Christmas 2010

Wow. What a busy Christmas we had this year. Lots of food, friends and family. Oh yeah, and toys. My goodness do we have a lot of toys.

Our first Christmas celebration kicked off at my Uncle's house. There was a ton of yummy food, laughs, and Audrey received some gifts that made her day!

She had to test out her vacuum right away.



And she wouldn't put down her new baby, even as she was commandeering my brownie.

But she finally left her toys alone long enough to visit some neat animals like goats and 'huge, growling, fuzzy chickens.' I didn't go out side so I don't know what that means. That's just how my husband described them.



Christmas eve lunch was at our house since we live 5 minutes from my brother and he and I didn't want to have to drag our kids all over Texas. We had lunch and some of my Auntie Di's fantastic bananas foster.

But I'm certain it would have been much better had she made it instead of me. I think she sets fire to it but I just know if I do, I'll be missing eye lashes when all is said and done. And I like my eye lashes. So no fire for the bananas foster.


Since Chase and Travis had baby Callie, Audrey had to show everyone her new baby.

She would rock her exactly like her Auntie Travis rocked Callie.

But then it was time for presents.

The kids made quite a haul!



I made my dad buy Callie this little 'builder beaver' since my brother is a civil engineer. The beaver has a hard hat, tie, and a hammer. Too cute!



My dad and his Pop apron, real tree camo of course. Thanks Sherri!



This was the first year Audrey really enjoyed opening Christmas gifts, the tearing of paper and throwing the bows. I really appreciate every one's generosity. It doesn't take much to make her happy, but everyone saw to it to make her very happy indeed.

Audrey took a nap after the grandparents left, then it was off to the candlelight service at church. And wow was it packed! It was a beautiful service and every child was given a huge nativity set. Audrey will really enjoy it next year.

Then it was home to find Santa on the radar and read Twas the Night Before Christmas. We usually bake cookies but this year we left Santa a cookie from Audrey's cookie bouquet.

She tasted it first, to make sure it was safe for Santa to eat.



Santa did his best but couldn't finish the huge snow globe cookie.

Christmas morning Audrey woke up with a squeal! I put her to bed and told her when she awoke she'd find that Santa had come to visit. I didn't think she'd remember...but the next morning we heard a squeal coming from her room. We rushed downstairs to start the video camera and I captured Audrey with my camera peeking over the balcony at the tree. When we toured this house I imagined how fun it would be for our kid to peek over and see what Santa had brought.

And she didn't let me down! She was super excited. It was awesome. I love being a mom every single day, but it makes Christmas even more special than I knew was possible.

She first checked out her doll house.

I looked into doll houses and they were super expensive for the ones I liked, and they weren't very big. So I thought I'd make my dad build one instead, that way I could pick out the flooring, wall colors, roof, curtains, etc...just like building a real house. I had decided to give it a Martha's Vineyard feel. Think 'Grey Gardens' before those two crazy Beales and their dozen cats destroyed it. Then I realized, Audrey is two. Calm it down. She doesn't care. She just wants her Barbies to be able to take a nap, a bath, and play the piano. So Santa brought her this one (so I won't be upset if something breaks) and she was thrilled. We didn't hear a peep out of her for HOURS. We got to sit on the couch and read while she played quietly. (We always buy each other a book at Christmas, but this year Barker bought me a Nook Color, yay! and he put several books on it that I've been itching to read. BEST. HUSBAND. EVER.)


Audrey also made time to finish off the cookie Santa left.


And after inspecting all the toys Santa brought, she unwrapped gifts from Mommy and Daddy.


She especially loved her Yellow Submarine shirt. (I bought her bestie Connor one, too.)

Then Barker opened his gifts. (Please excuse my husband's Flock of Seagulls hair.)

Judging by the pictures, I think his favorite gift was a little something I ordered from an artist here in north Texas. He paints anything and everything, including one of Barker's favorite Shreveport hang outs. It's a super cool addition to my bland house.



Audrey digging through her stocking. She scored the Beatles cartoons from 1962!

Our next Christmas celebration was with her faux cousins.

Connor liked his Yellow Submarine shirt. I still can't believe how much our kids love the Beatles. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but they're just two!



Audrey loved everything she received, especially all the girly baseball stuff. She loves baseball! And would have never thought to buy her a glove, bat or baseballs. And she was all about her wand and tea set. She loves her hundred or so pieces of cutlery and dishes.


But the guns I bought Fisher were the real hit of the night. Hunter even put down his new cell phone to play. I seriously think everyone got in on the action!

Daddy teaching Audrey to shoot Mommy. Excellent example he's setting, but it was Christmas so I let it slide.

On a side note- does anyone else think it's totally unfair that some guys, like my beautiful husband, can simply throw on jeans and a sweater and be instantly gorgeous? (rolling my eyes)

Fisher and his Mommy, Lulu, started a bit of a war with the guns.

I just love how they have the exact same serious look on their identical faces!



