Life of a Mother

Friday, January 3, 2014

A Year in Review -- Goodbye 2013; Hello 2014

It's time for a look back at 2013 as we say goodbye.... These are in chronological order (as best I could get them!)

1) I ended 2012 with the engagement of Sarah. Who knew this would bring some great experiences for our family as well as another engagement! Macee got engaged a few months later and her wedding is one of highlights of the year as well..... This was the start of celebrations for 2013 - as we had shower after shower honoring engagements, weddings and babies ( for my friends! )

2) Trevor graces the cover of a local magazine! We were all so proud of Trevor as we rounded out his modeling "career" with a cover on Austin Family Magazine. He was the April issue cover and was really excited when he'd see it around town! We are no longer officially modeling at this time, but we had so much fun the past 2 years working with some fab boutiques!

3) Tball continues..... For the Spring Ball season we were lucky and got on Coach Julie's team again - the Rangers! Trevor loved ball and slowly has been improving his skills. I volunteered as the Dugout Mom and spent each game rallying the team in the dugout making sure that kids were ready to go and cheering their team on! Fall ball gave way to the Bats team! Again with Coach Julie; again Dugout Mom. Fall ball was a bit rough as the floods in South Austin ruined the ball fields and made the final few weeks of the season a bit uneasy. Trevor has really become a great second baseman and made a few outs! We have one more Tball season till he moves into Coaches pitch. We will most likely be the Rangers again and can't wait to see our old friends!

4) Our Annual (most times) trip to Cabo happened this year. Trevor was now old enough to swim with the dolphins so we made sure to put that on the adventures itinerary - a long with some of our other favorites! We met many fellow Texans and enjoyed laying poolside for the majority of our trip! We are always welcoming any other family/couple to join us as we tend to always have an extra week/room that can be used. Let us know if you want to "tag a long" for 2014!!! We start planning pretty early!

5) Trevor turned 6! We opted for a home party this year as Trevor celebrated his 6th birthday. He is really into this game Skylanders so that was our theme; complete with themed food. He was blessed to have numerous friends and family in town to help him celebrate! We of course had to have some water for cooling off as it was a hot summer!

6) Road Trip to Colorado --- not just for fun, but for a wedding! Macee and Craig wed in Avon, CO (just outside Vail) in August. So since we had already flown to Cabo a month or so earlier, we opted for a road trip this time. So we drove all the way to CO to help Macee celebrate! It was a nice drive and Trevor did very well! He might say his favorite parts were staying in the hotels along the way, but I think he enjoyed it all! We toured Vail and hit a few of the hot spots along the way! The wedding was gorgeous, the food was scrumptious and the memories will last a lifetime!

7) Summer ends and School begins.... We concluded the Summer with our other annual trip to Surfside, TX. I was sick for this trip but Trevor still had a blast! He loves catching sand crabs and swimming in the ocean with the big boys! Then we took Trevor back to school -- First GRADE!!!! What? Where did the time go? He loves school still so I am so thankful for that. He has a FAB teacher and he really likes her ;) We have been able to make a few friends these past 2 years and I am thankful for all the wonderful moms/kids that we have gotten to know!

8) VEGAS BABY!!!! Yep I went to Vegas! It was a bit nerve wracking but I did it! It was so much fun really and so not "me." I enjoyed helping Sarah celebrate her upcoming nuptials with all her girls and my Aunt. We got to find out the Trish was preggers at the beginning of the trip so it was def full of surprises! I think Sarah really enjoyed herself which is really what mattered --- but hey I had fun too!!! lol

9) Sarah gets married too! You just saw all those beautiful photos of Sarah and Nick's wedding atop the Zilker Clubhouse! What a view and what a wedding! The chill and wind were not as welcomed as the family and friends were but it all worked out! Sarah looked gorgeous and I mustered up the courage to toast both my sisters!

