A Very Merry Christmas

We had a great time this year here in Dallas for Christmas. After living here for 3 years, this was our first time to host Christmas at our house. My mom, dad, and youngest sister Katie came to Dallas and were here for about 5 days. It was so nice having them here for so long. Christmas afternoon we went to see Four Christmases. It was pretty funny! We had fun catching up and hearing about Katie's upcoming trip to Brazil after graduating from UT in May. Sounds like it will be a great time!! Mom, Katie, and I got all of Lauren Margaret's clothes washed and organized while they were here as well. She's got enough clothes for ten little girls...we are really going to have fun playing dress up each day! We put the final touches on the nursery, so now I just need to get my bag packed for the hospital and the car seat in the car. I think we're in pretty good shape. I'm still feeling great and have truly enjoyed being pregnant! I know being a mom will be even more wonderful, but I sure have enjoyed the last 9 months!! I know that sounds crazy to some of you, but I really have loved it! I've felt great and have just been so excited about each new week...reading about how Lauren Margaret's growing and what she's up to, etc. It's just such a blessing...why not enjoy every moment, right? What a true gift from God.

Last week Dad was able to go out to Poly-America, Brandon's company, to tour the property and operations. He was very impressed with how big of an operation it is out there...he even got to go into the big factory where the products are made...just like on that show "How It's Made." I'm glad they had that special time together!

Well, Christmas seemed to come and go like it always does, but we have some wonderful memories to cherish! I think this year more than ever we were reminded of the many blessings God has bestowed upon us and our families. We look forward to the new year and the plans He has for our lives. Merry, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had our big dinner Christmas Eve. Here is what happened to Brandon after his 1st sip of wine...had a little spill. We just thought it was so funny because you would think he would have had the whole bottle with a shirt that ended up looking like this but it really happened on the first sip. So funny...he was our "Cousin Eddy" of the night! We made him keep the shirt on because it was just so funny! The meal was so wonderful and I had fun cooking and preparing it with mom this year :)
Our first Christmas table
Here are the guys watching something on t.v....probably something on the History Channel...their favorite channel!

The Chefs (mom and I and Lauren Margaret at 36 weeks old :) )

Mom with her grand dogs, Lucy and GiGi. They were just waiting for something to drop! Can you tell??

Laura, Carrie, and Andrew

On Sunday, The Lee's drove down from Tulsa to celebrate Christmas with us. Jim, Brandon, Grandmother, and Adrian are pictured above.

Brandon with his twin sisters, Carrie and Adrian

Snow in the desert?

Here are a few pictures Brandon took in Vegas yesterday...something is just wrong with this picture. I mean, snow on palm trees....trying to wrap my brain around this one!!

tick, tock, tick, tock....and Vegas Baby!

Where does the time go? I had my 35 week checkup yesterday and things are progressing. Apparently she is descending some, so we might just have this baby girl before her due date on January 20th. However, Dr. Nokleberg still thinks she will come closer to her due date. I start going for a check up each week, so we'll be keeping a close eye on things. Either way, we are so excited we can hardly stand it! We are finishing up the last few touches on her nursery...pictures to come...to all of you who have asked!

Brandon left this morning on his company's jet to Henderson, Nevada where they have one of their plants. He was so excited to go and tour the facility there and attend a hearing. He will get to meet the attorney who has been handling this case for them out there as well. He is staying in Vegas through the weekend...I joked that this was his "Daddy Moon"...ha, ha, ha! I would have loved to go with him but it's a little to close to LM's due date to be traveling. I'm excited he's getting to go...and on a private JET...well...fancy, fancy...am I jealous or what? Have fun, Daddy! Lucy, Gi Gi, and I will hold down the fort while you're gone! Win big!!

Sooner Babies

On Saturday, seven of Brandon's fraternity brothers/wives hosted a baby shower for us and The Underwoods. It was a double baby shower which was a lot of fun. We are both having girls...we are due in January and the Underwoods are due in February. During the shower you know the Heisman award ceremony was on the big screen! It was fun because OU's Sam Bradford won this year's award...so you can imagine the loud cheers when his name was announced. Above are Rob Cunningham (Carolina, his wife, was taking the picture), Matt Allen, us, Allison and Geoffry Underwood, and Ted and Rikki Downing (and baby girl Downing on the way). The cute baby Ted is holding is Cooper Cunningham (3 months old). Host/hostesses not pictured were Will Johnson, Mike and Libby Elder, Matt and Ashley Polluck, and Bryson and Ilena Varner.
Mae, Allison U., me, Amanda, Allison W., Carolina, Rikki, Sterling, and Whitney
Travis, Geoffry, Rob, Mallen, Brandon, Wade, Ted, Bryan


Ted and Mallen, a.k.a The Chipmunks

Another Baylor Baby on Board!

In November some Baylor friends hosted a baby shower for Kim Carver Winkler in Houston. Kim and Shawn Winkler are expecting their first baby girl in February. Maybe Lauren and Baby Winkler will be roommates and Kappas at Baylor one day like their mommies?? Pictured above are Courtney Crowell, Kim Winkler, Emily Cameron, Kristin Miers

Backtracking to Fall...

Here we are at the Baylor vs. A&M game. We met up with Amanda and Robyn at the George's Tent. We enjoyed watching the Bears destroy the Aggies this year!
Brandon and Bryan at the George's Tent. I tell you, I love my husband...he is a always cheering The Bears on...when they are not playing OU, of course :) He was cheering louder than the Baylor grads sitting around us at the game. Love you, B!

Aikin Elementary Shower

Sunday afternoon my Aikin Elementary friends (school where I taught here in Dallas) hosted a baby shower at Lauri Griffith's house. It was so great to catch up with my teacher friends and hear how things were going at school. Can't wait to introduce Lauren Margaret to all these great teachers :) Top row: Kathy McAlister, Sarah Sanders, Linda Pearce, Lura Raney, me, Courtney Faris. Bottom row: Meredith Luebbehuesen, Lauri Griffith, Sara Fox, and Helen Schultz. Maybe one of them will be her teacher one day - she'd be lucky to have any of them!!

Happy December!

Christmas has exploded at our house. Tree - check, stockings hung - check, wreaths/lights up - check, empty Christmas decoration boxes still laying around everywhere...CHECK! We're really excited this year as we will be celebrating Christmas at our home for the first time with The Todd's (my side of the fam). The Lee's will also join us a few days after Christmas at our house so we'll eventually have the whole crew here! It should be a lot of fun...

Thanksgiving Fun

We had a great trip to Tulsa for Thanksgiving. All The Lee siblings were there...Adrian was in from Virginia and Carrie and her boyfriend Andrew were in from Boulder, Colorado. It was great having everyone together! My mother in law, was even able to get us all into the hospital where she practices for another sono...that was fun to see Lauren Margaret again so close to her arrival. Here we are making gingerbread houses (a Todd family tradition) the day after Thanksgiving.

Brandon enjoyed a few days off of work and had plenty of time to play Guitar Hero (his new favorite past time). We were able to meet Chris and Abby Kern's new little boy, Marcus, while we were in town and also went over to Mike and Libby Elder's to watch the OU/OSU game. Brandon and I always enjoy seeing his friends back in Tulsa.

Here's what Lucy did the whole trip...slept on the couch...literally the WHOLE trip! Rough life, eh? Lucy seriously thinks she is human :)

Gi Gi, our dog that actually likes playing outside like a normal dog, enjoyed playing outside in the big back yard with the other 5 dogs that were there (6 dogs in all for the entire week/weekend...good thing they have a big back yard and plenty of room for everyone inside). It was a bit like a dog park the entire time but they all get along so well which was fun!

So, that's our Thanksgiving in a nutshell...onward towards Christmas! Happy Holidays everyone!!