the visits x2.

"baby's first Christmas" ornament I found on one of the many shopping trips! I LOVE it.

a beautiful bird that both Tillie and I loved at an antique store. So, we bought it for about $2. Aaron said this is one of those things, that when my future grandchildren go through my stuff, they'll say, "What should we do with this bird?" and then they'll proceed to throw it away. Well, I love this bird. Hopefully I can take it to heaven with me and it can sing "Zipadee Doo Dah" all day to me (you know, "Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder..."). sheesh.

First and foremost, let's just remind everyone that I love having visitors. Hint Hint. With that in mind, it was heaven for 2 weeks with 2 visitors.

I was SO happy that my mom "stopped" in on her way home from the HUGE Quilt Show in Houston. She and some of her "gal pals" by way of "SEW much MORE" quilt group (whoop whoop ladies! hoLLah!) went down for a few days to bask in the beauty and fun of fabric and, of course, the art of quilting.

Seeing that my mom picked up a BUNDLE of wool felt for me, I will support MANY a trip for her in the future. Gracias!

We, in true Denise fashion, accomplished TONS in her short stay. As many of you know, Denise is the project queen. The big feat for us this time was PROJECT PREPARATION---as in food storage. With all of the tornado scares we've had, my mom has been petrified for our little family. She believed that if disaster were to strike, we'd be (in her words, not mine) "up a creek without a paddle". Hence, Project Preparation.

Please see exhibit A.

Multiple (36) cans were packed by us and darling M. Jessop up the street (how we roped you into staying the ENTIRE time, I don't know! Sorry!) in our garage. Items packed? I knew you were curious: rice, flour, sugar, dried milk (who knew such things existed?), oats, macaroni, and spaghetti. I was feeling like I was quite the "storage" woman by the time we were done, but apparently this was "a drop in the bucket" (again, Denise's words, not mine) to what we should have. 36 big cans really isn't going to sustain us for too long. But, we both agreed, some is better than none.

Now, where to put these blessed cans? Storage space doesn't just appear, does it? Yes, with Denise it does (sorry, mom, I keep referring to you by your given name... i don't know why). So, we ran to WalMart (our one-stop shop that will one day take over the world) to get some bed raisers. Yes, friends, our bed got a lift---like many a big truck here in Tejas. After the mega lift, we suddenly had a whole "queen size" area of empty space. Perfect for some canned goods.

See exhibit B.(and yes mom, that is my sheet hanging out on the right hand side of the bed. SORRY!)

Also, you may notice the beautiful new headboard? Yes, that is NEW, but not. We have this great room divider and it was great in our last apartment, but now it has just been sitting in the corner of our living room. Well, my mom had the AMAZING idea to pop it in behind our new "lifted" bed to create a headboard that I have so desperately been wanting! can I get a what?! what?!

Really neat. We love it. However, I did take me a few tumbles out of bed when I went to get Matilda in the wee hours of the morning. A few bruises. No broken bones. All's well.

We attacked another "shove it and leave it" space for me and now it is a well-organized-Tupperware-dream-boat. And, we even attacked the shoe "drop spot" in the garage. Again, my mom was worried that I would "trip and die" (yes, again, her words) with the babe in arms---so, we attacked that area too.

One of these times, I'm going to have EVERY SINGLE aspect of my life organized, so that when my mom comes to visit, she can have a vacation of sorts and just spend time with her darling grand baby. One of these times... not sure when... but one day... :)

And, I apologize. I forgot to get out the camera for my mom's ENTIRE stay!!?? So, I only have the bi-products of her stay. SO SORRY!



VISIT x2.
Introducing, again, my eldest sistah Em. She came and overlapped for a day with my mom! NEATO! How did that happen? We really don't know, but it was great! We celebrated the occasion by heading up to the San Marcos outlets. We always luck out on those trips! It was great to finally have some companionship while shopping. I am always a second guesser when I am by myself. I like to have a support team when I shop.

Anyway, it was great!

Although, we never seem to have enough time at the outlets. This time was no different. We had to get my mom back for her afternoon flight. But, we all left with some great items in hand (thank you, dad!!!---he treated Em and I to a fun surprise b/c he wanted to make sure that we didn't feel left out after we had found a bunch of DARLING clothes for my mom. How sweet is that?? I love that guy!) and Matilda was a dream!

you cannot visit san antonio and opt out on sea world. Aaron thought it would be
a perfect chance to Journey to Atlantis on his own, while the lines were so short.
What he is doing with his hair in the top right of the boat, I'm not quite sure.
He chose this specific spot, b/c he was sure he wouldn't get wet.
Nope. He still got pretty darn wet. Sorry.

Now, for em's visit---let's just say, she is not a "project" master. :) hA! Although, I did catch her a few times trying to chuck some of my "scrap" paper and other things in the trash! She does have a lot of "Denise" in her and likes things to be orderly. Luckily I caught her in time before she threw away my hour log for work and my stamp box.
Golly. These women in my family. I swear. Can't leave them alone for a second.


Because she did all the work already, I'll let you read her recap on the visit. Thanks, em. We had a lot of fun and when she was leaving, we were both thinking, "why has this never happened before??" I love my family and love when they remember to come visit me. Subtle hint, again.


Probably the big highlight with Em was shopping in Boerne (no time constraints) and the chillax day here at the house eating carmel apples and decorating ornaments. I think I might put some of them on Etsy for a few bucks to see if they sell. We LOVED doing that.


THANK YOU to the both of you. Let's do it again. Very soon. (not so subtle hint).