Lets Decorate!!!!

Christmas season is here!!!! You can imagine the excitement in our household with the kids talking about what they want for Christmas and asking when we are going to put up the tree, put up the lights, go see Santa, decorate cookies, etc. Such a fun time for memories to be made. I decided last week that we would at least get the tree up before Thanksgiving and that we did! We all had fun and Ryder was so cute to watch as he soaked in everything this year. Surprisingly he hasn't tried to pull all the ornaments off. Kalyn and Sheldon pretty much did most of the work this year and it is such a blessing to see them mature and take on more responsibilites the older they get. God is so good!

 

 

Kalyn putting the tree together

Ryder checking things out

And he wants to help KK too

Kids with their new 2012 ornaments

fixing the skirt

My precious girl

And my sweet boy

Daddy and his son

All my 4 blessings working together...love it!

Daddy putting on the finishing touch...the star!

Happy Birthday to ME!

I turned 37 today...just three more years before the big 4-0! It seems surreal because I can remember so clearly when my mom and dad each had a surprise party for their 40th birthdays...yikes. My day was a wonderful. Ricky works from home every Wednesday so it was really nice that he was able to be with me today...we went to eat some Mexican food for lunch and then did a little Christmas shopping too! Can't beat that in my book. The kids gave me my presents before we left for church tonight...loved them ALL! I also got to be with my church family on my birthday which was a plus.  A dear friend of mine, Katy, and I share the same birthday so it was fun to be with her too!Here's to another year of blessings!!!

 

Birthday girls...Chera and Katy

Thanksgiving 2012

It was a different Thankgiving this year without Kalyn and Sheldon who were with their dad in Houston. Ricky, Ryder and I were all under the weather with a nasty cold too! Nevertheless, we still enjoyed family time with Ricky's mom, brother, and his wife in Georgetown for a couple days. We also got to see Ricky's aunt and cousin as well. Ryder even got his first haircut too by Aunt Damary!! Before we headed to Llano on Friday to spend the rest of the holiday with my family, we went to watch Lexington's first playoff game in Buda. On our way to the game we just had to take Ryder to Cabela's and pick up a gift for one of our kiddos...not telling who in case they are reading this blog!! HA! Ryder just loved seeing all the animals in the store which was so fun. The football game itself was exciting, but exhausting for me and Ricky because Ryder simply DID NOT want to sit in the bleachers...he wanted down so he could crawl around! It made for a l-o-n-g couple hours for us taking turns to take him down under the bleachers to walk around. We were glad our team won, but even more glad to be able to get on the road and head to Llano! We invited Caleb, a teen boy from our church, to go with us so he could hunt and just be out in the country. He loved it and even managed to kill his first buck ever. Ricky told me that is what excites him the most about hunting now...seeing young kids kill their first deer and remembering his own excitement as a kid. So glad he is able to be with our kids and others as well to experience that excitement all over again! While in Llano we just visited, fed cows, went on gator rides, ate too much again, and celebrated my upcoming birthday with my family. We are so blessed to have both our families to love and spend time with...God is so good!

 

Playing at Mimi's house

Not feeling good :(

Uncle Brad!

Outside with Mimi, Aunt Sandra and Uncle Brad

1st haircut!

...and not too happy about it either!

Feeding cows with Granden

This melts my heart...so sweet!

Watching the cows with Granden and Oni

Happy boy!

Mooooo!!

Ricky with Caleb and his 1st buck

Happy Birthday Mommy!!
 

Lets decorate!!

The kids and I decided to put up the Christmas tree this evening. Notice I didn't say Ricky...ha! Kalyn and Sheldon will be with their dad in Houston for Thanksgiving this year while Ricky, Ryder and I will be in Georgetown then Llano with our families. It is always nice to come home to Christmas after being gone...so we got on with it this evening! Kalyn and Sheldon pretty much took the reins and did most of the work which was nice especially with my back bothering me the last couple days. Ryder helped a little and was a much better sport than he was last year!!! I just love this tradition with my family and count my blessings every year we do this together!!!

 

Kalyn taking charge....

Trying to help...

Here you go KK!

straightening out the tree skirt

2012 ornaments from Mommy and Daddy

Kalyn Leigh

Sheldon Blake

Daddy and Ryder Wayne

My FOUR blessings!!!

Daddy putting on the finishing touch...the star!!

End of season PARTY for cheer and football

The LYFA (Lexington Youth Football Assoc) threw a party for the kids and their families to celebrate the end of season. The varsity boys won the superbowl so there was a lot to be excited about!! The party was at the park in Lexington and there were different things to do (bounce house, games, etc) and plenty of food. Kalyn and Sheldon really enjoyed seeing their teammates and buddies since it had been a couple weeks since they had been with each other out of school. Ryder just enjoyed swinging...and swinging!! It was a fun day and we were glad to be able to go this year.

 

5th Grade Field Trip

Kalyn and her friends went on a field trip to Blinn College this morning to see the production of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Several parents and myself followed the buses to Brenham so we could be with our kiddos...it was fun! The play was so-o-o good and they did a great job. The kids really enjoyed themselves. After the play we all went to Ci-Ci's for lunch. In the past, at the end of each field trip, Kalyn has always been excited to leave early to ride back home with me...not this time! :o( She wanted to ride the bus back to school with her friends (including her boyfriend-ha)!! I am happy for her to want to be with her friends, but it made me sad also because it just meant she was growing up even more. I am so proud of her!

 

Kalyn and friends ready to see the play!

Here we go....

Enjoying herself (boyfriend Heath is beside her)

Snow White, Step-mother, and Prince

The seven dwarfs