Friday Favorites-12.8.23

Happy, Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope you’re having a great December so far! Andrea and I are here with our Friday FAVORITES from the week! As always, we’d love for you to join us!

Don’t mind all the folded clean laundry just waiting for its’ owners to put it away. ;). Britt started something new last weekend…she’s playing basketball this winter! She had her first game and it was absolutely adorable. Not only is her outfit my FAVORITE but seeing her do something she enjoys is as well. {Bowen’s also playing basketball this winter for the first time in YEARS! But he wasn’t as eager to pose for a pic.}

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Another FAVORITE? My guy home on a December weekend! Our crew {minus EL, she had plans} went to Britt’s basketball game and then met friends at The Star for the tree lighting and dinner.

We even popped into the ice cream shop for dessert. PERFECT kind of night!

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Did you see our new “front room”? That room is finally finished and one of my FAVORITES…

You can see it all here!

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I can’t even believe I’m saying this but my most picky kid EVER asked for Salmon Bowls this week for dinner. It’s a family FAVORITE! I add a variety of things as sides they can use in their bowls…cucumbers, red onion, broccoli, avocados, edamame, etc. This probably doesn’t scream winter recipe but it’s a tried and true in my kitchen. I know I’ve shared this before but if you’re like me with all the extra things we have going on this month, I’ve been a bit behind on my meal planning! Make this one!

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On the subject of FAVORITES…for years and years Tab and I loaded up all the gifts {from Santa and from us}, drove to Missouri and spent a big part of our Christmas holiday visiting with family there. I cherished my memories growing up where we’d all meet at my grandparents’ house full of cousins, aunts and uncles to spend the day together. I wanted that for my kids and we just don’t have that much family here locally. In 2016, after lugging all our gifts up to Missouri and back, Tab and I decided we were going to try staying in Texas the following year. Our kids were getting older and we wanted them to have special memories of being in their own house on Christmas morning. But we decided we wanted to start some sort of new tradition here in Texas they’d get excited about each year. So we did just that. On Christmas Eve, we typically attend a service and then {in our fancy clothes} head to a really nice steak house in Dallas. We’ve included Gary and Marla each year and it’s become this sweet tradition of all of us attending a service together and then dining out. When I ask my kids their favorite tradition, they all name this night. I’m telling you this to say that you might be celebrating differently this year. You might be missing people at your table. You might have to work. I’m not sure what the case may be, but you can create a new tradition and make it very special. It doesn’t have to be a nice steakhouse dinner. It can be games around the table with takeout. It can be homemade pizzas in matching pajamas. Tab and I have always made this sound extra special to our kids so they’ve taken that to heart. This year will look a little different for us. Tab has a football game on Christmas Eve so we’re tweaking our fancy night out a bit and celebrating early. Just wanted to let you know it’s never too late to start a special tradition with your people.

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Tomorrow might be the most packed holiday Saturday of the season! Anyone else feel that way? We have two basketball games, a cheer competition, a baseball Christmas party, a parade of lights, AND I have a feeling I’m missing something. Let’s make this weekend as MERRY as possible! See you back here on Wednesday!

XO