My very first "official" White Christmas!

It's definitely been a while since I've posted and Christmas has come and gone! I was able to spend Christmas in Texas with my family, and believe it or not...

We had a White Christmas!!!!!

It started raining pretty heavy in the early afternoon on Christmas Eve, and pretty soon, I was sure I saw snowflakes. No one believed me.

Until - it started picking up and sticking to the ground! And it got to the point where it was freezing on roads and they had to shut a few down!
So enjoy some highlights from my trip, and I hope you had a very Merry Christmas yourself!!

It wasn't much, compared to snows I've seen in Colorado Springs, but this was the most I had ever seen in the Dallas area where I grew up, and to top it all off, it was actually snowing ON

Christmas Eve!

This is in my sister's backyard in Aubrey, TX...

This is at my sister-in-law's childhood home in Plano, TX...

Christmas morning at my brother's apartment!!

Christmas morning - my brother showing his daughter Allie some of the gifts from "Santa"...
Allie with the snowman she built (with her Uncle Tim's help) in their backyard on Christmas Day...
An up close shot of the snowman - I just couldn't get over the cowboy hat!
My dad learning about a make-it-yourself Crayon maker Allie had gotten.
And Allie with Kat (her mommy/my sister-in-law) and my mom after completing a puzzle Allie got for Christmas...

And I'll leave this parting shot - my brother, in Target, the day after Christmas, pretending to be a cheerleader. Don't ask - it was hilarious!!

It is Christmas yet?

It's my favorite time of year - and its actually the time leading up to Christmas more than the day itself sometimes! This year I can't wait to finally get to Texas! The anticipation is killing me!


A while back, I told them I couldn't make it because I couldn't get a ticket. Then they rallied together and chipped in for a ticket for me (read original post here)!!! It was an amazing feeling to know that they wanted me to be back there for Christmas that much!

In the meantime, I'm waiting for Justin's parents to visit because they wanted to give me my presents before I left. And then tonight, I'm going with my parents to the movie theater at the Broadmoor to see White Christmas! (And I think I've even convinced Justin to go!)

I promise one more update today as to what I've been up to recently - it would appear that I don't blog very often if it isn't National Blog Posting month! And there will be pictures!

Ghost of Christmas Past

I'm at my parent's house tonight - booking a flight to Dallas for Christmas!!!! That's right! My brother heard that I wasn't able to get a ticket to go down there, and my siblings started a ticket "round-up" and chipped in with my parents to get me a ticket to visit! Such an amazing family!! So more to come on that as it progresses...

So in the spirit, tonight I stumbled across my parent's pictures , and saw some of Christmases past. So bear with me for my trip down memory lane!

2001:
My most memorable Dalmation doggie (no longer with us), Oliver!

And this is a picture outside our house in Plano, the first year our dad actually let us put "colored" lights outside!! (The lights outlining the yard are white and green).

2002:

This is inside the house. I picked one with me in it as proof I was there, but where you couldn't see my makeup-less face. This was my first Christmas home from college!

And this is my brother Brian, with Oliver and my parent's dog Baxter - but Baxter is a puppy here! I forgot how adorable he was!!

2003:

My niece Emma (who is now six) and I at my sister's house. She fell asleep in my arms. I could have stayed like that forever!!

And Brian and I playing cards after all the gifts had been opened!

What will Christmas 2009 look like? You can bet you'll find out - just keep following!!

Cheers and Jeers

Cheers:

- Bailey has made it almost a full week not being locked up in his cage and he's doing great!
- It snowed yesterday and it's supposed to snow again on Wednesday!
- I'm really getting into both of my books, and that really excites me!
- Family is coming to visit for Thanksgiving and I have the day before off to help cook, the day of Thanksgiving to enjoy food, and the day after to watch the UT/atm game!

Jeers:

- For layoffs at work (not me; not yet, anyway)
- Neighbors playing their bass really loud every night for 2-3 hours.
- I don't think I'll be able to go to Texas for Christmas.
- I think I've bruised myself in approximately 3 places in the last 24 hours.

Blog to catch up on (boast about?) current reading progress coming soon!