Just One Cup at a Time

My Family Christmas

Christmas was at my house again this year.

I love it at my house.

My parents arrived in the early afternoon and then my sis and her family shortly after and we had a big slumber party.  I couldn't wait for them all to arrive to let the fun begin!!

Christmas in our family changes gears at dinner time and looks a little different because it's also this dudes birthday.

Rodney loves that he shares his birthday with Jesus :)

But the really big surprise was when I was taking their family photos the weekend before.....my nieces Kamisha and Whitney said they wanted to drive up to my house for Christmas day.

My head snapped around so quickly with such glee and excitement and I just asked......okay what do you want to eat I'll make you whatever you want. :) 

They wanted my pear salad and chocolate so I made them that salad with dinner and some decadent chocolate mousse (2 girls after my own heart)!.  I don't get to see them as often as I'd like so when I do.....I'll do anything for them ;)

Naturally I was in heaven!

House full of laughter and love and fun and fellowship and just being together...happy and healthy and with eachother!

Kam and Whits couldn't spend the night so I did everything I could to make the night last as long as possible before we had to say goodbye to them :(.  I made them each a latte for their drive home...you know just to make up for my stall tactics!

So later in the evening we all bundled up with hats and blankets and piled into the car to go looking at Christmas lights.

 

Then home for some Wii fun and the kids staying up until midnight :)

I had a wonderful Christmas day - I hope you did too!!

The Brooks Family....I {heart} them!

I took my sister's family Christmas pictures this year......I'm cheap and this year she thought cheap was a good idea.  She gets what she pays for but I did my best.   As soon as Kamisha was on break from USC and Whitney wasn't acting in her big paying-gig play, we did a quick photo shoot.

I like how they came out....but then again when the subjects are gorgeous, and precious, and sweet, and kind. and fun and cooperative...all I really did was hold some plastic and click a button...really that's it!

At first my sis just wanted to be down and dirty and get it done and said let's just do it on my white sofa in my house......her house is beautiful and all but I wasn't into it, the lighting was hard and little Miss princess Sophia wasn't having it AT ALL on the sofa - way more so than me {wink}.

That princess would not crack a smile!

So I grabbed their black fur blanket, despite the look and frown on my bro-in-laws face when he saw the blanket in my hand.

I told him to get over it - very kindly of course!

And outside we went to a park area nearby....

Ahhh this Auntie was much happier!!

I mean look at these precious kids!  My nieces Kamisha and Whitney are incredible girls....I mean incredible and I LOVE them to pieces!  They define kindness, sweetness and LOVE!

I'm so blessed to have the role of Auntie to these 4 amazing kids....thanks to my Sis and Rod!!!

And something about leaves.....

Leaves make me happy - even if Fall in California happens in late December.

Leaves make kids happy too!!

This one is my favorite.......

The little Princess who wouldn't smile....well she couldn't stop giggling when I said "now play with the leaves" and you can almost here her giggle in this photo above! 

It melts my heart!!

Marcus loves all the girls in life.....

I'm happy to be his best friend too {sorry sis} :)  It's sad but it makes me happy that he doesn't want to leave my house and that he wants to sleep with me whenever we have sleep overs.

What can I say.....I LOVE them all!!

Then I got the money shot.......and called it a day!  It's already been printed as an 8x10 and is ready to be framed!

Scratch that!

For a few weeks now I have been setting this weekend aside to lock myself in my house and work.

I have needed a couple days to stay in my pajamas and work, work away, whistle while I work although if you've ever heard me whistle then you'd wonder how effective this really is.

Eeek I get so excited!!  I can't yet share what I've been working on...no not yet.  Soon and very soon {i hope}.

But then......

A couple days ago this picture was sent to me....

This is my gorgeous (inside and out) niece Whitney.  Oh how I love this sweet little girl.  Although she's not little anymore I think she's taller than me!

Little Miss Whitney is on the Homecoming Court tonight and she got her crown {big smile}.

Then if this sweet picture wasn't enough these crazy kids called me last night

I miss them so much.  I love them so much (and their mom and dad too)!

Here's the conversation that took place as I tried to talk to the kids - mostly Marcus but every now and then Sophia grabbed the phone and then hands it back to Marcus.....

Marcus "Auntie I'm going to have ice cream, you can have some if you come over"

"Oh buddy I wish I could I'm too far away"

Sophia "Hi Hi Hi...Bye"

Marcus "Excuse me what did you say Auntie"

"I"m too far away buddy - maybe this weekend"

Maybe this weekend oh look what you've done now!  You've basically committed yourself Andrea  because you've gone and HINTED that he MIGHT see me - wait you didn't hint you SAID he might!  What have you done!  Funny how I talk to myself huh?

Sophia "Hi....Bye"

Marcus "You can come to my soccer game Auntie" - he's so darn polite that little kid!

"Okay buddy we'll see"

We'll see - I mean what kid wants to hear that and especially from their aunt??!!  It's not that I don't want to see them - I always want to be with them.

My sis gets on and we decide we'll chat later.

They make me smile and laugh and melt!

All at the same time.

I was torn knowing I need to get stuff done, knowing I have deadlines (mind you their my own deadlines but sometimes you gotta stick to your own) and if I don't lock myself away I'll never finish.  But family I need family time too.

I woke up this morning still torn and praying what I should do.  Minutes later I get this text from my sister:

"We can't wait to see you u! It might be cold tonite @ game....Marcus can't wait for u to sleep w/ him tonite!"

The End!

Dear work,

Scratch that!

I'm taking the weekend off and spending it in Newport with the fam - I have much more important things to do!!

Whit's CUP

Wishing my my gorgeous sweet niece, Whitney, we call her Whits, a very happy birthday today! She's 17 - woohoo!! One of the things I love about this girl is her very sweet spirit and her amazing hugs. She's a lover alright and I'm beyond blessed to have her in my life!

Happy birthday love!!! xoxo

 

Birthday CUP

Wishing my beautiful Niece Kamisha a very Happy Birthday!! Miss you and I hope to see you soon! hugs xoxo

and my dear friend Shannon's brithday is today too! Your friendship means the world to me and I'm so blessed to have your family in my life. Here's to many more years of our friendship and growing even closer!! See you tonight for chocolate!!! xoxo

Birthday Cheers!!!!