Maybe it's because we moved to Texas from Alaska.  Maybe it was my intense desire to have a mommy day today.  Or maybe it was pure shock and disbelief that 1 teeny tiny inch of snow crippled the entire area (all roads were closed in the city), canceled school and work for all of us today.

Regardless the kids loved there time in the white stuff this morning!!!

As you can see not much accumulation in the grass but it was enough for them!!

My Little Angels!!!

We went to dinner that night at a new steakhouse and their fountain outside had all this ice on it... Crazy sight for south Texas!!

Don't worry life has returned to normal around here - all the snow melted by 5 this afternoon and it is supposed to be 60 tomorrow and almost 70 on Sunday!!  

Okay so I'm 31 this year - I'd much rather say I'm 30.  Who knows the difference?

Either way I have SO much to reflect on over this past year and I must say I am a very very fortunate woman.  

I love deeply and am loved deeply, I laugh often, I'm healthy as is my family, and I want/need nothing in this world!  

I must say that if this is what 31 feels like then I am looking forward to my 31st year and hope they just keep getting better!!!

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes, gifts and thoughts.  

Here is a parting picture of what I did on my birthday....

Christmas this year was a little different than past years.  I had surgery on December 21st which left me incapable of doing anything (other than sleeping and barking orders).  

I left the whole thing in Daniel's very capable hands though and everything turned out perfectly...

 Sydney ripping into her gifts...

 First I want to say I will find out who put Jesse on my chest and took this photo (Sydney) and pay them back but I thought it only fitting to show you what I was doing 2 minutes after the presents were unwrapped and for the rest of the day!!!

Have I ever mentioned how GREAT my mom is?  I'm sure I have but let me do it again!!

SHE'S THE BEST!!!

I collect Willow Tree figurines and have ever since I was pregnant with Sydney.  They are all over the house and each one has such special meaning to me.  Last year I saw the Willow Tree Nativity set and 

I couldn't spend that kind of money on it - the entire set isn't cheap.  When we were in Park City last year I showed it to my mom and she must have seen the WANT in my eyes because look what I got as an early XMAS present yesterday...

Don't ask why because I don't think we even know but we decided to get another dog last week. 

 Daniel came home from work and told me about a sweet little Shih Tzu that one of his coworkers had found and was caring for.  And we both immediately decided that we wanted to bring this dog into our home and love him. 

After finding out some things about the breed and what great pets they make we knew for sure Sammy was on his way to the Cobb house.  He was neutered, microchipped, given all his shots and a clean bill of health the day before we got him.  The vet says he is between 1 year to 2 years old and a pure bred Shih Tzu - which is uncommon to just find wandering considering that people pay SO much for them in the first place.

Here is what he looked like the day we got him.  Long, shaggy and all matted up!!

 And both of the boys on Sammy's bed together!!

 She was a "bell ringer" but of course when it was time to come front and center and do her ringing another little girl stood RIGHT in front of her so no picture of her doing that (seems to be our luck - last year it was the kid with HUGE antlers that blocked our view of Sydney all night!) we just laughed.  casey loved hearing Sydney sing and danced through the whole program.

O' Christmas Tree...

 Afterward we let her pick the place we had dinner because we were so proud of her.  

Of course we ended up at Chuy's and had a GREAT dinner.

Sorry there aren't more pictures but most turned out blurry because there wasn't a minute where these kids weren't moving.  I also tried uploading some of the video I took but that wouldn't work either - Not my day huh?

I know I know it has been a few months - my longest blogging break ever - but I am back and ready to get caught up and stay caught up!!  I am going to do one MASS post to kind of highlight what we have been up to.

Although we have been non-stop busy these past couple months we have very few pictures to show for it - I've been slacking in the picture department.

Right after starting school Sydney started Soccer and loved it!!

 She was so excited that Grandpa was in town visiting and got to watch her very first game!!

We were so lucky to get a couple of weeks with Grandpa here.  He was so much help at distracting and getting the girls all riled up!! We all loved having him here and it just solidified the fact that family should NEVER be so far apart!!

The rest of September and all of October were spent at work, in school and at soccer practice/games.  

Next came Halloween...

 This year we just painted Pumpkins - I thought it would be less mess, less work for me and more fun for them.  Don't get me wrong they had a blast but the mess was horrible and the work that I was doing after to get paint off every surface in the kitchen was plenty.  So next year CARVING it is!! 

Casey was the Little Mermaid and Sydney was SuperGirl!!  We were able to walk the ENTIRE neighborhood and got enough candy for 10 kids. Sydney is already talking about next year's costume - UGH!!!

The following weekend Daniel and I drove up to College Station for our annual Sooner game outing...

College Station is gorgeous and so rich in tradition BUT we hate it there.  

Losing at an away game is never fun and that is what happened.  At the end of the day though their fans are amazing, their facilities are beautiful and we will go back next time the Sooners play there...  We just BETTER WIN!!!!

 We had great seats huh??? Almost on the field!

 The following week we had Sydney's Soccer party.  

 Sydney was so proud of her medal and trophy!  And we are so proud of her effort and ability that she showed during this season.  We already signed up for the next season!!

The day before Thanksgiving I was driving home - like the WONDERFUL driver I always am - came to a stop at a red light and the lady behind me tried to keep going.  Needless to say she (and her much smaller Volkswagen sedan) lost!!  Neither of us were hurt and I was alone in the vehicle so that is what really what matters but my poor baby is all marred now.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and this year we have so much to be thankful for!!  We had a very quiet and relaxed day just the four of us... 

We took the kids to see Tangled 3D - Super cute movie and We all loved it!!

 (Including Daniel cause he got a nap in!!)

 We came home fried an AMAZING turkey and ate ourselves into a FOOD COMA!!!  Why did I make so much food!!

Now it's time to get ready for a very busy HOLIDAY SEASON!!!!

Summer's over and it was a busy one around here!  Needless to say it really feels like Sydney JUST graduated from Kindergarten yesterday but it is in fact time for her to start a new journey in 1st grade.

We met her teacher last Thursday night.  Her name is Mrs. Michael's and seems to be so very nice (not to mention the talk about her from other parents is stellar).  

Sydney was so ready to start school this year (must get this from her daddy because school was NEVER exciting to me).

She had her outfit picked out, lunch ready and backpack packed.  

All she needed was a yummy breakfast - check!

Here's to another great year Sydney!!  We love you and are so proud!

This afternoon I took Sydney to get her haircut before she started school.  I had no intention of getting Casey's haircut (even though Daniel thought it should have been done months ago) but for whatever reason she demanded that she get a haircut too!

Not my baby anymore huh?