Merry Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We've been getting into the holiday spirit this month!  This wasn't the friendliest Santa, but at least he was photogenic.

 We visited the Wildflower Center and their luminaries display.  The kids had fun walking through all the lighted pathways.

 We saw the Capitol Christmas tree with Melissa.

 We walked through the Trail of Lights at Zilker Park.  The lights were fantastic, but the crowds were a little too much for us.

I helped out with a Christmas party in Owen's classroom and his teacher had a photo booth set up.  What a fun idea for the 1st graders!

 Our house elf, Hattie, is visiting again.  This year he is having fun playing with the kid's toys. 

Micah and Adler had a date night to Micah's office Christmas party.  Unfortunately, I stayed home with a sick Owen while these two partied it up.  Owen has strep throat but is on an antibiotic now and feeling much better.  I just hope the rest of us don't get it!  Fingers crossed and Lysol sprayed.

Happy Birthday Owen!

Yesterday Owen turned 7. SEVEN.  I don't even know what to think about this.  He's so big and such a boy.  All his baby traits are gone, in the past.  But that's the point, right?  For our babies to grow up and become independent.  And I'm so proud of the person he is and the individual he's becoming.  He's smart, athletic, energetic, observant, and thoughtful.  He's so much like his father, but sometimes reminds me of myself as well.  Today I reflect on how he changed my life 7 years ago.  How he turned me into a mother, altered the course of my career, and made me a better person.  I'm grateful for him every day and lucky to have him in my life.

 This kid loves to build and loves animals!  Here he is with a few of his fun birthday gifts.  He's really into building Legos, and will sit for hours working on these projects.

 

We had Owen's birthday last weekend at Blazer Tag.....this HUGE laser tag center not far from our house.  I took Owen there this summer and he's been planning to have his birthday party there ever since.  We had a blast!  Micah and I played with the kids and enjoyed running around trying to find Owen and his friends to tag them.



Although I don't have pictures, Owen's grandparents came in for his party to help him celebrate.  His Uncle Brian also drove in last night for his actual birthday.  Owen chose to stay home, eat hot dogs, decorate his homemade cake, and play with his new toys!  He told me his birthday was better than he had hoped!





We joined Owen at school yesterday for lunch and shared brownies with his class!