Christmas 2011

This year Christmas really felt like it snuck up on me. I think part of the reason was due to our Seattle trip earlier in the month (which I STILL need to post pictures from!!). But we did get our tree up and decorated around the house just a little later than normal. The weather around Austin also helped get us into the Christmas mood... lots of cooler wet weather, which I loved. After the hellacious summer, any type of rain and cold is welcomed.

During Christmas we found out that the foster kittens prefer used boxes and wrapping paper as their toys over all the little cat toys that I have bought them :) They played for an hour in the wrapping paper, playing hide and seek.

For dinner we had ham, chicken Florentine, au gratin potato's, green beans flavored with a Cesar marinade, stuffed mushrooms, broccoli rice casserole, and rolls. We also had plenty of snacks before dinner... veggie tray, roasted red bell pepper dip, and deviled eggs. And for dessert we had 3 different options... a pudding and whipped cream dessert, a raspberry dessert and my Bavarian Apple, Cranberry and almond torte. We ate very well on Christmas Day!


The kids at the kids table :) They didn't mind missing out on the adult talk, they watched Christmas Story while they ate.

Poor Chewie. I know he doesn't really enjoy putting the headband on,

but look at how damn cute he is!! Don't you just want to kiss that face?!?!?

Abbey is still getting used to the headbands. She figured out that if she dipped her head it would fall off :)

Abbey and Jamie (Jim's sister)

Jay, Caden and Dawson getting ready to open presents.

Travis and Caden goofing off

Jim and I... showing off my new hat from my In-Laws. Can't wait for cold weather to wear it

Ryan with Jelly and Caden with Slinky

Opening presents in the living room

Family Photo- Even Abbey and Jelly got in the picture... Chewie was off to the side and not sure where Slinky was hiding

After everybody left, we settled in for some couch time to relax. Here is Jim and Slinky. The kittens are cool with being held for a bit, but then they want to go off and wrestle. :) They are hilarious to watch wrestle.

Me and Jelly

Freakin Adorable Photo!!

Thanksgiving Day

We started our Thanksgiving day with a 5 mile run.... well..... Jim and his sister started their Thanksgiving day with a 5 mile run, I simply drank coffee, took pictures and cheered them on. There were 21,000 runners in the race and people were all over.... people with strollers, people with dogs, people in costumes, people, people, people!

There was a band playing at the packet pick up area, good way to get the crowd pumped for the race
Jim and his sister Jamie getting ready to run!

I'm at the starting line for the race.... look at all of the people! I was looking for Jim and Jamie, but I didn't see them.

Look at how CUTE this dog is! I imagine he is really soft and fluffy and would be fun to cuddle.

Run, run run!

I love this chicks hat

I hung out on a median near Congress and Cesar Chavez to watch for Jim and Jamie run by.... and of course I didn't see them in the crowd but there were plenty of people/dogs to watch!

I have no idea how this guy didn't pass out since his entire head was covered. I'm sure the red fabric was breathable but had to be hard to run 5 miles in it. And this guy was at the front of the pack so his pace was fast.

Here we have a tequila bottle and a taco running in the race

Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without an Indian running in the race

Lots of cute dogs running with their owners. Many had little jackets/sweaters on

Not sure why, but the Queen of England decided to change genders and then run in the Turkey Trot

A turkey and a pilgram walking together :) Shouldn't the turkey be running from the pilgram?

Lots of runners!

After the race we headed to Lubys to meet Jim's family for Thanksgiving dinner. Jims familiy prefered to go out instead of home cooking and hanging at one of the houses so we met up at Lubys for the holiday. We met up with his parents, sister and her family, 2 cousins and his aunt. It was a nice showing!

Jim's cousin Lori's Kids.... Jace, Charles, and Celeste

Jim's sisters family.... Caden, Jamie, Ryan, Travis and Dawson

Here we are one big family. Thanks to the lady walking by who took our picture! :)

And I couldn't pass up posting this picture of Chewie... he is running towards me while licking his nose. He is my adorable boo-boo! :)

Mothers Day

Last Sunday we met up with Jim's family for a brunch picnic at a park in Georgetown. We all brought a dish or two to share. The weather was beautiful as was the park. Jim's mom had rented out the pavilion to ensure we had a place to sit. It was nice to catch up with everybody and eat homemade food. The only thing I would have changed would to have paid a barrista to be there so we could have free flowing coffee :)

Jamie brought a breakfast casserole, very tasty!

Jill brought biscuits and sausage

I brought mini quiche's (ham, spinach, onions and cheese)

When trying to see who was taller, this was Cadens method rather than stand back to back. I can't remember the outcome, but I think they are reallllly close

Caden being timed while running to and from the tree

Me, Jim and Jamie

Leave it to a nephew to bring up a critter from the mud :) He was not a happy camper

Playing catch
In the background, Tammy, Matt and Lindsay. Jim's cousins (Lindsay is married to Matt). In the foreground is Ryan

Caden making an announcement that he will NOT be getting any birthday spanks at the picnic.

Maddy (Jim's cousins kid) playing with the bubbles

The park also had a couple of donkeys. We fed them left over biscuits and some leaves. They were VERY used to people feeding them. Jim said that I couldn't take one home. Party Pooper.

Jim playing catch with the nephews



Judy, Jim's aunt

Ryan chillin while eating a doughnut