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Introducing....the most beautiful, Princess Gracyn!!!

Complete with lipstick!!(And macaroni & cheese on her face) She looked in the mirror and gasped, "Oh, I'm so beautiful!"

Time for tea!

Silly Faces!

Word Up, It's Word Girl!

Gracyn's best little friend, Pierce, was having a Superhero birthday party and Gracyn couldn't wait to become Word Girl. My mom and I got to work to make her costume.
Here she is...."Word Up! It's Word Girl!"

Fighting off the bad guys...

... and wishing her cape really worked and she could fly.

She was the only little girl that dressed up--but she was a hit and loved every minute of it!

WORD GIRL!

Hudson Lately...

This kid LOVES to build towers.
 
 He doesn't have to have blocks, he makes them out of anything he can get his hands on. (The groceries in the shopping cart while we're at HEB for example.) He's one proud boy when his tower is complete!
 
Unfortunately, he has a sister that loves to torture him and watch his tower come crumbling down. Poor Huddy!


Hudson no longer throws a fit when he has to change out of his beloved "tiped torts" (striped shorts) when we have to go somewhere. He'll gladly change into pants knowing full well that he'll have his ensemble back on when we get home. He wears his shorts every.single.day. I have to wash them when he's asleep!! As soon as we walk in the door, he's shedding his clothes to put his shorts back on.
 
When he goes potty, he usually strips down and takes everything off! And, it takes him a good 10 minutes to wash his hands! Cute little toosh!

Doesn't he look like such a BIG boy?!
 
 First thing in the morning, he's got his shorts on!

I talked Gracyn into wearing blue jeans the other day. As you can see, she was not happy about it. I don't remember the last time she wore a pair and she didn't like the feel of them. But, I'm happy to report that they grew on her and by the end of the day she liked them! She even asked to wear them again last week! (Drama Queen!)

 Hudson wanted his picture taken too.

Houston 1/2 Marathon

We did it!! We ran the Houston 1/2 Marathon in the rain, wind and 30 degree temperatures! I told Drew that I really didn't think I could do it...I was afraid I would start crying and not be able to finish. I am a complete wimp when it comes to being cold! I would say the worst part was waiting to start and having to stand there in the rain. But, once we got running I was "in the zone" and didn't really feel how cold it was. The sleet in my face kinda bothered me :) ...and my I could barely feel my hands when it was over because I'd thrown away my cold, wet gloves. I think I made up my mind that if I was going to do this, I would make it my best race. I finished over three minutes earlier than my previous personal best making it in 1:56:51. Drew did great too and had his best race ever finishing at 1:55:24! I'm proud of us for doing it and SO glad that it's over. I don't ever want to do it again in those conditions. We enjoyed a fun weekend in Houston without the kids and running 13.1 miles was a small price to pay! :)

After the race...

Christmas Hodgepodge

 Here are some pictures from over the Christmas break. A little bit of this and that....

Hanging out at Meme & Pop's with Uncle Ryan & Aunt Virginia.

Meme gave Gracyn a trim and we decided that Brier & Towns needed one too.

Ryan hijacked my phone and changed my screen saver to this!! Lovely!

He also just discovered Angry Birds and is now addicted!

Here are my two cuties before church. Love them all dressed up!!

Oh, how I love this little girl!!

They are really loving the roller coaster from Grandmom and Grandad!

Yes, he has his underwear on backwards AND inside out. But, at least they're on!

 

It even has little tracks on it to race his Matchbox cars down. He was having a ball watching his new crane race down!

Christmas Day

We woke up Christmas morning to see what Santa had left....and Gracyn was beside herself with excitement that she actually got the dolls that she was wanting! 

 

Hudson just stared at his new train table in awe. His first words were..."It's mine?!"

Showing off her loot to Grandmom and Grandad on Skype.

The train table is a family affair. I'll be so glad when we get those tracks permanently secured to the table so we aren't having to make repairs every few minutes! He absolutely LOVES it though!

Then we opened our presents. Drew was thrilled to receive his new RGIII jersey! Thanks Grandmom and Grandad!! (He asked to wear it to church last Sunday!)

Someone is really excited about her new umbrella!

She had to try on her new dress up clothes.The cutest Southern Belle that you ever did see!!

She was thrilled to open her Peter Pan figurines from Aunt Laurie! I'm not sure what the fascination with Peter Pan is--but he's the one she's most anticipating seeing when we go to Disney World.

Playing with their new blocks from Grandmom and Grandad. We can build some pretty high towers!

Santa left a whoopie cushion in their stockings. We had a fun time listening to everyone sit on it. So sad that they both now have holes.... :)

Enjoying all the chocolate coins his heart desired!

I'd say his new remote controlled firetruck is a hit!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we all go over to Meme &Pop's and make a yummy meal on our favorite snack foods. We all eat WAY too much...and the kids loving being able to help themselves to whatever they want! (We lost count of how many cookies Brier ate!)

 

 Then, we read a Christmas book...

...and sing a few Christmas carols. (I think this was 12 Days of Christmas; "5 GOLDEN RINGS!!")

This year, I added a new tradition and got a Cookie Cake to celebrate Jesus' birthday. I put 5 candles on the cake so everyone would get a chance to blow one out. It was a big hit!

Then,we open presents...and it's just one big chaotic mess! But, the kids love it and we all enjoy watching them get so excited. It's hard work trying to keep up with things and to make sure nothing important gets thrown away. Hudson loved his new firetruck. 

I think Towns was a big fan too!

Giving Nana hugs and kisses and saying "thank you." 

Then, Meme hinted that there was money hidden on the tree inside various ornaments and we all started searching. I ended up with $15!

Hudson had fun playing on the lawn decorations.

Drew was tracking Santa's every move.

Aunt Ginia & Ava

Trouble-Makers.....