DECEMBER 2022

One more picture of our puppy before we get her.

Luke's 5th grade orchestra played at the High School's Christmas concert.

And the next day was Sam's concert!

The puppy was waiting for us in Waco.  I met up with the lady at Walmart south of Waco.

It was love at first sight.  She was absolutely darling!!! She did amazingly on the 3 hour drive home.

Tessa had stayed home from school as she had a cough.  She was the first to meet our little girl.

Then I picked up Luke from strings and picked up Sam at the same time.

The kids were so thrilled and immediately snuggled and chased her.  

Tessa slept on the hard floor to be next to her in the crate.

It took a skinny minute to find the right name for her. 

We went to Amelia's baptism.  We got to have Alex sit with us.

Crazy selfies

We named her Nutmeg.  I came up with a list and Luke immediately picked Nutmeg.  Sam and Tessa were not on board but Ryan and I felt like that was it.  Tessa resisted until I offered her $20.  

And just like that we have a new member of the family named Nutmeg.

Mimzy and Pop Pop came to spend Christmas with us.

We wanted to enjoy Seaworld and their festivities with 

the Olsons and the Hans.

We also went to the Riverwalk and enjoyed the lights.

I reminisced about coming here on Christmas day in 2013.

I was 9 months pregnant and we were holding of celebrating Christmas

until Bran/Claire and Mom and Dad joined us.

We had the boys strapped into the double stroller and it was a nightmare 

trying to navigate the crowds and not fall into the river.

The boys spit into the river right next to this Christmas tree.

More cute pics with our little girl.

Tessa has a sister.

Christmas Day

Christmas day was extremely busy as right after, I was cleaning, packing, and baking.

The next morning we were off to Kansas City.  We made a stop in Waco for mom and dad to see the Mammoth bones, Magnolia, and Dr. Pepper museum.  

Snow on the ground at Kazie's house

Craig's office is right next to the Liberty jail.

We enjoyed our tour.

We also went to the Independence Visitor's Center and had an amazing tour.  

We loved the Children's museum.

We went to Light the World giving machine and the Hallmark Visitor's Center.

We discovered how a teenager from Nebraska tucked two shoeboxes of postcards under his arms and set out to create an iconic company in Kansas City.  More than 100 years later, our billion-dollar brand contains a diverse portfolio of businesses.  Combined with one of the world’s largest creative communities, Hallmark helps to foster a more emotionally connected world.

Bowman turned 8 and Kazie did a quick upside down birthday party 

and I brought the ball pit.

On Tessa's birthday, Bowman had his baptism.  Craig's sister, Emily and husband came and his mom was on FaceTime.  The Bishop recognized that there were people from the other side of the veil with us that day.  It made me so tearful and the spirit was very strong.  

Tessa wanted to celebrate her 9th birthday by rock climbing.

Luckily Kazie had a POGO pass so it didn't cost out the nose.

Her other request was to run on the lake.  I was a little nervous but they did it.

HAPPY 2023!!!