SNOW DAY!!

Well, thanks to the wintry mix around here, we woke up this morning to no power in the house. So we bundled up and headed to the in-laws to watch movies all day on their giant TV from the comfort of their new recliners :) We're lucky they just live around the corner!

(isn't he cute in his hat and scarf... I think so)

We saw this snowman on the way.

Complete with hula skirt & coconut bra.

My rain-boots sure came in handy.

It may be cold and wet outside, but my toes have been toasty and dry!

Also, lucky for us these little cuties were in town for the weekend.

Ty made a beard of Floam.

The younger two wouldn't stop long enough for a picture.

It was so cute to watch Lainey follow Bryce around and copy whatever he was doing

Even when the activity of choice was throwing a floam ball at her head!

Silly kids :)

Around Here

Here's what's been going on this past week! I've been too busy with work to post everyday, but as today was a snow day I had a little extra time.

Last weekend our twin nieces came in for a visit. Kinley & Ansley, you are so sweet and it's fun to watch you grow! I can't believe they are almost one.

Shopping with the sister-in-laws & mother-in-law (Betty wouldn't get in the picture), always a good time :) I'm blessed to have family that I enjoy and love so much on both sides.

And this is what I've been reading this week. Contemplating making something special for Valentines... not sure if I can. I need a lot of practice. Anyone hungry?

These pretties were from my sweet husband! When he brought them home earlier this week they were all closed up and green, but yesterday they decided to bloom. Hopefully they will last a little while- they brighten up my kitchen so much!

And finally . . . snow! Oh it's beautiful in the trees- I love it!

And that's been our week! Now we're looking forward to a great weekend with friends and family!

Christmas in Pictures

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Fall Campout

Finally here are the pics from our camping trip last weekend. We headed out on Friday to Lake Ray Roberts. The first order of business was to set up the tents... Dad and Randall refused to read the instructions on the new tent, but sure enough they got it set up in no time:

It was really nice to get away. We had perfect weather. After what seemed like a month of straight rain, it seemed that everyone had the same idea to go camping this weekend since it was finally nice out. The evenings were chilly and I would get a blanket and sit as close to the fire as possible without actually sitting in it! But oh my goodness - the stars! I guess it has probably been 5 years since I last really saw the stars without all the city lights. I forgot how breathtaking it is. They look so close! It made me kind of sad to think that God intended us to enjoy this beautiful view every night, yet all our city lights distract us and don't allow us to see it. ....Guess I'll just have to move to cabin on a secluded mountainside :)

Anyway, Saturday we went into the town of Whitesboro for their annual Peanut festival. The kids really liked the parade, and we all enjoyed walking around the shops and boths on Main St.

We also enjoyed lunch at a local Catfish place while in town. 

Here is the gang:

After lunch we took naps and a bike ride.

Good thing the playground was right across from our campsite- the kids loved that.

And of course the best end to a day of camping is smores. Reese gave them a thumbs up!

Going on a camping trip...

and I'm taking with me:

-Two new sleeping bags

-One borrowed tent

-Stuff to make smores

-Bikes

-A guitar

-A good book

I'm so VERY much looking forward to spending some time relaxing with people I love and enjoying God's creation a little closer up!

Hopefully I'll have a few pictures to share when I return.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Our December in a Nutshell

Since we have not had internet at the house for the past month... I haven't updated in a month. Sorry. I will do a recap now and vow to be more diligent in the new year!

My brother Caleb and his wife Jennie moved to Brownwood, TX this past summer. Even though it is only 2 1/2 hrs away, we had not made it out to see them. So to make up for it we went twice this December. This first weekend was just becaused we missed them and the second weekend was for Reese's 2nd birthday!


This little one cracks me up with how much she likes her toes!


Uncle Randall found Reese some Jelly Beans........... a common favorite for the pair.



Aubrie really wanted that milkshake!

These pics were taken at a little soda shop/drugstore we stopped at for some ice cream!


Sweet boys.

Then Uncle Randall helped put up a Christmas tree for the second time this year! (Caleb had a meeting at church and we were anxious to decorate it!)

Here are a couple pics from when we went back down for Reese's birthday!

Yay firetrucks!

Watch out for this one- he is bound to be an all-star in one sport or another. Current favorites are golf, baseball, and basketball. (He will make a golf club out of any object he can find)

Grandmother and Poppy joined us for the trip for his brithday.

Somehow Grandmother and Aubrie always seem to match!

The weekend before Christmas, Randall's family came in to celebrate Christmas early! i LOVE that I love all my inlaws and that we have so much fun together. This year we finally got to play games and it was a blast (even if we had to lock the kids up in the back room in order to do it)...just kiddding, no children were harmed in our holiday fun! Speaking of...here are the little darlings:

Granny & Grandad came over and joined us for dinner.

I'm not sure if Uncle Randall is attacking Bryce, or if Bryce is attacking Uncle Randall here!

So many gifts! This isn't even the half of it!

Christmas Eve was celebrated at my Grandma Carol's house where we had the traditional wonderful enchilada dinner. My contribution were these snowflake red velvet cookies:

Mom and Dad being festive in their red.

My favorite part of Christmas Eve is the the midnight service - I love it! The church is old with wonderful architeture, the music is beautiful, and there are candles!

This year Shelby and Nate happened to come to the same service we went to! These two just got engaged and I think they are great for each other!

Christmas Day, Randall and I slept in until 11! We had nowhere to be this year and no kids of our own to wake us at the crack of dawn, so we enjoyed getting some extra rest! The rest of the day was spent having a lovely lunch at my cousin Amy's house, and then dinner at my Grandmother's.

My cousin Jordan's baby- Saniyah trying to kiss Aubrie. There are babies everywhere this year!

Poppy says that Aubrie "smiles with her eyes". It's true.

This is papadede's gift to Reese and Aubrie. Notice papa / dede is one word (dede is what Reese calls my mom). I think it takes my parents back to see these two so close in age like me and Caleb were.

The Day After Christmas we opened presents with my parents and Caleb and Jennie.

Also over the holidays I got together with some girlfriends and had some good food, and good conversation!

Overall it was a wonderful Christmas of relaxing and enjoying family and friends.