Bug, showing off his piece

See? So fun an 11 yr old put down his cell! It was a Christmas miracle.

Kannon and Hunter figured out that hoarding the bullets was the best plan on action.
They won the war.

Audrey then played with all the boy toys.
(Please excuse her hair. I have no idea why I didn't fix it that day?)

Rockin' out on a guitar.

And Hunter took the time to read a book to Audrey.

She loves that sweet boy.


And finally we quickly met up with my older brother and his kids on our way to the ranch.

Audrey was sooooo excited to see Bristol. She loves him!
The kids picked out songs on the jukebox and danced. I should have been the one doing the dancing to burn off some calories! I ate so many sweets at all these various get-togethers, plus Barker brought home tons of goodies from his office. I ended up gaining 4 pounds in 2 weeks. Ugh! Home made pralines are not my friend.

Then it was on to the ranch. We got up in the stand at 4:10. By 4:14 we saw 3 doe. Then another 5. Then I saw horns. I'm convinced the only reason Barker paid for my Lasik was so I'd be able to see bucks. And boy did I see them. He stuck his neck out from behind a tree, I yelped 'horns, baby, horns' and reached for my ear plugs. Barker picked up his rifle and moments later we were back on the four wheeler. If only hunting was always that quick.

Barker and his 8 point.
When we take pictures, Barker has been known to pull his terrible fake smile. Yet every time he shoots a deer I take a picture of him with it and what do you know....great smile. Gorgeous. So if next year you get a Christmas card from us and Barker is holding Audrey by her ears or pig tails like they're antlers, please take the time to admire his smile. It will be there because I told him from now on he is to imagine he's holding a 12 point when we're taking family pictures.

So that was our super busy and wonderful Christmas. Hope yours was just as joyful.

Lights, Camera, Action

My bestie and I took Audrey and her bestie to see some Christmas lights on a whim. It was really cold. Should have thought that one through a little better.

But they had fun, for the few minutes it lasted.



Baby it's cold outside (but hot chocolate helps a little)



Away in a manger



my loves

Our Attempted Trip to Shreveport

Last weekend I was so excited to go to Shreveport to meet the newest member of the Blancher family and for my friend Emily's baby shower. Audrey had other plans.

You see, Barker makes Audrey and myself car sick. It happens to me at random, any time of the day. But it only seems to affect Audrey in the morning. Luckily, I'm the one that takes her to school and he very rarely drives her in the morning. I should have driven to Shreveport but wasn't thinking and let Barker drive as usual. (I hate to drive.) Needless to say, we never made it to Louisiana. Audrey got sick, and I mean sick, when we were still a good hour and a half from Shreveport. I was pretty sure she was just car sick but I didn't want to risk it and have her around a newborn and a pregnant friend. So we cleaned her and her car seat up as much as we could, which was futile, and headed home. She acted as if she felt just fine and found it hysterical that after the 3rd time of vomiting, we had no clothes left to put her in, so she was forced to wear an old t shirt I found in the trunk. It was a Borat t shirt. Classy. She'd already been sick on all of her clothes, her dad's shirt, her coat, even her tights. Awesome. But she did enjoy wearing the old t shirt. She called it 'Daddy's dress.'

Once we got home she had a blast in the bath tub while poor Daddy cleaned the car, car seat, and clothes.


I was glad she didn't have a virus or anything, just car sick, but I was still really disappointed I had to miss the baby shower. But spending the day with this smile was good, too.

Audrey's First School Christmas Program

This morning Audrey had her Christmas party at school. I stuck around to help out with the making of cookies and the book exchange, but forgot to take any pictures. Oops.

Tonight she had her first school Christmas program. Hard to believe, I know. Sadly, I wasn't much better with the camera. But here are the a couple of pictures that weren't totally ruined. (The woman in front of me would seriously not quit moving, so my camera couldn't focus. Bummer.)


All of the kids from her school
(Audrey is on the left in the big green bow)



The 2 year old class was supposed to wear pajamas. Most of Audrey's are super cute but not Christmas themed, but then I remembered she had these Dora snow men pajamas from last year. Glad they still fit!



Audrey sat with a teacher the whole time and sang Jingle Bells. What a big girl!

After her program we treated our super star to her favorite, Mexican food, at Ernesto's here in Prosper. She ate more than Barker and myself combined, then treated us to an encore of Jingle Bells once we got home.

We are blessed.

AMMG Christmas Party 2010 and Reindeer Games Soccer Tournament

This weekend Barker's friends from college, The Petersons, came up for a weekend visit. Barker and JP played in a soccer tournament on Saturday with another one of their friends from college and some of the guys from Barker's indoor and outdoor teams. Dawn and I took the kids to the first game but it got really windy so we packed the kids back up and went to my Arlington Mom's Group's annual Christmas party. (Thanks guys for letting me crash the party last minute!)

