Happy New Years

We were invited to a friends home tonight to ring in the New Year.

The girls were ready to stay late, but their mom and dad were not!  May you have been blessed in 2016!

Happy hour

It's the perfect day for a convertible ride to get happy hour drinks.  Cheers!

Cinnamon roll experts

The girls each get to do a rectangle when they are around.  We were definitely ready to be out of school long before Dec. 22, however this week will be great.  The girls still have most of their break left and there isn't holiday business!

Wheels off

It's always hard to say good-bye to our family.  Today was no exception as we started out on our 15 hour drive home.  We didn't get a very early start because of the roads and the dark.  ML found this oatmeal on the menu when we stopped for brunch that was topped with ice cream.  Why not!

Chex mix

We have always had a lot of Chex mix around over the holidays.  My mom brought a gallon bag for the trip up and my girls ate almost all of it.  So we had to make another batch for the drvie home.

Family memories

30 hours in the car to see these wonderful faces.  I wouldn't have missed it for the world.  Matt found a jukebox on our last night that took selfies and emailed them to you.  It's not quite New Year's, but I just love that we got everyone in.  Merry Christmas from the family (cue Robert Earl Keen!)

Meal prep

It doesn't seem like a holiday meal without a full kitchen.

Merry Christmas

Just a couple of pictures from our Christmas Eve.  We started the evening with our tradition of beef tenderloin.  Matt braved the weather to make sure it was cooked perfectly.  Then we got ready for church and took some family photos.

Dec. 22

The worst part about getting out on the 22nd from school is that you feel the need to drive right away!  So after finishing parties at 3, we were on 35 before 4pm.  I had thought to pack all kinds of things for the trip, but I wasn't nearly as prepared as my mom.  Tailgate glasses and screw top wine for the win!  Cheers to Road Trippin'!  A cute photo bomb by AG and a patient driver make things like this possible!

Christmas party!

My to do list was a little crazy this week.  Nothing like finishing Christmas orders, planning a party for 18, and packing for Christmas.  Someone at church said that I wouldn't be sleeping :)

ML had pajama day in her classroom and made reindeer out of pipe cleaners.

We did a thumbprint ornament.  I love that the kids are old enough to do that themselves.

And then we had the sweetest gift exchange after the kids all drew names last week.  Check this off the to do list - it was a total success!

Circuit building

This is an example of extreme determination.  Anna Grace's teacher was completely perplexed by why her circuit didn't work.  She texted and said that AG shouldn't worry about it because she was baffled too.  Enter in Grandpa and not giving up.

SUCCESS!  She wasn't about to go to school with a circuit that didn't work.  It was an assignment to be done mostly in class.  The at home part was to make a Christmas tree which the circuit will light.  But she and Grandpa got it to work and she is thrilled!

December birthdays

Anna Grace got invited to a birthday this morning.  I am telling you they absolutely lucked out on the timing.  It's gorgeous now.

They got to swim in the heated pool and enjoy the sun.  Right before it turned bitter cold and even a heated pool wouldn't have helped.  Happy Birthday Owen!

Caroling

Anna Grace got to go caroling at one of the nursing homes this year.  This was taken by a member of our church that lives in the nursing home.  She was so excited to see AG's smiling face!  What a special thing for the school and for the kids.  Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread men

I love the tradition of getting together with these sweet friends to have some holiday fun.  It gets harder and harder to schedule these with all the holiday busyness, but I am grateful for a glass of wine, takeout and time to breathe with my dear friend.  Thanks for having us Stacey!

Staff luncheon

For the past several years, I have been in charge of the Staff Luncheon at the girls school.  The parents all do a potluck lunch for the teachers to eat.  There are 2 volunteers in every classroom and the office, and the nurse.  It's quite an undertaking to pull all together, but these ladies help to make it fun.  They were just a few that could stop to pose with me because there are several missing.  It is one of the staff's favorite events and that makes all the effort worth it!

Happy girls

Matt took lunch to the girls with me today.  They get out of school so late this year that we are adjusting to them not being on a schedule with Matt.

Brewery Sunday

Nothing like getting to hang out with your dear friend on a Sunday.

Mom and dad joined us too.  What a fun way to spend Sunday!

Crafts and dinner

We simply love this family.  They had us for dinner and Ms. Erin did crafts with them.  They made adorable mason jar lanterns.  Thanks for hosting and for crafting!

Bourbon release

Matt was so excited about the release of TX bourbon.  He thought it would be fun if we all went a little early, got at bottle and headed to lunch.  He told a friend about it and so they joined us.  However, after 45 minutes in line without any movement, the kids were done.  So I loaded the 4 kids and the other mom and we went to lunch.  Fast forward about 90 minutes and they still were not close to done.  So we delivered pizza to them and left again.  Patience paid off though and now he has a signed, numbered bottle.

Cinnamon Roll dessert

The best way to eat a cinnamon roll is fresh out of the oven.  Weedie would have had those ready before lunch time, but sometimes mine roll out right around dinner time.  The girls could care less what time of day it is, it's just important to enjoy them hot.  It's my turn to bring bible study treats, and these are the most requested.

Musical instrument

Morgan Leigh's school project was to make an instrument for class.  They had suggestions made out of shoe boxes, but apparently this was more fun.  She is already in her pjs, and put on a jacket to finish it tonight.  As a side note, although Revolver beer caps  that they tried to flatten may very well be all over the garage now.

The star!

Getting the star atop the tree is getting harder and harder as these girls grow and grow!  Merry Christmas!

Tree shopping

The girls were so anxious to get a tree.  Matt traveled all week and promised we could go Saturday morning.  Today is rainy and icky, tomorrow should be much nicer.  But they would not be put off a single other day.  Rain or no rain, we found our tree.

Casa night!

It's casa night again!  Merry Christmas!

Grateful turkeys

We are keeping up the tradition of thankful Novembers.  I love watching what they come up with each day to write on the feathers.