to visit for Elliott's dedication at church [more on that soon].  Gina did a wonderful job capturing our weekend together, so I thought I'd share a few favorites.  We played with Elliott, ate, watched The Shining, ate, caught up on each others lives, and did I mention we ate?  

I loved having them here and getting to watch them interact with Elliott.  He thought grandpa was too funny, practicing his new trick of sticking his tongue out and blowing every time he was in eyesight.  We wish they lived closer, but we're thankful we get to see them every couple of months.

I'm looking forward to sharing more from our weekend, including Elliott's dedication tonight, but it will have to wait for tomorrow, my bed is calling.