Lazy Bones paid a pretty legit looking Santa to visit the kids at the party. Audrey didn't scream and cry like she did last time! She walked right up, sat on his lap and gave him a squeeze! I was shocked and quickly snapped a pic. I couldn't believe it.
Grayden even smiled at Santa and sat on his lap with no problem which is HUGE for her! I was so proud of our girls! They must really want good gifts this year.


We had a little lunch at the party and then headed back to the tourney. The guys tied the first game, won and second and third games and we made it back in time to let the kids run around before the fourth game, the championship game.

Audrey and Brynn holding hands. They held hands in the car, too. And sang together. It was super sweet.



We tried to contain them with snacks. We weren't successful. They had a crazy amount of energy this weekend. By 5 that night I was exhausted and felt like I'd said my child's name a zillion times. It was like she couldn't hear me or understand a word I said all day.



Barker and Schaffler
Schaffler's wife Shannon didn't brave the cold with us. She's due in less than a month and was supposed to be in bed. Will said he figured she was out Christmas shopping instead.



A couple of guys Barker played with in high school also happened to be out there.
Audrey was using Barker's legs as a tunnel at the time so I don't know how much he actually got to catch up with them.



They won second place. Audrey loved wearing his medal. They always go in her dress up bin.



Barker actually thinks this trophy is going on display in my house. He's sadly mistaken. I told him he could put it in the garage or his office. I'm sure the interior decorator will roll her eyes when she notices it on his shelf behind his desk.


We then headed home so the kids could nap. But Audrey had other plans. She slept ten minutes in the car and spent the rest of the night acting like some crazed animal. I've never seen my child act so wild, be so loud, and ignore me so much. I was beyond frazzled by the time she went to bed and was so worried her new behavior would stick around. She was like a totally different kid. I was just amazed and scratching my head wondering what in the world had gotten into her.

We did manage to get her to sit still long enough to eat some cheese burger pasta. Yum.



I love this pic. Gavin's Daddy is a big OU fan. But Gavin knows where he's from!



After dinner the kids played upstairs in Audrey's kitchen and jumped on her trampoline. They seemed to have a good time but by that point I was ready for a vacation.
Luckily she woke up the next morning and was back to her usual self. I don't know what got into her. We have friends over all the time. I take her places every day. She's never been a wild child like she was Saturday. I was beyond relieved that she was her usual calm, quiet, smiley, sweet self on Sunday. Whew! Big relief!

It Was Thirty Years Ago Today

I can't believe John Lennon was murdered 30 years ago. Lucky for me his music lives on. It plays in my house on a daily basis. Seriously, daily. My child loves the Beatles.

I sing this Lennon song to her because I love the lines
from this moment on I know
exactly where my life will go

It rings very true to me, as a mother.

Pajama Day at School

Today Audrey had a pajama day at school!
It was a hard choice but we decided on Woody pajamas.

She wasted no time jumping in the bus and singing 'The Wheels on the Bus' with her friends.

It was her teacher's last day of the semester. She's headed to Thailand for 16 days. My friend Elizabeth will be taking over for her until the end of the semester.

But since it was Ms. Tracy's last day, she and Audrey exchanged Christmas gifts early.
She wanted me to read the book asap, made the reindeer duck quack 5 or 6 times, then kissed her bear and has been using the gift bag as a purse all afternoon.



She's going to miss Ms. Tracy and going to school when they're out for the Christmas break, but hopefully her daddy will be home a lot so Audrey doesn't get too sick of hanging out all day every day with me!

My husband is no Clark Griswold

Most people up here hire people to hang their lights. Makes sense, because who has a 40 foot ladder in their garage? Well, my dad has 20 and 30 ft ladders so Barker figured he could do it himself in no time. My dad warned him that he'd need some help so Barker recruited Zane for attempt number one.

Me: So Barker, you're gonna get Zane to help you hang Christmas lights?
Barker: Yes.
Me: The same Zane that fell a foot off a small ladder at work 2 years ago and broke BOTH arms? You sure it's a good idea to put him on our roof?
Zane: Never gonna live that down am I?

Well, Zane managed to not break anything but two men with two ladders only managed to hang one strand of lights on the one small area of our house that is a single story.

We decided to get a 3rd ladder the next day and Zane decided he drank too much the night before to be on a roof. So on the second attempt Barker was on his own. It didn't work. The 30 ft ladder was way too heavy for him to handle on his own in crazy strong winds. So on attempt three my little brother was kind enough to swing by and hold the ladder for Barker. He managed to get the top of the front of the house, but nothing else. Maybe by Christmas he'll have it finished, just in time to take it all down.

This is what he's got so far.



In the meantime I found a tree that wouldn't look miniature in my living room. It's outside our church, huge and gorgeous! I love Christmas trees.

I also love that it's smore season. Barker went to make Audrey one today. He set the chocolate and graham cracker down while he toasted the marshmallows.

Audrey apparently couldn't wait.



Yum.