FINAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

We spent the last few days of the year at the ranch. Wes, Colson and Isaiah went up on Wednesday. Calli and I followed up on Friday and we all came home Sunday. Isaiah shot a doe and a turkey and I think we made his year. He apparently shot at several pigs and couldn't hit one. Don't think Colson didn't let him forget that all weekend. 

We even got Calli in the stand one night. But she FROZE to death because they forgot the space heater. 

And of course Tucker went and had the best time snuggling.

We came back NYE day and hung low that night. Calli hung out with her friends at Kylies and it was an uneventful night....thank goodness!

LAST CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

We usually do Christmas at Grandma's on Christmas Day....lunchtime. But this year they thought Grandpa had the flu so we celebrated a couple weeks late. Nothing fancy....we just stopped by for a little visit and opening up some presents.

My present to Grandma this year? a phone and a lan line! The poor lady can't figure out how to answer the phone and can't see the buttons to call out on it. John won't let her get a lan line. She told me about 6 months ago that the first thing she would do when John died was get a lan line. So I fixed that. She seemed excited. Although it could have backfired on me because John could have vetoed it. Luckily he said we could proceed.

FUN GIRLS NIGHT

Hilary came back to Texas and when that happens WE HAVE FUN! I got the girls together for dinner, some bowling and a little dance hall time for those that could hang. And what's a late night without a stop at IHOP. We stayed out way too late for us old folks but got to sleep in the next morning. We also did some shopping and had a great breakfast at a cute little place called Snooze. 

A CHILD IS BORN....IT'S CHRISTMAS MORNING!

Christmas morning at our house. Christmas Eve we went to the morning church service. Christmas Eve night I let the kids open their ornament and snow globe/animated gift. We slept till about 10 AM on Christmas morning and ate our monkey bread while opening our gifts. I try not to go overboard with gifts and get them things that they need and some that would be treats.

This year I got the fun gift of the morning....my Apple Watch.  Thanks to Calli who suggested it and bought it (with her Dad's credit card)

Calli still wanted to do cookies for Santa with a note so of course I obliged.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE MURDOCK'S

See my sweet Murdock family through pictures. I love them all

I (HEART) OUR FAMILY

I see my aunt and cousins 2 times a year. At Thanksgiving and 3 weeks later around Christmas time. I wish we got together more often frankly. I enjoy their company. I enjoy catching up. I enjoy their kids. My mom and aunt are the 2 that keep the family together and I'm not sure that we'll continue with all the cousins once they are gone but I sure hope we do.

Christmas is always done at my aunts with some yummy food and white elephant exchange. This year my mom said an epic prayer before dinner that had the whole family laughing and yet stunned. Elizabeth and her boyfriend (Eric) needed some Jesus to help them decide if they should get married.
We just rolled with it.....including Eric and Liz.

Calli wasn't with us. She was sick in bed and literally slept the entire day. Went to bed at 10 PM the night before and had been asleep most of that day. Was asleep when we left on that Saturday mid morning and was still asleep when we got home.

SPREADING CHRISTMAS (SCHOOL) CHEER

The WHS cheerleaders held their Christmas party at our house. We had catered Olive Garden (yummy) and played the seran wrap ball game before doing the white elephant gift exchange. 

This group is drama filled, full of complainers and 2 percenters but so incredibly talented! If only they would care a little bit they could be so good!