family Christmas

Jeff, Ami, Kiran, and Ellery arrived Friday evening and immediately the fun began! The kids all picked up where we left off this summer and they played so well together!

Within the first 10 minutes of being here Jeff and fam brought this book out to share with Addie and Doak. It was such a cute book and provided lots of entertainment during the weekend. (sidenote-how cool is this? In TN you can sign your child up to get a free book every month. Dolly Parton sponsors this program. And the books are fabulous too!)

Saturday Cookie and Papa arrived to join the fun.

I think they were either playing school or restaurant at this point!


The blow up bed is always a huge hit. And since the kids had to pass by it to get to our bathtub, they all stopped to play!

Mr. Doak and Miss Ellery

Sunday morning we woke up early and drove to downtown Dallas. The reason Jeff and fam came this past week instead of over Christmas was because Ami and her sister decided to run in the White Rock Half marathon. Their grandmother, Sal, passed away this summer after a long battle with breast cancer and they ran in her honor. They amazed and inspired me.

Addie and Kiran were patiently waiting for Ami and Amanda to run by

here they come! go Ami go! go Amanda go!
our little family watching the race


While Ami and Amanda were working hard we spent time drinking hot chocolate at Starbucks and then we found this cool memorial area with gorgeous trees and a water fall. The kids all got down and played in the leaves and had so much fun.




Kiran and Addie worked to make a big leaf pile.

Addie sorted through hundreds of leaves and picked her favorites to put together in a bouquet. When we had to start walking to the finish line we all scrambled to find a piece of string to tie up her bouquet. While waiting at the finish line she gave random people leaves and also kept saying "leaves for sale!" She cracks me up!


Ami and Amanda finished the race and made great time!

Our side of the fam

Ami's family
Doak was SO tired he finally fell asleep on Keri's shoulder

Monday we took the big kids to the movies to see Bolt while Cookie and Papa stayed home with Doak and Ellery. This was Kiran's first time to the movies and he loved it! He and Addie were mesmerized by the movie.


Monday night we had an early Christmas. We attempted a picture of all the kids but that didn't happen!
With 4 little ones running around I didn't get many pictures, but I don't want to forget:

-chocolate chip blueberry pancakes
-peanut butter jelly time wake up call for Keri ( a new family tradition )
-rub a dub dub, 4 cousins in a tub
-the amazing projects Jeff, Dad, and Keri completed
-meals prepared by Cookie and Jeff (somehow I didn't do any cooking or cleaning!)
-staying up late talking with the whole fam


J, A, K, E, Cookie, and Papa,
We loved having you here to celebrate Christmas! What great memories we have!