Christmas 2013

Our Christmas celebration began in Austin this year. We just went for one night the weekend before Christmas because John Mark had to be back to teach youth on Sunday. We had Christmas brunch on Saturday and then opened gifts. Lela and her family didn't make it to Texas for Christmas this year, but they will be coming at the end of January. Yay! Aunt Debbie didn't make it this year because she was feeling ill. We got to pop open 'crackers' after eating and each one had a crown in it. Mimi wore hers all day. :)

Kristen helping the boys put together the latest Lego set.

We had our little family Christmas back at home on Christmas Eve. This year the boys got a basketball goal for their big gift. As usual, the biggest hit was the mini Lego sets we got them.

They also loved their battery operated toothbrushes.
Wesley got Thor and Curtis got Iron Man.

Their big gift was a basketball goal.

On Christmas day, John Mark's family (minus Paul and Christi who were in Maine) came to spend the night. We had a 'rousing' game of Sequence for Kids with Golly and Granddad while waiting for the Jones to arrive.

Not sure why it looks like JM and Wesley are praying :)

The Jones arrived late on Christmas night, so the day after Christmas was a lazy morning. John Mark made quiche and biscuits for the crowd. The cousins got some good time playing together, and then we opened gifts. I had to head to work pretty soon after the gift time, but I did get to meet up with them for supper at Mexican Inn before everyone parted ways.

Again, most exciting was a Lego set.

Figuring it all out with Granddad

Micah's second Christmas - barely

Cousins!
They had so much fun together.

Ice Days

We were included in the widespread "Icemageddon 2013" event in Texas this weekend. Wesley didn't have school on Friday, and they closed school for Monday as well! I did some work from home on Friday, but decided to stay home since barely any patients showed up at the clinic. I'm probably one of the few people that did not feel the least bit stir-crazy getting to stay at home and hang out with my family for 3 full days. We played lots of Sequence for Kids that Curtis got for his birthday, we read books, and we played in the ice a little each day. We had a few falls (mostly Curtis), but everyone made it through without injuries. I did do a few things on my To-Do List, but mostly I was pretty lazy, especially Friday and Saturday!

Checking out the flowing water
under the ice layer

Thanksgiving 2013

Our Thanksgiving was spent with John Mark's family again this year. Everyone made it this year, and we had a great time. We had some fun times playing games and eating. John Mark's mom worked really hard! Wesley, Curtis and Sadie had a great time playing together as usual. They spent a lot of time in one of the bedrooms playing with Legos since they were too small for Micah.  Micah did get some good cousin playtime in, though. He especially seemed to enjoy crawling on the boys when they were lying on the floor. Curtis and Wesley loved it and laughed and laughed.

Curtis had a second birthday celebration. Our boys are getting spoiled with these double birthday parties! Curtis got a huge cookie monster cupcake which he shared with Wesley.

He got some fun games and a Lego set, both were huge hits for the birthday boy.

Curtis' 4th Birthday in Austin

Since we wouldn't be able to come to Mimi's for Thanksgiving, we decided to celebrate Curtis' birthday in Austin! Mimi was really excited about the idea, and she told us many times through the weekend how much fun she was having. :) It was really fun. I had planned to at least do the cake when I got there, but my Aunt Debbie had already made one for him! Mimi, Kristen and Eric basically made all of the food for the lunch on the day of the celebration. It was great! I appreciated all of their hard work. Curtis wanted an Iron Man birthday just like Wesley, so we got to reuse Wesley's banner but changed the name of course. We put some of Curtis' favorite figures on the cake, and he loved it.

Curtis wanted "Iron Man flying through space!"
Debbie's cake was actually kind of spacey!

Wesley is really into making silly faces for pictures these days.

Curtis got some great blocks and a new Lego set. He and Wesley both got some cool remote control cars that got a lot of use while we were there.

We all went to church with Mimi on Sunday and then made the obligatory trip to Luby's for lunch afterward. :) It was a good trip. I like having family birthday celebrations.

Owen Smedley

We had to put our sweet dog, Owen, to sleep on 11/12/13. We loved him so, and we are still having a hard time adjusting to life without him. He was 11-years-old and the most tolerant and sweet dog we could have asked for.