Valentines Day is coming up soon!

A friend of mine through an online book club - and who is totally cool - is doing Valentine Mini-Sessions. Go here: http://www.fishlipsphotoblog.com/2012/01/lovely-give-away-houston-baby-child.html to check it out!! She is an AHHHmazing photographer, who happens to photograph my beyond adorable niece, Lila! Here are a couple of pictures she has taken of our lovely :) Isn't she amazing?! Hop on over to the link I provided above and check her out!!





This one was taken for her Christmas photos 2011





This one was taken for her Christmas photos 2010



Happy New Year!

It's been about 2 months since my last post. Last time we talked, I was finishing decorating our house...well...I'm still decorating our house! Slowly but surely ;)

We had our first Christmas in the new place! It was so great! We got a full size tree {finally} and now have a mantle to decorate! {sorry, but all of that just makes me so giddy!!}. Our first Christmas function was me having my church ladies over for a brunch the first weekend in December. That went really well! I think everyone enjoyed it. I know I sure did. The following weekend, we had all of Ross's extended family over for the Hegefeld family Christmas. Just about everyone was here, and it was a full day of eating, laughing and playing! We are so glad we got to host this year. Christmas Eve was spent in Brenham at Ross's parents house. This year, Brian's family was with us. It was good to see them again. We went to our church's candlelight service that night. I love a candlelight service! It just feels so much like Christmas! Christmas day, Ross made chicken spaghetti and my family came over for lunch! It was fun having Christmas day at our place! {we also loved the fact that we didn't have to travel anywhere, as we used to do every year!}. The day after Christmas, Ross and I headed to Marble Falls to spend a couple days. We toured 2 wineries while up there - Fall Creek in Tow, and Flat Creek Estate in Marble Falls. We had a nice relaxing time!

Our tree & Mantle

Me, Mom, Erin & Sugar on Christmas

Grandad & Granny on Christmas at our house

We spent New Years around Houston with Ross's buddy Don. We started in Rice Village {our fave place}, then went to Discovery Green {lame}, then back to Rice Village! We had a good time, and really enjoyed seeing Don!

Ross & Don at Discovery Green

This year looks like it's going to be another good one. We both have great jobs that we are beyond thankful for, we have a lovely home that we don't like leaving, and we are blessed with the best family and friends. 2012 looks like it's gonna be great :)

Hopefully, I'll write another update before 2 months pass again ;)

Time Flies!

Man does time fly by! Last time I updated, we were closing on our house...and now we've been here a month and a half!

I am almost done decorating. Almost. I can't seem to decided on what I want to hang in the entry way, and in the dining room...and in our room!! My eyes keep going to Christmas decor. I guess I'm just going to have to re-visit the whole "home decor" shopping later and focus on Christmas. Yes, that sounds like a splendid idea! So much more fun, anyway!

We still do not have grass. Big.Bummer. I have, however, contacted our water company about it, and apparently they did not know of our "ban" on watering here in the neighborhood and they are going to look into it and get back with me. I see grass in our very near future!! Hooray :) This is a WONDERFUL thing, because both Ross and I are sick of looking at those dang weeds! It's a bit depressing. Happy note: the house two doors down from us sold...unhappy note: the house across the street has gone up for sale. Buy these houses, people!! We need neighbors!!

I am so glad there is a Pier 1 less than 3 miles from my house, but not so happy about it too. I dropped about $50 there today on ornaments alone! For a tree I do not even have yet. Hobby Lobby - you're next. Watch out. I can't believe Christmas is in less than 2 months. I am super excited to have my fam over on Christmas day! It's going to be sooo much fun :)

I am officially addicted to Pinterest. Much to Ross's dismay. I think I have tried about 5 different ideas I have gotten off of Pinterest already. 4 were successes, but 1 was a major fail. I tried the whole "sock bun" hair curling thingy...yeah...didn't work out so well for me. Since my hair is naturally curly, it curled up waaaay too much. Even though it was straight when I did it. Oh well. Guess I don't need it.

