Blessed

I love Christmas!  I love the whole time of year, cold weather, the decorations, the reminder to be thankful for God's gift and time with family and friends.

We made a very very quick trip to the Dallas area.  We did Christmas with my family.  Even if it was very brief it was great to be with them.

We moved on the Mike's family for a little cousin time. 



When I joined this sweet family there were only two kids.  We've produced a huge bunch of the next generation that seem to really enjoy spending time together even when they only see each other once or twice a year.
I walked into a bedroom where all the kids were lying around, talking, watching a movie and of course playing on their phones... you know, good quality cousin time...

On the way home we stopped by our favorite cheap Mexican place for lunch and my family was agreeable enough to join me in checking out Trader Joe's...

I quickly googled peoples favorites from there and we brought home most of those items.  We also brought home a lot of heavy cream with no additives so there is butter making in my future.

 

We got home and spend a quiet Christmas eve day, had a great church and good family time.

We woke up Christmas morning to a white Christmas

 

Not much could have made me happier!  The girls wanted to wait on Jennifer to get there before opening their presents.  It's like our little family isn't complete without her.  I really think the girls think she is their sister instead of their cousin.  Her flight made it in and there was much gift opening to follow.

New jackets seemed to be a theme. 

 

Kellie did ask for one toy and I was so glad.  I just hate we are about past that phase...

The hit gift  was "Catch Phrase" . 

It got pretty wild!

 

I hope your Christmas was wonderful and there is some rest in store this week for you.  I know I'm planning some.

 

I shouldn't have been throwing around the Christmas vacation quotes

I've been missing for a bit....did you notice?
I wanted to fill you in on all the greatness you've missed...

Christmas was just around the corner, the shopping was done, school was out and life was good...
Good good good.
Until. 
On Dec. 23rd I picked up my mother in law from the airport. 
No, that's not the bad part....
She was excited to come....we were glad to have her....
Life was still good....
But shortly after I picked her Mike called to ask me for a favor... he sounded like he was upset... motioned how bad his day had just gotten, and then he asked me to go meet his dad a truck stop here in Lubbock cause he was lost...
His dad who lives 6 hours away.
His dad who has never visited us. 
Who might "drinking" from Mike's impression...
Who probably couldn't tell my kids apart if he had to...
Who DID NOT call and let us know he was coming to visit two days before Christmas...
Who is divorced from the mother in law I just fetched at the airport...

We always quote Christmas Vacation this time of year but I never dreamed I would ever need the quote:
If I woke up with my head sewn to the carpet in the morning I couldn't be more surprised"...
but yet, it was perfect for this situation...

I went and found him at the truck stop he was parked at...
He followed me home...
I realized then he wouldn't be staying long since he didn't have a suitcase...that was a bit of a relief...
Not that we don't want him here, but timing wasn't good and he NEVER visits...
He did bring gifts though.  So I had to run into the crazy, crowded supercenter to buy him a last min. gift of PJ's (thought he might need those since there was no suitcase) and a gift card...
This all ends well.  The divorced parents behaved, gifts were exchanged, and he was headed home by 9:00 the next morning...

Then, Christmas eve was nice, pleasant, and as we are about to leave for church water starts pouring into the kitchen, laundry room, pantry and basement from a broken water pipe...

Long story short, I'm glad it happened when we were home....
I'm oh so thankful for the company that came out to take care of the water and spent their Christmas eve and part of Christmas day with us!
and for homeowners insurance.

the plastic and cords did a lot for the Christmas decor...

We did make it to church.  It was a nice time to reflect and remember this is all no big deal... I did tell God I'd had enough surprises for one week though.

God is good and Christmas day was wonderful...

We had just enough snow to make it a white Christmas.  Jennifer flew in. 

Santa was good to everyone!

Jennifer worked on making the girls Gator fans...

We had a prime rib dinner that was wonderful and made even better by the fact that with no hot water I couldn't do all the dishes till the next day...


I hope your Christmas was spent with people you expected to be there and was peaceful and dry!

If you scratch his belly, Clark, he will love you till the day you die

Today I had a little Christmas cookie get together...

.

Elvis loves a party... He greeted everyone and watched closely to see if someone would drop something good....

 

 

Ellie even wore her new Christmas outfit Katie insisted she needed even though she tries to bite your fingers off when you put it on  her...  and Mrs. Claus/Ellie seems to need a medium in this dress, the small wouldn't close... Too many Christmas cookies maybe?

There was good food and good friends.

My favorite combination!

 

I knew all the food I made was good because people were asking for all the recipes before they left....

Katie's "wolf pack" as we call them must have smelled the food

They took care of the left overs...

The girls weren't really excited when I invited their friends and their mom's but they seemed to enjoy it after all..

After most everyone left and just the good friends were left, we looked in the dining room and Elvis was trying very hard to find a way to get those cookies...He guarded them for a long time before we gave in and let him have one...

Four years in Lubbock and this is my first cookie party like I did every year in Lewisville... guess I'm settled in...