Tree farm

Saturday we met up with the Wylies at the Old Time Christmas Tree Farm to take pictures, see Santa and assist the Wylies in selecting a fine tree. It was the perfect day to be outside.

Aren't they the cutest things! These pictures make my heart melt :-)

As promised by Lucy, she did sit with Santa and she didn't cry. However, she absolutely would not look in his direction while trying not to touch him and she forgot to tell old St. Nick what was on her list that she's been reciting to me all week...Momma, I want a little baby (she says with her face all scrunched up in a high pitched voice) and a doll house.

Edy wouldn't give the poor guy the time of day whether he had candy canes or not!


For being so brave, Lucy got to slide down the blow-up slide, with Daddy's help. You could tell she had butterflies, but once it was over she was lit up like a christmas tree. I'm not sure who had more fun, her or Daddy!

smOOches, Emily

Wedding bells!

After Thanksgiving we went to stay in Dallas for our friends, Drew and Leslie's wedding. Drew is a great friend of ours who works with JD and also an old roomie of his. Friday the men played a golf tournament so Sara and I met up with all the kiddos and went to breakfast at Cafe Brazil, great food, and then I took the girls to the Dallas World Aquarium. It was a great idea, but I have no pictures because it was so crowded I couldn't get the camera out without getting run over or having thoughts of cussing at somebody. Like I said, it was a good idea, maybe for some other time?

On the way to the wedding

dah dah da da...

First dance

Father-daughter dance.

Brian and Beth

The newlyweds and us

Sara and I

I took this picture specifically for you, Heidi! Remember how we were talking about Houston being so fashion-forward? This was the first encounter I had seeing some unusual style! I saw these rare beauties and had to get a picture! Ha!

The band was fantastic to say the least. They played a great variety of music and kept everyone going. They were so much fun.

Flower girls

Sara and Samantha

A serenade from sigma chi...it was orchestrated so lovely ;-)

David, Corey, BV and Derek

Head table

yummy

Drew and JD

The Howards

One thing I have learned from being in Texas is that these Texans take their
Whataburger very seriously. Up until now, I may have seen one here or there on a road trip, but there is one on every corner here. So as we're leaving the reception I notice what appears to be a gift table...or something...on further inspection, it turned out to be wedding favors, Whataburger combo meals!? Yes, you read that right, fast food for wedding favors! As strange as it was, it was perfect timing after dancing so much and working up an appetite. A unique idea for sure.

Eric enjoying his goods

The getaway car

SmOOches, Emily

Gobble til' you wobble

Thanksgiving was spent at Mam-ma and Pap-pa's house with JD's mom's family. It had been almost two years since we had seen all of his family, so it was really nice to catch up with everyone. The meal, of course, was filling and delicious. And Pap-pa's jalepeno quiche was, again, another favorite.

Pap-pa and JD

Grandma Grier and the girls just making small talk

Lucy, JD, Mam-ma, Pap-pa and Grandma Grier

Afterwards, we went to Dallas to get ready for a wedding!

smOOches, Emily

Getzendaner Park

Wednesday before Thanksgiving we drove north to JD's hometown, Waxahachie. We picked up Grandma Grier and spent some time at the local park. The leaves were changing and the trees were just gorgeous!




smOOches, Emily

The fun never ends...

We (meaning JD) have finally finished the swing set Grandpa and Grandma Dowd got for the girls' birthdays. Before it was just the swings, so when the girls went outside to play they had a delightful surprise to find the slide and see-saw. It was like a brand new present!

smOOches, Emily