they just aren't happening this year...

christmas cards.  nope.  not doing them.  is that horrible?!?!  probably.  

oh well!  if i only had these 2 kids, no problem.  they are sweet and they listen (mostly) and smile.  the third child is giving me hell.  she is the sole reason for the not sending out of the cards.  she knows i need her to smile but she just won't...

i took these of e & b on the way to our play group christmas party.  SO MUCH FUN!!!!!

she is SO grown up!!!

will you still be our friend if we skip out on the card this year?

santa bruch

we kicked off the holiday season with the annual brunch with santa @ redstone golf club!!  always so much fun!!  most all of our neighborhood friends go...and of course, bebe, bo and uncle grant.   this year emery was able to do all of the fun things her big brother and sister have been enjoying for years :)

here are the girls in their matching shirts, pearls and ponytails!  emery WILL NOT sit for a picture.  like, ever.  i am 99% sure i am skipping out on christmas cards this year...

she looks sweet enough...but she is meaner than a junkyard dog...

i give up...

here is ellis showing me the gingerbread girl she drew for santa.  the other two are trying to figure out a way to steal candy from the gingerbread houses...

and don't you worry...they both were successful...

picture by tree....fail

these two are easy and literally RAN to his lap!  beckett asked for an umbrella and candy canes.  ellis had a list written out...

santa had to do a sneak attack for emery to sit and smile...

busted

crafts and cookie decorating...trains and jump houses...balloon artist, etc.

emery totally looked like one of the big kids...

so many more fun holiday events to look forward to!!   i LOVE december!!  thanks bebe and bo :)

happiness is a new baby...

that talks, eats and drinks!!  emery is smitten with her new pal (sitting by her in the high chair)...ellis never loved baby dolls like e.c. does...so so cute.  kinda sad that she will never be a big sister (not sad for me...sad for her!)...we need cousins!  emily are you reading??????

thanksgiving 2011

ellis had her fingers and toes painted burnt orange...perfect shade for thanksgiving and more importantly, the final texas v. texas a&m game played that night... 

we picked up turkey cake pops and delivered to our friends that trotted w/ us in the turkey trot...

i set the table for 12...using my china, silver and crystal for maybe the second time ever :)

brandon smoked a turkey and fried a turkey...deelish!

bebe, the fab pilgrim, and her little indians...

doesn't emery look so grown up?!?!  she is so funny these days...EVERY time i tell her no, she immediately says "why?"  she asks why at least 20 times/day.  and when i say "emery" she responds with "what?".  clearly, she is hearing older brother and sister speak like this so we are all going to start working on "yes, mom" or "ma'am"...

brandon also made gumbo (duck was in it) and beckett couldn't get enough...

 fried...

 smores and texas football...

we celebrated the texas win until 2:30 a.m. with neighbors.  not a good idea because the next day we had this to catch:

a party bus headed to lauberge du lac in lake charles!!!  picked us up @ 6 p.m., gambled from 8:15 till 12:30...home at 3 a.m....

it was way too much fun...

alcohol, jams, and a bathroom?!?!  how much better does it get??  we danced the whole way there.  i have at least 25 bruises from falling down.  heels, spilled drinks, and dancing in a moving bus do not mix!!!

i have really funny pics that i can't show w/ out proper permission!!!

p.s.- the girl in the pic below is my marathon partner, debra.  since i am always talking about her, i thought i should introduce her!  we have mastered the art of drinking and then running 18 miles the next day...kinda :)

sober

these are all iphone pics...obviously!