December 2016 Randoms

December 27, 2016

So many big events this month but here are some of the random fun memories we made!

Dropping these silly kids off at school!

Evan (and LJ) LOVE wearing their under clothes from Gigi and Capi!!! Evan LOVES wearing shorts so this is the perfect solution for him in the winter!

She found Mama's glasses!

Anywhere we saw fake Santas, we stopped for a picture. I thought this would help when we went to see Santa at the mall...

Play date/ dinner at the Gold's house!

Ended the night with a little movie time in their cool theater room!

Christmas gift from the Golds... a rocket! Wow!

A friend invited me to workout with her at Lifetime Gym up north for a week to try it out... I will always do that!! This gym is SO nice... loved my week of luxury!

Ellie and the boys group hugging (my boys were both in school)!

December 8th... I can't believe my dad has been gone 20 years... I always get pretty sentimental around this time of year, but the sound of 20 years made me especially sad this year. He would be 70 yrs old... Crazy! I sure miss him and just can't believe how much of my life he hasn't been here for...

Forever young and in our hearts!

My mom goes to my dad's grave most all December 8ths, and other times throughout the year as time allows. His grave is in El Paso, but on the other side of town, so it's not very convenient! And it's not just him there!! My grandparents and uncle are all in the same plot (Dad was cremated so his box is on top of my Grandfather's / his dad's coffin, and my Siti/ Grandmother is next to them with my Uncle Jimmy on top). Also, my Uncle Lee and Aunt Joanie are buried next to them.

I haven't been in many years now, but feel so comforted knowing that my mom goes often, puts fresh flowers, and checks on everything.

And especially this year; she could find his grave!

Finally (after going to the office and getting the location) she realized it was just so covered in dirt and sunken down that you couldn't read it!

She got them to fix and clean it!!

She put flowers and Christmas decor on both grave sites. Thanks so much for doing this Gigi!!

LJ's class worked on their Family Project Unit for several weeks, and then they had a Family Project presentation day in his classroom early one morning. The whole family got to go!! Evan had been to LJ's school, but never into his classroom... he was SO excited!!!

Each student put a book together about their family... what traditions they have, clothes they wear, foods they eat, etc... LJ went through his book with us page by page.

Ellie found herself a book and a chair and made herself at home!! Hah!

Boys in their new winter hats...

Fun morning getting to see LJ in his class!

Barrett and I left town for 24 hours to go to a party in El Paso, and our wonderful nanny Jamie watched the kids! They had a great time!!! They went to see Santa, got Chick-Fil-A, and did a lot of playing!

We got home on Sunday to clean kids in the PJs and ready to hit the streets to go look at Christmas lights. We are SO thankful for Jaime (she has been watching our kids for over two years now)... and the kids love their time with her!

Spent a couple hours dropping off gifts to our cousins... 12 Days of Christmas presents and birthday gifts! Unfortunately everyone was busy so we just did drops, but Evan and Ellie had fun (and they looked so cute, I had to snap some pictures!)!!