Christmas Break

I know. I know. I was off for two weeks and had so much time on my hands and did not blog once. I kept thinking about doing it--but then just never got off the couch and did it. Our Christmas Break started with Brynn's Christmas party at school. They just had snacks this year with no gift exchange. I was kind of sad about that, but it did not seem to bother the kids at all.

Brynn, Teagan, Addie, and Ashlyn

Brynn and her teacher--Mrs. Davis.

Brynn enjoying the snacks.

We pretty much just hung out at the house or at NaNa's house until Christmas Eve. We had Michael's family over to our house on Christmas Eve, and I was in the bed so sick. Michael kept coming in to check on me and I just kept saying "I'm so sorry". We had Mexican food and every time I would smell it--I would get sick. He did manage to snap a few pictures. This is his Uncle Mark. He is 47 (I think) and has Downs Syndrome. He had a gift for everyone, but to get your gift--you had to sit on his lap like Santa Claus

We woke up Christmas morning and I felt better but I was still a little weak. It was a sad Christmas morning because we did not have a kids this year. I can't really write about it without crying--so I won't. Brynn came back about 1:30 and the boys got home about 4:00. We opened Santa presents at out house and then headed to Nana and PaPa's to open stockings and other gifts.

Yes--Brynn got more Bratz for Christmas and she was real excited about it!!

Along with all Chance's hunting stuff, he got an Air Hog. Even at 18--he still likes to get toys too!Corbin got Under Armor Shoes. He is usually not excited about getting anything but toys, but he had wanted the shoes for about 3 months.

After Christmas, we wanted to take the kids to the Wichita Mountains. Michael's Dad and his Grandmother are both buried in Oklahoma close to Manitou, so Michael wanted to go by the cemetery on the way. We had been there once before, and it is in the middle of no where!! Both times we have gone, we have talked about where we wanted to be buried and I just want to make it very clear to everyone--DO NOT LET HIM BURY ME THERE! I told him no one would ever come to visit us, because they could never find us. Both times we have gone, Michael has gotten lost. I told him that if he could not find his own people, how could we expect anyone else to find us! I took this picture of Corbin kneeling down reading the tombstone and Michael standing behind him. Chance was only 3 when D.A. passed away, so he never even got to meet Corbin.

Once we finished our visit at the cemetery, we made our way to the mountains. The kids loved the groundhogs (they fed them part of a taquito from Whataburger), they climbed on the rocks at Mt. Scott, saw Longhorns and Buffalo, and then finished the day by eating a Meers burger and peach cobbler.

Brynn and Maxine stopping to strike a pose!

Michael and Corbin. Michael was a nervous wreck with the kids climbing all over those rocks.

We did have a lot of fun that day, and the kids cannot wait to go back. They did not think we gave them enough time to climb the rocks.

I enjoyed my two weeks off and definitely did not look forward to returning to work today!!