Christmas Time && A Very Busyyy New Year!

We had an Amazing Christmas with most of our family! Here are some of the things we were able to do and a few pictures to go along:

Our oldest nephew Shelton had a Christmas play on the Thursday afternoon that we arrived so we were able to suprise him and attend that, which was so exciting! He was super suprised along with our other nephew Riley and niece Kyerra who were also there, they definitely were not expecting us to come. Riley had already gotten out of school at noon and so he came with Shane's brother Joe and Kyerra's teacher let her come and sit with us!

Shane and I

Riley and I

Kyerra and Shane
Shelton
Shelton and I
Shane and Shelton

After Shelton's play, Shane had to go up to work and drop off some parts that we had brought back. So my mom and I went and got our nails done! That night we had Shane's work Christmas party to attend, which turned out really great :)

Shane and I

My mom and I

My mom and dad

My dad and I

Jaynet and I

Matt and Shane

Shane's great uncle Bob suffered a severe heart attack shortly before Christmas so we spent some time up at the hospital with him and his wife Ruth. It was such a scary time, but we were able to spend time and have such a wonderful talk which I am so thankful for.

Shane did work the week of Christmas, so I was able to spend alot of time with my mom which was so nice, of course we went shopping and had lunch and just had fun hanging out :)

We did manage to get Bransen into the Vet to get his yearly shots, which was definitely a plus!!

Christmas Eve we had an open house Christmas party to attend at the Oeschger's home and then we ended up going to eat that night with my uncle Kyle, aunt Amy and cousins Colby and Tyler. After dinner we all went back over to their house to exchange gifts, which was hilarious! They tricked me and gave me this old grandma looking night gown... and I of course didn't realize that this was a joke so I was trying to be as polite and thankful while wearing this look of shock on my face while everyone was laughing!!! Then I got my real pajamas which are adorable :) We stayed over there for quite a while before going over to Joe and Jennifer's to stay the night and let the kids open all of their presents from us. The kids enjoyed all their presents from us, they all got jeans from gap, shirts and 2 other presents each and then we gave them 3 family gifts to share or play together! Shelton didn't really know what to think.. since we got him 2 psp games and he had no idea he was getting a psp for Christmas we had to let him open 2 boxes with a note from Shane and I with a couple of dollars saying that he had to wait until Christmas Morning to open the rest of his "real" presents from us! This is "our" every year family tradition and I look forward to Christmas Eve and the Morning of each and every year!

Kyerra

Riley

Shelton

Riley with his Mad Hatter Monster Truck

Shelton with his first note and dollars

Kyerra with her Hannah Montana dolls

Kyerra's jeans and shirt

Kyerra's Coach Vest!!!
Oh, I just adore this and it's by far my most favorite gift that I've EVER bought for her :)

Riley's shirt

Riley opening his Hot Wheel cars to go with...

his Hot Wheels Race track

Shelton's shirt

Shelton's jeans

Shelton's 2nd note!

Shelton with Operation

Kyerra with Trouble

On Christmas Morning, we were awakened by all 3 kids excitedly telling us to Hurry and get up that Santa came and it was time to open all of their presents :)) There is nothing better than waking up to 3 kids filled with so much joy! Riley received an awesome bright green bike from Santa Claus and the other 2 well they already know... yes you know, what they know! ha After they all finished opening All of their presents which took a Longgg time, Jenn made us a delicious homemade breakfast which included bisquits, eggs, bacon... the works, she spoils us every year!

