a great bottle.

Will and I enjoy a good bottle of wine occasionally. We are so excited to now have our very own wine cooler to expand our collection ( and by collection I mean 12 bottles max). For Will's birthday, my sweet parents gave him a "starter kit" of wines that are tasty and affordable. Thus far, we LOVE this 2006 Napa Landing Cabarnet.

You can buy it here for a measly $10.00/bottle. What a steal!!
The night before we tried Napa Landing, we enjoyed a bottle with my parents that shouldn't even share the same sentence with our bottle, but guess what? We liked ours better. :)

SO, enjoy.

Hope your glass is full this weekend!

p.s. Here is my little bundle of joy on this cold, wet day.

please don't take my sunshine away...

{courtesy of}

inspire

happy tuesday!


sweet blue




sweet blue

the muffin man

If you have spent any length of time around Ben and I, you have probably picked up on the fact that I love to sing to my child. Sometimes they are familiar little ditties that everyone sings to their children at some point. Other times songs will fall from heaven straight into my mouth.
Really, it is no surprise that I like to sing. My mother likes to make up silly songs. She sings while she cooks, walks, drives, even while she's on the phone with you. Joyful girl. Not only does she like to sing, she is a concert rat. That sounds so negative, cause rats are disgusting, but you get the picture. She saw Paul McCartney like 4 times in a one year period. She will pick up and go to a concert or go see live music with the drop of hat.
Well, when I was a little 4 year old in pre-school I made up a song called "The Muffin Man." You know how it goes...
Oh, do you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Oh, do you know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane?


Catchy huh?

Turns out I was not the master-mind behind this silly song. And I do remember that upon learning this fact from a fellow classmate, I was devastated. It was like finding out that Santa Clause doesn't exist.

But, the world had not heard the last of me. Since then, I have come up with many songs, nicknames, and even voices for the dogs that are all my own. :)

Here are a few songs in my rotation that Ben likes (some original, others not).

1. His first little hum when he was just a little tiny was
"Hoo Hoo Hoo.
Ha ha Ha.
Hoo Hoo
Ha ha ha.
Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo
ha ha ha
Hoo Hoo ha ha ha. and so forth. (sung in the tone of the song from Wizard of Oz when she enters the Emerald City).


2.Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, again I say Rejoice
Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, again I say Rejoice
Rejoice, Rejoice, and again I say REJOICE.

Every once in a while I will add: Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say Rejoice KICK KICK.

3. Good Morning, Good Morning, Good Morning Baby Ben.
Good Morning, Good Morning!
I love you now and then.
Good Morning Bear, Good Morning Giraffe, Good Morning Doggie, Good Morning Monkey.

4. You are my sunshine
You are my sunshine
You make me happy, when skies are grey.
You'll never know dear, how much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

5. Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.

6. I like to wiggle.
I like to giggle.
I like to STOP and dance real slow.
I like wiggle.
I like to giggle.
I like to sing and do a roll.
I like to wiggle.
I like to giggle.
I like to STOP and touch my toes.
I like to wiggle
I like to giggle.
Mama's got my nose.

7. Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

This is his bedtime song.

8.Splish splish, I was takin' a bath
Long about a Saturday night
A rub-a-dub, just relaxin' in the tub
Thinkin' everything was alright
Well, I stepped out the tub, put my feet on the floor
I wrapped the towel around me and I
Opened the door, and then I
Splish, splash... I jumped back in the bath.
Well how was I to know there was a party going on?


They was a-splishin' and a'splashin'
Reelin' with the feelin', movin' and a'groovin'
Rockin' and a'rollin', yeah

9. Swing Me Swing Me
Everybody Everywhere
Swing Me Swing ME
Swing Me like I just don't care


10. Kick Kick
Kick Kick
1-2-3
Kick Kick. Kick Kick
You and Me
We Kick
Like this
1-2-3
Kick Kick Kick Kick
You and Meeee!!

11. Water Water Everywhere
Water Here and Water there.
Water all up in my room
Water in the month of June.

12-50 will have to come at a later time :)
Hope everyone had a fantastic Monday!

isn't it funny?

