It's Been A While and Star Student!

So I haven't posted since Christmas.  I don't have a real reason other than the usual, work, kids, family, etc...  So I'm back.  Hopefully for good.

January started good as the Aggies won their bowl game.  We had a great time watching the game at Carla and Martin's that we didn't wanna leave.  We ended up staying there to ring in the new year.  It was tons of fun, and the kids had a  blast popping fireworks with their cousins.  Sorry, no pictures of that.  I guess I forgot my camera at home.

During January, Jackson was Star Student for a week at school.  On Monday, he took a decorated box to school, and his classmates left him notes and drew pictures for him.  One little girl said she loved him.  Hmmmm, gotta keep an eye on her. 

On Tuesday, he started the day by leading the pledge and prayers over the intercom.  Then he took a poster to school that had pictures all about him.  He then presented it to the class.  Then he got to answer 5 questions.  One question was why he liked the Aggies so much.  Haha!  He said that was his favorite team!  You all know he doesn't have a choice! ;-)  The morning ended with me reading a few of Jack's favorite books to his class.  He was so sweet and just loved having his dad, sister and me visit his class.

Christmas Day

We were all still a little overwhelmed with all the presents we got on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.  BUT, we were ready for more!  We headed to Aunt Gayle's and Uncle Mark's to celebrated Christmas Day with the Priesmeyer family.  After having a Mexican feast on Christmas Eve, we were ready for the Italian feast we would have for lunch that day.  It was absolutely fantastic!!!

As always, everyone is so generous.  Look at all those gifts!  And there were still two families that hadn't arrived yet!

Jackson and Nik were glued to Skylanders.  That is really a great game!

After lunch, it was time to open presents.  And the chaos ensued!!!

Trevor gave Melissa this giraffe for her baby's nursery.  She was lucky to get it out the door!

Then it was time for family photos.

When Mike got dressed in his uniform, Jackson got all starry-eyed and asked him for a picture.  It was too cute!

The little girls would be gone for hours at a time it seemed.  I went upstairs and found this...  Kristen and Meghan have a great Polly Pocket collection!!!

The rest of the evening was spent eating, drinking, visiting and playing games.  It was a great time!

Christmas Morning!

We woke up Christmas morning and Santa had come!!!  The kids were sooo excited!  Santa ate some of the cookies we put out for him and drank all the milk.  We left the reindeer some carrots too and they almost all of them.  Jackson also left two pictures for Santa, but he forgot to take them with him.  Oops!!!  But, as always, Santa left them a letter saying how good they had been all year.

Jackson and Jordan's sacks were full!!!

So the gift opening commenced...

Yay!!!  Underwear!!!

 An Easy Bake Oven!!!

 Skylanders!!!

 

 Santa was desparate for a box!  Jordan's watch was wrapped in a Velveeta box.  She opened it and said "Oh!  I got CHEESE!!!

Jordan got bunk beds for her baby boys!

Christmas morning was great!  The kids loved all of their gifts.  We spent the rest of the morning playing Skylanders and putting together Jordan's baby bunk beds.  Then it was off to Aunt Gayle's for Christmas with the Priesmeyers.

Christmas Eve

We made our way to El Campo to celebrate Christmas Eve with the Stock family.  After packing up the car, we put out the reindeer food that Jackson made in school.  He was worried that they wouldn't see it because of the rain that was coming in.  But we assured him that they would see it just fine.

So off we went to El Campo.  We delivered a few presents and then made our way Nana and Papa's house.  We rested there for a little while and then went to visit Aunt Dana and Uncle Ryan.  There we noticed that Reed needed his two front teeth from Santa too!

 After playing for a little while, it was time to get ready for Church.  We had a few minutes before we left, so we took a few pictures of us all dressed up.  This doesn't happen very often!

Then we were off to Church at 5.  There we experienced our Christmas miracle.  Jackson and Jordan were both SO GOOD in Church.  Jordan slept a little while, so that helped her, but Jackson was a perfect angel.  Kenny and I were so proud of him.  I think he was trying to get those last minute brownie points for Santa.

After Church we went back to Nana's to eat and open presents.  Shelley couldn't be there because she was sick and boy did we miss her.  As always, the kids had way too much!

Nana started by reading the kids a letter from Santa.

We're converting him little by little. :)

Jordan's first volleyball!!!

And introducing Todd.  Jordan's new baby boy and Max's baby brother.

Christmas Eve was great as usual.  The kids played with their new toys for a little while, and then it was time to head home and get ready for Santa and another great day.