Christmas in NYC Tips/What to do?

I'll be honest, I've never really had big dreams of experiencing Christmas in New York, yes it's crossed my mind that it would be a future dream goal, but did not see it happening in the near future..

Well a few months ago my mom randomly asked me if I wanted to join my aunt and two cousins in New York on December 17th. Well my first reaction was NO, I graduate from college on the 16th, this is a goal that I have struggled to achieve for many years and I want to enjoy the experience and celebrate all weekend with BD and my friends...  After some re-evaluating of this once in a life time opportunity, mom and I booked our flights and were headed to NYC this Saturday!!!! 

Due to my busy schedule I have not had a lot of time to do research like I normally do when I am going to a new place, I'm the queen of reading reviews, looking at pictures, and just over all doing research...

Soo I need some tips, ideas, suggestions, etc.

Where do we go? What's a must to do? 

I know all the "norm" such as:

Rockefeller Center

Times Square

Radio City

Macy's

Central Park

Fifth Avenue

We are also defiantly going to:

See the Broadway play Wicked

Shop at Canal Street

Visit the 9/11 Memorial

Shop at H&M (we don't have one in Houston yet...)

Go to Kleinfelds (I looked into getting an appointment just for the heck of it, they are booked until Jan. 13.. I don't think they would be too happy if I went in and tried on dresses and really didn't have intentions of buying anyways...ha)

So what else is a must to do in NYC during Christmas time? 

Any tips on how to do something or anything you've experienced while there?

Anything is appreciated!!!!

Happy Mothers Day!

I know I'm a little early but I was too excited about this post, so I wanted to catch up by starting off with honoring not only my mother but ALL the mom's in the world!

Mama bear (and I'm baby bear) Mother's Day Gift

And the mothers day card I got her this year couldn't be any better!

"My mom, my friend"

You'll never know
how many times your voice
on the other end of the line
has helped me get through
a bad day...

(inside)
...or how often I'll remember
some little piece of wisdom you have me,
months before,
even though it seemed
like I wasn't listening
at the time..

(back inside)

You'll never know
how much it means to me
to share my feelings
with the one person
who probably knows me
better than anyone,
and who has become my best friend

I love you, Mom

Just a few things I appreciate about my mother:
her love
her support
her encouragement
the face that she knows every word so some Rap songs, I can think my bro for that one!
her baking
her cleaning
her love for my friends
how well she treats my fiance, Brian
how much she always wants the best for me
she civilizes every situation
her support in my hobbies
her guidance through my struggle in school
all the late nights she has stayed up with me sick or tutoring me
the fact that she always puts me, my bro, and daddy first!!!!

I could go on and on but basically you should get the point by now!

I know everyone says their mom is THE best but I'll have to say, mines the best for me and others are the best for them :) they both have their special touch :)


Some special mom's I wanna wish a very Happy Mother's Day to:
Brian's mom, Judy
Brian's Step mom, Michelle
Best friends mom, Ellen
Meredith
Jacci
Sherry
Catherine, my boss :)
Suzzane, one of my most favorite ladies in the world, aka my ring bearers mom!
Terri, Chris's mom
Charlotte, my flower girls mom
My Aunt Diane, Angie, Kerri, Susan, and Sherry
My cousin Rebecca
And last but NOT least My Maw-Maw and MiMi

Easter

This has nothing to do with Easter but what better picture to start off the post :) This is my little baby Allison, she will be 14 weeks tomorrow and I start watching her next Monday all day M-Wed. I'm so excited!!!

OK back to Easter. How blessed are we that God is risen?

I've always wanted confetti eggs but never knew where to get them or how to make them, I bought these from a little party shop for 3 bucks!


Brian opening his basket from mom "The Easter Bunny" Friday night before he headed fishing.. He scored this Easter, 3 packs of his FAV rock star that we can't ever find anywhere, we had to order these... he got a Rajun Cajun gift card for Crawfish season and an Academy gift card which he got 2 battery boxes for his boat :) I love my little fisherman

How cool!!! He got connect 3 with smarties in his Easter basket!

my brother opening his basket Easter morning before church

The bestie opening her basket from the Easter bunny at lunch!

I really enjoyed my Easter, I did not dress up and take cute family pics like I normally due since I had been so sick in the days prior but I enjoyed church service, lunch at salt grass, and then a couple hours at Megan's house just chatting.. All in all it was a great day!

I hope you all had a great Easter

Valentiens Day

We spent our 3rd Valentines Day together! It was just what I wanted/asked for.. We started the day off at Church

Brian and I FINALLY made it to Church and I asked my flower girls parents if Andi Jane could be my flower girl.. As you can tell her mom was so honored!

We asked our Pastor, Marty if he would marry us.. He jokingly said if he was still alive, since its not till next May 2011..

We went over to the Children's building so I could ask Andi herself.. She told me no at first, until her mom explained to her what her job duty was, too cute!

After Church we headed to Crackerbarrel for brunch where we played Checkers outside while waiting for 35 mins..

We didn't finish our game... Some little boys walked up and were really excited when they saw the game so we got up and let them play

Any my beautiful flowers! Brian knows I'm not big on flowers but every once in a while esp V-Day its necessary! He got me 6 tiger striped pink roses! There still sitting in front of me as I type this post!

