Pages

Sunday, December 31, 2023

The Week After Christmas & New Years

The week in between Christmas and New Years is notoriously hazy and blurry with no real routine or schedule or awareness of what day it is. This year was especially that way. Pops came in town and we spent a lot of time with this crew.  

Frat House mode activated on a whole new level

Uncle Nick is the absolute best, best, best.

The Palmers were in town from New Jersey, so one night we went to dinner with my dad and JG at Stone House in Colleyville and then went to meet up with this crew at the tail end of their dinner. We went back to the Stewarts house to hang out and the guys played ping pong and Sally attempted to teach us all Mexican Train. It was so good to see John and Tara. 

A few days into the week, I was really needing a break. There had been SO many people and so much chaos at our house. My mom took the boys over night and we met Kyle and Breanne and Beth and Tandy at Moxie's for dinner. It was such a needed break. I was so grateful!!

"Kylee were you at?!?!" (She and Rex were in NYC)

The boys and I took another tennis lesson with Brady...

And on NYE, Beth, Breanne, Christine and I played tennis and then went over to Kylee's to help her set up for her party that night. 

We rang in 2024 with the usual crew at the Manns. Rex made paella, Hunter was there bartending... it was fun and nice and a great New Years tradition at this point. 

Kylee pulled out the bird pitcher and cups and had Hunter serve us drinks out of the bird pitcher I bought from Susan and set up in her house. Ginger and I were dying. We also then began planning a going away party for Susan, that is going to happen. 

The mishap of the night was when Logan hurt his back playing football in the front yard. Nick and I decided he better get looked at since we were going skiing in two days and Logan told us he was very, very hurt. Nick carted him off to the ER by Central Market for x rays and an mri, only to be told Logan was just fine. THANKFULLY! Gah
Hunter brought the kids sparkling apple cider in tiny shot glasses- thankfully they didn't know how to properly utilize them. Also, Everett and Macy look like a couple of college kids here. 

Here we go 2024! READY

OR NOT

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Christmas Eve & Christmas 2023

Christmas Eve 

This year we spent Christmas Eve the same way we have the past couple of years. Mimi fixed a nice brunch for all of us, JG's family and Scat. We opened gifts and had a nice morning together. I loved the gifts my mom got me- the cutest mug, a green sweater and a gift card to St. Bernard. Nick got a nice pair of Ugg slippers and the boys were excited to get several things they wanted as well as a Rangers World Series ornament and Comfees they haven't stopped wearing since Christmas. 




Lolly likes the comfee also


We came home and rested for a little bit (boys hoped on their iPads) and then changed for church and Christmas Eve night at Grammy and Papa's. This is always a hilight of Christmas! We went to the candlelight service, along with Kristen Hughes and her boys, Al and Teri and my mom. That service just makes it Christmas for me. Then we enjoyed cocktails, ravis and cookies at Grammy and Papa's. So much fun!











Beck was THRILLED to receive a Bo Bichette picture, and the boys lost their minds over a shared gift (so creatively wrapped with Reindeer names and three boxes to open!) of an Oculus from Grammy and Papa.

Logan and Everett hugged in excitement. This moment was a highlight of Christmas for me!


Then we came home and Beck set out cookies and carrots and oats and the boys went to sleep in the bunk beds (the blow up mattresses in our room have come to an end) and wait for Santa.


A dopp kit with toiletries inside, Vuiori shorts, pickle ball paddle, a Ninja bullet blender, shoes (Nike Dunk Pandas), candy and jersey and a stocking full of treats for Logan

A dopp kit with toiletries, What-a-Burger fry slippers, Panda Dunks, a Dragon squish mallow, a glove, pickle ball paddle, candy and jersey and a stocking full of treats for Everett

A dopp kit with bath bombs inside, a stuffed dog Beck loved at a store that Santa knew about, a glove, a dragon toy Beck wanted, pickleball paddle, Panda Dunks, candy and a jersey and a stocking full of treats for Beck

Must have been three boys on the nice list!


Christmas morning 5:59 a.m. this text comes through from Logan's watch

I laughed so hard. I have never in my life used the phrase "escort you down." The whole thing was so funny! But also-- how do my friends' kids sleep until 8 or 9 on Christmas morning? I would even take just until the sun came up. But the coffee was strong and so we got the day going.

They spent so much time marveling at their baseball cards of all things




New batting gloves "Drip FR bro"

Christmas morning chaos

Nick surprised me with THE most gorgeous gold "Love" bracelet. I was really, really shocked and love it so much! He and the boys also gave me a stocking full of gift cards to places I like and candy. 



We had a nice breakfast and spent the rest of the day lounging around. It was super cold on Christmas Day this year!

Oculus fun in new drip and fire shoes



Everett's Christmas shoe collection 

Beck's Christmas loot

Everett's

Logan's

Before long Mark and Hayes wandered down, baseball cards were strewn all about... and I finally got myself together a little bit to pick up the mess and Nick and I took Lolly for a walk. That night Nick made steaks, and the five of us had a really nice Christmas dinner. 


After dinner I even conned them into a couple of games of mahjong (and my cute new mug!)

It was a great Christmas, and I know without a doubt, these are the good ole days.