Christmas Card

Christmas preparations are in full swing over here at the Vestring house.  (Hence, the lack of communication we've had recently).  We've been busy shopping, cleaning, wrapping and getting over colds.  I tried to get shopping done early this year, but it seems like there are always those gifts that get left 'til the end!  Darn them, how does that always happen?!  I'm sure it will all get done...
won't it?!  Yes!

Here is our Christmas card this year.  Merry Christmas from the Vestrings!

O Christmas Tree!

Happy Saturday! 

We are going to get a Christmas tree today.  We are a little excited over here at our house.  It's finally feeling a little more like Christmas because the weather is no longer 70 degrees and we are pumped! 

Here's a pic of us from last year in front of our tree!

What a beautiful December!

Sorry we've been away recently.  We have been enjoying the beautiful weather we've been having here in Oklahoma this past week.  I mean really.... it's insane.  It should not be 78 degrees in December but it was, on Monday.  It doesn't quite feel like it's almost Christmas but I am soooo not complaining.  And neither is Ruby.  The past few days she's gotten to frolic in the park, leashless (it's something we've been trying out and loving... and is possibly not even allowed at our park...but I saw some other dogs doing it too... so that's got to count for something right?  right??)  She has also gotten in a few more runs around the neighborhood than usual because her parents have felt like it's almost criminal to stay inside on these beautiful days.  Needless to say she's been a happy little doggy. 

We haven't just been playing outside though.  On Saturday we opened up the windows and doors and I decorated our house for Christmas while Ruby and Jeff put up some lights.  Ok you caught me, Jeff just put up the lights and Ruby watched.  I'm sure she would have helped but she doesn't have opposable thumbs. 

It's supposed to get a little cooler at the end of the week so I think I'd better enjoy a few more hours of beautiful weather today! 

Happy Wednesday!

Here are a few recent Instas.  Doesn't she look like such a happy pup?!

(follow me on instagram:  @erinvestring)

Harry Potter Reference

Have you ever wished you had a Time-Turner?  .... because I have.  I've been really wishing I had one recently.  You know- a really little hour glass that you wear around your neck to go back in time whenever you wish! It would be aweeesome. 

I feel like time is going by so quickly (and lets face it as a teacher who loves the summer, it's kind of nice), but I also feel like it's hard to savor some of the good moments.  Before you can blink they are gone and you can't get them back!   I just need to remember to enjoy every little second and take more pictures :) 

Bloglovin

Follow">http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4287943/?claim=xjwksfqyxfe">Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Our New York Thanksgiving

In my last post I mentioned that we went to New York City over Thanksgiving.  We were very blessed and had the chance to spend the week visiting my sister and roaming the city.  Although I have visited her multiple times since she moved a few years ago, this is the first time that we made a vacation out of it and were there for 5 days!  It was super fun, super fun, super fun (and did I say super fun?)  We lucked out on the weather situation as well.  It was chilly but very nice almost every day we were there (I'm not talking the 70 degree weather we had in Oklahoma over Thanksgiving, but it was nice none-the-less...) 

Our favorite New York memories had to have been, in no particular order:
1. Seeing Newsies! It was awesome, people!!! (hence the overuse of exclamation marks)
2. Watching the parade from my sister's office window
3. Roaming Central Park for hours one day
4. Delicioso cookies from this yummy bakery.  Go there! I'm serious!
5. Staying at Sissy's place in Brooklyn...I felt so hip :) 
Oh ya, and having her take me to my favorite restaurant in New York- The Meatball Shop 

We hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Here are some pics from our trip!

 

 

Elf on the Shelf, my favorite balloon

Silly Sissys

I was so excited! Newsies!

My family, minus little brother!

Radio City Rockettes

Happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday

So thankful I was able to spend the week in New York with my husband, sister and parents! It was a fun trip with tons of walking and lots and lots of eating (among other fun things). More on the trip later but for now, have a Happy Black Friday! Here's to hoping you score some good deals!

Some Tuesday Listening

Because sometimes we need a little pick-me-up.... no matter the day of the week...

 

 

Grace and Jeff's Wedding Weekend

We had a blast this weekend celebrating Jeff and Grace's wedding!  It was such a beautiful, elegant wedding.  Everything was so sweet from the colors, the cake, the flowers and the Bride.  She looked so gorgeous and made the absolute perfect Bride!  We started the weekend off with a Bridesmaid Lunch, and Nail Party and ended it by dancing it up at a fabulous reception.  Everything was so planned and organized (in true Grace fashion) that the weekend was so smooth and relaxing!  Here are some pics.

Rehearsal Dinner

Beautiful Bride!

We like to dance

Wednesday Words

"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our Liberty"

                                      - Thomas Jefferson

Looking forward to....

Things I'm looking forward to this week....

Voting (check)
The nice weather
Finally turning in some homework that's been looming over my head
Grace's Wedding Weekend!

Ruby helping with some homework Sunday night

I hope you have some fabulous things to look forward to this week!

Some Friday Listening

All I can say is T.G.I.F.

For Reals.

Halloween, Gameday, Zoo... Oh My!

We had a lot of fun this weekend at Casa de Vestring.  The weekend started off with a "Wonderland" themed Halloween Party.  Jeff went as the Mad Hatter, Ruby was the White Rabbit and I was Alice.  It was tons of fun.   The fun continued on Saturday with a tailgate in Norman.  We ended up getting tickets to the game and made it through a chilly 2 halves.  Things did not end well for our Sooners and we ended the night with a loss.  More bad news came when we found out that Jeff's favorite Thunder player was traded to The Rockets!  No more Beard in OKC.  WE. ARE. SAD.  Lets just say that's not how we like to end our Saturday nights.  We attempted to  recover from our shock on Sunday with a family brunch and by volunteering at "Haunt the Zoo".  We enjoyed passing out candy to all the little kiddies  (and Jeff may have enjoyed an M&M or two... or three).   Let me just tell you.... Woody is huge this year, along with Buzz and The Avengers. 

Happy Monday and here's to another pretty week in our neck of the woods, but we are praying for all those on the East Coast!  Keep those feets dry Sissy!

 

My Family (minus my sister)

My "little" brother

Stripe the Stadium

Happy Saturday!

Happy Saturday and Boomer Sooner.

We had a great Halloween Party last night and are off to Norman to watch OU beat Notre Dame!

Hope you and yours are having a Blessed Saturday!

Happiness is...

Things that made me happy today...

1. The weather finally got cooler!
2. Seeing little girls wearing precious white tights with their school jumpers because of the weather change.
3. Celebrating Blessed Kateri becoming Saint Kateri at Mass today.
4. A sweet picture given to me by a cutie third grader
5. My Chai before class tonight

Happy Fall, I hope you had a happy day!

Cute Website

My 8th grade classes this week have been working on Halloween stories using the website storybird.com.  This website allows it's users to make picture books by placing the work of certain artists in a template and putting words to their art. It's a very cute idea and my kids have had a really fun time with it!  I've had a fun time reading their stories.  The Storybird company can then make real books out of the stories that you make!  I think this is such a cool idea.  What a great idea for Christmas presents!