Toy Land...

Here is our trip to "Santa's Toy Shop" in Old Town Spring.  This tradition makes our Christmas so simple.  The kids get to pick out one gift for Santa to bring Christmas Eve.  We arrive right when they open and we are the only ones there for the first thirty minutes.  Everything about this place is enchanting...from the kind shop keeper and old fashioned toys to carols playing and fireplace. 

This is coming from a muggle (who hasn't read all of Harry Potter), but I am pretty sure it is run by a wizard...it really is that magical!

After we ate at Wunsche Brothers.  Merry Christmas everyone!

Country Club Christmas

The Women's Club luncheon has become a tradition for me.  I love the beauty of the country club, the ladies' fancy clothes, and the delicious desserts.  It is a nice break from everyday yoga pants and parks

I invited a few favorite friends; Peggy, Makana, and Charlotte.  

Makana won big at the charity raffle.  

Getting my girly food on.

There is always a fashion show featuring animal print.

Carla gave me this family heirloom in Oklahoma,   This ring is an antique of her great aunts.  I am in love!!!

Posing at the bar while everyone else got their bubbly on.  Our table was pretty dry considering half of us are Mormons.  

Later on in the week Rissy and James pretended to go to a Christmas tree farm.  They both like the land of make believe.  A ball of twine or a roll of tape can entertain them all morning.

Rissy wore this dress to church Sunday.  So many people said she looked like an angel...a few said she looked like a pioneer:)- I guess I have old fashioned taste.

Speaking of antiques, John brought this sailboat home from a colleague at work.  The kids are enchanted by it and I often catch them playing with their toys on the hull of the ship.

Houston really has stolen my heart over the last three and a half years.  We are creating so many memories here and are blessed to call this place home.  

Girls in Pink Dresses

There were visions of sugar plums at our house today.  I am teaching a free pre ballet class for Rissy and her friends.  She is constantly twirling and dancing around the house, I thought it was time for some more formal, (not so formal:) training.  I mostly just want to live my dream of being a professional dancer.  Plus toddlers in tights are just too cute! 

 John's Grandma Nan gave me these beautiful doilies when we were there over Thanksgiving.  I love their intricate details and will always treasure them.  They remind me of southern snowflakes.

I am glad I have a little girl to dance with and pass down my family heirlooms to.  Rissy brings so much sugar and spice to our life and she is a blessing to our family!

Mele Kaliki-Makana:)

 Right now with my three little birds still at home, I feel like the world is our Oyster.  We wake up and go wherever the wind blows.  Friday it was at the beach with friends.  It is amazing, in a city of six million that we were the only ones there.  It was so peaceful, the kids had a ball with their sand pails, and Makana and I were able to get some mama talk in.  A great way to get away from the stress and hustle and bustle of the holidays.

Spotted and Bright...

We went to Zoo Lights opening day in November.  It is a good thing we started celebrating Christmas a month early, otherwise I would being feeling short-changed out of my holly jolly festivities about now. 

 We are going on week two of being quarantined in the house because of the flu.  Hopefully it is coming to an end because I am ready to "run, run Rudolph," all around our Christmas town.  

We are learning Rissy likes to "rock around the Christmas tree" in the early hours of the day.  She was spent by seven.  But despite a few tantrums, we still had a lovely time.