10) Photography still going strong...... I have really been opening up my experiences with photogrpahy as I shot my first wedding, offered Holiday minis and practiced on some newborns! I still have a lot to learn but I am excited to see what experiences 2014 will bring. It def offered the opporutnity to really accomplish a lot of what happened this year (trip to Vegas, showers for friends and family, and extra spending money.) I am so proud of where I have come and thank all of you who have supported me in this journey!

So 2013 you were full of events and moments! I cannot wait to see what 2014 brings!!! I hope it brings good health, prosperity and more incredible memories - for us and mostly for YOU! Happy New Year!

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Wedding - Part 2; #davis2become1

Sarah and Nick got married in a beautiful, city scape ceremony at Zilker Clubhouse. We spent the day prepping the venue - it seriously took a small army but we all worked together to make this day beautiful for them both! The wind and cold decided to stick around but it was still a great night of love and family.

Sarah's team of girls made sure that we celebrated her nuptials in style - from her bachelorette to the bridal shower to the wedding day. Let's start with the Bachelorette Party -- we all headed to Vegas for Sarah's last "romp" as a single gal. Macee, Trish, Sarah, Chelsea, Anna, Jeska, Amy, and Lacey all boarded their respective planes and met up at the Wynn Encore on Halloween. Sarah wanted us to all dress as Holidays for the first night out -- so see if you can figure who is what!

We got "lucky" and met up with some guys who bought our dinner and drinks for the night - being with a bunch of cute, hot girls has its advantages ;) The next night was "LBD" night (little black dress) and again we danced the night away - this time at Hakkasan with those guys from Okie. There were a few moments that will forever be "in Vegas." I'm glad my Aunt Trish talked me into going as it really was a fun trip!

Then we celebrated with a gorgeous shower at Macee's house. The girls out did themselves with yummy food, a cute video montage and "who knows Sarah best" game! It was nice to spend the morning with all of the beautiful ladies in Sarah and Nick's life.

Now we are at the wedding day - the tulle is strung, lights set, candles lit and tables made. Jamie officiated the brisk yet sweet ceremony and Sarah bravely stood in the cold, wind to take photos with all of us who wanted to capture the moment and her beauty! We were so blessed to have so many family members there to celebrate her day - Mama and Yvonne came from Vancouver, DeAnne and Mary came from California and Willie and Grandmama came from Illinois. Trevor was handsome as the ringbearer and of course had fun running around with Falyn and Stevie. All in all it was a great night of memories. We wish Sarah and Nick nothing but the best!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Let's play catch up

Ok let's rewind a bit and play a bit of catch up..... I last left off with Macee's wedding in Colorado! We have been just as busy since....

Surfside TX - an ANNUAL trip for us now. Trevor has gotten braver and more accustomed to the ocean each year. He loves to boogey board, catch sand crabs and just swim! This year we crabbed abit and caught a few sizable crabs - though we didn't keep them. He truly loves his "Uncle" Tom and Miss Judy, plus Josh helps him keep up with all the new cartoons. I unfortunately spent most of the weekend sick, laying in bed -- but it was nice to relax.

First day of 1st Grade -- say what?!?! My baby is a First Grader?!?!? I know it's shocking..... wasn't he just in Kinder or heck, born!!! lol But life moves forward at too quick of a pace and he in fact is in First Grade! He loves his Teacher, Mrs. Ward (I think there's a slight crush going on) and has some old friends in his class. We started off a little rough - had an incident the first week, then lost 2 library books; but I think we've finally evened out. He loves Math and has grown to write and read pretty well. We just had Parent Teacher Conferences and I left smiling ;) so you know that's a good thing! He's right on track and doing well!

Go, go, go, Bats, Bats, Bats! -- Fall ball is going well. Trevor is a Bat this year and we were lucky to have Coach Julie again (even though her boys have aged out!) We have some new and familiar faces on the team and Trevor is getting more confident at hitting and catching the ball. Even made an out at his last game playing 2 nd baseman. His face lit up so bright. I said "You like how that felt?" He nodded his head and I told him to "Do it again!" Well he almost did!!!! Sadly, the fields Trevor plays on got damaged by the massive rain we got, so we've had to find alternate places to play to continue the season. We are excited to see how the improvements and clean up goes and have fingers crossed that Spring season will be a go! If you can help out, visit www.ohysa.org for information.

