Decorating for Christmas

Father Christmas

We actually decorated this year before Thanksgiving because I wanted to get the full month of enjoying the decorations as we will be in Lubbock for the actual holiday. Ashton received a new stocking this year from Nana and Papa with her name on it but otherwise, the decorations are a mix of odds and ends from years past. Miss A only wanted to put decorations on when she was in the mood so there are many days/outfits of her additions to the tree. I am so into the Christmas spirit now that I am a mom. I want to play annoying Christmas music all day and have signed us up for 1 million "holiday related activities". Merry Christmas to you and yours in advance!

Please notice the bells around the "reindeer's" neck ~ redneck thanksgiving to a redneck Christmas

Nativity

Christmas Goose

Ganna's toy wreath

Angry reindeer toddler

Jolly reindeer toddler

CHEESY REINDEER TODDLER

sleepy tree decorator

naked tree decorator

helping Daddy put a reindeer on the tree

Redneck Thanksgiving

The boys insisted on frying a turkey this year. Probably because Thanksgiving was at our house and there are few more redneck people than us. So, the Turkey Trio of Chris, Tyler and Ryan deep fried a turkey in our front yard. Yes, you heard correctly, our front yard. We finally live in a very nice neighborhood and we cooked out in the FRONT yard. Our neighbors in Lubbock used to frequently cook out in their front yard but it was mainly because they were to drunk to walk between the two backyards....now we have joined the ranks. So... back to our special holiday. On Wednesday night, Chris and Tyler prepared the turkey by injecting it with spices and rubbing it down with a Cajun rub. Mimi had to show them how to take out the insides as they were not skilled in the ways of turkey cooking as she is. I of course, stood by with a camera as cooking is not really in my skill set. So, what is needed you ask to deep fry a turkey - lots of peanut oil and a fire extinguisher ~ awesome! Between throwing the football and chasing Miss A, the turkey actually turned out amazing! I hope we eat it this way every year! It was a wonderful holiday! (sorry the pics are out of order. I realize it would be a better story if it was in order - but remember I have a dissertation to work on)

Chris and Ryan cannot take pics together as they are always trying to look taller than one another

Admiring the artistry

Lots of hot oil

Wow, we are really talented!

Poor Turkey (TTU flag posing for the photoshoot)

Please notice the boots tucked into the jeans - I love it when Chris dresses the part!

TURKEY TRIO

Hugs from Papa

Posing on a cooler - does that make her a toddler redneck?

Running from Uncle Tyler

"Ride a little Horsey" with Uncle Ryan
Please admire my fall dress from Cousin Sydney

Kisses from Daddy

"Just Relaxing" - her words not mine - such the drama queen

Preparing the turkey

Oh, by the way... we live in Austin

Since moving here in May, Mimi has been asking me to do more "Austiny" things. See I am prone to look for activities in the small surrounding Hill Country towns but I can understand that moving to a big city, makes you want to see every part of it. Mimi's version of Austiny things means things that tourists enjoy, like going to the State Capital and driving down 6th street (in the daytime of course). So a few weekends ago, we spent the day shopping around the arboretum, the medical district - Central Market on 38th & Lamar, driving down the drag on Guadalupe near UT and walking on the Capital grounds. I would have more pics but Miss A was having a hissy as there was a band playing on the steps of the capital and she wanted no part of their trombone and tuba clatter.

Post-Wreck Playdate w/ Kate

Sitting on the stage at Barnes & Noble

Playing with the trains

Picking out books to read (and spinning the racks really really fast)

Reading Aloud

Hey, check this out!

For as long as Cortney and I have been friends (around 11 years)... it has been a running joke that she is obsessed with Barnes and Noble. Barnsey as she and Dave fondly refer to it. They spent many an hour there in college and then post-college we often met Lynsey at the Barnes in Amarillo as this was the half-way point between Lubbock and Wootown Woodward. So... taking our girls to Barnesy was a must. B&N has such a great children's area and therefore it was a great place to chill out and let the traffic die down after my wreck. The girls just love chasing each other around and calling out "look at this". Miss A was more obsessed with the stuffed animals and piling them on Cort and Kate could play with the trains endlessly. At the end of the evening, A sobbed that she wanted to spend the night with Kate - though she has yet to have a sleep over, she demanded to go home with Cortney that night (probably did not want to drive with her mommy) but I tore the girls apart and we headed home praying the car parts would not litter the Austin streets.

Surgery Update

Dad is out of surgery and will be moved to a room shortly. The doctor said that the diverticuli was very hard to find with all the surrounding scar tissue and it was a very challenging surgery but he feels that he was able to remove all of it. The next few days, prayers are needed for no infections and quick healing of the sutures. He will have a feeding tube through the weekend. We have seen him in recovery and it is not a pretty sight. It looks very painful as his first incision on his neck had to be extended. Thank you so much for all your prayers and good thoughts - we feel it and appreciate it!