I was thinking the other day while showing homes with Deborah how coincidental and strange it is how people are connected. It amazes me that the places you shop, the food you like, the neighborhood you choose to live in, all can determine the people you are connected with, and potentially your future friends. I was thinking about my neighbors the other day after having stopped and talked to many of them on one of my daily walks with Ben. I just thought to myself how incredible it is for all these awesome people to be living within a one mile radius. It actually isn't fair to the rest of the population. I thought about it a little more, and realized that not everyone may agree that these are the perfect neighbors. We are all here because we like the neighborhood, location, jobs, schools, community, etc. These qualities brought us here and these qualities bind us. I love it!
And then I realized, I do not see my pediatrician, chiropractor, gynecologist, or dentist out and about. You know why? Because I do not run around in the same circles or go to the same places as these type of people. Their unique professions have taken them to other neighborhoods and grocery stores where assumably other doctors and dentist frequent. It's stereotyping I guess, but I like to think of it as a form of market research. I'll call it social research.

Here are some places I rendezvous around town:
For Grocery: HEB
For Pizza: Candelaris, Pepperoni's Delivery, Bolli Brothers
For Mexican: Lupe Tortilla, Escalantes, Berry Hill, Bob's Taco Station
For Shopping: Nordstrom, Katy Mills, but mostly internet
For Hair: De Vero Salon
For Massage/Facial: Spa at Cinco Ranch
For eyebrows: Sunny at Genesis Day Spa
For a workout: Lifetime
For a nice walk: South Lake Village
For my toddler: Little Gym, Stomping Grounds, Houston Swim Club
For a movie: Studio Movie Grill
For a date: Mockingbird Bistro
For a deal: Kohl's, Last Call
For a splurge: Whole Foods
For a cupcake: Ohh La La
For a coffee: Kosmos or Dunn Bros.
For toys: Learning Express
For something handmade: etsy.com
For Worship: Berachah Bible Church

For the kid, I prefer:
Pampers diapers
Enfamil formula
Earth's Best baby food
Dr. Brown's bottles

Speaking of the kid:
Ben took a half step on Thursday night while we were over at my grandparents house for dinner. He is able to stand up on his own for approximately 4.5 seconds, which is an eternity for a 10 month old. Today he took a couple steps from Will's arms to the couch! I am so proud.
Lately I have been working on Ben's little playroom and am also in the throws of planning his First Birthday Party. The theme is going to be the alphabet: B is for Ben. I am working on a special book recounting his first year, a birthday banner, and painted B letters for the party. That MAY be all I will be able to do from scratch. :)
For the playroom, I picked out this fabric. My grandmother and I are going to make some cute curtains and maybe some chair cushions with the fabric. I am so excited to be able to make something so special with her!

ben's first graduation

For the last four months, Bn and I have been going to the Little Gym in Katy for the Bugs class. It is so much fun for him and for me. During this time, Ben has gone from learning to sit up to now crawling, pulling up, and assisted walking. Not to mention whoop-dee-do's, crawling through tunnels, exploring the gym, bar raises. The second class we attended, we did an exercise called "pass the baby." Basically, you hand-off your child to 'strangers' who are probably a little nervous that they will be the one that makes your baby cry. Ben did NOT like this game in the beginning. He was one of four who cried. Well, I am happy to announce that today, as we wrapped up the semester and reviewed what we have learned and how the kiddos have progressed, Ben didn't cry. He may have not been thrilled by looking at some unfamiliar faces, but he didn't cry. He has surely progressed since we've started. I am so thankful for this time that we get to spend together. I am one proud mama today. :)

and here's my beach boy from our vacation to Cayman...