Ross is done with his PE prep class, and takes his test on the 28th of this month. Wish him luck!! I know he will do fantastic. He always does.

I am enjoying my class - they are so funny! One of my kiddos always has something to say about everything. He cracks me up! The school year seems to be going by all too fast. But, I'm loving every minute of it!

Here's to updating more {wouldn't count on it}

Kim

Closing!!

Holy Moly!! We are closing on our first house tomorrow!! AND, school starts tomorrow.

I kept feeling like tomorrow would never get here - with the closing. It's here! We are super excited and just a tad bit nervous! We've been told that it is no big deal, we just sign final documents and get our keys...but it's still nerve-wracking! When we're done with closing, that means that we are officially home owners and we will have to pay a *gulp* mortgage!! Yikes! While that word is scary, we are so happy to not be paying rent anymore! We will finally have a place all our own!

I had a successful Meet the Teacher on Friday, and am super excited to begin the school year! I have some great littles that I will be teaching!

Tomorrow is sure to be fun, exciting, and hectic!

2 weeks to Closing!

We are 2 weeks away from closing on our first home! We couldn't be happier! It's still being built, but will be done in one week. It has been very exciting watching the house progress!

In buying a new house comes major headaches and to-do lists that are a mile long! I have 3 typed up lists on the wall in front of me right now, staring me down. Granted, I'm chipping away at them, but it feels so overwhelming at times {okay, all of the time}. Pair that with lesson plans and registering people for a church convention - shoot me! It has been fun though...so far, we have our kitchen table & chairs and are ordering our dining room set tomorrow {I am squealing with delight!}

A week from tomorrow I start in-service! And at the end of that week, I get to meet all of the precious littles that I will be teaching this next year, and I couldn't be happier about that!

Two weeks after we get moved in, Ross starts his prep course for his PE exam and will be occupied Thurs-Sunday every other weekend for a month :( :) <--having mixed emotions on that one. I am so happy that his is taking his exam, but am bummed that we will not be together on the weekends. All for a good cause though! I'll probably be busy putting final touches on the house and planning my school weeks.

So far, the month of August rocks!

Last Diaper Cake

Here's the last diaper cake before our big move!

The bottom layer is Seventh Generation diapers, size 1, and the top layer is Pampers Swaddlers, size 1. It's got a teddy bear on top, 3 baby spoons, a bib, 2 pacifiers, baby lotion/powder/shampoo, and a white onesie with a blue elephant applique. The cake also has baby forest animals around the bottom layer's ribbon. This cake is for a baby boy - shower in 1 week :)

I am taking a hiatus from diaper cakes/baby stuff while we're trying to line everything up for moving day (September 3). We are SUPER excited to be getting into a house, and even more excited that the house is just outside of Pearland - that means that we are 30 minutes closer to all of our family (Houston & Brenham)! That makes for one happy wifey!

I'll start taking orders again mid-September/early-October.

A lot can happen in a month!

The month of July feels like it has gone on forever. We've had some good moments, and some sad moments. I am ready for August.

This month, we signed a contract on a new home near Pearland! So exciting, and so very nerve-wracking! We are set to close on August 29th and move in over Labor Day weekend! We are very happy about this! I can't wait to start decorating, and Ross can't wait to start mowing the lawn - ha!

This month, I've also started getting my classroom ready for my 8 little ones this fall! I spent 2 days decorating (not near finished) and am spending the rest of this week working on my lesson plans! I can't wait to meet all 8 of my new "kids" in August! We are going to have some fun learning times ahead of us.

Ross starts his prep class for the PE exam in a month. He will be gone to Sugarland every other weekend for 4 days straight!

Hey Granny - wanna come keep me company every other weekend?? I will have some guest rooms!!

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed thinking of all the packing I need to do between now and the 29th. Yiiikes! I can do it, I can do it! I think I'm going to start by weeding out all of the "junk" in this place, so it will be easier to pack.

So much to do in a month!!