A Texas Christmas

This year we spent Christmas with my family in the Dallas area. I say that, because we literally span the whole area when we visit, with family members in Parker, McKinney, Frisco, Dallas and beyond. We had a really special Christmas Day this year. Matt & I didn't take many pictures this year Christmas morning because we just wanted to soak up all that this special time is with the kiddos. So we just let the video camera roll, and when I edit that I am sure it will be pretty funny.

Brody got just what he wanted from Santa. Every time I asked him what he wanted he said, "candy" with an impish little grin on his face. This boy loves candy and he asks for it morning, noon, and night. Of course Santa knew he wanted more than just that, so he got a new scooter and a big trash truck too, but he honestly was thrilled to just eat candy in the morning!

Colby's wish came true when he got the two toys that were at the top of his list. The imperial shuttle with a red imperial guard, and Darth Vader, and number two - a rubber shark. Can you believe the size of this ship. The best part about him asking Santa for this was the comment he made to Matt and I. He told us that he was going to ask Santa for this because it was expensive and Santa doesn't have to pay for anything.

After we had fun with all our Santa toys, and opened presents from Mimi and Papa, we headed over to my brother's house and had brunch and presents. And, no that is not me with my brother, it is my "twin" sister Marcie who lives here in Austin with us.

This is my niece, Amber, and my sweet sister-in-law Angela. I cannot believe how beautiful she is, and what an incredible young woman she is turning out to be.

Everyone was there. It really was a miracle. Every single one of us. It was so special.

It was a progressive Christmas. It always has been and probably always will be. We went to my Grandma's house. Again, the whole family. Everybody. All my cousins. Everyone. It was so special, especially for my Grandma. She was just glowing the whole evening.

Pictures like this are ingrained in my memory from childhood. We have a great family. Most meals when we gathered were at this table, although, now that I'm and adult I have moved on up to the big table :) But - if you notice everyone is laughing. There was, and apparently still is great company and hilarious stories to tell each other. This one in particular is about my cousin Brian who has had an incredible life going to school overseas. He was telling us with his brother, Collin, about a time he was photographed for what he thought was an insignificant shoot (to earn some money and do someone a favor) and ended up being on the cover of some published oriental magazine in a lab coat with a hilarious expression on his face.

Nothing, not a thing, has changed about this living room, from the Christmas tree (which I have to add looks a lot smaller now), to the gold velor couch. We all open gifts, and hold up a few funny ones that Grandma has inevitably pulled out of storage. My cousin Scott in the black shirt, was even here from Puerto Rico. He plays for the Islanders and is an amazing soccer player. Meghan, my cousin, has moved back to Dallas after graduating this past spring from college in Colorado. She announced her engagement and will be married in Colorado this coming fall.

This year proved to be extra special. Mostly because we were all gathered together, but also because my Grandma gave each of us girls a very special gift. She gave my sister's and I all rings. Marcie's was the first ring that my Grandpa had ever given my Grandma, Michelle's was another ring that my Grandpa had given my Grandma, and mine was one that she had made using the stones that they had collected during their years of travel to amazing places around the world. My Grandma used to get rings almost every Christmas from my Grandpa. She gave my boys stock certificates which was a tradition that my Grandfather started years ago with each of us. Not only were the gifts incredibly meaningful and generous, but it was just really amazing for us all to be in the same place at the same time.

My sweet mama came and braved it among all the Lyman family, Love you Mama! My dad also gave us girls very special gifts. We have a tender daddy, but it is not very often we get to see that side of him, and it was really special to share that with him. Enough good things cannot be said about this day.