Laundry, Laundry, Laundry and Highlights From Home

Ryan and I made it home on Friday and laundry is about the only thing I did all day Saturday. Not that I minded since it took me away from other stuff that I have been putting off! :) It feels so great to be back at our house. I loved seeing everyone and spending time with the family, but sometimes a person just needs time to themselves. I think I have finally re-couped and am ready to have company again or actually do something. Which I guess could not be better timing since they need help at work and I start classes again on Thursday. I forgot that all of my classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. While I have time I have been doing a little bit of everything; organizing, cleaning out crap, internship apps, job searching, etc. I will let you know how the job stuff turns out.

Since it would be way too difficult for me to tell you about my whole three weeks at home, I think I will tell you a few highlights of the trip...

1. Taking care of Garrett and Lance the first weekend, eating at their little table and enjoying the boys. Then Ryan and Garrett playing in leaves and the most vivid, Ryan jumping into the leaves(mostly because I have it on video). Garrett's face when he saw the three-legged dog at the Matocha's was priceless.

2. Picking Dee up at the airport. Tessa introduced herself right away by "making" all over herself when Dee was slipping a new diaper underneath. Nice to meet you too!! Shelby made sure to tell us it was her baby. Dee looked happy to have new help.

3. Shelby playing in Missy's room almost everyday. If I went into my room for anything, she followed and proceeded to play with her toys and even played pretend with my clothes.

4. Grandma's-LOTS of people! I don't know if her little house has even seen so much action! The White Elepahnt exchange was memorable, but playing with Shelby and Garrett outside sticks out the most. While Shelby was on my back, she did not say Giddy up horsey, nope, she said "Giddy up Piggy!" Talk about a confidence booster!

5. Christmas Eve-The traditional walk down to the woods, even better with Shelby and Garrett with us. As soon as everyone was done with presents, Dad took his traditional nap. (As I was looking through pictures of last Christmas I found a video of Garret "snoring" like Grandpa last year. Too cute!) Making my first ever gingerbread house with Shelby and Ryan sleeping right next to us.

6. Christmas Day- Awesome crab lunch and playing with the goats. Raider and Star were having so much fun chasing them around, playing games with the Matocha's.

7. Aunt Shirley's house- Dee playing Guitar Hereo with the boys and having the time of her life! Great food with a great family.

8. Sue, Dee and I making a trip to San Marcos for them to visit their old home and to go to the outlet mall.

9. Mona's Wedding/New Year's-Unfortunately I was not in the mood to drink a lot, but Ryan had fun and we all had so much fun with him. Shelby was dancing up a storm, while Tessa slept soundly and Dee danced with Sue and I.

That is just a few of the things that will stick in my head for a while. There are so many more like seeing Sue's classroom and surprising Mom at work, but I am attepmting to keep this short. I am just blessed to have such great families to spend the holiday with and thank you for everything while we were at home. Here are some pictures!

We got to show the boy's a real racecar, even if it wasn't Nascar.

Dee's flight was delayed about an hour and a half, so Ryan and I passes about thirty minutes of the time riding the trolley between the different terminals!

Tickle Monsters!

Cousins eating the traditional shrimp lunch at Grandma's

This was only one of the tables at Grandma's. I believe that there were two more full tables in the dining room.

Ryan and I with out "children".

I don't think Ryan and Justin were into all the childhood memories of the woods.

The "kids" at Mom and Dad's minus Gabe. :( We miss you John, Melanie and Gabe!

Decorating the gingerbread house with Shelby.

The goats safe place is that yellow thing, so Ryan was trying to flush them out so the dogs could chase them. Eventually they did come running out.

Uncle Kenny with Dee, Shelby and Tessa at Aunt Shirley's.

Aunt Shirley with the crew too. Can you tell Shelby was tired at this point?

I was lucky enough to take Shelby all by myself to see the Matocha's cattle. I think Red scared her a little with her long horns hitting the fence.

At the outlet mall in San Marcos.

I will upload some pictures of the wedding tomorrow. Our internet is acting up so it has taken me over an hour just to do this part.