Hope

Hope is a parakeet with a color deficiency that has been adoringly nicknamed "Hope" by a local birder on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/RGVbirding/. We have been wanting and hoping to spot her for at least a year now.

The other day, my husband was on his way to work when he spotted Hope on top of a dead palm tree two cities from where she was last reported being seen . He got so excited and started taking these blurry pictures with his cell that he almost forgot about going into work. 

NO JOKE!

That weekend we got up early and drove to the same spot to take better pictures and to our surprise she was still there

sneaking in and out of this hole.

Sneaky little Hope many people were looking for you!

Cold days in the valley.

I am very grateful for South Texas winters where most of time they are mild.

You can honestly get away with wearing shorts and flip-flops all year, but there are some years that it really does get

COLD

And anything lower than 70* is considered 

FREEZING

If you come to my town, and there happens to be a cold front you will

SEE

long lines at Krispy Kreme donuts, longer lines at Delia's tamales, everyone and I mean everyone sporting their boots, scarfs mittens and even

SNOW BOOTS

YES,

SNOW BOOTS

And It doesn't ever snow here

 Well, once in 2004 and that was literally a 

MIRACLE

 A post for the future...

Today it is 43*

I am looking out the window it is gorgeous the sun has finally peaked though it's been really cloudy, cold and wet. Tealyn is napping, I've got the washer and dryer going, and I'm on my second cup of coffee. We have been cooped up in this house for what feels like forever...  I promise I'm not complaining, I know some of you have it way colder than us, and I can't even imagine that, but when you have a baby who wants to explore walking everywhere and is drooling, fussy and irritable from teething and it's drizzling for the 4th day straight well, you can go a little crazy trying to come up with different baby indoor playing activities without having to resort to TV and the Ipad. 

Now it is 1.00 pm 

and 

here we 

go.

 A very slow pace stroller ride around our neighborhood and then afterwards we lay on the hammock, sing songs and feel the nice warmth of the sun on our faces.

Then later...

Caldo 

or 

vegetable soup

 This is what we Texans eat when temperatures drop a few degrees

even if it's only in the 50's now.

What is your cold day like?

Welcome New Year

I know it's been a while since my last post but, I promise I have a good excuse :

I spent a lot of time with my family over the holidays taking it easy, and enjoying the time off my husband had.  I received so many emails asking me if everything was alright in my world and it was..Thank you for your concern and friendship I just needed to take the time off from this computer to reflect on the important things especially during advent.

MEANWHILE

Tealyn learned how to stand..

and eventually walk

Yes, WALK

 Her world just got a WHOLE lot brighter.

It happened literally on her own like most of her milestones. One day she just stood up in bed then a couple of weeks later she started taking a few steps.. Now, shes everywhere, into everything, and I love it.

I am so excited for her and looking forward to what 2015 has in store for our little family.

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season and wish you all the best in this New Year.