Around 11:00 am we left and went back to my parents house where we had such a wonderful Christmas opening presents with them! They definitely still spoil us every year!!! I got a new hot pink Chi to add to my collection haha, I swear I have soo many of those things.. One in every color! I also got a new Abas wallet, its Taupe from the Sassy Collection, Oh it's sooo beautiful and definitely one of my Fav's!!! I got a new Black Fossil watch.. some clothes... cd's... and soo much more I can't even think of it all! Shane got a new play station which he was so thrilled about... the Madden 09 and Country Singstar (really for me!) to go with it... a ton of clothes... and a bunch of other stuff! haha

Around 1:00 pm Shane, my parents and I all went to Happy to have Christmas at my Pepa's house with him and my aunt Kassi and cousins Tyler, Faith, and Jaidyn... my uncle Cody is a police officer and had to work that evening but was called out early to a home invasion. We had such a great time.. eating wonderful food.. I even made a friend of mine's all time famous salad and it turned out so good!

Jaidyn Faith
Tyler
Faith, Jaidyn and I
Jaidyn and my mom
Jaidyn playing on her computer!

A little later in the evening we all loaded up and drove to Tulia to see my great grandmother and my grandmother who recently passed away in May's sister and her family! It was so awkward to not spend Thanksgiving or Christmas this year in Tulia at the nursing home.. I mean I have spent every holiday, birthday, family event in the family room of that nursing home since I was old enough to remember. My grandmother had Multiple Sclerosis and was in that home for most of my life.. more than 15 years. Holidays will never be the same without her here but I'm so thankful that she is not here suffering anymore! After leaving Tulia we went back to Happy and didn't leave until about 11 pm. We had a wonderful Christmas!

Jaidyn and great grandma Tyler, Faith and great grandma


We had plans Friday evening with some good friends for a game night but had to cancel because I was so severely sick (throwing up.. and you know the other stuff that does NOT need to be spelled out on here) all Friday afternoon, evening and most of Saturday. That was definitely a BUMMER... I even missed my hair appointment Saturday morning, which Never and I mean NEVER happens. Since I was so sick I didn't go with Shane to visit with his grandparents on his dads side Friday night and they were so disappointed! I love going over to visit with them and they love having us over so I was also bummed about not getting to go. They were able to have a nice long visit though which was very nice!

Shane's grandma (his moms mom) was admitted into the hospital the Saturday following Christmas (which happened to be the night of her side of the families Christmas dinner) with pneumonia so that was cancelled. We were supposed to give Shane's middle brothers boys their presents there so we had to stop by their house and deliver those important presents on the way to dinner with Shawn and Tasha! We don't get to spend much time with their kids especially not this past year so I was really stumped on what to get them, but they actually really seemed to like what I bought! We also stopped back by Shane's grandparents house where I could say hello and get to see them a little before heading back to Houston! They were very excited to see me, which is always so nice :) Papa was excited that Shawn and Tasha joined for the visit, he was even more thrilled that Shawn was a police officer!!! He was up and dancing and he definitely hasn't done that since his wreck a couple of weeks before Christmas, so that was really nice to see him so happy! We left there and then went to eat at Jorge's, which is usually sooo good, but it was late and they weren't very busy and it was definitely not the best I've had :( But we had a great time with great friends and thats really all that mattered!!! After dinner we headed back to my parents house to play games... but we started watching I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and I totally crashed.. I know party pooper, which is so not me! They didn't leave until around 1 or 2 am and we are so glad they were able to drive down from Dumas to see us :)

Shawn and Tasha Shane and I
Tasha and I

Some Exciting News:

We just found out yesterday that Kristen and Hank are expecting a little boy, Landon Curtis Nemoede! We are SOO Excited for them and can't wait to meet him in May :) I am so excited and very honored to be a hostess for Kristen's Baby Shower and am definitely looking forward to this wonderful experience as our friendship continues to grow!!!!

I'm so excited about the New Year! It's not even here yet and I already have so much planned...

January

16th-18th: Shane and I are meeting my parents and some close family friends in Tulsa for the Chili Bowl!

20th: School starts and I'm actually very Excited for this semester... Yes, Excited!!

February

5th-8th: Shane, Bransen and I will be in Amarillo for the weekend! I have a hair appointment and I have plans with Tara and some of the girls to get together and get some planning done for the bridal shower and bachelorette/lingerie party!!

