Christmas in Pecos

Well we are home after several days in Pecos. We got there Wednesday afternoon for all the Christmas eve activities and left about 6am this morning. We finally got home about 3:30pm this afternoon. It wasn't really all that bad. I usually really don't look forward to the drive because it is just too long to have Jeff and Connie cooped up in a car! But this trip was so much better.

Christmas eve was a blast! As usual Aunt Mert and Aunt Bev went way beyond and made it so much fun for the kids. After church, everyone gathered for some ham, sausage and brisket with lots of sides (and more importantly, lots of desserts).

After everyone ate, it was time for the pinata in the back yard. This year it was Thomas the Train. I guess Clay likes Thomas the Train. I think it was a great idea that went a little south when everyone started hitting Thomas. Clay was not really thrilled with this idea. He spent quite a bit of time talking about how Thomas was broken. Poor little guy. And I am sure that Kelsey will expand on this, but it seemed that Clara wasn't really very happy about hitting Thomas with a bat either. Of course Clay and Wyatt had a turn with the pinata as did Connie and Clara. The bat was a little too heavy for the little ones, but they gave it their best shot.

Thomas was a tough one to break. After the kids had their turns, Jeff, Cody and Mason got a shot at bringing him down. I am going to try to post the video to my blog...it was a tragic ending. If the video won't work online, I am already making copies to be sent out for everyone to see.

As tradition has it, the pinata ends with a special visitor. This year he snuck up behind the fence! (I wonder where his reindeer where?)



Then we went inside to visit with Santa and see what he had in his bag for everyone. It was so much fun. It a great time for all. Although I must admit that Connie confronted Santa because she didn’t get the only thing the had asked for this year. Right after she opened her first gift from Santa she made her way up to him, stepping over those in her way, and told him that she was mad because he didn’t get her what she had told him she wanted. She continued to tell him that she had asked for a DS gameboy with two screens and a pen just like her brother. It was pretty hysterical, but I have to admit that I was a bit embarrassed and felt like I had messed up with Santa. But it didn’t take long to redirect her and get the fun going again.

On Christmas morning, we stayed at the farm for awhile and opened our stockings. About mid-morning we made our way to Mert’s house for more food and cookies. We really enjoyed the time to visit and play with the babies. I have pictures that I will try to post also of them. All the kiddos are getting so big!



On Friday afternoon, Johnny and Lola Kay came for a visit. It was nice to get to spend some time with them as well. Connie was so happy to spend some time with her “Grandfather”. (I really don’t know why she has taken to being so formal with her grandparents. She does it with my family too.)

By Friday afternoon, some of the cousins were heading out other directions. Saturday we just hung around and visited. I got some really cute pics of Connie on the trampoline singing all by herself. I personally think she was delirious by this point.


I am so thankful for the entire Griffis family. It is so nice to be able to enjoy the magic of Christmas with such a great family. I know the kids love being able to play with so many cousins. And maybe even play in Aunt Mert’s pond if no one is looking….

OK. That is pretty much the details. I am making a few copies of the pictures and the video of the pinata in case anyone might want a copy. There are just too many pictures to post here and I am sure that others will be posting pictures too.

I hope that everyone else had a wonderful Christmas holiday and continues with a very safe, happy new year!

We will continue praying for Larry and hope all is well in Abilene.

Santa is coming to town!

We had our cub scout Christmas party this past Saturday. The kids all had a great time and were able to spend some time with Santa. He was a great Santa and really got to spend some quality time with him.

We went to the mall to see him just before Thanksgiving because there was no line and Brad and Connie seemed to be in a good mood. Well that may have been correct right until the time Connie realized that she was supposed to get at least in the general vicinity of this big man in a bright red suit! She was none to thrilled about that idea. I don't have those pictures in the computer to compare, but needless to say, she liked this Santa so much better!


Once she watched him with the boys for awhile, she decided to go up and talk to him. Of course she must have known that I wanted a picture of her with Brad because she flat out refused to go talk to Santa with Brad. But since Austin is her boyfriend, she decided he could take her to Santa. So here is a picture of Connie, her boyfriend Austin and Santa. (And for the record, I tried relentlessly to tell her that Austin was not her boyfriend, but she wouldn't stop calling him that.)



And here is one of Brad with Santa:

And then while the boys were off playing together, she went back to see Santa AGAIN! And in case you don't know Connie too well, she really isn't in to hugging people and certainly not into kissing people. Here is a small video of her getting snuggly with Santa:

It's snowing!!!!

OK. It hardly ever happens in Houston, but it actually snowed yesterday. It wasn't much, but it was something, at least. It snowed for several hours yesterday afternoon and into the evening. Although most of it didn't stick to the ground. I am sure that Laura in Oregon won't be impressed with our little bit of snow but the kids had fun talking about it. I wonder how much snow Kelsey got since she's a little further north from us???


Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of our snow....

Jeff and Allen

Here is a picture of Jeff and Allen when they went hunting a couple of years ago.

And here is a picture of Jeff and Allen with their Kingfish last spring not long after Jeff got his boat.

And thanks Kelsey for telling me how to put my pictures where I want them.

Amy at her basketball game...

Last night we attended another of Amy's basketball games. In the picture above, she is 2nd from the left. She has had a great time playing basketball and I am so happy for her. She obviously didn't get her abilities from me. I was worried when she tried out for the team because she is not very tall and hasn't really shown any hint of the competitive agressiveness needed for the sport in our hometown. I must say that she is growing in her abilities at each game.

She is pretty proud right now because although she is on B team, her team remains undefeated. I am so proud of her.

I am going to try this again!

OK. I am going to try to start this blogging thing, again. I so enjoy reading Kelsey's, Laura's and Tonya's blogs. It's great to be able to keep up by the internet. Besides, our families might be interested in what keeps us so busy that we never call anymore. (LOL)

Jeff went deer hunting early Friday morning. He went with his friend from work along with his brother Allen and his kids. I understand it was pretty cold up there, but I was warm and toasty here so I can't really speak to that. Apparently, there was plenty of small deer but not too many large enough to bring home. So, Jeff and his nephew Casey shot some hogs. At least they were able to shoot something. I will say that I am a bit glad that Jeff didn't bring any of his hog home because our freezers were not prepared for it!

At the home front, we were busy too. Amy's birthday was last week so she had a sleepover on Friday night. We had 4 girls total so that was nice. She originally planned for many more, but was happy that her bestest friends could come. I played with Brad and Connie until it was their bedtime and they I turned over the living room to them. The played the wii until all hours. Man, to be young again. I am so thankful that she is old enough to just let her and her friends be. Of course, hopefully their text messaging didn't keep any adults on the other end awake! Man, I just don't get that never-ending text messaging these kids do.

Then, Saturday I took her to the nail salon and got her nails done. She thought she was ALL THAT! Saturday was her Christmas band concert. She is in 7th grade this year and is really becoming a young lady (most of the time). She reminded me of my junior high years running around with friends. It really warmed my heart, but made me sad in a way too. It seems the older she gets, the more I realize just how short a time we actually get them to ourselves.
On Sunday, we cleaned up the house so that Jeff wouldn't think we were total bums all weekend. Of course, I don't think he even noticed he was so tired.

Anyway, I am going to TRY to put a picture of Jeff's prize as a test. That way, when I have an actual picture of my kiddos I might know what I am doing (probably not though).

And apparently I will have to figure out how to get the pictures where I want them in the post. Oh, well. I gotta go for now. I will have to play with it more later.