Our first Christmas with Ben Levi

On Christmas Eve, my sister in law, Elise, and I were talking about Christmas traditions and how we always wonder what traditions other families have. I love traditions. And I love them because they just happen. It's not the same to say, "we are going to start 'such and such' tradition." The way my family does Christmas is how we've always done it. I have never once celebrated the season with another family or gone somewhere else other than home. When I was little, I assumed that everyone did what our family does on Christmas. Naive, I know. In case you are curious, here is a little snippet of what I know as Christmas.
We always celebrate Christmas Eve with my maternal grandparents, Papa and Grandma (or Shriv as I often call them semi-jokingly). "Pre-Will" our family of five would go over to their house around 4:00, do a little meet and greet, dinner around 6:00, and the rest of the evening would be spent talking, eating dessert, and opening gifts. My two sisters and I could always expect to receive a pair of pajamas to wear on Christmas morning from grandma. My papa always makes an elaborate ordeal out of his gift giving. He will build it up for weeks. I don't know how many times I have heard, "this is the best present ever, you just wait!" I can just hear him now. He is such a joyful man. He loves giving, surprises, and being the life of the party. My grandmother never ceases to amaze with her homemade cheese ball (no one can touch to this recipe. guaranteed), sweet potatoes, turkey and gravy, pecan pie, pumpkin pie. All from scratch and all magically delicious. The food is always served hot, every nook and cranny of her home is decorated perfectly with Christmas. Even at 25, all the kids, myself included, open a stocking from Santa. When I think of Christmas Eve at Grandma's, I think of home, my childhood, and dreams coming true. When I was little, this is what Christmas Eve was. Now, I am so blessed to spend this time with my family AND celebrate with Will's family. There gathering is much larger than ours, but some how manages to wrap up faster. I think it is due to the organization in the kitchen. This year, we went to Will's mom's new house. It is so quaint and cozy. ALL the Herfort cousins come together. They are all around the same age, and they are all like best friends. It has been such a joy watching them grow up together. I have known the youngest, Logan since he was like 8, and now he's in college. Okay, wow...never thought of that. I'm old. One of the many things I love about this evening with Will's family is the spectacular cooking. And there is enough for everyone to go back for thirds. Will and his siblings draw stockings for one of the other siblings. This I'm pretty sure is Will's favorite expenditure because he has 100 dollars to spend on an 'extra' fun gift for a surprise recipient. The highlights for me this year were watching Ben discover his new toys, and watch Ella's reaction to getting her new Mustang convertible. Ann drove it down the entryway herself, and Ella's jaw dropped.
Christmas Day is always spent at my parents in the a.m. Before Ben, Will and i would roll out of bed, exchange our own gifts, and drive to my parents for breakfast in our pajamas. This year, we had to be all ready before we arrived at my parents because we had a full day of coming and going. For breakfast my mom makes an egg casserole that is to die for and a danish kringle sent from our family friends in CO. We drink coffee and talk about Jesus. My dad usually prepares a message/lesson before we open gifts. If you know Debbie Fash, you know that her favorite things in life are giving and her family. And when you combine those two with her favorite time of year, we have a recipe for a lot of packages. This is something she loves to do for us. Every year, I am reminded of the grace in my life. I am so undeserved of my eternal life, yet I have a relationship with a forgiving, graceful God. This love is demonstrated to me by my family on Christmas when we are given so much so undeservingly. This year, I did not know what I had opened until we got home and I had time to go through everything. Ben kinda had a rough morning with all the excitement, and I spent most of my energy trying to keep him happy. Later Christmas Day, we get together with my dad's side of the family. Huge group. On this side, we all chose a charity, and then draw names to see who you share your charity information with. It is neat to see where everyone's heart has been throughout the year. We also make it over to Will's dad's house Christmas Day to see them. They always have a very low key, relaxed, come and go sort of thing. It is so nice to go over there and just chill.
On Sunday, we go over to my dad's DAD's side of the family. Big gathering as well. This time is always the most untraditional and a bit awkward to be quite honest, or atleast it was when I was little. Now, it's a fun party,
One of my favorite traditions we have have the Sunday after Christmas is just girls. Usually it is my mom, sisters, and aunts. We meet after church to see a movie. This year it was It's Complicated. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Really warm and funny. Overall, we had such a great time seeing ALL the family. I am blessed to have everyone here, and although it may seem stressful coordinating all the gatherings, it is worth the time we get to be with each other.

Here are some of the few pictures I took. There are more floating around out there. Don't worry.

sally in her tinker bell costume. Deb, Donnie, Kris, and the kids came over to our house the Tuesday before for a little Christmas celebration and fine eating. :)

a few of my favorite people
polo baby

Will and I wore cheesy Christmas sweaters for our Christmas Eve functions, but forgot to take any funny pictures together.
A little mommy break
first gift of the night, a toolbox from uncle Lane
Will likes Christmas.
Ella opening her gift from Wheel and RaRa.
Christmas morning. Ben in his union suit.
Ben crawling through his cool activity door from Gramps.
loves his John Deere tractor from uncle Logan!
the cutest boy in the world!