Christmas Day 2008

Late the night before, reindeer food was "put out" by K'reesa and Carlie, so they would for sure stop at the Coley house. Carlie picked out Santa's cookies, and if you will note the picture, he seems to have put the big man on a diet this Christmas! :) There was much fun and laughter as the adults prepared for Christmas morning. Cookies disappeared, and gifts magically piled up underneath the tree. What a stack of presents! Bright and early Summer and Carlie woke us up and through their sleepy eyes saw bikes and 4 wheelers and boats and books and every kind of toy they could have wanted!!! That's what Christmas is all about, the children. And the "grown up" children who secretly enjoyed setting up and playing with all the toys!!! I think we each got what we wanted this year, and it was more than something wrapped in a pretty box with curly ribbons. It was family, and time with those you love. We had so much fun talking and laughing and just spending time together. And Christmas dinner, well let's just say you should have been there, it was amazing! :)

Christmas Eve 2008

Christmas Eve we met for a church service in San Antonio - in her pretty red Christmas dress, Summer was asleep in the car before we even got inside! After the festive service ended we met at "The Farm" for an evening together. What followed was a wild gift exchange where we each ended up with the very thing we brought! Chris a remote control helicopter from Sharper Image, Josh a budget breaking "Birthday" margarita blender, Kristin her prized coffee maker, Karen a veggie & fruit juicer, Bill a weather forcaster, Dee-Dee a hand beaded purse, and me with my "Hot" perfume :) We were all like kids ripping into our gifts and choosing stockings...it was a happy Christmas Eve together.

Up Goes the Tree!

A few days after Thanksgiving, we decided it was time to get in the mood for Christmas!!! So Chris bought a tree while I hauled our box of decorations down from the attic. We lit a pumpkin candle, turned on "Holly" radio, and began! This year is already so much fun, Summer is old enough to be right in the middle of the action! Her blue eyes sparkled when Chris plugged in the lights, and she pranced around touching everything, laughing and clapping. She loves the holiday music and glittery balls (she managed to break two)!! We can't wait to see her on Christmas day!!!

Shelly comes home for a visit...

We walked Market Street in The Woodlands - went to La Madeleine's for dessert and a cozy fireplace, and ended the night at Baker Street. There's something about being with your trusted girl friends. There is no pretense, no acting, no worries of how you will be viewed. Only honesty, and laughter, and companionship.

Happy Birthday Summer!

I cannot believe Summer is already one, the time really does fly, and I catch myself wishing she was a baby again. It's so incredible watching her grow and change, something new is discovered or learned every day. While "Mama" and "Dada" were her first words, her favorite word is "Puppy", oh she LOVES puppies! For her first birthday, we had a house full of people and a Little Mermaid themed party!! Even some long distance travelers made it for her special day, G'Aunt Dee-Dee, Aunt Chelsea, "Aunt" Monica, and "Aunt" Amber. She was slow tearing ino her cake, but once she started it was flying in NO TIME! By the time she had some milk with her cake, Mommy was the only one who would pick her up...and I carried her straight to the tub!!! She is such a happy baby, and blessed more than she knows.