If The World Ends Today...

Today, driving down 360 and taking in all the beauty of Austin, from the roadside Christmas trees to the multi-colored sunrise, I started to tear up. No, not because I'm worried the world might end (wouldn't it have happened by now anyways? Those Mayans - always the jokesters!). Instead, it was because of the realization that if it really were to end, I would've gotten everything I ever wanted out of life.

This morning I awoke next to my beautiful daughter, watched her hug and kiss her father before we left for the day, listened to her chatting during our commute, talked to her about how decorating a Christmas tree on the side of 360 was like a gift to the other commuters, who always found joy in it each day, took presents to the girls I work with, and reminisced about taking cookies to the firefighters earlier this week. We shared our favorite moments of last night's trip to the Trail of Lights at Zilker Park, I watched her hug and play with two of the beautiful girls that we share our days with, I put some light up ornaments on our Christmas tree that my mom sent to us to add to our collection.

Everywhere I look, my life is full of joy.

I love so many people with my whole heart, and am loved in return by many. I could not possibly be happier with the city I call home, and embrace all that it has to offer my family and me. I have a job that I love, one that matters to me, and one that matters for what I want to teach Ava about the world.

If the world ends today, I will leave this world knowing I lived a happy and complete life.

That being said, I'm happy that the world has gone on. I'm excited for every remaining second I have to be a wife, a mother, a nanny, a friend, a daughter, a sister, an Austinite and more. 

Happy doomsday, friends!

Friendly Friday: Cookies for Firemen.

After writing my post this past Tuesday about ways in which we can cultivate love and peace and all that is good in the world in the wake of last week's tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I made a list of things we could do. First on the list, inspired by Kristin of Two Cannoli, was taking some cookies to a local fire station.

We chose to take cookies to the Jollyville station, since that is where my mom's group toured last August, and I was so happy I did. The cookies and thank you card we brought were received with lots of happiness from the guys, who were training that day and could use the extra fuel! Better yet, they gave Ava a junior firefighter sticker and let her take a picture with them on the front bumper.

You could say she looks completely satisfied with herself:

That's my girl.

What ways do you give back to your community? How do you teach your children about being conscientious and kind citizens?

Christmas in Austin: Rock'N Lights at Old Settlers Park.

This past weekend, David was laid up after having an impacted wisdom tooth taken out. Translation = mom had to take the reins and be more on top of her game than usual all weekend. Naturally, I did what I always do when faced with the chance of a bored child: I planned an outing!

There wasn't much that D was feeling up to doing, especially given the need for pain pills, so I thought to take a quick trip to Round Rock (ten minutes north, unless you take my special "back way", then it turns into 45 minutes of road work. Oops.) to see the Rock'N Lights Show at Old Settlers Park. I had a few friends that had gone with mixed reviews - those who saw it for free at one point said it was awesome. Those that paid the $15 per car fee, though, were less impressed. I wanted to go and decide for myself.

There is little I can say negative about the lights themselves. They're gorgeous, well thought out and original, organized into little sections like "Celebration Town USA" and the "12 Days of Christmas". Ava was definitely entertained, despite being exhausted, and would definitely give them a glowing review! My only complaint whatsoever is the price. $15/car seems a little steep to me, given that the trail is less than 2 miles long. Sure, you're barely moving, so it still took us a good twenty or so minutes, but still...just my opinion.

Other than that, we had a lovely time! Here are a few of our favorite displays:

If you've been yet to the Rock'N Lights in Round Rock, what did you think? And if not, here is a coupon for $5 off if you go Monday-Thursday!

A Holiday Tea.

This past Sunday, we were invited to attend a friend's family tradition: a mother-daughter holiday tea! In case that doesn't sound exciting enough, the theme was The Nutcracker, and let me tell you - the decor and decadent piles of sweet treats lived up to the classic ballet.

