Christmas is coming!

It's almost Christmas! Whew, I am, of course, behind. I really wish I didn't feel that way. Why is it that we women feel that we have to do so much to make Christmas special? Truth is, we don't make it special. Christ did. It's His birthday celebration. Why then do we all feel this need to go crazy getting presents, cleaning house, baking, baking, and more baking? It is so easy to get caught up in the "Holiday Season", but there is so much more to it. When was the last time you read your children the Christmas story? The REAL Christmas story. The one in Luke 2:1-20.
It is so hard to slow down sometimes when there is still so much to do, but it is so important. I must remember this as much as anybody. It is Jesus who is the reason for the season. Not me, not what others think of me, and not even my children. Christ's coming to save the world is that real reason for the season.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Below I have some photos I took for our Christmas cards. I found some of the pose ideas on Pinterest which you can find  here. I hope you enjoy them. I sure enjoyed taking them. I will warn you though, there are a lot of pictures. I love to take them. The first ones are from my older girls dance recital.

Chlo-Chlo in her ice skater costume. Lilly wore her matching tutu!

My biggest girl getting ready for her jazz performance.

All 3 sisters together before the performance.

Lilly's first meeting with Santa.

Getting ready for the photos. I love this sweet little hat I purchased from BabyGap.

Merry Christmas!

I love these shots, but I was a little nervous with the lights. I watched her VERY carefully.

This is probably one of my favorite shots of the day.

Getting sleepy from all the picture taking.

Conversations with Mr. Teddy

These were taken out on our property in Hockley, TX.

Lilly and her daddy.

My beautiful oldest. She's growing up so fast!

My precious middle girl.

Baby girl!

Merry Christmas from the Mielke's!

12th Birthday!

Twelve years ago, today, I became a mommy for the first time. It was the first time I knew what true love really was. I will never forget the feeling I had the first time I saw her. When the nurses showed her to me after that last push I had the most glorious feeling of wonderment. I couldn't  believe that anyone could be so beautiful and perfect. It was truly love at first sight!
Now, twelve years later I couldn't be more proud of her. She has such a sweet giving heart, and she is so talented. (She's even writing her first book.) I am truly blessed. Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Enjoying the Outdoors

My hubby and the kiddos all in a big old live oak tree.

One of my family's favorite things is being outdoors. We love to camp, go hiking, fish, and just play outside. The weather is finally cool enough that we can be outside for a bit, and we took full advantage of it this weekend. We went to a nearby nature preserve and spent the afternoon discovering new and wonderous lands. Ok, so it was just little clearings and scummy little ponds, but for all the fun we had, it might as well have been an enchanted meadow.

Lilly loves her Daddy, and she loves being outside.

Look at that precious smile.

All my girls.

Chlo Chlo sitting on an old horse drawn mowing machine.