16th: My Birthday!!! My teenage days have almost come to an end! ha

20th-22nd: Shawn and Tasha some of our Best Friends are going to fly to Houston to spend the weekend with us! We are so thrilled that they are making it a point to come down here and visit us before we move home :)) God has definitely blessed us with some Amazing friends!

March

14th: Shane and I's 2nd Anniversary! I just can't believe how fast married life flies by :)

26th-29th: I will be in town for Tara's Bridal Shower and Bachelorette/Lingerie Party that her bridesmaids (yes including me!) are hosting, which I'm so excited about!

April

4th: Cadence's 3rd Birthday Party!!

16th-19th: I will be in town for Tara's Wedding :)

??: I'm going to be a hostess for Kristen's baby shower so I will be in town sometime for that! Exact date hasn't been set yet.

May

9th: My mom is graduating with her Master's degree and Tasha will be graduating with her Bachelors degree so Shane, Bransen and I will be in town for that!!! The night of the graduation we (Tasha's best friend Lacy and I) will be throwing a graduation party for Tasha!

I Joined The Christmas Card Carousel

I just love Christmas Cards, sending and receiving that is! So when one of my best friends Tasha told me about the Christmas Card Carousel that Faith was hosting, I just knew I had to join in on the Fun!




This was my first year to actually create my own Christmas Cards using Adobe Photoshop and I love the way they turned out. I used a new printing company and my only complaint is that the picture of Shane and I came out a little bit too dark I think, but otherwise they turned out beautifully! Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful Holiday Season :)


(I'm not sure why my pictures have uploaded so small, if you
would like to see in better detail please click on the picture itself.)


This is just a little card I made for myself to remember Shane and I's 2nd Christmas together as Husband and Wife! Gosh time flies when your having Fun!! I can't believe that we have already almost been married for TWO WHOLE Years!


(I'm not sure why my pictures have uploaded so small, if you
would like to see in better detail please click on the picture itself.)


Now I hope that you all will go here and join in the Christmas Card Carousel... It's Fun! I can't wait to see all of your cards!!

Just a few things...

Since moving to Houston, I often get online and read all of the news and obituary updates at http://www.amarillo.com/. While reading this article I was completely in disbelief that a nurse (someone who is suppose to be aiding in healthcare because they Care...) would put someone through such so much pain.

What a horrific experience, and now having to live with a catheter because of a careless person's lack of negligence.

Here is the story for you to read:

My 82-year-old father was recently hospitalized in a Midwestern city with complications from a blood disorder. Medical staff assessed the need for a urinary catheter. The insertion was done with a dry tube surface. When he asked if they could "put something on it," the female nurse told him to "just take a deep breath."
The insertion was done twice, both times without lubricant. One of the results was bloody urine. My poor father said, "Just imagine being 82 years old and having somebody do something like that to you."
When he told his hometown doctor, she just abut came unglued. A male nurse also informed him that he always "lubes the tubes."
My father is now unable to urinate on his own because of a blockage, which his urologist says may have been due to damage caused by the dry insertions. He now has to live with the catheter.
I cringe whenever I think about his experience and wonder how many other elderly people have been subjected to this kind of abuse. Please print this letter so the word can get out about this torturous practice.


Also, I have been reading all about the Empty Stocking recipients.. and oh gosh, I cry everytime. I have just been so blessed, really all of my life and I just love being able to give back. Just being able to give a little to those who have been less fortunate... that is what this time of year is all about! I hate that the true meaning for the season seems to always be forgotten.. and I can honestly say that I am very excited to give.. that's really all I want to do this year! I encourage all of you to give.. even if it doesn't seem like much it could turn someone's whole Christmas season around.

Hope your all enjoying this wonderful time of year, I definitely am.. and can not wait for my dad to fly in today and then we are off to Amarillo for 10 days!!!