It was a great first valentine's Day as an engaged couple! We'll have 1 more next year then we'll be a married couple!

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a fun/safe night last night doing whatever you may of done..

I did not spend the night out partying, clinking wine glasses, or around a big chaotic group!

I spent my night with the love of my life, Brian. We talked, looked at our calendars for the year to come, worked on our scrapbook, enjoyed a nice dinner with his parents and some of their closest friends, and watched the ball drop on TV.....
And I wouldn't of had it any other way!
People kept asking yall are going out, aren't going downtown.. Nope not this year, we've done it for years in the past and it cost so much $$$$!

Overall 2009 was a great year besides my health!

I look forward to 2010 and making myself a better friend, girlfriend, daughter, sister, bible study teacher, student, and lover of God

More to post later on what I want to "change/work on" in 2010

off to clean and start the new year off fresh!

Christmas Celebrations

Christmas Week:

Monday: Gift exchange with one of my best friends, Megan

Wed: Dinner and gift's @ Brian's Dad's house

Brian's step mom, Michelle was so excited for us to eat as a family at her dinning table, there has been a pool table there for the past XX years!

The kids: Tracy, Matt, Mason, Brian, and me!

They know me too well, a pink Astros koozie!

Thursday Morning- Christmas Eve: Breakfast @ Avalon with Brian

I gave Brian the system in my car, I've had it since I was 17 and don't use it anymore.... Out grew that stage real quick, ha!

Thursday: Christmas Eve Service @ Second
With my bestie Bekah!

My cousins after service (only a few out of the 18 of there is)

My fam after Church and Dinner! Ready to open all those presents!

Laila in her Santa outfit

Gracie in her Elf outfit

Brian digging through all his presents, trying to find # 1 to open! Yes we go in # order, ha!

My bubba with his pink Burberry shirt I got him!

LOVE this Vera Bradley print, my mom went a little over board, ha!

Can't wait to see what reciepe Brian uses from his Fish Cook Book!

So excited about this Cross for my future place!

Friday: Christmas Day!

My bestest and I Christmas morning!

Christmas @ Brian's mom's! She finally got a CHI!

The table set @ Auntie Cousin Joy's House

Mom and I @ Joy's

My mama and pops being silly in the kitchen at Joys!

Please say a prayer for my family, my dad's cousin Joy (who is my ideal, one of my most favorite people in the world, the family member I spend every Holiday with) is in bed loosing her life to ALS.. Please pray for her to just be comfortable and pain free on her last few days... Christmas at her house was very hard for me. My mom called me on the way to prepare me for what condition she was in, but I guess I didn't prepare myself enough, I just fell to pieces.....

Other than that I had a wonderful Christmas and I hope all of you did as well

Be looking for my "Future Tree" and 2010 Traditions posts!

Thanksgiving/Lately in Pics

On Wednesdays before bible study I take the boys to the gym to play dodge ball for an hour, gotta get some energy out before more learning, ha!

My 3rd grade Bible Study class! Great kids!


On Thursdays I volunteer at the Children Museum for the under privileged kids that come and play :)

My daddy and his cousin Joy on Thanksgiving, please say a prayer for her, she is battling with ALS

Thanksgiving morning Brian and I headed up to Arlington, Texas with his Dad, Step Mom Michelle, and 2 brothers Matt and Mason to spend Thanksgiving with Michelle's family, this was my first time to meet them in the almost 3 years I've known the fam and it was such an honor. They welcomed me like their own!

Matt, Me, Mason, and My Love!!! The future brother in laws, love them!!!

Friday AM Michelle introduced me to Nordstom rack, umm HEAVEN in my eyes, We are getting one here in Houston in the Spring of 2010.. I called my mom and said umm were in trouble when it opens, ha!

Brian and Mason with their Marc Jacobs and Prada's.. No they didn't buy them, ha!

After shopping I went to meet my mom, her 2 sisters, and 3 of my cousins for lunch at Olive Garden,my mom flew in Fri Am to stay with her sister and rode back with Brian and I on Sunday :) She needed a mini vacay! thanks Aunt Diane for entertaining her :)

After dinner Fri night we headed to a light show in the park, they told us to keep driving no stopping, but of course I broke the rules and had matt take a pic of the bf and I!

My FAV part was DEF the 12 days of Christmas set up!

My love and I in the back of the truck, my leggings are kinda see threw, eek!

Friday around 10 we headed to McKinney approx an hour and 20 mins away.. We couldn't wait to see the Jones.. We went to bed around 1230, the second we heard their voices downstairs around 7 we jumped up and went down there!

Wyatt and I in the theater room playing WII, it was a long day...

Fynn has learned to ride his bike since we were last there, he rode for 2 hours the day before... The second he got on he stopped and said ouch my butt hurts, ha!



At night we headed to McKinney square to see Santa and have dinner, so much fun!
Wyatt walked up and grabbed my hand to walk with me, I had to get a pic of course!

Brian and I on the Sleigh

And now for the PICTURE of the weekend.. Our Santa pic!!!! These are 3 of my all time FAV people in the world!!!!


I hope everyone had as wonderful of a Thanksgiving as we did.. I've enjoyed reading all your post and seeing all your pics this week

I promise I'll blog more....