it's the most wonderful time of the year.

no school for two weeks!

more time to play outside.

bake cookies. (weird, i know. but i promise to try.)

celebrate the holidays.
by holidays, i mean HOLIDAYS:
christmas,
court's birthday,
our anniversary,
my birthday,
and new years.

get some rest. (see above)

spend time with friends & family. but only if we can: (see below)

get healthy. it's been one thing after another for the kids.

take more pictures. i haven't taken enough pictures lately.






court celebrated her 5th birthday just a bit early with her class last week.
it's kind of a big deal, you know...
bringing your mom.
being the helper.
wearing a crown.
she's pretty good at being the birthday girl.
can't wait for the real thing.
i've had the song picked out for her video for weeks...




she has an extremely strong fashion sense.

(when i say extremely, i mean EXTREMELY. when i say sense, i mean "sense".)
i do love this outfit, though.
most mornings, it takes everything in me to not pick wardrobe fights.
or put a padlock on her dresser drawer.
i want her to feel like she can be who she is. and love it.
i'm so grateful that she's pretty good at that already.