Christmas and New Years

We had a great holiday season filled with friends and distant family!  It was relaxing and JUST what the doctor ordered. 

The Bush family came to town, although they were a bit under the weather.   We appreciate the sacrifice of traveling so many miles with so many kiddos (HA!).  Love those guys.

We also enjoyed a trip on the "Polar Express".  About 3 hours away in Palestine, TX there is a train station that offers a reenactment of the story "Polar Express."  The idea was great, but quite honestly it left much to anticipate.  It was freezing, wet and expensive!  The kids had fun, but I'm not sure we will ever be doing that again :/

Obviously there were some good times (Sam's face) and then other times we were struggling a bit (Kaylee's face...).

Then one of the highlights was a random trip to the airport for a quick game of wits and wagers.  Mom, Dad and Katie were on their way to one of the Carolina's for some medical advice, but had a layover in Houston!  And it was long enough that we got to spend it with them :)

The Sunday before Christmas.  Don't we have some handsome kids...cool and good lookin'!

Christmas morning!  We had a great time.  Sam in particular had her eye one some of those gifts...none of which were her own. HA!

Grandma and Grandpa Hart joined us via face time.  I LOVE technology just for this purpose alone.  Here is Sammy showing them something she got.

And here is Sam claiming a gift her own when in fact it is actually Audrie's.  She wouldn't put it down and kept saying, "Where's my horse?" And run and find it.  In fact the next morning the first thing out of her mouth was, "Where's my horse?"  Hahahaha.  Good times, at least for Sam.  Audrie on the other hand felt a little shafted!

Kaylee received a REAL American Girl doll.  Can you say Heaven?  It was very literal for Kaylee.  She took that doll out to swing as soon as she had a second.  She and Audrie also received LOADS of AG doll clothes thanks to one of my young women at church.  I think she thought she won the lottery as she opened that blue box.  I mean check out that face! 

 

I think I have had as much fun as the girls have with these dolls.  In fact I proclaimed that I wanted a a doll too!!  I've decided that is why American Girl Dolls are even successful at all...its simply because we as mothers get to vicariously play dolls through our children!  I don't think we ever really grow up when it comes to dolls...well at least I don't.

Andy received his first pair of cowboy boots (since we've been married anyway).  He looks super cute in them.  We are truly becoming Texans down here...it just seeps into you the longer you live here!

 

 Audrie got a beautiful ring from Tyler.  Needless to say she was thrilled.  Tyler is going to make a great husband some day!  He got every one of us girlies a ring...very thoughtful!

 

Andy got me my first pair of Miss Me jeans.  I had never heard of them before, but apparently they are THE jeans real Texans wear. All blinged out with leather and studs on the back pockets.  Comfy and long enough to wear with your cowboy boots!

All in all we had a great Christmas filled with fun, laughter and memories to last a lifetime.  We are so grateful for our Savior whom we celebrated His birth.  What a glorious time we live in!  The gospel is true and the fullness of it is on the earth today.