Rejoice!

Merry Christmas!

Twas' the Night Before Christmas...

Dear Santa,

My name is Nate and I am Carter's daddy. This Christmas I am not going to be able to be home because I am away on "det". I really miss my little girl and her mom! I was wondering if you could pay a special trip to see them and deliver some presents for me since I will not be able to be with them on Christmas day? Please tell them how much I miss them and can't wait to see them in a few weeks! Also, Carter really likes stories so if you have a story or book to read I think she might really like it.

Please tell my wife, Beth, that she brings Christmas magic to my life everyday- and that I love her!

Thanks so much Santa, be careful delivering all the kids their presents this year. Who knows if I am flying on Christmas Eve I might see you in the skies.

Nate

That's my husband for you...they just don't come any better than him. Apparently Santa received his letter and Carter and I received quite a holiday surprise. While we were getting ready to celebrate Christmas this past Sunday with my Mimi and Papa guess who showed up at the front door?! With a jolly Ho hO Ho he read my husbands sweet letter...Carter was awestruck and I was overwhelmed. Somehow Nate always knows exactly how to make things special, even when he is a million miles away.

The knock on the door happened so quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick...

His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses! His nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow...

He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly...

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself...
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread....

He spoke not a word; but went straight to his work...

But, I heard him exclaim...

As he "walked" out of sight...

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

And he left behind one very happy little girl...

And a wife who knew she was loved and adored. For her heart was full of cannot be bought, the love of a family is the gift that she got...

Dear Nate...how do you do it? Your ability to make things magical is a gift! We will never forget this Christmas surprise, and while it could never begin to fill the void your absence creates, it brought fun and smiles and was exactly what we needed! My heart is FULL of love for you, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be able to say I am your wife. Thank you for loving me so well, it is the gift that keeps on giving the whole year long (sorry I just couldn't resist)! I love you baby, Merry Christmas! XOXO Beth

We're Serving it Up, Family Style!

Christmas that is. We had our first official Christmas celebration on Saturday with my mom's side of her family! I find myself loving the familiarity of what that means. These are people I have had Christmas with my whole life, there is something really cool about that. We've missed several in the last few years, living in different parts of the country sometimes makes seeing people a harder. But, it is always fun when we can all get together. We're all a little bigger now, but we can still muster up a game of knock out, where people act appalled if I managed to get them, saying things like, "I got put out by the MOM!" Oh the horror. The girls enjoyed an arm wrestling tournament, where my sister promptly kicked my rear. So I can still shoot a basketball, but can't claim strength as one of my strong suits (no pun intended). I also enjoyed snapping some pic's of everyone, which it feels like we sometimes forget to do...

Granny with all of her kids...

And all of her Grand kids...

Carter and her new friend Ryan...

Uncle Rick, Chad, and Kim...

Me and my momma....

Dad and Caitlin...

Uncle Rick, John, Me and Clint...

Carter and Sophie...

Kim and Aunt Michelle...

The arm wrestling extravaganza...

My rents...

Kim and John...

Clint and Jenny...

One family get together full of fun down and more to come! Merry Christmas!

Lights, Monkeys, Cupcakes

Since I'm type A and don't know how to operate in anything less than a chronological order I'll start at the beginning in sharing our latest trip to the big D! We had planned on spending a fun filled weekend seeing family and having "Christmas" with everyone. But, last Wednesday GG decided to give us all a little scare and landed herself in the local hospital. We headed out a little early and visiting our lovely Granny was one of the first things on our agenda! She is a firecracker and even a short stay in the hospital can't get her down!

Flowers for G.G....

A visit from her favorite great granddaughter...

Kim and I hanging out...

Carter hitched a ride from Aunt Lynette...

And we were all SO happy to hear that Granny is fit as a fiddle! We knew it, and we love you! After the hospital visit we headed out for a little Christmas cheer and went to look at Christmas lights in Highland Park (a very upscale older neighborhood in the Dallas area). We decided a cupcake would make the night a little sweeter and stopped at my favorite little bakery Sprinkles.

Christmas at Sprinkles is just a little more magical...

And full of JOY...

And just beyond their doorstep was a magical little winter wonderland...

Pint sized perfection...

We also managed to squeeze in a little more fun for Carter the next day. It was one of the only beautiful sunny days we have seen in a while, and we took advantage of it by heading to the Ft. Worth Zoo.

Monkey-ing Around...

Petting the animals is always fun...

And of course a carousel ride is a must. Aunt Kimmi was more than a little amused that Carter chose to ride the wagon instead of a horse. Apparently she made this decision because Kim was with her and they could ride it together. Don't worry Carter, I know exactly how you feel, that is the precisely reason I chose a Grand Am instead of a Firebird when I turned 16, it provided ample space for my brother and sister to ride in the back. We're not nerdy, just compassionate...don't ever let anyone tell you different.

We ended the day with a ride on the train, ChOO cHoO!

I love you so much little munchkin'! Thank you for being the perfect excuse to drive around and look at Christmas lights and take trips to the zoo. You fill my life with joy and make it a happier place.