Ballard Bunch

Normally, Christmas is over by the 26th and we are standing among boxes and bags and toys and stocking stuffers and wondering "WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THIS GOING TO GO??" But, this year with our different schedule, we still had one day of Christmas to go, and I LOVED it! We had breakfast with Peepaw and GG and then went down to their house for presents. I stayed in my jim jammers all day :) Opening stockings Hot Wheels track!! More sparkles and sequins for my princess Ohhh, what a great relaxing day of opening presents. Not in a rush today- we got nowhere else to go!! Lucy got all of GG's old Barbies and an awesome case to hold it all in. She loved this meaningful present

We did things a little differently this year, not intentionally, our work/school schedule demanded it. Jason was off, for the first time, the week following Christmas. That meant he had to work Christmas Eve, so we had to shift some of our Christmas from Eve to the 26th. Also, my preschool was open the week preceding Christmas, so my first day of Winter Break was Christmas Eve, the 24th. It was really strange working right up to Christmas Eve, but we got everything done and it was great stretching it out for 3 days! We still had breakfast and decorated cookies with Peepaw and GG, and I personally loved the addition of a Mama's Pizza lunch to Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve evening is with the Ballards, and it was fun to celebrate the twins' first Christmas! Lucy and Aizlyn We were officially brought into the world of American Girl this year! Lucy with her new baby, Carly Beth Christmas Eve jim jammers Nana and Papa with their 4 grandchildren :)

May and June are filled with celebrations, and it is so fun!! May is Mother's Day and several family birthdays, including my stepmom and I. June is Father's Day as well as Jason and my dad's birthday. We always do a girls' birthday dinner in May, and a boy's birthday dinner in June. First up is girls' birthday dinner, Buca di Beppo. A family style Italian restaurant that is just AMAZING. Check out our dessert sampler :) Daddy's birthday weekend We toured the Cowboys new stadium- that is an impressive place We had dinner at home, then went out for dessert! BJ's pazookies- YUM They are cookies baked in a small skillet, and they come out all soft and chewy. Then, they top it with ice cream and hot fudge or caramel- Oh YEAH!!! You can see our empty plate of 3 mini pazookies. Among others, we had a peanut butter cookie with chocolate ice cream on top that was TO DIE FOR. So cute, but SO crazy Father's Day Toy Story 3!!! Father's Day meal: Twisted Root...

We loved going to Ranger games last season, and the whole family was excited when baseball season came around again. This year, the kids joined Jr. Rangers, which gave them an opportunity to do some extra special activities, and we have a lot more chances to go to games- a win-win!! We made sure to pick a few "special giveaway" games and a few Sunday games, so the kids could run the bases. Such a special treat! I got the best pictures I could with my phone (new lens coming soon for my Nikon, though!!!). Peepaw and GG came with us, and as luck would have it, this was the 6th longest 9-inning game in Rangers history!! We had to get there early to get the kids the Ian Kinsler jersey, and stay until the game was over to run the bases- so, we were there a l o n g t i m e...... but all worth it! We did sit in the shade, thank God for small favors :) and I got a margarita, so it wasn't a total loss... Lucy in Peepaw's hat Rally cap- c'mon Rangers! Either make it excit...

We have our Christmas schedule down. It just gets easier and easier to see everybody the older the kids get. No naps to worry about, or huge diaper bags to lug around. We spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with our families, going from one to the next. It is a great two days!! On Christmas Eve, I make breakfast and my dad and Grace come to our house. Then, we decorate gingerbread and sugar cookies to leave for Santa. That is something we started doing 2 Christmases ago, and it continues to be one of the kids' favorite activities. After lunch at my dad's, we get to the fun- presents!!! Stockings first, then some great presents. The star of the show that day was not presents, however. It was the SNOW!!!!!!!!! It really snowed, not just a flurry that we called snow. It snowed all afternoon and it was so great to look out my dad's big windows and see the snow coming down while we were opening presents. That evening, Jason's family came over to our house for Ballard Chris...