Twinkle Lights

I love Christmas time! One of my favorite things about Christmas is our tree! I blogged last December about how I collect ornaments all throughout the year that commemorate special occasions, big events, or places I've been. It really is so much fun to decorate the tree each Christmas and remember all those special memories. 

One new ornament this year is the red YMCA one. I stumbled upon it at work one day and they said I could take it home! It happens to be hanging next to an ornament I got when I was working in accounting back in 2007 and a children's Crayola crayon ornament from 1992.  The tree definitely is a story book that chronicles our lives. How fun! I'm so thankful that my parents started this tradition for me!

Hopefully Santa will bring us an ornament for Jackson this year!

I love coming home after a long day and only having the Christmas tree lights on and no other lamps. 

The house is going to feel so bare when we have to take down the tree in January.

End of Semester Proof

How can you tell the end of the semester is fast approaching in the Amador household? Let's explore the evidence:

Well... first, there is Miguel studying, and obviously a mess of plates and cups... but let's examine a little closer shall we?

There seems to be an ever growing stack of empty monster energy cans... and when those run out Miguel turns to any other drink with caffeine, even if that means drinking diet coke.

Look! I believe the mystery of the vanishing drinking cups has been solved. It appears the the MIA cups have been hiding in Miguel's office. 

And lastly, no one would ever open those books to read for fun... Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity?!? No thank you!

Miguel is going to kill this class! He is brilliant and I'm always so proud of how smart he is! Even if that means living in a slight mess for a few weeks and having only two cups left in the cabinet... ;)

Pretty Dresses, Little Curls, Oh Thank Heaven For This Little Girl!

A couple of weekends ago I went home to Atlanta for my sister's first baby shower! It was so much fun! I had really been looking forward to going home, seeing my sister, and celebrating my niece! It did not disappoint. Family friends threw the shower for my my sister, Sarah, at their beautiful home. Everyone had a wonderful time and my baby niece got completely spoiled.

My sister and the gracious hostess, Nancy.

That's three generations right there!

The set up was beautiful and the food was delicious. Nancy and Anna thoughtfully prepared food that was all gluten free since my family is allergic to it. Around the food they placed framed baby pictures of Sarah and her husband, Jared. We really enjoyed seeing those! I especially enjoyed seeing Jared's pictures! He was such a chubby baby! Adorable!

Grandma Ray enjoying the delicious food!

Anna, one of the hostesses, snapped pictures for Sarah.

Like I previously said, Sarah and Baby Ray received loads of sweet gifts. We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and generous friends! Miguel and I bought Sarah, Jared, and Baby Ray their stroller already, so we just got a few small things for Sarah to unwrap at the shower. We gave our niece a pink Gulfstream jacket (that's the company Miguel works for) as well as a children's book about Savannah.

Sarah and Baby Ray also got some really cute plush animals. We had to keep an eye on my grandma with those though... she kept saying she was going to take them home with her ;)

I am super duper excited about Baby Ray and was so excited to see my sister with that adorbs baby belly!!! 

No, really, I was pretty excited about it! 

But so who isn't really...?

Anna sure is!

Later that evening we headed upstairs to the grandkid's room and helped Sarah lay out all the gifts that were so generously given. We helped her pack them up to bring back to Seattle with her.

And as you can see Luke, my mom's dog, was a very big helper with this!

The baby shower was SO much fun and I LOVED getting to see my sister! Only about 8 more weeks till my niece arrives!!!! Eeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!