Christmas goodbyes

An absolutely wonderful visit with Garrett and Maci quickly came to end and it was time to say our goodbyes.  Knowing I would see them both again in the Spring made it slightly (but not much) easier.  Delanie has a rule we should all live by......you never say "goodbye", you say "see you later".  :)

 

It wasn't long after leaving the airport that I got the text below from Garrett.  Is it any wonder why I love this kid so much?? 

 

Of course, the first thing I did after I got home (ok, and after a small crying jag) was FaceTime with Charlene.  She made me laugh like she always does and it was just what I needed.  I snapped a screenshot right as she was showing me her Christmas tree.  I could look at this picture all day long.  The thing I love the most about it is the sheer joy on her face. :)  This chick LOVES Christmas (and me, thank God!). 

Lucky me......I get to see them all in just over a month!!  Not a moment too soon! :)

Flashback Friday

Happy Friday!! :)

 

With MN temperatures in the single digits coupled with wind chills in the negatives, I'm revisiting the warmth of Summer in Texas.

 

 

This was the first family photo shoot to include Jim.  Look how young (and tan!) everyone was.  :)

 

That's a good-looking family if I do say so myself!! 

Mansfield, TX - Summer 2009

Christmas at the slopes

On the last day of their visit, Jim took the kids to tubing.  Elm Creek Park Reserve is about five minutes from our home so they didn't have to go far.  They spent all day long tubing.  Needless to say, they had a blast!! :)

 

 

 

Of course, they picked the COLDEST day of the week to go.....

 

A migraine kept me at home in bed but Jim got some great videos!  I can't watch them without cracking up.  :)

 

This is my favorite one......  It cracks me up that they're laughing so hard while trying to hold on to the tubes!

 

Larry, Curly & Moe.......:)

 

Christmas luck

One of the highlights of Garrett and Maci's visit was a trip to the casino.  Of course, Jim and I didn't mind that at all.  :)  The gambling age in Minnesota is 18 so this is their first time to play. 

 

For the first few nights - when they weren't playing video games - Jim painstakingly taught them how to play blackjack.  Yep, that's my man!  He even created flashcards for them making it a point that if they were going to play, they had to know how to play. 

The training definitely paid off.  Together, they more than quadrupled their money!! :) 

It was so funny sitting next to Garrett.  Poor kid, he was so nervous to bet money.  Honestly.....I thought he was going to break out in a rash.  Did I mention we were playing at the $1 table??  :)

Flashback Friday

Happy Friday!! :)

 

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day so I thought I'd show some sibling love for this one.  I've always been so grateful that Delanie and Garrett have such a close bond.  They are as different as night and day but that never seemed to matter. 

 

And my all-time favorite....... 

 

Grand Prairie, TX - 1999

Christmas 2014

As soon as we got home from the airport, it was time to open presents! :)  Like I said earlier, I didn't take a bunch of photos but I couldn't help myself when I saw this....

Delanie got an acoustic guitar from Santa Claus and her sweet big brother immediately started showing her the ropes.  He is tuning the guitar in the picture.  The sight of these kids together just warms my heart. 

Yep, this is the wonder that is my firstborn.  He always has something funny or sarcastic to say and I wouldn't have it any other way.  :)

Oh, see that picture of Jim's dad to the left of Garrett?  That was Jim's present from the kids.  In the picture, George has his Air  Force uniform on including the metal wings on his hat.  The actual wings are included in the frame too.  Needless to say, that was the hit of Christmas.  Jim loved it!  It now holds a place of honor in Jim's office right above his desk.   

Christmas Flu

January has gotten away from m!!  I'm just now posting Christmas photos!!  Yikes!  There's so much I want to share with you.

Where to begin...... 

The plan for Christmas was for Delanie to go to Texas while Jim and I went to Michigan.  The next week, Garrett and Maci would fly to Minnesota with Delanie to spend the week of New Years Eve. 

It almost went off without a hitch.  Delanie flew to Texas.....check. 

The day we were to fly to Michigan, Jim got the flu. :( 

Even after getting the flu shot, he was down - and I do mean DOWN! - for about six weeks.  Poor guy.....he spent his two week vacation sick-up-in-the-bed.  That was one of my mom's expressions and it still makes me smile. 

 

 

This flu strand was no joke.  This was the scene at our house for a very long time.  

 

He felt a little better the time Garrett, Delanie & Maci arrived in Minnesota.  We had a full week of activities planned and they all included him.  :)

This was the first time Garrett had been back to Minnesota since he returned to Texas in 2010.  We have seen each other tons of times since then but it was good to get him cute little bootie back in our home and have him all to ourselves for awhile. 

Although it was hard, I made a point of NOT taking tons of photos while they were here.  I wanted to be a present-participant in his visit instead of the person behind the camera.  (I did have everyone sit for a quick family photo shoot but I kept it as quick and painless as possible.)  I'll post those pictures later.  :)

Flashback Friday

Happy Friday!! :) 

 

Tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the year......my wedding anniversary.  Six years ago, I married the love of my life. 

 

 

In case you don't know the backstory, Jim and I met at a blackjack table in Oklahoma.  During our two-year courtship, there were plenty of ups and downs but as love would have it, everything worked out in the end.  :)

 

A few months after we started dating, Jim told me we would end up married.  I told him he we was smoking crack.  I finally came to my senses and realized he was right.  No big surprise there!

 

On December 12, 2008, I closed on the purchase of our home in Mansfield.  Life was good.......my family was healthy and happy, I was dating the man of my dreams, and the kids and I were finally able to move out of our apartment and start putting down permanent roots.  I didn't think it could get any better. 

 

To celebrate our new home purchase, Jim took me to Morton's in downtown Dallas to celebrate.  If you've never been to Morton's, it is quite the experience.  They have an aweome room with nothing but wine lockers that belong to their "regulars".  The walls are filled with photos of famous people who have dined there.  The napkin color depends on your pant color (because who wants white lint on black pants?).  All in all......it is AWESOME!

 

Little did I know that Jim had the whole night planned.  When the dessert menu arrived, this is what it said.......

 

I was shocked!  Just when you think life can't get any better and your heart is ready to explode, something like this happens.  :)  Jim came around the table, got down on one knee and popped the question.  I wish I could remember what he said but it was all a blur.  I do remember what I said though.  Instead of answering him right away, I kept asking him if he was sure.  He started laughing and said "you're not going to leave me on my knees forever, are you?" 

 

When we looked up, the entire waitstaff and several other customers started cheering!  It was such a wonderful moment.  We soon found out that a customer at another table was taking photos.  She gave the camera to the staff at Mortons and they printed out of the photos for us to mark the occasion. 

 

 

The photos were presented to us inside a handwritten card (below) signed by all of the waitstaff.  We never did find out who the thoughtful customers were but we were notified that they paid our bill as a congratulations gift.  Proof positive that there are still wonderful people in the world.  :)

 

 

Less than three months later, Jim and I stood before our families and promised our forevers.  Jim's parents' anniversary is February 7th.  Jim asked his mom if we could share their anniversary and she graciously agreed.  Isn't it funny how things work out exactly the way they are supposed to?  God definitely has a plan for us all. 

The whole Richardson crew flew down for the occasion.  The day would not have been complete without them! :)

 

Happy anniversary honey!! :)  I love you more and more every single day.  I cannot imagine life without you.  You're the one!