Last Blog of 2017

It's crazy how fast this year has flown by. The saying that "time flies when you're having fun" is something I can stand behind this year. My 2016 was awesome. I've seen a lot of stuff on my newsfeed lately from friends and family posting about how they are glad 2016 is over, and how 2016 sucked, and how 2016 was a horrible year, and blah blah blah blah blah. Come on, folks! Do we really need ANY more negativity in our lives? My 2016 wasn't perfect. There's a lot of things I wish I would have done more of like spend less time on school and more time with my kids. Or go out of my way more to see friends. But that didn't happen, and I am ok with that. Here is a look back at all the wonderful things that our family did in 2016.

In January, Dannika had a random act of kindness project do for school.

She chose to take hot coffee to our local police department on a chilly, rainy day.

In February, Dannika and Nick went to their very first daddy/daughter dance.

March was exciting!

Our family went to Nashville to meet the newest member of our family, my niece Lulu (short of Lucia).

I celebrated turning 32 and fab...

And a birthday present from my hubby to me!

In April...

Dannika got to model and be part of a really cool ad campaign for the Texas A&M foundation.

Her photo made the cut, and can be seen on their website right here. 

We celebrated easter with a HUGE cul de sac Easter egg hunt!

In May, Nick and I celebrated 8 years of marriage!

In June, Dannika had her 7th birthday party!

A pedicure party with all of her friends!

In July...

Dannika went to summer camp for the first time at Camp Carolina Creek!

But most importantly...

This guy won yard of the month! lol

August was another fun month!

We went to the lake house on Lake Conroe with our next door neighbors and met up with a friend we hadn't seen in over five years!

This sweet girl started second grade!

And this big boy turned THREE!

September kicked off Aggie football season!

Lots of tailgates and football games!

We celebrated the Marine Corps' birthday in October!

 

In November, Nick got his Aggie ring and dunked it at Chicken!

And this month, we celebrated the birth of our Savior with our entire family in Houston!

 

I don't know about you, but our 2016 was pretty awesome.

If you really had a horrible 2016, the I wish you nothing great blessings for the new year.

I pray that your 2017 is your silver lining year, and that your year is amazing.

If you had an amazing 2016 like us, I pray that your 2017 will top it!

Happy last day of 2016, everyone!

See y'all next year!

Just Another Christmas Blog

Is it just me, or does it seem weird that Christmas is already over?! I spent so much time preparing and shopping, and it is over in a day. Part of me is relieved it is over, and the other part of me is a little sad. Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love all the fun traditions and the magic that it brings to our family. I am a lover of gift giving (more so than receiving), and I love giving gifts to people I love. On the other hand, Christmas drains my bank account like no other, the decorations have to eventually come down, and my kids have no concept of time or a schedule. All good things have their downfalls, and all good things must come to an end!
Our family had an amazing Christmas with my family in Houston. It was filled with lots of laughs, fun times, and family.

Here is our recap!

In keeping with our family tradition, Santa always gets almond milk in a 1st Marine division glass with some homemade cookies!

Headed to Gigi and Papa's house!

We made it! 

I love Mattis' pose in this photo!

Houston has such amazing restaurants, it's hard to choose which one to go to when we are in town.

I asked my mom to take us to the dumpling house.

It never disappoints!

Selfie with my sweet niece Lulu.

Nick, my brother in law, my little sister, and me took all the kids to the trampoline park in Christmas eve to jump

It was SO fun!

So much fun that we ended up going on Christmas day too!

One of my favorite things about going to mom's house is her Korean cooking!

Samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), daejibulgogi (spicy pork bulgogi), kimchi, and all the sides!

YUM!

After dinner, Nick's friend Tom came to visit to hang out, drink beer, and chit chat.

Nick and Tom served in the Marine Corps together many moons ago in Iraq.

All my parents lovely grandkids in one shot.

This is the best we could get...lol

My whole fam!

He's the only grandson, so he gets special treatment...lol

When your super Asian family still does not get the difference between all the different branches of service, and they buy your son an Army toy #armystrong?

The beautiful women of my family

The entire clan

Funny story...

After Christmas dinner, some of my uncles, aunts, and cousins wanted to go to a Korean karaoke bar.

Does it get any more Asian than that? 

If you've never been to a Korean karaoke bar, it is truly an experience.

My Uncle got us a private room for our family.

