Christmas Card Photo Attempt

As was attempted last year, we attempted to get a shot of Meme and Poppy with the grandkids for their Christmas card.  While Meme and Poppy were getting ready, I had the chance to get a few pictures of Luke and Megan. 

I love this picture of Luke.  I was able to snap it at just the right time and think it turned out great. 

Megan was being a goof ball.  She wouldn’t sit in front of the pond, so I snapped a few pictures while she was acting like a monkey and swinging around on Meme and Poppy’s swing by the washer pit. 

I wasn’t able to get a picture of Megan and Luke both looking at me.  Luke is looking at Ruth who was jumping around behind me trying to force a smile from Luke. 

This isn’t the best picture, but it’s my favorite!  I love the way Luke is looking at Megan. 

Merry Thanks-mas!

While we were in San Antonio for the Thanksgiving week, we celebrated Christmas with my parents, brothers, sisters-in-law and nephew.  The year that Jarrad and I got married, we started spending every other Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family – alternating the years from Thanksgiving to Christmas.  It has worked out perfectly! 

Thursday morning, we opened gifts after Kyle got to the house from working around 11:30am.  We usually take turns opening gifts, but this year was more of a free for all.  I don’t think I even saw Meg open all her gifts. 

Everyone was completely spoiled (again) and had a great Christmas. 

***Luke snuggling up to Jarrad***

***Meg got a Looney Tunes collection from Meme and Poppy***

***Megan playing with her v-Tech reader from Meme and Poppy***

***Meg got her very own bow & arrow from Kyle and Sheryl this year***

We had an amazing week!  I was sad when it was time to pack the car up and head back to Mansfield.  But, I start a new job on Monday and Meg starts a new before and after school program.  We needed to get home so we could get settled back in for the changes we are about to face. 

Saturday & Happy Birthday Kyle

Megan, Meme and I had tons planned for Saturday.  Megan and I were extra tired on Saturday because Meg was up at 3:00 screaming because her head hurt so bad.  Unfortunately, Meme didn’t have any Motrin in the house, so I loaded Meg up into the car around 3:30 and headed into town to pick some up.  As we were pulling back into the driveway, Meg told me that he stomach was hurting.  Before I could get the car into the garage, Meg threw up all over the front seat of meme’s car.  It was almost 5 by the time I got Meg back to sleep, some laundry started, the car cleaned and back to sleep myself.  Not sure what the cause of it was, but Meg felt great on Saturday (other than a little bit of a headache still lingering).   

We left the house around 9:40 to get our day started.  First stop was the hair salon for Meme.  While Meme was getting her hair cut, Meg and I headed to TC for some delicious breakfast tacos.  Next stop was Dillards.  I needed to buy some work clothes for my new job (more on that later).  After Dillards, we headed to DSW.  Then it was on the the jewelry store, Target, Sam’s and then finally to Hobby Lobby.  By the time we got home it was 6:40.  Luke and Ruth came over Saturday night, so we got to hang out with them some more. 

While we were at Hobby Lobby, I picked up some craft supplies to make some ornaments.  Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of the finished product.  I will say though, it was super fun to make and turned out very cute. 

Sunday, Meme, Meg and I got up early to head to HEB.  We thought by going early we would beat the rush – we were wrong!  The store was super busy.

Sunday evening, Kyle and Sheryl and Taylor, Ruth & Luke came over to celebrate Kyle’s birthday.  We had spaghetti for dinner and the sang Happy Birthday to Kyle and let him blow out a candle.  The only candle I could find around the house was a rose candle – I think it worked. 

Happy Birthday Kyle!!! 

San Antonio

Megan and I headed down to San Antonio last Friday for a week long visit with Meme and Poppy.  Meg and I loaded up the car Friday and hit the road right after lunch.  I let Meg skip school so she could help me with the packing. 

The drive down to SA was very uneventful.  Meg colored in the back and took a nap.  Dixie rode shotgun and slept the entire trip.  Gunner was nervous and couldn’t get comfortable.  I was so happy when we finally pulled into the driveway at Meme’s house.

Poppy and Taylor were actually out of town hunting for the weekend, so Luke and Ruth came over to hang out with us on Friday night.  Luke is so ADORABLE!  I love this little guy more than anything.  He’s always looking for the next thing that will get him into trouble.  He’s a little Dennis the Menace. 

Meg and Luke love playing with each other.  It’s super cute to watch Meg play with Luke.  She is so sweet with him.  And, he is sweet to her when it serves in his best interest…just like an 18-month old. 

 

***Luke and Megan sharing Cheetos***

Meg took Rachael and Reagan to San Antonio with us.  She also took her the babies beds with us.  Luke was very sweet with Meg’s babies and wanted to climb into the crib with Rachael.  Of course, I didn’t want to pass up the photo opportunity, so we let him get in there.  He looked very comfy. 

Megan didn’t want to be left out, so she climbed in with Luke.  I have to say that the American Girl crib is very durable – it held Meg and Luke with no problems. 

