Toys for Tots

At the birthday party for Jesus, all of the children brought a new, unwrapped present for us to donate to Toys for Tots. We tried to take the toys one night to Babies R Us, but there pick up box had already been picked up. Yesterday Taylor and I took it to Toys R Us and they were so happy to receive the toys. They couldn't believe how many toys we were donating. Taylor told them that they were from her friends that came to Jesus' birthday party. I love how she understands almost everything now and can talk like a big person.

Brownwood Family Christmas Party

Every year we go to Brownwood the weekend before Christmas to have a family Christmas party with Nathan's extended family. It is the only time a year we the whole family gets together. Taylor loved getting to play with all her cousins all night long.

Taylor with her new Polar Bear that roars and snores.

Headed to the barn with Poppy and Abby to feed the horses.

Taylor with all her girl cousins.

All the men watching the Cowboys game

All the cousins.....

Taylor opening a present with daddy.

Happy Birthday Jesus Party

Sunday afternoon, our Monday morning bible study hosted a birthday party for Jesus at our house. We had gold crowns for the kids to wear, stickers to make Nativity scenes with, read 'The Crippled Lamb' by Max Lucado, had birthday cake, and played. Each family brought an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots.

We thought it was a perfect time of year to teach our children about giving to others and helping those who are less fortunate. I'm not sure if all the kids understood about the party for Jesus and that He is the reason for this season, but it is never to early to start telling them. Taylor had a blast getting to play with all of her friends and have birthday cake.



Abigail and Taylor in the photo cutout



Nathan and Taylor eating birthday cake



The kids making their Nativity scene out of stickers

Kendall reading 'The Crippled Lamb' to the kids. Surprisingly, most of the kids sat through the entire story. It is one of my favorite books to read this time of year, but I can't read it without crying.

Picture with Santa

Saturday morning we took Taylor to go see Santa at the mall. She was so excited all morning. She did such a good job. She ran right up to Santa and crawled up into his lap. She smiled pretty for her picture and then told Santa what she wanted for Christmas. She told him that she wants a pink Jeep to drive like daddys. Too cute!

She didn't quite understand that you don't get to stay there and hang out with Santa all day. She didn't want to leave because she wanted to stay with Santa.

Boys and their Toys......

Thursday night while Taylor and I were at church for Christmas by Candlelight, Nathan was at the Jeep dealership. He finally bit the bullet and bought his Jeep. He has wanted a 4-door Jeep since they came out 3 years ago, but I wouldn't let him get one when we found out I was pregnant with Taylor. They aren't exactly the safest cars. He has talked nonstop about 'his Jeep' for 3 years now, so like every good wife would do, I gave in. I actually gave in about 6 months ago, but he has been waiting for a good deal and I guess he found one.

I have to admit, I appreciate him going by himself and doing it. I absolutely hate car shopping and dealing with car salesman (no offense if you or your husband are a car salesman). Since he came home with it, he has been like a kid in a candy store. He is just so excited about it and wants to drive it everywhere.

He came a picked Taylor up for me Thursday night after Christmas by Candlelight so I could pack up all my decorations from the two tables and not have to worry about her, plus it was 10 o'clock and I didn't know how long it would take me to pack up. Anyways, Nathan said when she got in the Jeep, she said, "Wow daddy, nice Jeep". All weekend when we were driving around in it, she kept saying "I like your Jeep daddy" and "yeah, daddy Jeep".

I took these pictures Friday morning on my way out the door to go to the office. Sorry I don't have better pictures.

Christmas By Candleight

Thursday night our church hosted a women's night out with a potluck dinner, decorated tables, and a guest speaker. We had 300 women register to attend! April and I hosted 2 tables and got to decorate them. Some of the tables were absolutely gorgeous! The speaker was a comedian named Kerri Pomarolli who was incredible. She was absolutely hilarious and motivational.

Our two tables:

Bass Pro Shop Playdate

Writing a letter to Santa



Racing cars with Renee and Harrison




Snowman

Riding in the sleigh with Lindsay, Bella, and Christian

Feeding the reindeer

Thursday we met our ECPTA playgroup up at the Bass Pro Shop to play in their Winder Wonderland and see Santa. Taylor was so excited all morning to get to see Santa and take a picture with him. Well, when we got there, we realized that Santa doesn't show up till 5pm and the reindeer carousel doesn't operate until 5pm too. We went ahead and walked over to the carousel to see it and take some pictures on it. One of the workers got the key and turned it on for us so the kids got to ride the reindeer carousel. Okay, we all know Taylor loves horses and always wants to ride the horse carousels whenever we see one. I put her up on that reindeer and she just started crying. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't even get her to stop for one picture. She just wanted to sit in the sleigh and take pictures.

We played with their remote control trucks, we raced a car on a steep track, colored a hunting picture, and wrote Santa a letter. Taylor asked Santa for a puppy and a princess. Awwwwww! I was going to take her to Santa's mailbox to mail the letter to him, but it is just so precious that I decided to keep it. Next year we can write him a letter and mail it.

