New Year's Eve- 2013

Happy New Year's Eve!!!

Saying goodbye to 2013. What a year! I have to say I am sad to see it go- Georgia and I did so much this year . I suppose you know you are on the right path when you are just happy. I'm there- happy. 

2013 was a really good year. I made some moves in my life that I needed to make. For the first time I went out on my own. I did things MY way. What was I scared of all this time?  As long as I can remember I play the "what were you doing when.." game. What was I doing this time last year? Wow were things different. Thus has been the story of my life the past few years.... although I feel the biggest change within myself took place this past year. Taking some time to be by myself was something that was long overdue.

Everything happens for a reason.

I've traveled, I've spent time with my daughter, I've laughed, I've made amazing memories, I've spent time with people that I care about. I stopped worrying about answering that question of "why?" and just went with "why not?" It was pretty freeing.

I've had my down moments and my times of second guessing myself but at the end of the day I think I've come to realize my intuition is normally pretty spot on. Some things you are meant to leave behind. It's part of life.

10 Things You Should Let Go Of

 Seems as though this was the theme for 2013- I'll keep it around for awhile longer I think....

And my resolution for 2014:

As always there is so much more to say but I think I'll leave it here for now. Happy New Year! Be safe and Cheers to another amazing year ahead!

Summer, Summer, Summer

Perfect description!

Christmas Eve 2013

My view for the evening. "Santa" still has some morning set up to do (a few things can't go into action until last minute) but for now I am ready. I just changed that "I" to an "I" as well. I had typed "we" but Georgia clearly wasn't a part of this part of the day.

As per usual I'm doing a last minute Christmas Eve post. I made it through the day- Early morning last minute shopping, Christmas Eve breakfast and Lunch at my Dad's, Dinner in Pearland at my Mom's, Candlelight church with Georgia back home. A sweet tradition she and I began last year just the two of us that I'm really glad we have continued. In the past we have tried bouncing around on Christmas Eve from church to Church grabbing whichever service fit the schedule with whichever family member we were with. Last year I called it quits and decided we would be at our church on Christmas Eve to begin our wind down of the evening and it works out perfectly. Certain moments in life like seeing your daughter singing "Silent Night" on Christmas Eve with her face lit up by candlelight are tough to beat. Add to that moment that she looks at you with all the wonder of childhood and excitement of Christmas and well...you get it. I adore my family but I'm secretly glad that I'm selfish sometimes and steal those moments just for myself.

I'll circle back with a run down of our month later- it's been fun. We've done our usual Christmas showdown of activities and fun and tomorrow will not be any different. 

The thing that overwhelms me with joy tonight is the gifts under the tree- the gifts for Georgia, the gifts for my family, my friends, the people that matter to us in our life. There is a sense of accomplishment in seeing how far I've come over the past few years. Of course I'm never quite "there" but I'm closer than I was yesterday. I'm blessed. We (I'll go ahead and use that here) are blessed. Blessed to be surrounded by so many people that love us. Blessed to have gifts to give people and that we are able to give. 

I'm most blessed by a little 6 year old that has been tracking Santa Claus via GPS on my iPhone all day.  The sweetest notes were left this evening for Elfie & Santa. She just makes your heart melt:

"Dear Elfie, I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I'm living my Elfie you'll be."

"Dear Santa, Tell the reindeer I said Hi, especially Prancer. Love, Georgia B.

PS- I had something for you" (Picture of reindeer attached)

Oh Georgia! I've said it before and I'll say it again- I miss this night all ready. She is growing up too fast. SHE read me "The Night Before Christmas" tonight. When did that happen?? Life is going by fast. My girl is growing up. For now we will celebrate each day as it comes our way. No one knows what comes next.

48 Hours til Showtime

We are 48 Hours from Showtime.

I finally got my act together last night. I pulled out all the gifts and wrapped like a manic so we now have gifts under the tree. Then I constructed a paper chain for the "Elf" to have draped across the front room last night so Georgia could get a good laugh in this morning before we headed out for the day. I zonked out around midnight.
(This is post shopping all weekend long and really not accomplishing much at the malls and wondering why my life is doomed since my online purchases are not going to arrive on time)

Georgia runs downstairs this morning, "Oh my goodness! Elfie!!! You. are. SO. crazy!" giggle, giggle, giggle, giggle. Check- paper chain for the third year in a row totally worth it. She runs into the back room to check out the gifts now bulging from under the tree.

"Mom- I KNOW you got me what I REALLY want!!! I just KNOW it!"
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
(The list this year has repeatedly been "A Real Live Horse, A Cell Phone, Snow, A Saddle" I had a lot to work with.....)
"The Castle from FROZEN!!!!!"

Huh?!??

48 hours my friends- 48 hours.
....and did I mention 10 of those I'm at work, then the next 24 are dead hours filled with family events?

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Go ahead and grab a box of tissues.

Then read this:

Mom's Memory Lives On

It's going to be a tough wake up call...

When I had "Elfie" bring Georgia this video last year I thought to myself, "Hmmmm...maybe I am taking things a bit too far. This is pretty convincing." I did cringe slightly as my daughter's face lit up in awe and she was swept away in the amazement of watching Santa on TV talk just to HER! 

Ehhh- Double edged sword I suppose. Who wants to live in reality anyway?? Big believer- if you believe in magic it totally exists... 