Ruth and Luke left the house around 9 or so.  Meg, Meme and I needed a good nights rest because we had lots to do on Saturday. 

Birthday weekend

Meme, Poppy, Taylor, Ruth & Luke came to Mansfield this weekend for Meg’s birthday party.  Meme & Poppy came in on late Thursday night.  They didn’t get to Mansfield until after Meg’s bedtime, so when I woke Megan up Friday morning, I told her to go look in the guest room.  She was so surprised both of them. 

Poppy, Meme and I ran a few errands to get ready for Meg’s birthday party.  We also went to lunch with Megan.  Meg’s face is beat read in the picture because some genius thinks that recess BEFORE lunch is a good idea. 

 

Ruth, Taylor & Luke got in around 9:00pm Friday night.  We were so excited they were able to make it for the weekend. 

Since Meme, Poppy & I ran most of the errands for the birthday party on Friday, we got to do some shopping on Saturday.  Taylor was looking for some Tech gear and we needed to go to the mall to pick up Meg’s birthday cake.  While we were at the mall, we let the kids play in the play area for a little while and they also rode the merry-go-round. 

 

Saturday night was Meg’s party – stay tuned for a post all of it’s own :)

Playing around with PSE

Playing with PSE

Family Vacation 2010 {Part Seven}

Jarrad had to leave out on Monday, so before his flight, we went to the Texas State Aquarium.  Jarrad, Megan, Kyle, Sheryl, and I headed into Corpus after breakfast. 

Meg was very excited about going to the aquarium.  Kyle and Sheryl had been to the aquarium before, I was so excited to experience it thru Megan’s eyes. 

***Meg at the entrance***

***Meg with a turtle***
 

***Kyle, Sheryl & Meg***
 

***Isn’t this guy cute***
 

***Meg, looking at the alligator***
 

***Meg and Daddy touching stingrays***
 

***Meg loved, loved, loved this dolphin***
  

***Kyle, Meg, Mommy & Daddy***

***The Family***

***Meg and the otter that Uncle Kyle bought her***

We had a wonderful time at the aquarium.  After the aquarium, we had to take Jarrad to the airport.  We were sad to see him go home a day early, but it was important for him to get back home to see one of his oldest friends that was in town for the day on Tuesday. 

After dropping Jarrad off, we headed back to the house in Port A for our last afternoon of vacation.  The wind was so bad that we decided to head to one of the pools instead of fighting the “breeze” at the beach.  We had a wonderful afternoon.

Monday night, we cooked burgers and stayed in.  After dinner the Boones/Koppes came over and we sat out on the balcony telling more stories and laughing.  It was a perfect ending to the perfect family vacation!

Tuesday morning, we had to pack up and head back to the real world!  I was so sad to leave, but am glad we have such great memories.  I hope that family vacation is something we will do as the years go on! 

Family Vacation 2010 {Part Six}

Sunday evening, we headed over to the Boone/Koppes place for a shrimp fry.  The food was great, the company was even better. 

My parents have known Brenda since high school.  The Boone Boys (Landon, Ryan and Justin) are the same ages and my brothers and I.  Landon and I are the oldest (three weeks apart), Ryan and Taylor (five weeks apart) and Justin and Kyle (five months apart).  I don’t have many childhood memories that don’t include the Boones. 
That evening, we cooked, visited, laughed, ate, drank, laughed some more, and told stories.  Some stories were true, some were half truths, some were plain old lies. 

For instance, one of the lies that may have come up involved the accusation of me biting Landon when we were little kids.  It is believed that I bit Landon when we were little kids because he stole my plastic donut.  The story claims that I bit Landon on the forehead and left teeth marks.  Believe what you will, I claim my innocence. 

Megan fell completely in love with Ryan.  One point while dinner was being fried up, I went looking for Megan.  I found her, Ryan and Emmy dog swinging in the hammock on the balcony.  It was such a great photo opportunity.  They looked like they were solving all the world’s problems….knowing Meg and Ryan, they were. 

Sunday was a GREAT night.  Nothing is better than good food and GREAT friends. 

Last post to come soon :)

Family Vacation 2010 {Part Five}

Sunday was day three for family vacation.  After we got moving on Sunday morning, we headed back down to the beach.  Meg couldn’t wait to get back down to the beach for some more fun in the sun and surf. 

The wind was HORRIBLE that day, but we all still managed to have a great time.  Since it was Sunday, the beach was pretty vacant.  We had so much fun. 

 

***Meg, Poppy, Luke and Taylor***
 

 

***Luke and Megan***

 

***Making a sandcastle***
 

 

***Beautiful Meg***

One of the things that Megan loved doing was sitting on the boogie board while someone helped her up and over the waves.  We did this for hours and hours.  I think we all took turns before the day was over. 

***Meg and Kyle***
 

 

***Meg and Mommy***

 

***Beautiful Megan***

Sunday night, we did a shrimp fry with the whole group.  More to come :)