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.

Before The Magic

Decorating the tree. Memorable moments: Colby organized the whole process and was surprisingly good at putting ornaments on this year, Brody helped this year - instead of throwing the "balls" off the tree and onto the tile like last year, Brody's contribution to the tree was a gigantic pile of ornaments on one branch that we all discovered after he had put about 10 ornaments in one spot - cute, being able to see our Christmas tree through the window on the front porch was really neat.

One of our neighbors dad's just happens to be the #1 rated Santa in the country, and he flew in to visit from Michigan. He really is the real deal, we are talking owns his own reindeer, teaches classes on how to be a Santa, has played some roles and everything. The night he came into town, he got all dressed up and carried a huge lantern up and down our street. He was "looking" for all the boys and girls to make sure they were being good. He sang songs with them in the street, gave them candy canes, and then literally disappeared as he walked down the street. Our neighborhood is so dark and wooded all he had to do was turn off his lantern and he really did disappear, but all the kids thought it was magical and were trying to find him. It was a real treat.

Here are the boys - all grins - after Santa left.

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse, well, except at our house. The night before we left town Matt and I were crazily wrapping a gazillion packages. Matt went to the garage to get more paper, and I think he almost screamed, b/c this little guy was stuck in our garbage can and was trying to jump out. Kind of cute. No. Matt is more humane than me, my suggestion was to dump this thing in the drainage culvert, so it would never escape...but Matt kindly walked it down to the creek and let it go. All I can say, is you better not return little mouse, especially inside my house! :)

The boys in their new PJs Mimi gave them this year. I am for sure Auntie Mallory picked these out, and the boys loved them! Thank you Mimi and Mallory! We actually got several good pictures, b/c the boys were a little delirious and were calling daddy all kinds of funny things.

Now, who would have thought that big messy puddles in the freezing cold weather would have been sheer joy? Must have been boys b/c I wasn't out there, and they had so much fun. I do remember doing the same thing as a child in this very driveway in the spring time though. They played for a good while just throwing rocks into the giant puddles. Don't mind the electrical cord running through the puddle in the background, it's totally safe?!?!?

I love this picture. I know these are the pictures I will really treasure someday and so will the boys. I just don't get enough of them. Priceless. Gram reading to Brody. LOVE IT!

What would Christmas Eve be without making cookies for Santa. I was so thankful my mom remembered and bought us some cookie dough. We didn't have time to do the whole homemade cutout cookies this year, but the boys had just as much fun decorating with a little frosting and sprinkles.

This is where my mom's tree has been set up since I can remember. I still remember lining up down the hallway in order of age waiting to run in and see what Santa brought us. This year the boys got to do the same. There's a little something special on the tree this year. Do you see it?

Gratitude

Back in November we were able to go back to Arizona to visit family and friends for Thanksgiving. It was again bittersweet. Because it had only been about 4 months since we left, we kind of felt like we were coming home. It was strange, but so good to see family - in a weird way because we stayed with them and didn't have our own place.

We were grateful for absolutely beautiful weather. Of course what else would we expect? And for the incredible growth our little ones have when we venture out on trips. Colby started riding one of Mimi and Papa's bikes without training wheels, which, if you don't know Colby is a serious accomplishment. We are so grateful for his therapist and all that he has braved this year! He is one fantastic kiddo.

As a side note...he has even started riding his own bike at home this month. Again, another huge accomplishment since his bike is much taller than this one, and because nothing is flat in Austin. He has also managed to ride around lots of other kids, and has even mastered his razor scooter!

Brody literally grew. I swear they grow over night, literally sometimes! He is turning into such a big boy. He loves nursery, and this trip proved he really doesn't care which nursery, even if it's unfamiliar he just jumps right in. He really tries as hard as he can to keep up with all the big kids, and he does such a good job. We are grateful for his happy, and huge personality....although we could do without the tooty two's that have inevitably dropped in for a little while.

One of the best days, was when we got to participate and attend Madisen, our niece's, baptism. She is such an amazing girl, and beautiful spirit. It was really special to have all the family there. I can't believe I don't have one picture of this girl!

