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Monday, January 31, 2011

Parent albums

My wedding photo package didn't come with a parent album, so I decided to create one.  It took some prodding but I was finally able to get a list of pictures from my mom.  Last time I used Shutterfly to create our engagement photo book, which we used as a signing book at our wedding and also as wedding gifts for our parents.  This time I decided to try out Mixbook.  I haven't seen the physical product yet as I just ordered them today, but I loved the site and selections!  I will definitely use Mixbook again.

Here's the album I created for my parents.  click

I then took this album and tweaked it for my mother-in-law.  click

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Tripod for my camera!

Everyone knows I LOVE taking pictures.  In fact, I have honed and perfected my 'taking one handed self portrait photo' skills.  ;)  However this Christmas I found in my stocking a pocket size universal tripod for my elph!!!  I tried it out for the first time tonight, LUV it!  The bendy legs are awesome.  I can't wait to try and wrap it around a tree branch or something.


Look!  No hands!  :)

He shaved off the goatee!

Yup that's right, there hasn't been much going on at our household the past couple of weeks...so I guess to change things up the hubby shaved off his whiskers!  He looks so young now, a young 40 year old.  :)  He assures me that it will grow back in time for maternity pictures, I like my man with facial hair!

He shaved off the goatee! - 1/16/2011 (camera phone quality)

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Welcome 2011!

2010 was an awesome year!  Malek and I drove to SA for the Alamo Bowl (MSU vs Texas Tech) in Jan, my brother was married in Feb, Malek and I were married in March and I received a new job/promotion at work, in April we sold my house and bought a new house together in Pflugerville, we ran the Deutschen Pfest 5K together as a family in May, went on a family camping trip (w/ the kids and my parents) to Pokagon camp grounds and Michigan in June, threw our housewarming party in July, finished my 101 in August and found out I'm pregnant, went to the Body Exhibit in Sept, had our annual Halloween Spooktacular in October, took Malek and the kids to the Renaissance festival (their 1st time) in Nov, and had our entire family in town for the holidays - not to mention finished many home improvement projects and worked on the nursery.  Malek turned 40 this Dec and we rang in the new year with family and friends.

2010 is the last year in which I will simply be known as Christina (or Tina), 2011 brings with it a new name and identity - one which I will keep for the rest of my life, regardless of the path my journey takes...Mother!

Now it's onto an even more exciting year and a new chapter in our lives, hello 2011!  We are anxiously awaiting the birth of our son, Ryland Carter Malek, in April and my parents will move to TX by the end of the year.  I think this year my new years resolution will be to try and let go of my expectations.  I know with a new baby in our lives that my house will not always be clean, things will not always go my way nor will I get to do all the things I want.  There will be times I'll be overwhelmed and many sleepless nights.  God grant me patience, for I know I need more than I have and I will be tested.  I will have my failures and successes and many lessons learned; but it will all be worth it for there will be a whole new take on wonder, a whole new meaning of love and an amazing future to experience with my family.


Home Projects

Over the holidays and while my parents were here we finished off quite a few home projects!

Malek finally hung the new mirror in our bedroom (we've only had it over a month!).  Luv it!


And this is a picture of my new jewelry armoire (just wanted to show if off).  Still need to xfer over all my jewelry.



We (as in my dad and Malek) hung curtains in the nursery and put together the crib.  Malek and I painted the room.



Everyone (but me) helped install new cabinet hardware in the kitchen.  I supervised watched.  :D I'm loving the new look, very sleek!




And today I started painting Emma's old chest espresso to put in the nursery (WIP).


Holiday Recap

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas/Holiday vacation and New Years Eve!

We had a wonderful 2 weeks here at the Malek household. 

My brother and sister-in-law arrived Monday evening (12/20) just in time for dinner.  We took them to our favorite pizza place, Maggiores, for football, beer and pizza!  They also brought their puppy Bowser, Josie and Bowser became fast friends and played/cuddled together throughout their stay.  My parents arrived the next evening and we celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary at home with steaks, potatoes, salad and our family cheese torte (cheesecake) which I had made the day before.  The next day we baked our traditional Christmas cookies, watched movies, wrapped gifts and enjoyed chicken and dumplings for dinner.  Thursday we drove to Copperas Cove to visit my grandmother on my dad's side.  We managed to take a nice family picture of all of us!  It was the first time we'd all been in town in over 5 years. 

 










Finally Christmas Eve had arrived!  It was a nasty, wet, rainy, cold day but we didn't let it spoil our mood.   Steve and lil' C made sugar cookies, we watched Funny Farm, had a nice standing rib roast for dinner and then went to the midnight candlelight service at our church.  After church we came back home and warmed ourselves up in front of the fireplace, enjoyed some eggnog and each opened one gift.  I think we were up until 1:30am!  Christmas morning we were awake by 8am and ready to dive into the presents.  After the gift unwrapping frenzy it was 11am and everyone was ravenous, time for our traditional breakfast of eggs Benedict!  I ate 3 of them myself.  :D  I managed to fit in a quick workout later that day before making jambalaya for dinner and watching The A Team.

 



Sunday the kids arrived and we opened gifts with them before Malek's family showed up for the Malek family Christmas.  We hosted this year and grilled chicken, ribs, sausage and veggies.  Steve and lil C left Monday morning for home and I went to San Antonio with my parents to meet up with some old family friends for lunch. The next day mom and I ran some errands and went to buybuy BABY to register!  I was like a kid in a candy store scanning items onto the registry, I had so much fun!  I think the hubby was happy to get out of that activity.  :P  Wednesday marked Malek's 40th birthday!  We made him breakfast, opened gifts and cards, took him to Chuy's for lunch and for dinner he requested my mom's schnitzel.  We followed it all up with an awesome cake from HEB.  Happy Birthday Hubby!







On Thursday mom and I ran yet more errands and went back to buybuy BABY and HomeGoods (I love that store, awesome home furnishings at an affordable price).  Dad and Malek stayed home to put the crib together and various other home projects.  Later that night I took down the Christmas tree and inside decor.  Finally New Years Eve had arrived!  My parents went back to Copperas Cove for the day while Malek and I stayed home, cleaned house and prepared for our NYE/40th birthday party.  We had a wonderful time with family and friends ringing in the new year.  Hello 2011!  New Years day we hung around the house and recovered, we finished a couple home projects (easy stuff) and then took my parents out to dinner at Maggiores.  I also found a great deal on craigslist for a glider and ottoman for the nursery, which we picked up after dinner.  Oh and can't forget we each had a spoonful of black-eyed peas for good luck.  Mom and Dad left early Sunday morning (1/2).  The house is very quiet, which feels strange.  But I know that won't last long as our baby will be here in 3 months!

How things have changed; last year mom and I were working on wedding stuff (dresses, invitations, etc)...this time it was baby stuff (registering, nursery, etc)!  :D

Here's to a wonderful New Year!