December 2014

December has been fast and furious. Only three days til Christmas and I am hoping to put the breaks on. I don't want all the fun to end!

It all started with a little fun at the mall.

And then there was some ice cream involved. 

We saw Mayor Tate light up the tree in downtown Grapevine. 

Sadly, there were fireworks involved. 

But happily they didn't last long. 

The girls talked to Santa about their 'wish lists'. Maisy is wanting a stroller for her American Girl doll. Afton is wanting a "Shopkinz" toy. 

We got a new 'fake' tree this year. It has beautiful white lights. 

Afton got really good at decorating the house and making snowflakes. 

Then we decorated a tree in Colleyville Town Sqaure for MP Football and Cheer. Afton was such a big help to me. I love that.

Maisy and Coco spent a lot of quality time by the tree. 

I took her to see the trains and gingerbread houses at Northpark Mall one day while Afton was at school. What will I do when she is in Kindergarten next year???! 

Our church hosted its annual Christmas Festival. Grammy and Charles joined us too! 

"Can Santa bring me this?!" 

We went to the Grapevine Parade of Lights with Grandpa and Grandma. 

Our Christmas card this year includes photos from our summer CO trip. 

Jeff and I went to San Antonio for the Rock N Roll Half Marathon. (He loves to have his photo taken. Lol) 

The Race was a lot of fun. 

I set a new PR, with a finish time of 1:48 for 13.1 miles. Magic in misery? Oh yes. 

The girls mailed their letters to Santa, and a few days later got a response! 

Grammy, Amanda and Wyatt came over one afternoon to make Christmas cookies. 

I had a fun night out with friends. Celebrating the Christmas season should never end! 

Jeff and I took the girls to Great Wolf Lodge for a night. There was lots of swimming, story time in the lobby , and even snow! 

The girls attended a Frozen party. Afton said she was 'too old to dress up like a princess anymore.' So sad! And Maisy wanted to be Maleficient. So I put her in black dress, with red lipstick and then braided her hair to make 'horns'. Lol. 

We went to Devon's 31st birthday party. It was 'ugly sweater' themed :) 

Jeff won :) 

And Maisy is still in awe of baby Jesus. LOVE. 

You say "Merry" we say "Christmas". Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas! 

We said 'goodbye' to our favorite little guy. The Pattons are now California residents due to Preston's new job with the FBI. It is a good move for them, but we will miss them all! 

The girls had such a good time at their class parties and making holiday treats at home. 

And then we wrapped up all the excitement with an 'adults only' Cookies & Cocktails Christmas party. It was a blast! (I got to wear sequin pants. #winning) Jeff made his famous pork. 

What will we do after December 25th??! 

Maisy's Dance Recital- Christmas 2014

Maisy is dancing again for the third year with Ms. Jo-Ann. We love Ms. Jo-Ann and her precious program. Maisy is so happy to be a dancer again :) Her class performed at Grapevine High School to "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" and "Joy to the World". This was her best recital yet!

Maisy was proud that Grammy, Grandpa, Grandma, Mimi and Grandanny all came to the show! 

Click here to see her dancing :) 

Love this little dancer!

Thanksgiving 2014

I like how Thanksgiving has become an entire week of celebrating. With so much family and so much food-- there is no way we could have fit it all into one day.

First Grandpa turned 60!

Next, there was the actual Turkey Day. Filled with a family fun run and then waaaaay too much food :)

And we wrapped it all up with a trip to Waco to see how the Homesteaders live. Makes me appreciate our modern world. But the girls had fun with cousins making crafts and riding horses. And Jeff and I loved eating all their delicious breads.

On to Christmas we go! 

Preschool Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving Feast at preschool is pretty much like the original Thanksgiving. The 'Indian Princesses' wore sequins.

Guests dined on chick-fil-a nuggets.

Everyone gathered for multiple group photos. 

Friends drank bottled water and told jokes. 

Some had more fun than others-- that poor Chief on the end doesn't look impressed :) 

But everyone stopped to give thanks to God. 

I hope that our Thanksgiving meal on Thursday will be as bountiful and full of grace as the one Maisy had at preschool. 

Psalm 107:1

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever."