Operation Christmas Child

Have you ever heard of Operation Christmas Child?

Years ago my church did this. You take a shoe box and fill it with toys, school supplies, and fun stuff for children in need around the world. 

I was SO EXCITED to find out that our new church is one of the collection spots for them this year!

Michael and I packed 4 boxes. I wish I could have done a hundred! I LOVE packing boxes for these kids. I just imagine them opening the boxes and being so excited, like how I felt as a kid with my stocking. Only even more so, cause these kids are living in poverty, some have no family and are in orphanages, some have never had christmas gifts before at all. It breaks my heart. Thats why we filled these boxes. 

I shopped for weeks trying to find things that fit, and were fun. I think we did pretty good. I wanted to add so much more, but a shoe box can only fit so much. We added a little note in each box telling each one of these precious little children how much they are loved and how we hope they like their new things.

You choose a sex, age (2-4, 5-9, 10-14) and pack away! We did one boy and three girl boxes. 

Boy 10-14 I couldn't fit the spirograph but added a flashlight 

Girl 2-4, the SOFT Minnie Mouse jingled and there was a super
cute little Frozen purse, Arial sunglasses and Classic Disney Picture book

Girl 10-14, Pretty writing pencils/ journal, color pencils and sketch pad,
 hair ties and brushes, and some games, and a hand powered flashlight

Girl 5-9, Games, pencils, coloring things, some sparkly hair things,
non battery flashlight and a cool Disney Princess magnetic paper doll kit. 

Four finished boxes ready to ship

I have not felt so excited about a Christmas gift in a LONG time. 

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

They accept donations to create and ship boxes to children all OVER the world. 

Merry Christmas :)

BEST HUSBAND EVER AGAIN!!!

After Cheesecake Factory we came home and I got to open my last gift. Michael was super sneaky and had it mailed to our friends house so I wouldn't even know it existed! Sneaky Clapper!!!!
I opened it and GUESS WHAT?????? It was that pair of Disney Princess Running Shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!

They only sell these at Disney Running Expo events at Disney World or Disney Land and only (as far as I know) only 2 weekends a year! They are SUPER limited editions by New Balance. They are even more beautiful in person than they were online! Mikey found them on Ebay and got a KILLER deal on them. (I was so proud of his shopping prowess)

I grabbed a pair of Mikes socks cause they were closest to me
and I HAD to try them on RIGHT THAT SECOND!

They are super sparkly, there are silver threads IN the mesh of the shoe

Found this of Pinterest. It shows the special features of my shoes. 

I wore them at the gym the next morning

I won't wear them Outside, INSIDE ONLY

See, I'm using them!

Birthday Dinner

Michael had worked for about 10 hours straight and when he was able to take a break we went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. I split a piece of low carb cheesecake (shockingly good!) after eating a delicious salad. 

Lovely Day!

The 11th of November 2014 was spent relaxing and having fun with my Mommy and Penny. Michael was sequestered in the office writing a 10 page paper and preping for a class presentation. 

My two best girls

we watched some I Love Lucy (my favorite)
I was showing off my new sparkly red pedicure.

Lunch at a cute new place

its a bakery too and the salad was Devine

And OF COURSE TEA!!!

Birthday Tacos

Since I was a little girl, on my birthday my mom would ask me what I wanted to eat on my birthday. I ALWAYS said tacos. I LOVE my moms tacos for breakfast. Its my favorite meal. So on my birthday I always have moms tacos. This year getting a surprise visit from mom for my birthday made it possible! 

THESE ARE BIRTHDAY TACOS!

Birthday Tacos

Mommy made Peppermint Mocha 

After Birthday Tacos :-P yummmmy

Welcome Grandmommy!

I have the best family EVER!

As we were leaving Williamsburg Michael told me that we were going to stop at the airport on the way home to Richmond. I asked why, he said, "To go pick up your mom."
I about FAINTED! then I cried! I was so excited. Michael and his parents surprised me with a wholly unexpected week long visit from my MOMMY!!!!! 

Penny was also very excited to see her Grandmommy again. There best palls. 

Sitting by the fire

For dinner we tried to go to the Lodge's Restaurant but it was doing their weekly Fish night and so, not eating fish, we went over to the bar/lounge area and had a lovely dinner by the fire. It was a ROARING HUGE fire. the hearth was like 6 feet tall and just blazed all night. We enjoyed it so much we went back the next night. The fire was just as large and this night there was a great singer/guitar player there. She was good and took requests. She played popular songs, since they were requests and everyone knew the words. It was really relaxing and fun. 

I made him wear his hat again :)

Being a "revolutionary" young man, wearing his
three corner hat backwards lol

Williamsburg Lodge

For my pre-birthday weekend Michael took me to Historic Williamsburg. This time we stayed at the Lodge. It was really nice! Super cute. Our room was cozy and had a little deck off the back for morning coffee. 

Penny's birthday present from Nana

Grain of birthday rice on her nose.

Happy Birthday Penny!

Penny's birthday dinner

Since Penny has been sick her vet had her on a bland diet of rice and boiled chicken. But the doctor also said she could have one night of rice and lean beef so for her birthday I baked her a "bone" out of beef and laid it over her cup of rice.

Game 2

Not Club level tonight, but still great seats!

It was so loud! The crowd was really having fun.  (at first)

It was still warm, crowded, and they still thought they could win, poor folks. 

Yes, that is THE Hunter Pence, so close I could almost touch him!

giants fans

Grandmommy sent penny her FAVORITE ball toy

Michael gave me a new shirt with the Golden Gate and SF Giants logo :)

I matched my nails to my Giants for the World Series

Vistory Pudding

Sick puppy

Poor Penny. She has not been feeling well. Tonight we finally had to take her to the emergency vet. She started throwing up ect... LITERALLY 10 minutes after the regular vet closed for the weekend.