Saturday, January 4, 2014

Christmas Texas Style

Shout out to Keri Doolittle for the pictures she shared.  Thanks Keri!

And the stockings were hung from the chimney with care in hopes...

Here we go!
Love the face!!!!

Dad showing Easton how to use his new bow and arrow!

Oh, before we started, Keri had us each go into our rooms and look for a crown or a tiara!  Each had an envelope attached to them.  Guess what was in the envelope?  Tickets to the Medieval Dinner and jousting match!  Fun way to receive a gift!
Lots of happy faces!




So I played a little joke on Katie.  I purchased an ornament like this for Katie in 2011.  I got her another one in 2012.  She nicely told me that I had purchased one for her the year before.  I didn't remember at all.  Well, this year I decided to get another one and pretend that I didn't remember again.  Look at how nice she was when she got it out of her sock.  Big smile and said nothing.  Just thank you!  I waited for an hour or so before I told her that I did remember that I got her these for the last two years!
Princess Katie!


A gift from the Doolittles!  Love it and it is hanging in our house now!

Two wonderful gifts.  It's Good to Be Alive lyrics and picture with Jason Gray.  Ryland got Katie a cross.

Now they are golf ready!
From the Lathrops!  MONEY!

Spy kit!  Love the shades Easton!



Some of us were more skilled at this game.  We put this on our heads and tried to throw the balls in the basket ourselves.  I could not get one ball in and everyone else was able to do it.  Not sure why!
Here come the magic tricks!  Ryland got a magic set!
We all had to close our eyes!



Mark is behind this blowing up the punching bag!
 Mark tried his hand at some magic.
Time for some snacks!



Not sure what this is all about!
Ryland wanted this puzzle!  890 pieces, 3D puzzle of Big Ben!  We had to take out a bunch of pieces with red dots on them that were not part of the puzzle.  Why they weren't taken out before they packaged the puzzle I have no idea.  We filled a gallon size plastic bag with red dot puzzle pieces.  Ryland lost interest after the red dot removal.  This puzzle is a story!
Presents gone wrong?  The battery for one scooter didn't come until after Christmas.   So testing out the other one!
Mark did good, I just about crashed.
So did Ryland!  Mark was right there to save him.  They were a little big for these guys.  Next year they can ride them!
Spider man crawls up the walls.

Ham for dinner and poppers.  We each got a hat, small gift, and a sheet with jokes and trivia on them. We shared our jokes and Easton could pop up with an answer instantly as we were pondering what the punch line might be.  He was even right once.  So funny to hear what he came up with!  It was a really nice day full of family and fun!  


Christmas Eve 2013 in Texas, yeeeehaw!

Thanks for sharing your pictures with me Keri Doolittle!

It was fun to celebrate the birth of Christ with little children.  Full of excitement and joy and love.  This book was the Night Before Christmas New Orleans style.  Keri had practiced it before hand so she had all the words correctly.  Mark decided he wanted to read it.  It was funny, so funny!  He mispronounced a bunch of words.  We were cracking up.  Slipper/slipass!  I know if Katie and Keri read this they will laugh at the last statement.  So funny!  
 Every one got pajamas and the boys got slippers.  Don't think Mark's were jambes.

 All geared up on pajamas and slippers!
Yes we even got them.  Katie spent the evening rubbing hers and saying how soft they were and that they were softer than mine.  Same brand, same softness but she insisted.  I was getting a little worried about her she couldn't stop rubbing them!


 Now it is time for reindeer food.  Something I never did as a child but it is neat. Oatmeal and glitter.
 The preparation!

Placing the food in just the place!
 Nice slippers!
 Cookies and milk for Santa!
Now some relaxing watching a Christmas movie before bedtime!  