As you may know, I took Ava to see The Nutcracker last year, just before her second birthday, and despite the 2+ hour long performance, she LOVED every second! This event sparred a sudden love of ballet and - even today - when we pass The Long Center she talks about going to see The Nutcracker. We were unable to swing tickets to this year's 50th anniversary show, but I was able to hype up our nutcracker tea experience beforehand to the point that she hasn't felt like she missed out, at least not as far as I can tell!

I should tell you in advance: the woman who threw the holiday tea could be a professional party planner. I mean, seriously impressive stuff. Check it out for yourself:

Mommy and Ava before we left for the tea (aka, before she was ramped up on sugar and wouldn't cooperate...)

And then on a sugar high at the party...

The aforementioned sugar-high cause:

Is that not the most gorgeous display you've ever seen? Someone who saw my pictures on Facebook after the event asked if it was the one at the Four Seasons :)

More shots of my girl in her carb coma...

Waiting for a turn on the swing!

I don't know where she got that energy...ha!

We had such an absolutely fabulous time Sunday afternoon - we're so very blessed to have such amazing people in our lives that make the holidays just above and beyond anyone's expectations. I may not have actual immediate family in the area, but it never feels that way given all the love that surrounds us regularly!

The best part, though? Each little girl got to take home a present with their name on it under the tree! Ava's was a ballerina ornament - true to theme and right up her alley! - and she has been talking about it ever since!!!

Silence.

Things have been silent around here. Mainly, I haven't had the right words to say, in light of the tragedy this past Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary. I work with two six-year-old girls that, if they were to fall victim to such unthinkable violence, I would be irrevocably changed. Add to that the fact that I'm a mother - foremost to everything else that I am, I am a mother first - and whereas most acts of violence I can easily put into perspective, this one still leaves me teary-eyed four days later. I can not begin to imagine the pain, and I feel guilty for not allowing myself to.

But now, four days later, I have found a handful of words that make me feel better. This morning, I saw a video put together by two boys whose two sisters were bullied and their house graffiti-covered because they have Down Syndrome. These boys, ages 6 & 7, are going viral with the purpose of renouncing the stigma of a mental disability and, specifically, the word "retard" - an outdated, hurtful term no one should ever utter.

It seems like small potatoes compared to the dozens of people - children, at that - who lost their lives, but it gives me hope.

Children, despite that they live in a time where fear in schools is becoming increasingly commonplace, have hope. They're the future of this great nation, and this great world - our future voters, at that - and they want to make a difference. They want to break down barriers.

We have an African-American President. And it's no big deal. Which, the fact that the mindset is that it's no big deal, is a huge deal. How far we've come in fifty years in the fight for equality.

This past election, several states voted by popular vote to not outlaw same-sex marriage. The majority of the population? They're kind of awesome. They believe in equality, tolerance, and love, in the fact of the vast minority that chooses hate.

So today, I'm going to focus on that. I'm going to take comfort in the fact that my child will grow up in a world that improves every day, that progresses all the time, that is becoming increasingly tolerant. I have hope she'll never remember a day where rights were granted selectively. I'll take heart in the fact that, in the wake of this tragedy, the outpouring of love from all corners of the world has been breathtaking. And I will recognize that love and tolerance and acceptance and all the things that light this occasionally dark world? They start at home, with behaviors we model to her, and acts of kindness we teach.

We're planning to spend the next week before Christmas doing good deeds for those in need. Cookies to a fire station (thank you, Kristin, of Two Cannoli for the inspiration!)? Sure thing! Buying a present off a "giving tree" for a child Ava's age? Check! Please, feel free to inspire me here on things that get overlooked, for we want to do it all.

It is our purpose that from this tragedy, some good will come. Some humanity will be salvaged. Someone else will be inspired to do good, and then in turn inspire others, and so on. We cannot bring those children back, but we can act in ways that will mean that their deaths go on to mean so much.

