The Boys Meet Up Again

Beware, you are going to laugh at the first few pictures!

Cory had a graveside service this past Thursday near Longview, Texas, so we decided to take our first family funeral trip.

You see, all of Cory's buddies from college (SFA) still live in Longview and it had been almost 3 years since we have seen them last.

Plus, they hadn't met the twins, so it just seemed right!

We were crammed in on the way up, but we made the best of it so that we didn't have to take 2 vehicles.

Brooks riding in the back with the cargo!

First thing out of his little mouth was "Daddy, what's in that big box"?

Daddy and his little co-pilot.

She kept hitting the heat/air controls with her boots (not on purpose).

One minute we would be hot as all get out because the heat would be blowing full blast and the next second we were freezing because the air would be on full blast!

CHEESE!

On Friday night, it was like a SFA class of 98 reunion!

All of the boys got to meet again!

L-R

Mark, Lane, Blake, Will, Cory, Burge, and Mann

(there is a picture of all of them when they were in college that I'm waiting on...so stinkin' funny how much they have grown)!

Us

Burkley, Me, Jenn, and Brooks

Cory and Will

Cory, Will, Mark, and Kinley (she is a twin too)

The yummy goods!

Burkley and her new buddy Kinley...they were so sweet together!

Brooks watching Kinley playing in the doggie door!

This kept them busy for a long time!

Cash, Kinley's twin brother, pushing the kiddos around in the fire wood wagon!

We had a great time and I'm glad that we were able to make this a quick little family trip.

Cory is so lucky to have such great friends that he still keeps in touch with!

Thanks Uncle Blake and Aunt Juicy for having us for a few days!

Beep, Beep, Honk, Honk!

(yes, they are still saying that)

"Snow" Jealous

The rumor is that several cities north of us are getting snow!

And all we are getting is nasty RAIN!

Oh well, at least we are making the best of it!

Cory and I did a little rearranging in the play room while B&B were napping.

We are soooooo tired of watching Mickey Mouse (thanks Kelly), Ariel, and Cars in the living room, so we thought that we'd put the TV in there and buy a small DVD player and they can watch movies while they are playing in their room.

So, after we did some rearranging, I headed out to Wal Mart to purchase the DVD player and we had it all set up and ready to go when they woke up.

We didn't get the reaction we had hoped for first, as they both wanted us to sit in there with them, but they are finally "getting" it!

After their baths last night, Cory turned on Cars and this is what I found after I cleaned up!
Don't they look comfy sitting on their bean bag chairs?!?!
B&B might not be out playing in the snow, but they sure are warm and enjoying their new "toy" that daddy bought them!
Stay warm!!

Christmas Day

Christmas with my family continued Christmas Day after B&B took their nap!

My dad called to see if I'd mind opening the garage so we could unload my moms car and not have very far to go...because it was FREEZING!

Here's a picture I snapped of them driving up!

Can you see my dad?

Look closely...he's sitting on the floor of my mom's car!

No room for Poppy with all of these...
HOLY COW...and this was the second load that was brought over!

All of the loot after it was brought in!

And another view!

Brooks got a "real" guitar from Nea and Poppy and he LOVES it.

I see guitar lessons in his future!

He LOVES to play the guitar with my dad, Uncle Mike, and Craig!

And the BEST part and what we look forward to most in my family is when it's time to open gag gifts.

It's so much fun and we laugh so dang hard.

My brother and Sheri gave me this purple beauty this year...and they aren't getting it back any time soon.

Might make the perfect sun hat at the beach this summer!

And Cory got this oh so cool Born Construction hat (my dad's company) from the early 90's along with these cool beer koozies!

And the most BEAUTIFUL vase ever from my mom and dad.

Dad and I LOVE buying figurines from the Dollar Store for each other, but this year, he purchased this beauty for me...and sadly, it's still sitting on my mantle (my cleaning lady probably thinks I'm crazy)!

Burkley helping Maw Maw pat and sing She to sleep...but it didn't work!

Poppy cooking and Nea putting toys together for the kiddos!

And Christmas wouldn't be complete without a brother in law picture!

We say it every year, but I honestly think this Christmas was the BEST Christmas ever.

Cory and I are so blessed and thankful to have such close families that love one another.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Santa Came

Christmas was a little different this year and it was wonderful.

Cory and I decided long ago that we wanted to start our own tradition with our family on Christmas morning.

Which meant cutting out on traveling a few place Christmas Eve and Christmas morning like we have done for years and years.

It wasn't an easy decision, but it was a good one!

We celebrated with Cory's family on Christmas Eve and then my parents, grandmother, and my brother and his family came over to our house on Christmas Day.

Instead of spending the night at Nana and PaPa's, we came home so that Brooks and Burkley could wake up Christmas morning at home.

And we wanted to make sure that Santa knew where we lived!!

As mentioned in the previous post, Santa did not disappoint!

Brooks and Burkley must have been reeeeeeeeal good this year.

Santa snacked on a few homemade pecan sandies (thanks to Granny Di) and washed them down with a touch of milk!

He even left B&B a note!
Santa even thought Holly was a good girl this year too!
And she was beyond excited to get 2 bags of Pup Corn and another rope...since she tore her other rope all to pieces!

And here's all the loot!

See, I wasn't telling you a story...Brooks and Burkley WERE good this year!
4 wheelers, Cars 18 wheelers filled with cars, movies, a kitchen, and stockings filled with colors and coloring books!

Brooks and Burkley preparing mommy and daddy a Christmas breakfast!

This little guy could play with his cars and trucks for HOURS!

I absolutely LOVE this picture!

He's amazed that Santa filled those stockings with goodies!

Pancakes mommy?!?

Helping daddy open his presents!

Holly in heaven with her new rope!

Cutest cooks EVER!

Coloring at their new table while waiting for Christmas breakfast!

Nana and PaPa came over to visit Christmas morning and to see what Santa brought Brooks and Burkley!

Although our Elf (aka PaPa) already knew because he worked hard at putting it all together for us...thank you, thank you, thank you!

PaPa and Brooks chillin'!

Up next, Christmas Day with Nea and Poppy!

Sorry it's taking so long for me to complete my Christmas posts!

Christmas Eve

We celebrated Christmas with the Scott Family on Christmas Eve before the annual Christmas party in the game room!

Here's a picture of Nana and PaPa's living room with alllllll of the loot.

Isn't Nana's tree beautiful?

I helped decorate it!!

Our family picture!

Nana and PaPa with their boys, daughter in laws, and the kiddos!

Family picture with PaPa Scotty and Granny Di

PaPa doing what he does best!

Entertaining B&B for hours, and hours, and hours in the playroom!

Nana and her little princess!

MiMi and Burkley

Burkley lovin' on Colton!

Who would have thought that these $5 backpacks on wheels would be their FAVORITE!

Their new table and chairs.

LOVE it!!

And the bean bag chairs from Uncle Kevin, Aunt Mandy, Colton, and Avery!

They would rather climb on them and roll all around rather than lay on them to watch a movie...but we are working on that!

After opening presents, we headed out back to the game room, where we had dinner and just hung out!

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve this year.

We usually spend the night with Cory's parents and stay up way too late, but we decided to go home this year so Santa could visit our house.

And boy, Santa did NOT disappoint!