Family fun in Waco

It was SO fun to go to Waco and see Unkie and Aunt Sue. We even got to play with Emmy and meet Bowen.  Said little B was sick so I didn't really get to play with him but I DID get 3 smiles!!

T looooves his Unkie

and we all love B-A-Y-L-O-R!!!

Silly bears

getting the grand tour - it's awesome!

then we had some Emmy time!!

T photo bombed... isn't she soooo cute!!??

T found the bear pillow... Emmy found an even better one!

COUSINS....

Thanks for the fun Unkie and Aunt Sue. We love coming down for a visit!!!

Christmas 2014

Christmas Eve quickly arrived and we headed to the Rents house to meet up with the rest of the crew.

T was SO excited!

We had to lay out reindeer food (duh - WHY have I always thought to put carrots inside? I guess Santa takes them with him!?)

then it was time to open gifts

they are a spoiled bunch but very thankful!!

Then, time to leave Santa some goodies!

We chose brownies... T wanted to eat one... actually pitched a little fit that he couldn't have one at 9pm

But thankfully he got over it and the evening ended with a smile!

Morning came and man was he excited to see what Santa brought!

(Last minute request to Santa was LOTS of band-aids because he has LOTS of Boo Boos)

#hopefullynotasignofthingstocome

Sadly, that's all the pics I took.  Oops, thankfully I just enjoyed the moment.


That night we headed home and after putting together 1,000 Legos... we opened a few more gifts... FUNNY gifts...

before celebrating what mattered.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Staples? ...not staples....

Ya know, I knew it WOULD happen... but Christmas Eve, EVE?  REALLY?

We were "bowling' in the hallway... just rolling a ball and hitting old wine corks (and a Lego man) and getting points... T was winning. He decided to get a "running start" but as he came around the corner, his socks slid, he slipped and went falling into the wall.

He does this stuff all the time. I mean, he operates at 300% at all times.

SMACK!  He hesitated for 2 seconds and screamed bloody murder.  He literally jumped into my lap. What do I do?  oooh I start RUBBING his head.  Poor baby... next thing I know my hand is covered in blood.  he has blood on his face, so Holt helps and we calm him down.  The bleeding FINALLY stops.  But the gash, ick.  His hair is bloody and stiff - the wound doesn't look THAT bad.

Next thing you know he wants to play football (UM - NO!) hockey?  Ok, fine - we pass and that's it. We play games, he's happy, he's fine.  My gut says - NO.

So I look at his head (again) and call my Aunt Jeanne (my own private nurse) - clearly she can't do anything other than diagnose what I'm telling her.  Well, I was about to shave the area and put a little butterfly bandage on there (it appeared small) but again, my gut says NO...

So, my friend Tracy suggest a Children's Urgent Care... yup, off we go.  While we were waiting I asked him what he thought Santa thought.  He said "He's gonna leave me band-aids Mama, cuz I have a lot of cuts and boo boos."  (I'm betting money they show up under the tree!)

Best decision ever. The wound was longer than I thought (the blood was covering) - she cleaned it and it looked fine but... sadly... needed two staples.  STAPLES? OMG - STAPLES? Not glue?  Not a little stitch?  STAPLES?  I'm an EA... I staple all.day.long... NOT staples.  I felt my knees go.  NOT STAPLES IN MY KIDS HEAD!!!!

I almost left the room BUT I knew, this would probably be the first of many with my little jock.  So, I sucked it up and stayed.  It wasn't so much the cut or the blood... it truly was that I WANTED IT TO BE ME? Why couldn't it be ME?

He was SO brave.  2 clean ups, 2 quick (and painful) staples later - my boy was good to go.  We left with a 7-Up, 2 suckers and a smile.  Holt was starving, so we went and ate dinner.  Every time he touched it or leaned back I thought it MUST hurt...nope.  Not even flinching.

Here is a pic...one, two staples!

There is NOTHING worse than seeing your child in pain or thinking they are in danger. NOTHING.

I'm so proud of T.  We came home, put on jammies and he snuggled me and said "Mama, I like when you are with me" - then he held my hand.  Sweetest moment ever, totally God's gift to me.

So many friend and family cared and I don't care how many people make fun of Facebook - it is the EASIEST way to get people praying and keep family notified.  IT WORKS.

I love you Tristan Holt "bravest boy ever" Barber.  Merry Christmas Eve Eve buddy!!!!

Class Christmas party

Mr.s Galimore threw a great class Christmas party!

he hung with his buddies

They had yummy treats and fun games (T even won one of them!!)

ring around the elf hat - he's the winner!!!

As I was leaving Mrs. Galimore said "I have to tell you a funny story."  

I said "uh oh..."

She said:  "Tristan led the prayer in school last week: God, I pray for homeless people and that they have a house and get warm. I pray that people give them food and not money so they don't by alcohol"

we laughed and laughed and I said - I'm sorry!  We are really honest with him about stuff and she smiled at me and said "That's goooood!  They are no dummies, you should be!"

Well, it appears he DOES listen to what I tell him but we really COULD have left that last part out... hahahahaha

His first ornament from Aunt Jeanne

** AAAAAH I just realized this never posted **

_________________________________________________________________________

Aunt Jeanne has decided to join me in gathering decorations for Tristan's Christmas tree when he's older.

She wrote me this email:

and sent this awesome decoration:

here is his face when he opened it.  Priceless:

Thanks for joining me in my tradition Aunt Jeanne!!!

My amazing Aunt Trisha

I have started collecting ornaments for Tristan for when he gets older.  I have SO many amazing memories on my tree.. and I thought it would be cool to start some for his.

Aunt Jeanne joined in a couple of weeks ago... then this came from Auntie T

He doesn't get it now... but he will some day and I know he will feel even MORE loved because he will understand how much effort it takes.

My #1 goal in life is to teach this boy to live a beautiful and thoughtful life and to love his family.  My NY family is fresh in his mind - always!!!

Thanks Auntie T!!

Christmas at the Olivers

Every year the Oliver, Hicks and we get together to celebrate Christmas.  It is ALWAYS a hoot.

Connie (as usual) went overboard  and personalized EVERY detail... even the seating place cards were made from cookies!

then T was very huggy and of course... people were THRILLED

then it was just the usual insanity.

Nice to have family away from home - always laughter in that household and I love it!!

Merry Christmas Olivers and Hicks, we love you!!!

Grace Academy Christmas Concert

Prepped and ready to go to the concert

The cuteness began the moment we walked in - HI TAY!!!

Then we all snuggled into the pews

All present and accounted for...

and then, I proved I was actually there.  Look ma - no neck!

Little Cully and Rett singing their hearts out ...

then T's class...

all looking  miserable.  Hahahaha - just bad pics, they had fun!!

Then the little man was the first up and the last down.  He was sweet... he went back and waited for her (there was a collective "aaaaaaaaaw, he waited for her" in the row ahead of me)

we just have to work on 'extending our hand and helping a lady'.  we'll get there.

after - we had one little boy thrilled to see his cousin!!

Great night celebrating Christmas and the birth of our Savior!!