Christmas Fun.

Every year we take Brooke on the Polar Express train ride from Lubbock to the North Pole.  This year she even picked to do it over a dance recital that was scheduled on the day I had already purchased us tickets....so, that lets you know how much she looks forward to it.

 

We did it this year on the same day that she got out of school early for Christmas Break.  I picked her up at 11 so we could eat at home together and before I even got our lunch ready she was already in her pj's for the evening train ride!

 

 

My favorite two people...

 

There are lots of skeptics when it comes to the train ride.  I have heard a lot of adults actually gripe about it....let me remind you why we do it:

 

I do not care what any adult says, as far as I am concerned the magic of the holidays happens by watching it through a child's eyes! Worth it?!  Of course it is!

 

We got to help our very sweet neighbor (adopted Grandmother #2) Dona bake cookies for her son in Florida!

 

Then later we baked our own for Santa!

 

One of Brooke's FAVORITE things she got for Christmas is a handmade night gown (that comes to her ankles, that is a HUGE deal for her) and a beautiful soft robe to go with it!

 

She also loves her handmade bean bag that we stuffed full of stuffed animals.  It might secretly be my favorite thing too because it keeps the stuffed animals, but keeps them neat....haha!  You can see the haul behind her.  We are so blessed!

 

Sadly enough I realized after the holidays had come and gone, that I did not get ONE picture of the entire family.  For those of you who know how much I love pictures, this saddens me!!!

BEFORE Christmas Festivities

Catching up again!  Before Christmas Break we had a BUSY, BUSY time.  We had to qualify for the 50 point AR party (accelerated reading), so we did lots of reading and test taking.  We, meaning Brooke while I watched. 

 

 

We enjoyed our snow days (few and far between so far), by not fretting when our homework time gets interrupted by someone needing a belly rub.

 

We did our impersonation of Grandad by clipping keys to our belt loop and limping around the living room. 

 

We still wear LOTS of purple, and pose real lady like at all times....ha.

 

More reading, even if some of them were just for fun....no AR points available.

 

Decorated....a LOT.

 

More purple...

 

We got to see the Nutcracker Ballet for the first time with some grandparents and a best bud.

 

We got to try climbing really high and discovering heights are not our friend just yet (although I have pictures of her doing it and loving it last year).

 

More reward/field trip days....

 

Some of you may giggle at the helmet while roller skating, well this picture was taken right before a young lady from the school fell and broke her wrist.  :(

Thankful!

All of my posts these days are strictly to catch up it seems.  We had a wonderful, quiet Thanksgiving.  My parents came and spent a week with us, we got snow...so much we got to keep Brooke home on a snow day.  And with snow this time of year, it also means we got to have Steven home too! 

 

I am thankful for lots every single day....but LOVE being able to see my child do something she LOVES!

 

I am thankful I can share my hair, ha.  I know that sounds silly, but I really do enjoy growing it insanely long and being able to share it with someone who needs it more.  13 inches gone. 

I love our annual tradition of having Breakfast with Santa!  This year we met up with a BFF, Brooklyn!

 

LOTS of smiles and shopping that day!

Brooklyn.

 

We celebrated my Momma's birthday while she was here.  You KNOW Brooke made us sing and have candles of course!

 

Thanksgiving Day we didn't even leave the house.  It was wonderful.  A beautiful day that allowed us to play outside while Steven put up our Christmas lights!

 

Our big tree isn't decorated yet because I want Daddy to be here to help, but she did get to put hers up in her room! 

 

LOVED every minute with Granny and Granddad. 

 

And, this morning before school.....just an update, yep those legs are still getting longer and thinner!

Catching up again.

I love that she is still excited when I go to her school field trips....love spending that time with her!

 

 

After they got to enjoy the Science Spectrum and the OmniMax theater the rest of the school went to the park, but it was COOL outside and Brooke had been having trouble breathing, been on breathing treatments, etc so I kidnapped my own child and we went to the movie instead.  We saw Free Birds, and yes, Brooke is already requesting we NOT have turkey for Thanksgiving.  We had the theater all to ourselves!!

 

She plays on my phone all the time, and I love it when I get it back and find cute self portraits like this one...

 

She always begs for me to let her help me clean....um, okay!  She has her own duster, and we mop together...and this time I let her help vacuum too. 

Happy 40th Old Man!

November 1st, I was officially married to an OLD man.  I don't really think of it as old anymore since I am closer to that than any other big year myself....but I DO remember thinking it was ancient when my own Dad turned 40....so I expect Brooke to think it's OLD!

 

We had some awesome family come in that weekend, so we turned it into an impromptu excuse to celebrate! 

 

Brooke waiting in our driveway for Rylan to come back to play.

 

I bought these shirts through a friend who opened her own boutique here, and figured I'd make us all dress up to support the Texas Tech Red Raiders....who sadly got their butts kicked that evening....oh well, the shirts were cute!

 

Rylan, is a HOOT and Brooke adored every second with him!  In this pic he was doing it "Gangham Style".

 

My Dear, Sweet (harhar), ornery (more like it) brother had his birthday the 3rd, so it was nice to get to celebrate him too.  This is his sweet honey Christy.

 

And Brooke's favorite of course besides the "boy" is McKenzie!!!  I didn't have the heart to tell her to respell her word because at this point they had already lost.  :(

 

So glad they came to see us!

 

And, me and my old man!  Happy Belated Blog Birthday Steven!!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from our house to yours!

 

Let's see, in typical West Texas fashion we have gone from lows in the 60's and highs in the 70's to a chilly, very windy morning with a high only supposed to be in the 60's...not exactly ideal trick or treating weather so far...BUT we know people, so if it stays horribly windy we will be hitting a party instead.

 

This year I am super appreciative of the hard work that carving a pumpkin entails.  At least it's hard for me....someone who is not used to doing weird things with sharp objects.  Steven and Brooke carved this pumpkin before church last night.

 

 

AND, after all of the costumes this girl has and all the things she has said she was going to be for Halloween she decided on the Unicorn costume.  I am pretty thrilled because it was easy, it is girly and it has a hood to keep those ears covered in this wind! 

Cheer Time!

I might be a week or so behind again, but oh well....you wouldn't really know if I would quit telling you!

 

Brooke went to the annual Little Leopards Cheer Camp out here a week or so ago, and as always loved every second of it.  They got to perform at the pep rally that Friday and even perform at halftime at the football game that ended up being 30 degrees with a negative wind-chill.  I will get THOSE pictures from Steven later. 

 

I took my good camera, then as it started I realized I hadn't charged it in several months, so you will have to live with blurry shots from my phone.

 

Before with her friend Hadyn.

 

All lined up and ready to go!

 

LOVE seeing her smile at things like this.  She LOVES it and shows no stage fright at all!

I will attempt to upload a video of them dancing....but for now take my word for it, it was ADORABLE!

 

And the girls doing their thing during the school song.