Taylor was a little bummed that we didn't get to see Santa and take a picture. I promised her that we would take her this weekend to see Santa. She told me that she is going to ask Santa for 2 pink presents. Kids are so funny!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas ICE! exhibit

Saturday afternoon we went to the ICE! exhibit at the Gaylord Texan with some friends. The theme this year was 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'. We went to ICE! two years ago with our parents when Taylor was just 6 months old and loved it, so we were excited to take her again this year. Taylor and I watched the Jim Carrey version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Friday so that she would know who the Grinch was. I was afraid she would be afraid of the Grinch (you have to admit that he is pretty scary in that movie), so I told him that he was just being mean and that he was silly. Every time he was being mean on the movie, she would say, "Silly Grinch!". It worked, she never got scared of him.

The ICE! exhibit was incredible. We all got to slide down the ice slides and Taylor licked the ice in every room. I don't know what came over her. She never licks anything, but man, she licked the ice in every area we were in. Gross!

Dallas Christmas Parade

This morning at 7am, The Huskeys picked Taylor and me up and we headed downtown for the Christmas parade. Nathan opted out this morning at 6:30am since we didn't get home last night from his company Christmas party till 1:30 am. We did get great front row seats since we got there at 7:30am, but it was like 31 degrees and absolutely freezing! We froze the entire time, but it was worth it. The parade was fabulous and Taylor loved it.



The girls waiting for the parade to start




Taylor trying to stay warm




Taylor and Abigail wearing their reindeer antlers




The Santa balloon got caught on the sign and they had to cut one of the ropes to get it unstuck




Selena Gomez (Disney Channel) was in the parade

Miss America!!!

Taylor got to hold the rope to one of the huge balloons!! She thought it was awesome!

Santa Claus!!

Playdough with Taylor

We signed up to bring playdough in December for Taylor's KDO class. I was so going to just go buy some playdough, but the teachers gave me the recipe and it looked pretty easy. So, tonight Taylor and I made a batch of playdough. I couldn't believe how easy it was to make. We made red playdough with a mint scent. Taylor loved getting to pour the ingredients into the pot and then stirring the playdough (before I turned the heat on on the stove). Taylor is such a good little helper.













Recipe for homemade playdough:

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 cups water
3 TBSP of vegetable oil
4 tsp cream of tartar
any color of koolaid

Mix all ingredients over medium heat until dough starts to pull away from the sides and forms a ball. Remove from heat and out in a large ziplock bag. Knead for a few minutes.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

What better way to wake up on the second day of December then with beautiful snowflakes falling to the ground?!? It snowed for about 2 hours this morning and it was gorgeous. Taylor kept saying, "It's Christmastime mommy". I had to go in to the office today, but I wish I could of stayed home and played in the snow with Taylor. It's suppose to snow Friday, so I'm hoping we will get to play in it then.

This was when the snow first started.

Thanksgiving 2009

We left Wednesday for Brownwood to spend Thanksgiving with Nathan's parents on the ranch. On the way, we stopped at a place I have been asking Nathan to stop at for probably the last 7 years. On the way to Stephenville, there is a place that has the Guiness Book World Record for the largest Rocking Chair. There is a great store and a restaurant there that I have always wanted to go into.




This is my first Guiness Book of World Records things ever.






Once we got to the ranch, Taylor was dead set on going to see the horses. She went with Poppy every morning and every night and helped him feed the horses down at the barn. She adores horses and get so excited to go see them at the ranch.






Taylor with her Nana before we headed to MamaDot and Papa's house for Thanksgiving dinner.




Posing in her Turkey shirt






Posing with MamaDot's turkey. She posed next to this turkey on her first Thanksgiving also. We had a really nice and relaxing Thanksgiving Day with MamaDot and Papa and Uncle John.

Friday Charlotte and I got up at 3am so we could be at Walmart at 4am for the 5am sales. What a beating!! Walmart was a mess with people everywhere, lines everywhere, putting sale items out early and no one getting them that waited till 5am, etc.... and I vow never to go to Walmart again on Black Friday that early in the morning. It was just so disorganized and not worth it. We went to some other stores, so I did get to do some fun shopping. I love the Black Friday shopping and the day after Christmas shopping. Those are my favorite shopping days - Nathan thinks I'm crazy!


Charlotte had to work most of Thanksgiving holiday, but we still had a great time. My parents went on their first cruise through the eastern Caribbean over Thanksgiving. I was so glad to hear yesterday when I talked to mom that they had a great time on their first cruise. I think they finally relaxed for once on a vacation. They are ready to go on another cruise, so hopefully they will take us with them next time!






Doesn't she look like a teenager! She watched a movie on Nathan's iphone with the headphones on while Nathan and Eugene watched football.