Proud to announce...

I am proud to announce that I am officially a Trinity Valley Cardinal! After being out of college for 12 years I have decided it was time to go back and actually get my degree. I am excited and of course nervous. I know it's going to be tough especially going to school full time and being a full time mommy and wife. However, I am much more focused in my older age and have all the confidence in myself that I will accomplish my goal this time around! My first day back to school is January 20th and I have arranged my classes around the kids schooling on Tuesday's and Thursday's and on Wednesday's Tamara will keep the kids for me to do my online classes. We just bought a new HP Notebook so I can't wait to use it, that is if I can get it away from Brent! This semester I will be taking Devl Math II, (because I didn't pass the THEA/TASP) English 1302, History 1302 and Music Appreciation (I had to have one easy/fun class). Please wish me luck and any encouraging words of wisdom are welcomed!

Incredible Pizza Company

The kids and I met my sister Melissa and my nieces Meghan and Morgan at Mesquite's Incredible Pizza Company. It is located where the old Home Depot used to be. I had been wanting to take the kids for a while and finally got an opportunity to over Christmas break. We had so much fun! It is not exactly inexpensive, you have to buy the buffet for entry into the games. The pizza and food is really good though. We got their at the perfect time just before it really started to get hectic. We played games and Brayden and I rode the go-carts, Peyton was still a little to small for that. We bowled, played mini golf and lots of arcade games. We all had a blast and I am sure we will go back.

He would throw it like he was holding a baseball.

ST...RIKE!!!!!!

Annie M and Pey

Should I be worried?

I loathe the crane game! Everyone we see he has to play!

Just chillin!

Ready, Set, GO!!!

I hope my little princess finds her prince someday, but not anytime soon!

Maybe he will be someones knight in shining armor, again..not anytime soon!
He had his socks and shoes on but had just come out of the bounce house.

Oh boy, he loves motorcycles. This makes me very nervous.

They really liked the train ride.

Waving hello to mommy.

Peyton was hanging on tight!

Any kind of game where he gets to smash things he is all over!

Awww, maybe he'll be a pilot someday?

Christmas Day

On Christmas day we woke up and the kids got to see what Santa brought for them. This year Santa brought Brayden a big boy "biciyul" as he says! Peyton got a play washing machine. We opened presents and then Nana and Paw paw Billingsly came over and fixed everyone breakfast. The kids got to open all of their presents from them and then it was time to get ready to go to Nana and Popa Demers house for lunch and presents. We had a great Christmas and a long fun filled day!

Santa's gift, I guess I didn't get a pic of Peyton in front of hers. Too much excitement going on!

All of the kids many presents.

Still waiting to dig in!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we went to Brent's uncle Bud's house in Mesquite. We had brisket and ham with lots of side dishes and desserts. We visited with family and the kids opened their presents and danced to Christmas music. We went to visit "Santa" who was down the street and the kids had their picture taken. We had lots of fun and look forward to next year's visit.

Terri and Katherine

Brayden with Santa

Peyton with Santa

Polar Express Train Ride

On Saturday we took the kids to Palestine for a traditional train ride with the Polar Express theme! We have had this planned for months and were so excited when the day finally came. We had several family members going from both sides. I think there were 18 of us total, we tried to all sit together but unfortunately we weren't able to but it didn't make the train ride any less exciting. There were so many exciting events going on. We were told to have the kids wear their Pj's to go along with the Polar Express theme and they loved it. While on the train we sang Christmas songs, we got hot chocolate and a treat. They read the Polar Express book on the train ride and then we arrived at the North Pole. We got to meet the train Conductor and of course Santa and a few of his elves! It was a wonderful magic time that went by way too quickly. I loved every minute of it, it was well worth the two hour drive each way and I hope that we can do it again next year!!

Brayden's train whistle (Thanks Uncle Kirk)

Eating before the train ride.

Texas State Railroad

Everyone being Holly Jolly!

Aunt Monky and Uncle Kirky

Cassidi, Aunt Titi and Terry

Popa and Nana Demers being silly!

Anxiously waiting for his ticket to be punched.

Checking out his letter, he got and L for Leader, imagine that!

Following along with the Polar Express story.

Arriving at the North Pole, not the best pics because of the glass.

Meeting Santa and receiving the first gift of Christmas, a bell from Santa's sleigh.

Elves

Dancing to the Christmas music.

Rudolph the red nose reindeer song.

Christmas Events

On Friday morning we took the kids Christmas shopping with us to get a few things for their cousins and while we were at the mall we decided to stop by and see Santa. We didn't have their pictures made, I just wanted to see how they would react to him. Peyton was a little scared at first but then Brent picked her up and she was okay. Brayden held my hand and we walked up to Santa and he gave him a high five as well as Peyton. Santa asked the kids what they wanted for Christmas and Brayden said a coloring book! I was very proud of them they didn't cry or shed a tear.

Friday evening we took the kids to look at Christmas lights in Grand Prairie called Prairie Lights. It's a two mile drive through with a halfway point where you stop and can ride a couple of rides and get food or see Santa. They also have a lighted forest where you can walk up close to all of the lights. The kids rode the carousel but we didn't wait in line to see Santa. It was a really neat experience! I completely forgot to take my camera so unfortunately I don't have pictures of it.

Here are a few pics we took of the kids that morning.

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving we went to my Mom and Dad's house first and had a wonderful turkey and all of the fixing's. Later that day we had to load the kids up and head to Brent's parents house where we had more turkey and lots of desserts! The kids had a lots of fun playing with their cousin's and we had a good time catching up with family members. This year has been an extremely rough one for us as it has for many but through all of it we are still Thankful for many things. I am Thankful for my family and that we are all healthy. I am Thankful for our wonderful friends and above all Thankful to GOD for helping us make it through each and every day!!

Playing in the leaves at Nana & Paw Paw B's house.