Happy Birthday to Me!!!!!

Went here for my birthday today - YUMOLA!!!

I love the atmosphere of this place!

The people aren't bad either:) These are our good friends the Morriss's!

My beautiful sis Jae, her hubby John, and my precious dad!

Me, my sweet momma, Kai, and Kinsley - Mom, I LOVE this pic of you!

Adorable little Kayden Morriss!

Me with my incredibly handsome hubster!

Blowing out my candles - thanks for the cake mom and dad, and for the help Kinsley!

Opening my presents - mom gave me these boots I've been looking for for years, and Jae and John gave me a labeler - I've also asked for that for years, but everyone thought it was too boring to get me - I CAN'T WAIT to use it:) Thanks ya'll!

Is this not the cutest little snow bunny ever?!!!!

I'm always inspired to work on the yard after I leave here:)

I love my parents! Aren't they the cutest?!

Family shot, Kinsley is a goof-ball!

Jae, Kai, and John - how precious!

And another precious family - the Morriss's!

Thanks for making my birthday so special everybody! We had a great time! It was fun to be surrounded by those I LOVE on my birthday!!!!

New Years Eve!

We spent New Years Eve at the Gaylord Texan this year, and my oh my was it BEAUTIFUL!!!! We enjoyed seeing all the incredible decorations and had an awesome time at the Dr. Seuss ICE exhibit - I think we've started a new tradition!!!! It was a blast!

Here's Corbin, Kaden, and Kinsley waiting to go in to the exhibit!

A close up!

They had a little train there for the kids to play on while we waited, how smart! They LOVED it!

Kevin, with the little snow bunny - Emerson!

The Grinch himself - icy little fella!

The entrance in - these were incredible ice sculptures - it took the crew 30 days I heard!

Welcome to Who-ville!!!

Icy fun!

Afterwards we stopped for hot chocolate and they had the cartoon movie of the Grinch playing - again,...sooooo smart!

Grandpops and Granma with all the kiddos!

Goodbye Mr. Grinch!

This is inside the hotel looking up toward the ceiling - just spectacular!!!

A REAL, LIFE-SIZE Gingerbread house - my kids were in heaven, and in awe!!!

And what would a gingerbread house be without a life-size gingerbread man and woman - Texas style, of course:)

Two fun grandparents enjoying some grandkid love!

Cuties in a sleigh!

Afterwards we came back to the house just in time to see the ball drop in New York on TV, and toast to the New Year!!!! Happy 2010 everybody - stay tuned for some serious resolutions!!!! What are yours?

Christmas 2009 - The Downs' Family

We had a great Christmas with Curtis's family as well! They all came to our house this Christmas and it was a blast! We spent many days at the park with the kids, played lots of games, went to ICE at the Gaylord, the boys put in a basketball goal, watched movies, and visited! This is our nephew Malakai, Kim, Curt's sister's baby!

Kinsley, Corbin - our nephew, Kevin, Curt's brother's baby, and Kai (yes we have a niece AND a nephew called Kai:)) FUN!

Kaden opening his leggos - just like his daddy - always trying to close his eyes:)

Kinsley, always so expressive, opening her princess art table!

Sweet Corbin playing outside!

Sarah, Kevin and Savvy Travvy gathered around the table!

Kim, Susan, Kevin, Travis, and Corbin before opening presents!

Our new niece, Emerson - isn't she a doll?!

Travis and Emerson

We went to the movies one night and saw The Princess and the Frog, but these were on the way so we stopped for a photo, we'll probably be back soon to see this movie!:)

Curt and Kev

Curt and David

Kimmie

Susan and Courtney

Sweet squishy Malakai again!

We had a fantastic time with all the Downs' clan! We love you all!!!!

My house - Christmas Decorations!

Welcome to our house! I am doing this partly to remember what all I did this year to make it easier on me next year, and partly to see what I might want to add/change for next year! Anyway, come on in and enjoy the little tour!

This is the front of our house during the day!

And here it is at night! - My good friend, Kendra's husband put up our lights for us this year - what a blessing!

This is the wreath on my front door, in the middle of that ornament hanging down it says, "Joy" - yep, that about sums it up around here during Christmas!!!!

This is my living room, my husbands company gifted us this huge tree, I LOVE it!

This basket is on my coffee table full of ornaments and pine cones:)

This year we had to put two tables together for all of Curt's family to come and have a place to eat! Thanks Amy for letting me borrow your table! Here's what I came up with to decorate in the middle:) - Thanks Mom, for the red sticks - I think they looked great!

My mom gave me this beautiful manger scene a couple of years ago, it sits on the ledge between the breakfast room and the kitchen!

My friend Misty gave me these beautiful candle holders, they are in our bedroom on the dresser, with this runner:)

We count down the days in the kitchen on this little chalkboard!

And these are my fave - they belonged to my grandmother and sat on her table every Christmas! Many happy memories when I see these each day of long leisurely big breakfasts, and opening stockings to the smell of coffee and bacon! They are so old, but so cute - I LOVE them!

I hope each of you had a cozy Christmas! We enjoyed being with all the family this year and pray for each and every one of you to have a very blessed 2010!!!!