I may continue to be silent for a while. I'm still struggling with the events, tearing up at Ava's ballet class because I'm just so damn glad she's here and I'm here and we have one another and David, and I just feel like anything else is insignificant. But I'll be back when I'm ready, and will do my best to speak love into the hearts of everyone I meet, and make everyone's life a little better. Sure, I'm always going to have a snarky and sarcastic side, and I'll never enjoy traffic until the day I'm behind the wheel of a Range Rover (some things never change...), but I wish you all unspeakable joy.

Hug your babies, folks, and be mindful of the imprint you leave on the world.

Christmas in Austin: The Lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree and Sing-along

I've mentioned it before, but Austin isn't exactly known for its White Christmases. In fact, when you think of places where the holiday spirit is alive and well, Austin may not come to mind right away, given our warm climate. But I'm here this week to prove just how amazingly Austin does Christmas,

Alongside from both the Theta House cookie swap with Santa, and the Christmas trees alongside Highway 360, we also have the wonderful tradition of lighting the Christmas tree at the Texas State Capitol, complete with holiday "stroll" and singalong.

Unbeknownst to me prior to this year, the Holiday Stroll and Christmas Tree Lighting at the Capitol has been an annual tradition for local families for years, and this year my family and one of the little girls I watch (her older sister was at a sleepover) joined the masses for a festive night in downtown Austin.

The night kicked off with an hour of Christmas carol singing, complete with KUT's own leading the hymns and a songbook to boot! We loved the chance to really get into the Christmas spirit, despite the warm weather:

Afterwards, we headed down to 11th and Congress in front of the Capitol building to shop the holiday "market", which was full with vendors selling everything from treats to tamales to candles and other holiday wares, and then gathered to watch the lighting of our brand-new tree at 7 p.m.

Once we'd finished the countdown to the tree, we walked down Congress Avenue, where activities from photos with Santa (we skipped the long line in favor of our smaller encounter with Santa the next day at the cookie swap) to coloring pictures of gingerbread houses to listening to a street jazz band play carols were going on. All the local businesses were decked out for the affair, too! Such a great way to welcome in December!

Afterwards, since we were already way off schedule as it was, we hung around downtown for some authentic Mexican cuisine, where Ava and S danced to the sound of the Miami Sound Machine - ha! Not your average Christmas celebration, but definitely one that's perfect for us!

Happy Holidays!

Ava Meets Santa: Volume (Year) Three.

Before this year, our Santa encounters have included quick trips to The Domain to wait in line, sit on his lap for five seconds for an overpriced and crappy picture, and a nice memory. This year, though, with Ava shooting through toddlerhood and practically towards her teenage years at the speed of light, we figured she was old enough for a full-fledged Santa encounter. Enter the Theta house alumni cookie swap!

I had the good fortune of being able to watch the two girls I've watched for the past four years over the course of a weekend, and that is how I found myself trekking three girls around West Campus in a parallel parking-unfriendly SUV one sunny Sunday afternoon.

I'll admit, I was dreading it a little bit. Sure, I was excited about the idea of Ava hanging out with Santa in a more intimate setting, and who doesn't love cookies?! But spending the afternoon with former sorority girls and their children and trying to keep three kiddos from overdosing on sugar wasn't high on my to-do list after four straight days of winging it with all three, so there was that aspect. Anyhow, despite my reservations, we had a blast!

Our afternoon started out decorating sugar cookies, since we were the first ones there (awkward....). It was great because the girls had their first choice of cookies and decorations, so they loved that!

Afterwards, once more people had arrived, we were able to load up a bag of cookies from each type that had been brought (awesome for a low-carb dieter, right?) to take home! Nothing to dread there, except maybe stepping on the scale...

And last, but certainly not least, Santa arrived for the big finale! Each child got a turn to sit with him and talk in detail about what he/she wanted for Christmas - none of the quick turnaround typical of mall Santas - and the chance for photo opps to our hearts content, meaning I finally got one that was satisfying!

And of all of them:

Not one to be left out of the spotlight, I was able to sneak into a few myself :)

Have you been to see Santa yet? If so, where did you find him, and where is the best one? Are your kids warming up to Santa, or are tearful pictures still the norm at your household?