One really fun thing that we started doing years ago was Christmas pajamas. My mom started this when I was in junior high or high school, but it was just our family. We would put our pajamas on and take lots of pictures all night long. Now that we're all spread out and meet up at my grandparent's house, we ALL do Christmas pajamas. It's really fun, but a lot of work. My poor mom starts looking for pajamas the day after Christmas for the next year. It's hard to find all the sizes for 15 people! We took over 100 pictures this year...I've only put a few of them in the album below. The funny thing is, we never do anything with them. We'll print off a few, but that's all. Maybe we just love to be in front of the camera! 
Lee said the reason for the look on Abe's face is because he knows I'm as crazy as Lee does! It's so great to have friends who go so far back that they really do know you...good or bad...and Abe could tell you both! We're both really lucky to have him as our friend. 
Another really exciting thing - Abe has a girlfriend! Her name is Janice and she's so cute and super nice. Just really warm and friendly... I felt like I'd known her forever in a matter of minutes. To quote my friend Abe, "God is good!" Let's just keep this one around, Abe!
Look at Abe's face in this picture! He did that in one that he and I took, too. What's the deal?!
I realize I have no pictures with the bride. I don't know what I was thinking! Probably feeling sorry for her aching feet and sympathizing with her desire to spend some time with her new husband. Remember that girls?
Uncle Jackie Hill, Mr. Paul Hall and Lee
I have been complaining about my cell phone for so long now. I guess Lee finally got tired of it because he got me a new one this week. The buttons on my old one got stuck all the time, which made sending a text message or dialing a number not even worth it. I thought that I would just get some cheap new phone, but Lee went all out and got me a RAZR! I was so excited. I picked it up yesterday, and you would think I was a little kid the way I keep playing with it. It's so fun. What a nice early Christmas present! Thanks, Lee...
Me, Hope, Kara, Jenny, Carrington, Jennifer, Catherine, and Sarah.
We're missing Alicia Mattern. She and Will had to leave early for another party.
Me and Carrington. She is the sweetest little girl!
Jenny and Ryan and Crew and Carrington. Aren't they sooo cute? What sweet babies and parents! 
I am so excited! Ever since I was very little, I have wanted to put lights on my house. Because we lived down a dirt road so far away from the street, we never did when I was growing up. The past two years have been too crazy to even consider dealing with it. But this year, we did! I just start giggling every time I pull in our driveway at night...I'm so excited! Don't they look great? Lee worked really hard on the lights yesterday, and we went last night to get the wreath. I took a picture with and without the flash because it's hard to see that he even put a spotlight on the wreath. I just love them! 
Here's another really fun thing we did in Houston. My cousin Eldon turned 21 this year on November 16. His birthday is always the biggest deal. He starts calling to remind us it's coming up in about May. For the past few years, we have had a surprise party for him at some point or another...and he's always surprised. This year, we decided to go a different route. We made reservations at Buca de Bepo to eat at the Pope's table. This restaurant serves food "family style." You order a bunch of dished for the whole table and everyone shares. Our table had a huge lazy susan in the middle that we turned all night long. It was really fun. We didn't tell Eldon about it ahead of time. We all got there first, and when he walked in, he was so surprised. And he loves Italian food. The food was fabulous, and we had a good time laughing and talking...all of us. What a tacky room, huh? 
Lee and I gave Eldon some slippers that look like cowboy boots. There's a little story behind them. All he wears is boots all the time. My mom and dad gave him a new pair this year because he's always wearing his out. I was asking his brother Dyllan, who is 10, if he ever took his boots off, and he said, "No. I think he even sleeps in them." We decided to find him something a little more comfortable to sleep in! Here he is modeling the boots, and by the looks of things, he really liked them. He wore them all around the house, and he really did sleep in them! Precious! 
I have found the greatest makeup in the whole entire world. I know this is random, but I feel a responsibility to share it with everyone. It is Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation. It is AMAZING. Before this, I was wearing MAC concealer and powder, which was fine, but by about 11:00am, I looked terrible. This new foundation does not come off...at all. You can run your hand across your face or wipe it with a paper towel, and it will not move. Now, one may think that the makeup is really heavy, but it's not. Once it dries, you forget it's there. You have to apply it with a brush, which really helps to get it in everywhere. This makeup has made my life so much easier, and I've only been using it for a few days. People have been stopping me and asking if I highlighted my hair, got new eye makeup, even if I bleached my teeth (thanks Wesley!). It's all the makeup!! Today is the third day in a row that I have had to function on less than 3 hours of sleep. I came home this afternoon and took a short little power nap before I had class tonight. I jumped up and ran out the door in time to be in class and then got home at 10:15, which is when I took this picture. Ok, I know it's not the best picture, but I normally would have almost no makeup on my face, and my eye makeup would be way under my eyes...think Beetlejuice. Not now! Everyone should check this stuff out. It's not super cheap, but it's worth every dime! 
Our tree this year!!
I’m so excited! I’m leaving tonite to go to Houston to see my family…or at least some of them. This decision was made rather quickly after Lia’s visit to Mississippi two weeks ago. We had so much fun all weekend, even though getting her home was quite an ordeal. (We took her to the airport on Sunday. We got to the counter and found out that she was actually booked to leave the next day…small accident. After stopping her tears, we booked another flight on Southwest. She missed dance that night but was able to make it back for school the next day.) After she left, I had a mental breakdown…poor Lee. I cried almost all night long! I just miss seeing her all the time, and I started feeling like I had no idea what was going on in her life. She’s so busy and has so many great friends, and I knew nothing about it. So, sweet Lee, in an effort to get me to stop crying, told me to book a ticket to go this weekend. I can’t wait!
My mom came this week to do some wedding stuff with Alyssa. Of course, we had to get custard at Lickety Split. It was freezing inside, so we sat outside on the picnic tables. We L-O-V-E Lickety Split. It is almost out of control. Their custard is sooo good. It’s way better than Bop’s, and I really like Bop’s. I’m just so afraid that it’s about to close. It’s in one of the new shopping centers off Old Fannin, and there is nothing else in this center…it’s still waiting for development. And Bruster’s opened up right behind it. I’m so afraid that because not as many people eat ice cream in cold weather, they’re going to close. What would I do? You can read the website for more info, but it’s a neat story. The owner is really young and is just trying to achieve the American dream. So do your part and sup
port this great business!!!
It has been so fun to watch her grow into such a neat young woman who loves God and strives each day to live her life according to His word. I am amazed at her wisdom and excitement and passion for Christ and her ability to instill that same excitement into the people around her. It has been especially neat to watch her grow in her new environment in Houston and take each situation with which she's given and make it positive. She's soooo funny and beautiful and honest and encouraging and amazingly talented - she can do anything! And she has a great sense of fashion...which we all know she got from Alyssa. She really is my friend...not just my little sister. So although we were shocked 17 years ago to find out we had a new member to add to our family, we're so glad for her. She adds so much joy and fun to our family. So Happy Birthday, Lia. I hope today is wonderful! 