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

New Orleans Saints Game in Seattle

Steve and Michel bought us tickets to go see the Saints play in Seattle.  We weren't planning on going but we were excited when Steve said he was getting us tickets.  Next, get on the computer to find a place to stay close to the field.  When we checked in to our room at the Sheraton the man at the front desk said the rooms on the top levels have a great view.  I told him just pick a floor we wouldn't be there much anyway.  I wasn't concerned about the view.  We got a room almost at the top of the hotel.  This was the view out the window.  Seriously!  He needs to come to our house and see the view from our front window.  Tons of trees and green grass!  I know the city is wonderful for some but this isn't my idea of a beautiful view.  Sorry Seattle.  I know not far from our hotel the ocean and beautiful nature exist.
 Another view from the window!
Inside the hotel I found a handsome man standing by this Christmas tree.  I decided to keep him!  My present to me!  I was really looking forward to spending this weekend with Mike!   I love him!
There was a gingerbread house display like we have never seen.  One of the workers at the hotel said different chefs around the area make them and they actually use architects to help with the designs.  Lucky the rope keeping us from the displays was far enough away from them that Mike couldn't snitch a bite.  He has done that at the Davenport!  Surprised?




 Amazing talent!
So just before I went to the room(Mike was parking the car) I saw these Saints fans.  After I checked in I found them in the bar/restaurant area.  Yes, I went and searched for them. Of course I talked and talked to them.  Wonderful people, full of that Southern hospitality you hear so much about.  I told Mike about them that night.  They have season tickets to the Saints and had planned this trip since June.  They were at the game when Stephen blocked the punt.   The next morning they were coming out of the elevator when we were walking by.  We talked and of course took pictures.  The Rivers family!
We tried to coordinate having breakfast together.  Mike had to go back and get his jacket and we never connected.
 Mike and Alex!  Love the glasses Mike.
 The view from our breakfast spot.  Now this is a beautiful view!


Before the game we met up with the New Orleans Gleasons at Starbucks.  Rivers was his usual joyful, active, self but I actually got a quick picture of the two of us!  What a gift this boy is!
Katie (the youngest of the kids) and Skeve!  No I didn't misspell his name.  He is the only one without a K in his name so I gave him a K.  Only fair!

I was asking Rivers who everyone was.  Katie, Mike, Jackie, Mommy.  I pointed to Steve and he shouted GLEASON! Probably what he hears everyone call Steve.  I think Rivers normally calls him DADU!
Let picture taking begin.  I told these riders that I take a lot of pictures.  The man said, "Well, who wouldn't want a picture of me!" Ha ha! Funny!
 Here we go!
There were a couple of bands outside.   A bunch of Saints fans were dancing to this band.  All my pictures were either blurry or the backs of them.  They were moving fast!  They were there trust me.
Here is the best dressed Saints fan.  I bet he got cold during the game if that is all he wore.  We talked quite a bit. He owns a restaurant in New Orleans.  Something like Arnolds but more southern sounding.
 Guess what he had on his wrist?  Thanks for supporting!
Let the game begin.  We had high hopes for this game!  We knew it would be close and thought the Seahawks had an edge at home but Drew Brees and his experience gave the Saints an edge.  We were ready for an exciting game! Who DAT!


 US!
 The boys from ESPN were there of course.
 The Seahawks had a huge production before the game.  If they weren't playing the Saints I would have thought it was fabulous.
 I think this is what caught the Seahawks on fire.  They were truly on fire this night!
 Beautiful!
Well, it didn't take long to realize this wasn't going the way we thought it would.  10 to 0 right away. A turnover creating a TD.  Ahhhhhh!  I lost my enthusiasm for taking pictures.  Mike and I kept looking at each other and saying, "I can't believe this, what is going on?"
There is always hope with Drew Brees!  I will take the camera out again in the second half because we will bounce back.  Didn't happen!  Sad but the Seahawks were too much for the Saints this night.  Congrats to the Seahawks.  The fans at the stadium were fabulous.  No one gave us a bad time except for the drunk guy that had to show me the toilet paper on his shoe and then he proceeded to try and make it stick on the bottom of my shoe why his buddy was waving a foam finger at me.  I took the foam finger and no toilet paper on my shoe. I gave the finger back because I didn't want it.  They were funny though!
The game was more than disappointing but the weekend wasn't.  We made new friends, spent time with family, had a safe trip back and forth and there was snow on the pass.  Life is good and we are truly blessed! Until we meet again Seahawks!