A Texas Christmas!

We are back in Germany now.  Christmas in Texas was GREAT!!!  All 6 of them (that doesn't include the one we had for ourselves here in Germany...).  We were home for 2 weeks.  And it was a busy 2 weeks at that.  We were traveling non-stop.  And Jesse was working while we were there.  He preached both Sundays that we were in Texas.  I'll give you a run-down of our travels, and then put some pictures.  It's going to be highly condensed, otherwise it would be forever long.

We got there on Monday, 13 December.  First stop, Chick-Fil-A!!!  Where we saw the Chick-Fil-A cow dressed up as Santa!!!

Tuesday, the 14th, we drove up to Longview to visit with our friends, Larry and Terra Camp, and meet their adorable little boy, Titus (who fell in love with me, and is my new boyfriend- hehe).  We had a great couple of days with them.

We drove back to Houston on Thursday, the 16th, after having lunch with our friend Mike Thomley.  We drove straight to the new FreeBird's that they opened up in Baytown.

Friday, we went to the west side of Houston to go to our nieces' Christmas party at school.  They were SO excited that we were coming.  We stayed for a little bit, then took them with us to Beaumont, and to Chuck-E-Cheese!  They had a blast!!!  We're the coolest aunt and uncle!

We stayed in Vidor for the weekend.  Saturday was Christmas at Ma-maw & Pa-paw's with my whole family.

Me and Mini-Me :)

Ashton and her Mini-Me :)

Sunday, Jesse preached at Vidor both services, and we had our Christmas with the Thompson side that afternoon!  It was a really fun weekend.

Monday, the 20th, was the LaRue Christmas.  Ashley and Adam had gotten some pancake mix that we used that morning.  It was a delicious "Christmas" breakfast!  Ashley and I even put out milk and cookies for Santa Sunday night!  We had a really good time opening presents and spending time with one another.

 Cookies for Santa, and "Christmas" breakfast!

They liked their presents from Germany!

 Silly boys...  :)

That week went by really quickly.  We had dinner with the Noonans, went to Bible study at Alief, had dinner with Jessica and J-Kil, went shopping, I had a girl's day out with the nieces, and then went to spend Christmas with my family.

They both got haircuts

 Getting their nails done!

Thursday night, the girls stayed with us, and we made snowman cupcakes!

 Making the cupcakes.

 They really liked making them!

We spent Christmas Eve at my sister's house with our family.  We got to go out and see how my parents' house was coming along, ate a yummy dinner, opened presents, and played with the girls.

Uncle Jesse pushing the girls in the swings.

The cat really liked to climb in the bag full of wrapping paper...

They liked their German sign!

Cupcakes on display on my new Cupcake Tree!

Christmas day was fast and furious.  We got to see what Santa left for the girls, went to Groves to have Christmas with my other side of the family, and then went to visit Jesse's family in Groves.  Fast and furious, but great all the same!

Grand-mother & Grand-daddy with their German sign

Sunday, Jesse preached at Eastside, and had quite the audience for it!  Lots of family!

Monday was full of errands; mailing boxes to ourselves here in Germany, returning a few things, and getting ready to leave the following day.  We did have the pleasure of going out to the Murffs' for dinner.  We always enjoy spending time with the Murffs.  Wonderful people!!!

Tuesday morning we drove to Galveston to drop our car off at the port, had breakfast at IHop, then drove to the airport.  And here we are, home again.  It was a great, and busy, couple of weeks.  It was wonderful to see our family and friends again, but it's good to be home (I hate living out of a suitcase).

We are getting ready for our New Year's Eve celebration tomorrow!  I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!!!  (this post ended up being long anyway... sorry)