Dear God, --- Sunday school is new for both Trevor and I. He attends and I teach. We've only been twice so far, but he likes it. He was so cute the other day as we left he said "I like going to church school...." Of course his answer was because of do-nuts but still.... I sat in mass the other day for the first time in years, so that was a bit weird, but something about it was so much like "home." It was a good discussion too as Father talked a lot about being our children's first teachers - especially in faith! I really want Trevor to have a relationship with his faith. We've just started this journey but what a special one it is.

So that's been what's up with munchkin..... for me - I've been swamped but good swamped! Between taking photos (which has brought me some unique experiences) work and Trevor's baseball, plus I've been hosting showers here and there..... it's kept me super busy! I am so excited to say that my dearest friend had a beautiful baby girl on October 21 and my other dearest friend got engaged October 11!! Then October 31 I leave for Vegas to celebrate Sarah's Bachelorette!!! Whoossh and it won't stop there -- got more photo shoots, 3 baby showers and Sarah's wedding 12/14/13. I think I'm going to officially take a break from life on Jan 1, 2014.....who wants to join me??!

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Macee is Married!!!!! Wedding 1 of 2 for this Family!

That's right - Macee got married. She is the middle sister - just 3 years younger than me. Also the "one with my nephew" as some people describe her! lol (when your sister's look so much a like it's the easy way my friends discern who is who!)

Macee and Craig got engaged just earlier this year, when he flew her to Cali for an impromptu visit and surprised her with a gorgeous ring on La Jolla beach! My Aunt Trish captured their GORGEOUSness for their engagement photos and Wedding photos as well.

They have been together for what feels like forever and were building a house (which is done and also Gorgeous -- I think Gorgeousness just follows them!) - so naturally we all wondered WHEN would they decide to tie the knot. We didn't expect it to be so soon after being engaged but.....

We threw them a couples Bar shower and Macee had her Bachelorette party in July (yes I braved the nightlife and stayed out til 1 am in my heels!) Some photos of each below....

The spread of food -- too much but so yum

just one of the frames I got them

Dessert!!!

Drink Bar - mixers

Macee with Danielle (SIL), McKenna and Finley

Sarah, Trish, Macee and Me

Bachelorette cookies

Bride to be!

Trish and Sarah

Tiffany, Macee and Jamie

The wedding was in Colorado - Avon, Co (which is pretty much Beaver Creek/Bachelor Gulch - just outside of Vail!) It was absolutely gorgeous (sensing a trend here!?!?) there and the weather was a welcome from the heat of Texas. Justin, Trevor and I decided to drive as 3 plane tickets just wasn't in the budget. We stopped in Raton, NM on the way there and Dalhart, TX on the way back. Trevor will tell you his favorite part of the trip was staying in the hotels (why I have no idea!) We stayed there for 3 days and took time to visit Vail, Colorado Springs and the great sights around town.

My Parents rented this nice "4 story" town home for us. So I got to spend time with my Grandmama, Uncle Willie and Aunt Peggy (all whom I rarely see) as well as experience a nice place to relax!

The wedding was fabulous! (I didn't say gorgeous this time ;) ) Macee looked beautiful as ever, Sarah was the MOH and Craig's Dad was BM. Craig's brother officiated, while Trevor and Craig's nieces served as ring bearer and flower girls. Trevor had a sweet connection to Finley (same age) and she tried really hard to keep him happy at the rehearsal dinner and reception! I read a scripture from the Bible and a poem I found online about "hands." I was my typical self and began to cry half way thru the reading as I just thought of the symbolism it possessed for each one there - and that I truly want this to be my sister's forever -- that I hope he does/treats her as she should be! In my head my sister's have frozen at age 15/18 for me. It's hard to see them all grown up and adults! Not sure how I'll react when they each have a child!

All in all it was a gorgeous (lol) beautiful affair! True Macee fashion! Click on the links above to see my FABULOUS Aunt's photos.....mine are below!