A Parade of Champions

I took the girls to the Lake Travis High School "Parade of Champions" on Sunday, January, 11th. Their football team won the State Championship (4-A), their cheerleaders won the NCA National Championship (held in Dallas) and their Volleyball team are the State Semi-Finalists. Lake Travis ISD is one of the better school districts in the Austin area academically also. Needless to say, this is the school district that I want the girls to be at. So, say a prayer that this is where we will find a home (house) soon!

The LT quarterback, Garrett Gilbert that has already signed on with UT!

Look at that championship ring...WOW!

Olivia's Birthday Party!

On January 10, Ashly took Payton to her second big birthday party here in Austin. It was her little friend, Olivia from her pre-school class. It was at a ranch and there was pony rides and a petting zoo. Despite the very cold weather that blew in that morning, Ashly said that Payton had a blast.

Our New Years Trip To LA...

After our extremely busy Christmas holiday, Ashly and I were able to break away for a little "Mommy and Daddy" time! It was a much needed short vacation! We went to LA to visit our very good friends, Wendy and Frank!

Our plane left DFW on Wednesday, December 31st at 6:15 a.m. Luckily, once we got there, we had all day to rest while Wendy and Frank were at work. As soon as Wendy and Frank got off work the New Years Eve festivities began. We went over to their friend Malanie's place and cooked out for dinner. Then we went to a party in the Hollywood Hills. The party was fun but we didn't want to be on the streets too late so we took our little group (of about 10) and went back to Wendy and Frank's place and finished the night off there!

Ashly and I on New Years Eve!

A Close-Up!










The great thing about this trip to LA is that we didn't do a whole lot. We hardly spent any money and we relaxed for three days. The second night, we went to dinner with Wendy, Frank and their good friends, Peter and Kelly (from New York). What a neat couple. After dinner the guys played pool while the girls just hung out. It was fun.

Frank, Wendy, Ashly and I waiting on Peter and Kelly before dinner.

We were having so much fun spending time together!







On Friday I got to meet Wendy's mother and little sister. We met them in Long Beach and had lunch. That was neat because it was a city that I had not seen in California yet. It is a very cute city!

Friday night Wendy, Frank, Peter, Kelly, Melanie, Ashly and I all went to this really cool club/bar called the Crown Bar in West Hollywood. We had so much fun hanging out, dancing and taking silly pictures! They had a great DJ that played fun music!




Our sweet friends, Frank and Wendy! Can you believe we met them in April 2006 in Cancun, Mexico? We are the closest of friends. They have visited us 3 times in Texas and we have been to California two times to see them...crazy huh?

Frank, Ashly and Peter posing for the camera!

Me and my Sweetie!

Wendy and I posing for the camera!

Kelly, Wendy, Melanie and I having fun at The Crown Bar!





Saturday we were sad to say goodbye to Wendy and Frank but very excited to get home and see our girls. Ashly and I had such an amazing New Years this year. I am believing that 2009 will be our BEST year ever. Anything will be better than 2008! Thank you Jesus for a new year!!!!!

Christmas Day...

Santa was very good to the girls. They got their dream Barbie house they had been asking for since October! Their eyes lit up when they saw it. It came with furniture and everything.

The beautiful and rather large Barbie house!

Payton and Presley admiring their new Barbie house from Santa!




Santa (Ashly) was extremely good to me too. He spoiled me this year! I got A Tiffany & Co. necklace, iPod Nano, a gift certificate for MAC makeup and a few more smaller things. Man, I must have been a good girl this year ;)!!!!

Mommy opening up her beautiful Tiffany's necklace from Daddy, I mean Santa :)!


My mom came over and ate breakfast with us and got to see everything the girls got from Santa, Ashly and I.


The girls about to open their gifts from Mommy and Daddy!





That afternoon we headed over to Kerri (my step sister) and Mike's house in Argyle. We had Christmas with the following family members...
-Debbie (Rah-Rah)
-Kerri, Mike, Hayden and Grayson
-Micheal (my step brother from California), Taylor, Kassey, Jamie, and Jacob
-Me, Ashly, Payton and Presley
-Michelle (Mike's sister)


Payton and Presley watching Aunt Kerri decorate Jesus' birthday cake!

Daddy and the girls getting ready to open more presents!

These are all of Dad and Debbie's grand kids...Jamie and Grayson in this picture and Presley, Payton, Taylor, Kassy, Hayden and Jacob in the picture below!












We decided to head up to Oklahoma to let the girls say goodbye to Nanny. Since Nanny's house was a little too packed with family we decided to get a hotel room for the night!

WOW! What a busy Christmas!

Nanny passed away on December 27th in the hospital with BJ and Uncle Bubba by her side. Her little body finally got tired of fighting. She is in a much better place now. Nanny received the best Christmas gift of all!

Our Busy Christmas Eve...

Our Christmas Eve was a very crazy one. We received a phone call on Wednesday(December 24th) morning from Uncle Bubba (BJ's brother) and he said that the doctor's speculated that Nanny would pass sometime in the next 24 hours. Along with BJ and Lloyd, Ashly and I (in separate cars) drove up to Oklahoma in hopes to see Nanny one last time. We dropped the girls off at Mommom and Grandad's so we could focus on spending time with Nanny at the hospital. Luckily she opened her eyes one last time while we were at the hospital. Even though our day was a little hectic going back and forth from Texas to Oklahoma. It was worth every minute we spent with Nanny.

We drove back to Irving to spend Christmas Eve at Mommom and Grandad's house. We ate our annual enchilada dinner! The following family members were there...
Mommom and Grandad
Mom
Uncle Billy and Aunt Alane
Aunt Alicia
Ashly and I
Payton and Presley

My brother and Shelly went to Big Lake to spend Christmas with her family...the joys of be married! You have to compromise and alternate holidays!!!


Presley waiting to open her presents at Mommom and Grandad's house!

Payton opening her new Barbie clothes from Aunt Alicia!

...opening more presents!









The girls spread out their reindeer food on the front porch. They made it at their school. It was a combination of oatmeal and glitter..."On Christmas Eve sprinkle over your lawn. The glitter will shine in the moonlight and lead Santa to your house before dawn. The smell of the oats will guide the reindeer directly to your rooftop."

Happy New Year!!!!!

Happy New Year Family and Friends! I was doing so good with keeping my blog updated every few days and then Christmas, Irving, Oklahoma (3 times),Nanny's funeral, California and New Years came! I am still planning on blogging about out entire Christmas break but it will take some time. We had a lot go on in just a two week time span and a lot of CUTE pictures. Today is my first day back at work (with a little down time) and I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and to check back (blog) over the next few days/weeks. Hopefully I will have everything posted and updated by then!

Many Blessing To Come In 2009!!!