If ever you wonder why I haven't posted in a while, well.....

Love to you all and hope you are enjoying snuggling up to the one you love this winter and upcoming Valentine's Day season!

12 Drummers Drumming

So yesterday we wrapped up the 12 days of Christmas and so today is The Epiphany (or 3 Kings Day, or Little Christmas).
It is the day that we celebrate the 3 Kings visiting baby Jesus.
This will be the last day of our Christmas lights at our house.  We will light them to symbolize the 3 Kings finding their way to Bethlehem, even though all the Christmas lights in the world would not be as bright as the star God used to guide them.
And for all of us Louisiana folks, it is the beginning of one of our favorite times of the year.... carnival season.
In honor of this, my sister made the most beautiful, homemade King Cake.

This really impresses me because it's authentic.  That's not usual outside of Louisiana.
She did a beautiful job.
So it's time to break out the Mardi Gras music and beads, gather the festive decorations, and celebrate the carnival season!

Scenes From An Enchanted Fairy Birthday

We celebrated Emma's 2nd birthday on Sunday January 2.  It was sweet and pretty, just like the birthday girl.

The perfect fairy dress for the perfect little girl

Miss Emma was celebrated for turning 2

The birthday room

A little fairy dust to make her birthday special

These little grass mats made an adorable table runner for the cake table

Tinkerbel flittered around to make the evening extra special

And she was found snuggled comfy cozy into the decorations

White Chocolate Oreo Lollipops were a nice treat

The birthday fairy had a great time!

And so did all of her fairy friends

And her "Fairy Godaunts"

And Fariy Mommy

And her brother (haha)

I couldn't pick which cake picture to use, so I just put both of them in!

Daddy sat with the birthday fairy for some cake

Yummy!

And Drew tried to steal a lick here and there

Then it was present time

Drew wanted to share this time with her, and she was quite agreeable. 

A special gift from Mommy and Daddy.

My favorite moment of the evening

Emma had so much fun playing with blocks...

playing dress-up...

and playing with Mama Horton

What a wonderful evening!  It is a true blessing to have Emma in our lives.

Strange Sensation New Year's Day

***This was written on New Year's Day***

This is the second year that I have found New Year's Day to be a strange mixture of conflicting feelings.
All in the same day I am starting a new year just like everyone else, but on the other hand, it is the "wrap up" of precious Emma's one-year-old-world.
Tomorrow our sweet baby girl will be turning two.  It's so hard to believe that this may be the last day of my life (depending on what God's plans are for us) to have a one year old.
I've looked at her all day trying to soak in her "oneness."
She's amazing.  She's what I've always dreamed of and so much more.  She's beautiful, strong, spunky, smart, and most importantly she has such a sweet tender heart.

She is such a girlie-girl, loving to put anything circular around her wrist pretending it is a precious piece of jewelry, prissing around in her little princess dresses and "heels," and grabbing every handbag she can configure to hold all of her worldly belongings. And the girl loves a good tea party. It amazes me how "hardwired-girl" she is.  Especially considering she has a big brother.

But then there is the spunky side to her.  She loves to get into the mix of things, she doesn't care if she's dirty, and she can give her big brother a run for his money physically in any competition they may have (to put it nicely).

She fills our lives with such joy and laughter, love and beauty, and sweetness and tenderness.

Happy Birthday, Emma!

Well, for the first time ever I put my two year old daughter to bed earlier. What a wonderful day! And although I wish I could slow down time, I certainly feel blessed that she's growing into a beautiful, healthy, smart little girl!
I pray that she's happy, healthy, and she feels all the love in the world that she needs, and then some.  
Happy birthday, Emma!  We love you!