What Girls Like

We are pretty sports-centered in our house, but never fear, there is plenty of girliness too! 

So what do girls like to do?  They love to dress up!

Cami styled herself the other day--I chose the outfit, but then she accessorized with non-matching socks, too pink-shoes, and then added a bracelet and sunglasses.  Too funny!  I took her to Gigi's to play...but that's as far as we got with her looking like this.

Girls also like to look cute for dance class.  Mandy and I bought these dance outfits for the girls for Christmas.  Glittery sparkles.  I love it.

Girls also like dates with cute boys!  Cami and Nash were the cutest ever at dinner on Friday night.  They held hands and then danced to the music together.  So adorable, we could hardly stand it.

And finally, after playing a tough soccer game, the girl on the left loves getting her hair, make-up and nails done for a friend's birthday party.  It was a fun weekend, full of all our favorite things.

Sip and See for Mandy

We started things off right for 2016 with a party welcoming the newest addition to the Shubzda family.  They had their third baby a few days after Thanksgiving and everyone was overjoyed to find out it was a boy!  Mandy and Tim already have two precious girls, so they were due for a boy this time.

Lindsey and I hosted a Sip and See for everyone to come meet Baby Matthew.

We let the big girls come, too, and Lila was thrilled to see sweet baby Matthew again.

He is such a handsome little guy!

We rounded up the girls before they went wild and ran outside.  So many people think that it's only little boys who are crazy, but these girlies can be just as nutty as any boys I know!  They had a blast running and swinging and jumping outside.

Since the shower was mid-afternoon, we served fruit, hot appetizers and some yummy dips.  I simply had to find some good dessert, too, and finally succeeded with these cupcakes.  Who knew so many bakeries closed down way after the holidays?!  Not me.



Lindsey found some cute décor, too, including these signs and pretty hydrangeas.

We also decorated with framed pics of the precious newborn and a few boy onesies. 
Simple, but cute, was our goal:)

Four of the Yayas were there, including Shelley, Barb and my mom.  Matthew liked them immediately.

Our Garland roots run deep!  Mandy, Chrissie and I went to GHS, along with Taylor, who was also there.  DeLayne went to Naaman HS, and Hillary and Courtney went to Rowlett HS.  G-town!



While the big girls chatted, the little girls made time to sign Matthew's frame.  Maddie wrote, "Baby Matthew, you are such a handsome little boy."  I hope it's a treasure for years to come for Mandy and Tim.



Mandy opened her gifts and liked the black outfit I got Matthew. 
It says, "I Like Girls with Big Bows."  Perfect for him, I thought!

All the Yayas and their girls.  It's always so fun seeing this group.

Before the party was over, Lila and Madison got to hold Matthew.  Lila was in heaven.

What a great group of ladies.  We so enjoyed welcoming Baby Matthew into the crazy chaos of our group.  Love y'all, Shubzda family!

Happy New Year!

 Family party!  A different kind of New Years, but just as great!  Our family and the Pointers went over to the Rachavong's house to ring in the new year.  Hayley made a fabulous beef tenderloin and we feasted like kings.  It was such a great night--no crowds, no big cover charges, no set menus, no obnoxious people.  Perfect!

Lila, Teagan and Maddie opted for pizza, along with the other kids:)

My fancy girly--so happy in her new polka dot skirt and matching top.  Thanks, Leslie and Glenda!

It was a great night for the big boys...

the Mamacitas...

and our wacky 8 kids!  Happy 2016!

The next day we kept the good times rolling by introducing the kids to the Best Burger in Dallas at Twisted Root.  Soooo good!

The burgers were a hit, and so were the shakes afterwards.

That afternoon we made a fire outside and watched some college football.  Maddie and I decided that we are bringing back big bows for her in 2016.  Love my Maddie Mae!

On New Years night, we went to dinner at Memaw and Poppi's house.  Cami loves running around their house and especially enjoys playing with Petey the cat.  She got a little scared of him, though, but Madison was there to pick her up.  These two girls LOVE each other so much. 
Makes my heart happy.

While the boys were busy watching more football with Poppi, the three girls were busy perfecting their drawing skills with Memaw.  It took me half an hour to tear them away from this activity.  If it hadn't of been 9pm, I'd of let them draw all night.  They planned a sleepover with Memaw, though, and are looking forward to it for sure.

Cheers!

Family Photo Shoot by Megan Williams

I love Megan Williams!  My family loved taking pictures with her.  That's amazing!  Never have we done a photo shoot with all 5 of us, where we walked away afterwards with everyone in a good mood and my sanity.  It's simply unheard of!  Kudos to Megan for making it painless.  Shoot, it was actually a pretty enjoyable hour of walking around Arbor Hills Nature Preserve.

 

I had waited really late to contact Megan about doing photos for our family this fall.  By the time I did, she was booked solid for the second half of October and all of November.  She said that we could be her very last photo shoot of the season on December 5th.  I crossed my fingers that it wouldn't be 30 degrees and sleeting that day and said okay.   Sure enough, the weather was perfect!  We met her at 4:00 so we were able to capture the sun setting over the park.  Fantastic!

After a couple of family photos, she wanted to snap the kids by themselves. 
Jackson went first--an old pro at this.  He flashed his smile and won her over immediately.

Miss Lila was up next.  She and I both were so happy to curl her pretty long hair this year. 
She looks so much older than last year, and I think that's why.

And speaking of older, this little one has changed the most--by far! 
She couldn't even walk at last year's family photos!

Megan was so sweet that Cami even let me set her down and walk behind the camera. My big girl!

We moved on over to another field where the light was shining through nicely.  Cami insisted on sitting on my leg instead of standing.  Goose.

We convinced her to sit on her daddy's lap for a second so that her bow wasn't covering half of my face.

We took some candids...

even squeezing in a picture of just us two!

This was one of my favorites:) 

I love this in black and white...

and color, too.  They have such joy on their faces!

Mama and her monkeys--at least they are sweet monkeys:)

These three really do light up my world.

Daddy and the kiddos--they have LOVED having him at home more during the Christmas break.  Me too.

One of my favorites of Cameron.  Her cheeks are just so kissable! 
No wonder I smooch them 55 times a day.

Almost 9, 23 months, and 5 years old.  The littlest thinks she's as big as the others!

Rico Suave!

We ended the session by snapping a few on this red and white blanket.  I'm so glad we did, because they turned out to be some of my faves.

I love this one!

And this one, too!  They love their Bubba--here's proof!

Me and my girls.

Our handsome boys.  I bet next year Jackson will be up to his daddy's shoulders.  Oh my!

I couldn't love any four people more than I love this group.  We had a great time together this holiday season, mixing in plenty of family time and also quality time with friends.  Just how I like it!  2015 was one for the books, but we are ready for new adventures in 2016!