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Holiday Plans and Push Ups

For the second time in 36 years I'm not going to my Mother's for Christmas,nor am I taking my pre-holiday trip to help prepare for the festivities. This year we're relaxing and staying home which is giving me the opportunity to stay home and rediscover my own city.

Last weekend we went to the Grapevine Polar Express Train with three of Vin's friends for a birthday party. Sunday we had a few friends over for a leisurely Sunday lunch and today we met Leslie and her son Brady at Chuy's for lunch.

The next few days we'll be busy having a "Baby Brunch" party, seeing Christmas lights, visiting elaborate Christmas trees around town, shopping, eating, decorating Christmas cookies and hanging out with Mayme.

More of our lunch today...

Vin watching Brady texting.

Vin watching Brady "push" a Push Up.

Group Pic!

Mamacita, Donde esta Santa Clause?

Early Christmas in Amarillo

Vin and I made a special trip to Amarillo last weekend to visit my Dad's family. We had a fantastic time! Aunt Jan is a wonderful hostess and is so gracious and kind.
Vin got to play with his cousins and he's still asking about "the girls".
A few pictures of our trip.

Playing this his activity book I made. I choose some different activities from those listed here but it was a fairly easy craft and it kept him busy on the plane.

A fuzzy picture of Vin decorting the pink foam tree with Eloise. The tree was a huge hit with the kids.

Dinner with his cousins.


Playng rodeo with Miles, who was a real rodeo cowboy. Vin got to show off his skills and was quite entertaining. We were all waiting on the National Finals to start so we passed the time watching the kids.

Miley had never rodeoed quite like this before but she was excited to try.

And she's down....


Vin's new best friend Bailey. Look at those fantasic furry ears!

Aunt Jan and Uncle Joe on the way to a "tacky" Christmas party. Jan wore a t-shirt corset which is totally NOT her style and so it was especially funny. Uncle Joe is checking her out!

Making friends at the airport showing them his new Pillow Pal that Jan gave him.

Thank you - I think???

One of my students just emailed this to me.

Thank you for all that you have exposed me to, historically speaking

What a wierd way to say thank you!

The tree is up!

After a long week of traveling Teri finally got home last night. Vin was so excited to see her this morning, he yelled "Momma!!!"
We spent the day together and decorated, hung Christmas lights, went to the park, out to lunch and then after dinner watched an old Christmas cartoon and decorated the tree.
Teri picked our tree out last Sunday, we were ready for Thanksgiving to be over and Christmas to start, but we had to wait for her to return to decorate.
Vin enjoyed putting the ornaments on the tree, but we're working on getting him to leave them on!
Between Vin and two kittens I'm a little concerned. Whoever invented plastic ornaments is a genius! The old glass ones shattered into a million pieces and these just bounce.

His very first ornament.

Vin giving me directions - "higher Mommy!"

Yummy hot cocoa

Goofing around with a jingle bell

Teri and Vin putting on the tree skirt. Look at both their legs coming out of each side.

The beautiful finished product! There's nothing better than sitting in a dark room and looking at the Christmas tree.

Happy Holiday's!

Elmo

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Thanksgiving!

Oh my, I'm so super busy right now with finals week starting, Teri being out of town, us just returning on Sunday evening and Christmas decorating and festivities.
I hate to delay the Thanksgiving Colorado trip post much further but blogging does get pushed to the end of the to-do list.
Here are a few pictures and in short we had a lovely time, the weather was crisp but not freezing and I was totally inspired by Jaime's house decorating. You can see more pictures on the Taylor's blog

Downtown Fort Collins had two piano's set up with signs that read, Play Me.

Vin had a great time making music.



Check out that fancy hat that Wendy made Teri for her birthday. With her black wool pea coat and that hat, she looks like she should be fishing for Lobster's in Maine. Very cute!

Old time Christmas caroler's. Vin enjoyed them even though he doesn't look to sure about it all.

More to come, if I survive this week!