Clearly I can't help myself and did it again this year. Sorry Georgia if this causes your years of therapy when you are older BUT You are SO welcome if you end up having amazing childhood memories! Love ya!

Full Video Here:

Santa's Message to Georgia via Elfie

Elf Games

I'll catch up here on our Elf Games later but for now a quick post with how it may or may not spiral downward this year.....

Just this morning:
"I gave Elfie a lucky penny last night to take to the North Pole and hid it under that snowman- why didn't he take it with him?"
"Maybe it was too heavy to carry?" (Maybe you need to give me a heads up when you hide stuff for the elf?!)

"Mom, why are Elfie's hand's stapled together?"
"He must have done that on accident making toys last night?" (or was in a pinch and couldn't find any tape/ glue/ adhesive of any kind)

Seems I'm going to have to be a bit more covert in my gaming schemes.

Stop depressing me all ready.

An open memo to the group "Lordes"- Please stop with your depressing lyrics regarding the idea we will never be royals. You guys may have given up. I have not. It wasn't in Kate Middleton's blood either.

Thanks.

Thanksgiving

We just returned from a whirlwind trip to and from my dad's place in Arkansas. I will catch you up on that a bit later- life has been a bit fast and hectic lately and there is MUCH to catch up on but I think it's important to take some time ((in honor of Thanksgiving)) to let you know what I am thankful for.....

1. Georgia- whoa. Obviously this gal was going to top my list. I could go on and on....So I will. (It's MY blog after all) She is my all. She isn't my "second question" to things- she is my first question. She's at this really awesome age that I'm really super proud of. Let me premise the following with "for the most part..." she can hold her own. She likes barbies AND power rangers, she can go to "fancy" restaurants, she can talk to adults, she is well behaved, she is smart, she is funny, she has an incredible personality, she has manners. I pray she has all this when I'm not around ;) In all seriousness- I can't explain it. Maybe you know- maybe you don't. I know- I love her.

2. Family- I am so blessed. What person on this earth has a family like mine??!!? Y'all my mom has been my best friend for ages. she still comes over at least once a week for a "girls night slumber party" aka "Melanie gets to wake up early to run!" I decide to throw a dinner party and guess what? My mom and grandmother show up to provide most everything. My grandmother picks up Georgia at least once a week from school when I have to work. We all know I work with my father. My siblings are the people that I could go to with ANYTHING. We all lead very different lives but at the end of the day Laura, Michael and I are "Mabry's" and not much else matters. I'm pretty lucky.... as much as they drive me crazy- I wouldn't trade them for the world. My mom is my role model for "how to be a mom" it's the one area in life I never think I fail in- therefore I can say (as always Mom...) she didn't fail. My daughter has pretty much been cared for by family her entire life. The thing is...I still have family that feels like that don't get enough of her. How lucky is she? What kid has grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. that are all biting at the bit to get their hands on them? Georgia. That's who. We are blessed. We have family. They ADORE us. We ADORE them. There are times when I "think" I'm lonely....it's because I'm choosing that. I know one phone call and my Memaw will be here in 10 minutes. My mom will be here in 30 minutes. It doesn't matter what I'm doing or what they are doing. Whose family does that? Mine does. I'm SOOOO going off on a tangent here but for real- they are there. They alway have been. They always will be. I think that's why I know I will always be "okay"- at the end of the day I KNOW I have people. People that care- SO much. If I ever fall apart ( and I have) they will be there, as they have in the past, to pick me back up and help me put the pieces back together. So I'm thankful for them. I'm thankful for all the times they have pieced me back together and I'm thankful for this past year when they have stepped back (I know guys.....it's been hard) and let me find my own way. They have let me put myself together. Thank you- it means more to me than you will ever know. You guys did a good job- y'all raised some pretty amazing kids and we are passing it on.

3. Friends- I love my "chosen" family. There are days that I don't think I could make it without them. The groups messages, trips, dinners, nights, dance parties, vacations, staycations, dinner parties, galas, wine stakes. You guys know who you who you are- y'all get the text messages when I'm in a disaster....basically because you answer ;) I hope that I am half a friend to all of you as you have been to me. You guys are always there- just like family. I've realized over the past few years what true friends are....the people that have known me almost my entire life (and for some reason still hang around?!?!) and the people I know now as an adult that will be a part of my life forever. Once again- when I fall apart y'all are minutes away...texts away. Thank you guys for being there- and always with our abbreviations ;)

4. When I was a little girl I would wish on stars- I would constantly wish the same thing. I know- you aren't suppose to tell because it won't come true. Maybe it's okay now that it has? "I want to be happy" Every. Single. Time. Oh....did I wish that! Over and over and over and over again. Whole heartedly! Somewhere along the way I've realized how happy I am. I use to look for it in others....then I realized how happy I can be with just myself. I am really, really happy. I love my life right now. My heart is overflowing with blessings- I have family, friends, an amazing daughter, a fantastic job. I am happy. I am so, SO blessed. I just sit back and think sometimes that people shouldn't be so lucky- Georgia and I kinda have it all. My friends adore her as much as my family does....we are thankful. We are blessed. I am thankful. We are happy. My wish came true.

To wrap this up I'm thankful for the opportunity to live life. It's short. It's sweet. I am reminded all too often that sometimes tomorrow does not come. I'm thankful for every moment.