I think Nick was shocked by it all at first, but he started to warm up and have fun.

He sang some Metallica, MC Hammer, Journey...you know...all the Karaoke classics.

The cousins!

And one last selfie of my niece and me!

Christmas was so fun!

Getting to spend time with my nieces, eat good food, laugh with family, and just hang out with people we only get to see once or twice a year was amazing.

I couldn't have asked for a better way to end to year.

On to New Years!

That Time I Finally Had Time

And God said, "Let there be LIGHT!" 

Genesis 1:3

And the Lord provideth light to my life this Wednesday when I took my very last final of fall semester....

This was me Tuesday....
Studying my little heart out at my favorite spot, Tea 2 Go.

 And here's my beautiful mug at 7AM Wednesday heading to my last final!
I was so excited to get it done and over with!

I passed all my classes (3 A's and a B...thanks Dr. Burk for that B).

I was actually extremely happy about my B.

I took a military war & society class this semester, and it was tough!

It was a straight hour and half of pure lecture, no powerpoint, 5 textbooks (TONS OF READING), and absolutely no sort of review or bullets for the exams.

I went into this class so clueless and with the mindset that I was doomed for failure.

I just wanted to get out of the class alive and with a passing grade, so finding out I made a B was celebratory!

 chilled pinot to celebrate the end of a semester!

 

Now I have so much time on my hands that I don't know what to do with myself.

In fact, the last two days, I have shopped my little heart out.

I did tell Nick not to get me anything for Christmas...

I backed into his truck a few weeks ago, and I said that the repair to the damage done to my car was what I wanted for Christmas.

So I am justifying my shopping by buying all kinds of useless crap for everyone.

I'm like Oprah...

"AND YOU GET A GIFT, AND YOU GET A GIFT, EVERYONE GETS A GIFT!"

via GIPHY

 I hope this amazing degree from Texas A&M lands me an 8 figure job.....

Leadership major....wishful thinking?

6 figure job?

FINE...I'll settle for whoever will let me come make their coffee, as long as they're nice to me.

So what have I been up to since my last final on Wednesday?

Here...I'll show you.

(they're also on my Instagram @domesticatedcombatboots)

I redid my centerpiece for our dining table....

I cooked a ridiculously easy meal for dinner, but decided to make it look fancy with "Sriracha art".

I'm practically a Michelin Star rated Chef at this point. 

I baked gingerbread men Sugar cookies with these two cuties...

We had a small gathering at our house on Sunday for some of our college kids and our nanny Rachel.

Our other nanny, Nicolette couldn't come, so her and her boyfriend came on Monday for dinner and gifts.

Her boyfriend likes whiskey, so we hooked him with a bottle (that I made festive by tying a candy cane on it with some burlap string), and we got her a giftcard and an ornament with her sorority letters painted on it.

The kids love them

I have taken D to school, and not felt rushed....

Car rider line pic.

Grumpy Mattis 😠

Nicolette got Mattis a gumball machine for Christmas.

He's been asking for one ALL semester.

Here he is sitting with his gumball machine and watching TV.....

Who's child is this?!

We have an annual family Christmas tradition where we get in our jammies, get Starbucks, and drive around town looking at Christmas lights.

I promised the kids after finals, we'd do all sorts of fun Christmas things.

So Wednesday night, we did lights!

A house in our neighborhood sets their lights to music, and it is our favorite lights spectacular!

This year, they did a special tribute to fallen service members.

I thought it was pretty special.

 The kids after our Christmas light sightseeing trip around town!

Mattis can be such a diva sometimes.... 😂

Apparently, the lights and his Starbucks "Al Pacino" (what he calls a frappucino) wore him out.

D went to a Christmas party at her friend's house this week and SANTA came!

Funny story...

Dannika asked Santa for an Elf on the Shelf (which I REFUSE to do), a Hatchimal (only possible if I sell my soul, win the lottery, or sell Mattis), and a dog (hell to the no the no, no, no).

Santa is going to have to disappoint little Dannika this year.

Because "Santa" is not getting her any of those three things.

Anyway,

I hope y'all are having an amazing holiday season!

If you're stressing out about family (like me), plans, and/or gifts...take a deep breath!

Make Christmas about the people you love.

It's only once a year, and after the gifts have been opened and family is gone, you're still the awesome person you were before the holidays.

We are children of the Risen King who was born on Christmas Day!

There is no better gift than Him!