Well, last weekend started out with some friends of ours coming to spend Friday night with us. They were at Baylor the same time as Jason. My friend Shelby has a couple of sisters about 20 minutes form our house and her niece was having her 1st birthday on Saturday. We were able to see them Friday after Upward and then Saturday morning before they left for the party. It was SO much fun to catch up with them and meet their youngest child which we had not seen yet. What a sweet family and such cute good looking boys they have!! We are so thankful they call when they can when passing through, it's always nice catching up with old friends!!! We were all in an awesome young married SS class together when Jason and Scott were at Baylor. We had such an amazing group of friends in there, everybody had a spouse in school and were just starting out their marriage just like us. We learned so much in that class and were so blessed to have been a part of such a special group!!


Saturday night Jason, Kason, and I headed up to Ft. Worth for Keagan's donkey show. Keagan had gone earlier that morning with Pop, Gram, and Aunt Lori. He showed his donkey(or Pop's donkey, actually) 3 different times at the Ft. Worth Stock Show on Sunday. Normally he shows in a class that, because of the age, always gets a blue ribbon....they don't place, just do it to get experience. Well the younger class wasn't able to show in Ft. Worth so Keagan moved up to the next level where they do judge for skill and whatever else. Keagan did well and enjoyed him self. He got 2 4th place ribbons and 1 3rd place. Aunt Lori did very well with her donkey winning many 3rd place ribbons, I believe and Pop and Maegan(family friend) brought home belt buckles!! It was definitely more entertaining than most donkey shows because there was a lot going on down there at the Stock Show.

One of my brothers lives in Ft. Worth and came down to check out the action.
Kason was mad and didn't want to smile for me, still a cute face!! Thanks for coming Uncle Kevin!! This is the brother that everybody tells me Kason looks like....what do you think?

Whoohoo, Keagan...make that donkey jump! Good job, buddy!!

Kason was ready for 'his turn' so between classes Pop let him out in the arena to walk a donkey to make him think he was doing something big, he was a hit with the spectators!!

This was the first class at 8:00 a.m. I'm not sure what was going on with the donkey but he had issues that morning, one issue including trying to bite Keagan's leg while the judge was doing her walk around the donkey......oh well!! Keagan was VERY proud of the 4th place ribbon that he won.

Tonight we will be off to Upward again. Keagan is doing great with it and counts down each week to Friday because he can't wait to play.

Keagan has started playing Upward Basketball at our church. Last Friday was the first game. I will have to say that it is very entertaining watching those little guys out on the court. Keagan really enjoyed his first game and real practice and can't wait for his next game tomorrow night. I was also surprised that out of 10 or 12 points for the entire game that Keagan made 2 baskets. Way to go Keagan!!! Here are a few pictures from the game.

Also, last weekend Meme, Papa, and cousin Brooklyn came to visit. They were able to make it in time to go to Keagan's game so that was nice. My camera wasn't out much over the weekend:( but I did happen to get a picture of all of them having a tea party together. I have a mini silver tea service set that has never been out of the box, Jason and I got it as a wedding gift so......I thought Brooklyn might have fun playing with it. Little did I know that my little guys would have as much fun playing with it as Brooklyn did, how funny:)

First of all, be sure and read the post below it is a new one from our Christmas festivities! Here are some pictures from the beach trip last week. We did some fun things including going to the Texas State Aquarium, and toured the Lexington, also went on a dolphin watch where we saw many dolphins swimming. We did get to play on the beach one day but still had to wear warm clothes. No swimming in the beach this time of the year for us!! Anyway it was all fun, the boys had a great time especially since their little cousin was there to play with. I bet that little girl is enjoying some peace and quiet this week!!:)

Pop and Gram
Aunt Lori entertaining the kids

In the sand with Daddy....where did their feet go??
Diligently building a sand castle
Even Matti is having fun in the sand
The guys enjoyed some frisbee
Trying to make a sand angel
Sweet boys!
Love these guys so much!!

