Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Our Holidays

Hello! I'm sorry that it has been so long since I've blogged (again). I really have no excuse this time, since I have been out of grad school and school for over a week now. Hey! There's my excuse - I have been enjoying some down time with my husband.

I'll post some pictures of our festivities at the end, but for now I'll just tell you about them. First off, let me say that I am SO DISSAPPOINTED that I missed out on the white Christmas that happened in our back yard, but spending time with our families was well worth it.

We left for College Station on what Kevin likes to call "Festivus" (from Seinfeld). Otherwise known as the day before Christmas Eve. (I just now asked him how to spell that and he is yelling quotes across the house - "And now for the airing of grievances, because I GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH YOU PEOPLE!").

Anyway, we arrived in College Station and spent that afternoon and evening just hanging out with my family. We took my sister into town and ate at our old Freebirds, which was amazing as usual. The next morning we got up and drove into Temple to spend the day with Kevin's family. We went straight to his Aunt Peaches' house where she made us a delicious breakfast of pancakes and ham. It snowed while we were with her! After spending a couple of hours there, we went to Christmas at his dad's side of the family. It was really great to see everyone and all of the adorable little kids there. His cousins have some of the most precious children I have ever met.

From there, we were supposed to go to Salado to see his cousin who was released from Parkland hospital here in Dallas a little over a week ago, where he was being treated for severe burns. After that we were supposed to go back to Temple for his mom's family's Christmas. Unfortunately the weather got so icy and dangerous that we had to head back to College Station early instead. We did, however stop by his mom's sister's house to drop off our gifts and some of my oreo balls, which were specifically requested by his cousins. I hear they went quite quickly, LOL.

Once we got back to College Station we spent the day with the guys playing Wii Mario Cart and the girls doing puzzles and chatting. It was a perfect Christmas Eve. Then, on Christmas morning, my Aunt Tina, Uncle Larry, and Justin joined us for my family Christmas. I love my family so much and enjoy every second that I spend with them! We tried for the second year in a row to do a gift exchange (the kind where you get a number and steal from each other). The problem is, everyone bought something specifically for them and ended up unwrapping and taking home what they brought. That was actually no fun, and may need to be re-examined for next year, LOL.

After we opened presents, we ate a good lunch and just spent time together with games, puzzles, more Wii, and naps. Then we watched Polar Express in 3D, which was so cool! Especially the part where they are squirting hot chocolate into the mugs - it's like it was being squirted right out of the screen and into your face!

We got up the next morning and ate a delicious breakfast prepared by my Grandaddy, and then we hit the road to come home. The next morning we got up and went to Kevin' mom's house for our small family Christmas with her and his sister's family. That was so much fun - once again we ate great food and spent quality time with family. Sydni (Kevin's niece, 6 yrs old) is my best little buddy and she brought most of her gifts from Santa to show me and to play with me. Debbie and I even played a Spongebob Cranium game with her. We opened presents over there, and then we spent most of the day just chatting with Debbie, which was nice.

Once we got home I took down all of the inside Christmas decorations, including the HUGE tree, while Kevin played RC cars with his little neighbor friend in the garage. I also ran the self-cleaning cycle on my oven for the first time since there was a big spill in there a while back, and I smoked up the entire house for 3 hours. Like eyes burning, coughing, need to get out of the house type of smoked up. Oops. At least it's clean now, though :) Then yesterday Kevin took down all of the outside decorations by himself while I ran errands and took a nap (payback).

It has been a wonderful holiday season, and we still get to go see friends in Houston to celebrate the New Year! Here are my pictures. I unfotunately did not take my camera in at the White family Christmas in Temple, so I have no pictures of that. I then also neglected to take my camera with me to the small Christmas at Debbie's house and therefore have no pictures of that either. Basically I am a bad photographer:

This is the snow at Aunt Peaches' house. You can't really see it :(


I was very excited!


Here is Bella in her Christmas robe.


My Grandaddy with Bella (and yes, she had a wardrobe change)!


Tex enjoyed opening presents this year, LOL


Lindsay, my dad, Justin, and Uncle Larry


My mom, Granny, and Grandaddy


Kevin and Me :)


Uncle Larry opening his own present


My dad, also opening his own present


Silly


Granny's eating here, so she has the attention of all of the pups!


This is my favorite picture. My mom bought Bella this jacket/vest SPECIFICALLY so that she could match her on Christmas. Pitiful, yes. Adorable, yes.


So there you have it! As I blogged this entry, I am sitting on my couch smelling chili in the crock pot and watching big, beautiful snowflakes fall outside my window. Life is good.

Check back soon - Kevin and I have some things that we are still trying to figure out, and work out, but we may have big news soon!

Everyone have a Happy New Year! We think 2010 is going to be a great year for us, and we wish the same for all of our friends and family!

Friday, December 11, 2009

The Countdown Begins...

When I was growing up, my parents always filled a stocking for my dog, Sparkey. He would get a toy or a treat out of it every night leading up to Christmas, for several days. It was always so fun to watch him get excited and "ask" for his stocking. For a couple of years now, Kevin and I have been doing the same for our dogs. When we get the stockings out of the attic, Tex and Bella's noses go into overdrive. The stockings been hanging empty on the mantle for 2 weeks now, driving our dogs crazy, but that all changed tonight!

Tonight they got their first toy!











I love carrying on traditions; it's one of my favorite things about the holidays!