Happy Birthday Grant!

When I asked Grant what he wanted for his birthday, he said a trip, of course! Mary and Austin Haye bravely joined us for a 2 night trip to Vegas and we had an awesome time. We left Tuesday afternoon 12/29, and arrived back at home on New Years Eve around 9pm. It was fast and so much fun. We stayed at the Bellagio, ice-skated and sat around a firepit on the top of the Cosmopolitan, got couples massages, ate at a great hibachi place with incredible sauces, walked around downtown, gambled for about an hour (everyone won!), and discovered a fun new restaurant - SkinnyFats. It was super fun to hang out with Mary and Austin and I hope we get to do it again soon!

On his actual birthday, we went on a family bike ride and had chocolate peanut butter cake. So thankful for this hard-working, adventurous, fun husband and Dad. We love you Grant!

Colton Mom Day

Colton generously agreed to share his Mom day with Cadie and Ranger. We hit up Garrett park first. It was our first time to that park and the kids had a fun time, but the number of stragglers around the park made me a bit nervous. Then, we went to the trains at Northpark and wrapped it up with Bricks and Minfigs lego store. Colton is the happiest little dude! 

Merry Christmas!

We went to Christmas Eve service at noon with DD and Big John and Nina and Papa, had a late lunch at DD and Big John's, watched Elf with Nina and Papa at our house, had a fire in the backyard, and then had a wonderful Christmas day brunch at our house. It was a very relaxed Christmas Day. 

- Cadie: Sewing machine, gray converse shoes, BU sweatshirt and clothes

- Jack Ranger: skateboard, legos, BU jacket, and magic set

- Colton: Landwave ramps, legos, BU jacket

- Erin: Mattress pillow topper, rocks from Colton, mouse bone art from JR

- Grant: grill equipment, swim trunks, firepit tools, BU visor

Sadly, on Dec. 26, my Uncle Kevin passed away from COVID. He was only 57 and my aunt and cousins are devastated. My mom and dad went quickly to KS to spend time with my grandparents and family and it was a healing time.

Mistletoe for Sale!

The kids made a killing (about $750) selling mistletoe on lovers lane the week before Christmas. Jack Ranger worked the hardest and got the biggest cut. 

 Dad helps them cut it down from the trees around town, we package it in an assembly line in the backyard, and the kids have a cute setup to help get attention. They sold it in front of UP Elementary so that the cars could pull into the parking spots in front of the school. It was $5/bag and some people bought up to 4 bags! The funniest customers were the SMU guys who I think probably were hoping to steal some kisses.

Hoping to foster entrepreneurial spirits so these kids can afford a nice nursing home for G and I someday. :)

Nina and Papa Christmas Surprise + Cadie Mom Day

My parents surprised us the morning of Dec. 23th with a special package. Themselves! I had taken the day off work for Cadie's Mom Day and around 9am the doorbell rang and it was my Mom and Dad. We were so surprised! On Tuesday morning (12/22), they had a doctor's appt in Atlanta to check-in on my Mom's knee surgery. After the appointment, they drove all day and arrived secretly in Dallas on Tuesday evening. Then, on Wednesday morning they surprised us and Nina was able to join Cadie and I for a Mom-day kickoff brunch at Snooze. We sat on the back patio and had a wonderful brunch. 

Cadie and I then spent the rest of the day getting mani/pedis, doing a bit of shopping at Northpark, and then seeing the original Wonder Woman in the theater. It was a privilege to get to spend the day with my sweet baby girl. Cadie is experiencing some of the typical middle school girl drama. She and I both feel better when we get to talk and pray about her experiences and how she is responding to them. Cadie is strong, brave and compassionate and I am so very proud of her.

These pictures are in front of the beautiful murals on the Snooze back patio. 

DD and Big John Christmas Party

DD and Big John hosted a kids and grandkids Christmas party complete with a cousins sleepover. The cousins had exchanged names for gifts. At the party, we opened gifts, had dinner together, and the cousins jumped on the new trampoline Christmas surprise from DD and Big John! The parents left after dinner with kid pickups at noon on Sunday. 

Cadie knew about the trampoline surprise because she had spent a lot of time during the week helping Big John put it together. I hope that someday Grant and I can be as involved with our grandkids and as fun as DD and Big John!

Sky Ranch Family Weekend

It's back! Sky Ranch didn't do the Christmas family weekend last year and we missed it. We signed up immediately when they brought it back and it was as fun as ever! Bazooka ball, the new treetop towers playground, night zips, smores, jumping pillow, nature center, family Christmas party night, rockets ("Bear Force One" won, of course), rifle range, etc. It was all so wonderful! The weather was perfect and we got to know the Losey family better. Nick and Holly were in our Re-engage Bible study last year and their family came to the weekend as well! Susan Kieffer even came to have dinner with us Saturday evening. I didn't even try to get the family to wear Christmas jammies, but I did get them to wear some holiday headgear. We made a gingerbread maze at the gingerbread contest. We were so proud!

The cabins are cozy, the activities are plentiful, the view is relaxing, the counselors are godly examples, and this family weekend is the perfect kickoff to celebrating the birth of our Savior.