Morning walk on the beach...in my grubby wear and crazy hair!!:)At the Aquarium

Alright, we are home and we survived:) The week of Christmas the boys and I went to Grandma and D-dad's house a little early. We left on Monday and didn't get back home until Friday morning at 1:30am. We got up Friday morning(day after Christmas) and did our Christmas with the boys before Jason had to leave for work. It was such a hectic week. Don't know if we will do that again unless Jason has a little bit more time off during the Christmas holiday. Jason's grandparents were here visiting at his Dad's house until following Sunday so we spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after Christmas going to visit them before they headed home. The following Monday we left for a family trip with Jason's whole family, I believe there were 13 of us and we didn't get back home until this past Saturday. I've almost got the house back to normal, finally finished up all of the wash, now it's time to do more!!! Anyway, the new year has begun and my classes will start back up next Thursday. Keagan started yesterday and we are all just about back into the ole routine and it's kind of nice:) Hope you all had a great holiday and that you will feel happy and blessed during the new year!! Also......don't worry, I didn't remove you from the Christmas card list this year, I just didn't send any but hopefully I can get the new year's cards out very soon!!!

Opening gifts at Grandma and D dad's on Christmas morning

Making Christmas cutout cookies at Grandma's with Uncle Kevin

Kason and Brooklyn trying out their new scooters....Kason loves it!!

Keagan was in "Family Night in Bethlehem" at our church the Sunday before Christmas. His part lasted about 5 minutes but he played the donkey well:) He is the one on the second row with the crooked donkey head...LOL


Keagan's class had a book exchange this year but the mom's surprised the kids with a gingerbread cookie decorating party. Here Keagan is having a great time!!

Hello All: Just a note to tell you all to go to my sis-in-laws site on my link list....Matti K Designs and check out one of her new products that she is doing. Very cute monogrammable drink containers (coffee mugs, thermoses, and the best of all......sippy cups) If you would like to order, her info is in the side bar on her page!!

Busy, busy, busy season.....we've been baking Christmas goodies, making a gingerbread house, preparing for Christmas parties and trying to make sure that our boys will grasp the true meaning of Christmas. Not Santa's visit but Jesus' birth!! I'm posting a few pictures of what we've been doing lately. One of my favorite things during the Christmas season is to bake in the kitchen with the boys. We've done a few things so far but my favorite.....Christmas cut out cookies and decorations will probably be next week while Keagan is out for his Christmas break.

Baking with the family. Jason was actually here to help too....how fun!!

Matti(our niece) thinking of telling Santa(AKA Kason) what she wants for Christmas

My boys

I love, love, love doing this with Keagan each year. I normally let Kason join in but this day Kason was napping so I took advantage of some sweet alone time with my favorite 5 year old in the whole world. I like the picture below where you can see Keagan sneaking another lick of the icing:)

Looks like Keagan and Santa were having a serious talke:) What if we don't want to get Keagan what he told Santa he wanted?? Will he really realize it if it's not under the tree. The kid will rack up on toys since he has 3 sets of grandparents and several aunts and uncles who buy for them both. I'm not sure what to do. I think he'll like what we got him but like I said....it's not what he told Santa he wanted.....any of you have some advice for me?? I know though...it's not about getting what we want but grasping what Christmas really is!!

watching the parade with Aunt Lori and Uncle D
Each year we go the the "village" and watch the Christmas parade with Jason's family. The boys love it and always have a fun time!

Keeping warm while watching the parade

Look at this traveling snow hill that came through a town near us. I just had to let Keagan go slide down. Those guys were making a killing at $2 a slide. Keagan really thought it was a lot of fun.

Living in the area we are in we have really become aware of what our soldiers and their families go through. Please keep our soldiers in your prayers this holiday season. We have several friends and members of our church family whose husbands have just recently deployed and will be spending the holidays away from those they love the most. Some of them for the 2nd or 3rd year in a row. It's not only the soldiers who make a sacrifice but also their families who support them and their decision to serve and defend our country for us!! I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to each one serving or has a loved one serving our country!!

Keagan's Christmas choir program. They were so cute!!