We are really thankful this year for our family's little miracle, Braxton. He is so incredibly cute, and is practically a mini-me of his daddy, Jesse. Colby was just enamored by him. At 9 months old now (6months adjusted) you would never guess he was a preemie. We continue to keep this little fireball in our prayers, as he struggles with a few challenges, but are so grateful he is a part of our family.

Oh, and yes, we are grateful for family pictures, even though we took more pictures, than any of the kids (or adults for that matter) care to take again. We all survived the gigantic family picture with 28 people, 10 of which were kids. I'll post that later. And what a fantastic memory we will have later.

I was especially grateful to spend time with everyone, especially my sweet "kindred spirit" of a friend! I love that girl and her family. What an awesome trip, and hallelujah praises to me for finally beginning to catch up on this blog thing! :)

The "Keleton" & The "Cowboy"

If you are as tired of Halloween as I am, you probably don't even want to read this post! The day after Halloween I took down all of the Halloween decorations, I don't know what it is about Halloween, but I just don't care for all the junky decor, and gross lawn decorations. The night before Halloween we had our Ward's trunk or treat and it was really fun. I think the boys had more fun there than the little block party and trick or treating on Halloween.

Mimi sent the boys a darling package with Halloween t-shirts (to match their cousins of course).

Brody decided he wanted to be a cowboy this year. Imagine him saying it with the thickest Texas twang, and your heart would melt just like mine did. He would say "Colby a keleton and Brody a cowboy"

Of course the best part about this costume - oh yeah baby- the holster and guns.

Our new neighbors were kind enough to include us in the block party they have each year. This is all of the kiddos dressed up. Pretty much all of these guys are out and playing in the street every afternoon and evening.

Here he is the scary skeleton. Colby was going to be Darth Vader, but changed his mind a few weeks before. Brody screamed and cried no matter what costume he put on, so it didn't matter.

Auntie Marcie was my hero, it was so fun to have her there to see the kiddos trick-or-treat, but it was even better to be able to hang out with my sister and chat, amongst so many new faces.

There are all kinds of hills and steps here, and on our side of the neighborhood the houses are pretty far apart, so we went to about 8 houses and were done!

This year I did get a little crafty. I saw an idea in a Lowes add for Ghosts made out of small glass lamp shades. I couldn't find the add when I needed it, so I googled, and found this adorable idea.

I bought old glass containers from Goodwill and then modge-podged the inside, sprinkled with fine glitter and then painted on the faces. Okay, so I did have a little fun. But I am really glad its all done.

This month has been full of fun adventures. We found a turtle in the middle of the road, and when I finally convinced Colby to hold it, it stuck out its legs in an attempt to flee. It scared Colby to death who dropped the poor turtle and cried for a good while. We finally made it up to Dallas. It is hard to believe it had been over a year since I had been home. Colby and Brody got to go see their cousin Drew play soccer. Then we all got to hang out at my brother's house and have dinner. We even made a grand adventure to the Texas State Fair with my brother and his wife Angela. Besides the horrible crowd, and an unmentionable train ride to Fair Park, it was a lot of fun. We even got to visit mom's award winning pickles in the hall of fame. This year she won first prize for whole dill pickles, and canned tomatoes. She also won 3rd place for zucchini relish and sliced dill pickles. And what kind of yummy Texas State Fair food did we eat? We all sampled and shared, fresh squeezed lemonade, corn dogs, chicken fried bacon(to die for), fried butter, fried cookie dough, fried peanut butter and jelly, sausage on a stick, and ice cream. All of it was fat free! One of the highlights for me was visiting my Grandma. It was so good to see her, and be in her house. There are just so many memories still wrapped up in her house. It was fun for her to see the boys. The best part was when she picked Brody up and then played "this little piggy" with him. He loved it! When we got home we were all about the Halloween decorations and pumpkin patches. And just when we thought we could slow down... this weekend is Halloween. It's crazy to think that Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. We are headed to AZ in a few weeks! If you are in town let me know, we would love to stop by and say hi.