FESTIVUS: For the Rest of Us!

This video was the best explaination I could find for the holiday called Festivus. Allans friends introduced me to this holiday and I attended for the first time this year.

The Pole

The Meal

The Airing of Grievences

In addition to telling everyone what issues and problems you've had with them throughout the year, Allan's crew also gives gifts. The idea is to give things to people that they DON"T want. Notice the Dallas Cowboys T.O. Jersey that Scott received from me and Allan.

Ed's wife Jenn has been bugging to start a family and Ed has been dragging his feet about it. Allan and I thought we would give him some help by getting him the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book and a baby diaper.

I didn't get a picture of Allan opening his gift from me. One of Allan's favorite dessert is brownies, but they CANNOT have nuts. He hates nuts in everything. So I had my mom cook me up a yummy tray of brownies with 3x the nuts in them. It was great and Allan wouldn't even look at them after he opened them.

The Feats of Strength

Here Travis (our host) is deciding who will take him down. He didn't really want anyone to get hurt so he wouldn't make a decision.

I had a great time at Festivus and can't wait to attend again next year!

Wordless Wednesday

(Yea, so I'm stealing this idea from my sister! Thanks sis!)

Brag Session

I am going to take this opportunity to brag on my honey, Allan, for a bit.

A friend of ours started up a new hockey league recently and asked Allan if he would play on his team. Allan had a hard time deciding because he had been with his current team for quite a few seasons and he knew he couldn't do both because of time and money (hockey is an expensive sport!!). After much thought he decided he would quit his long time run with the Deadwings and join the new team of the Bulldogs. After 5 games in this season, he and I are so glad he made the change.

The new league he plays for is a christian league. The atmosphere of the games are so different. They start out before the game in the lockeroom with a devotion and prayer. Then after the game they all gather around in a circle on the ice and pray again. It is such a feel good moment to watch.

Now on the the bragging part!! I am so proud to say that after 5 games Allan leads the LEAGUE in points. Notice I didn't say that he leads the TEAM (cause he is that too), but he is leading the actual LEAGUE!! He has played amazing this season. In one game alone he had scored something like 1 goal and 5 assists?!?!? WOW!

Here he is in his new jersey!

Lined up in front of the net waiting for the puck.

Face off!

The end of the game prayer. (Allan is number 37)

It's TREE time!

Allan gets the lovely job of putting the tree together and stringing all of the lights on it. I told him and Nate that they could NOT put any ornaments on the tree until I was ready to help them.

So here they are underneath the tree waiting for me to get out the ornaments!

Once I was ready we added the star to the tree first. Here is Nate getting ready to be lifted up by Allan.

On goes the star!

And it wouldn't be a complete night without Nate wearing the tree skirt once again. He has to do it every year.

You probably noticed that there are no complete pictures of the tree. I decided that I would wait to post those until ALL three kids are in front of the tree. I can't wait for us to all be together this Christmas!!

Mommy and Nate Day

The week of Thanksgiving I was able to have most of the week off with Nate. I decided to make the most of it. Nate and I spent a day at the zoo.

He was really excited when I told him he could be in charge of where we go and what we see. He had his map and took his job very seriously.

Grandma had told Nate the night before that he better not kiss any elephants at the zoo. Well, he did and couldn't wait to show his Grandma that he didn't listen. (I actually had to force him to pose for this picture. I got one of those "Mooommm" sighs and faces.)

It was a beautiful, cool day so all of the animals were out and awake.

Nate thought that is was so silly to kiss an elephant but had no problem kissing an alligator. He posed this one on his own and wanted me to take the picture!!

My cutie patootie!

Mommy had a great time making memories with you Nate! You are the best!

Christmas is Coming!

Allan and I were given tickets from friends to see the ICE show at the Gaylord Texan. They told us if we wanted it to be a "date night" they would watch Nate for us. Ironically, two days later, Nate came home from school with a free ICE ticket in his binder. All the kids in the district got a free student ticket. So the three of us headed out Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. BIG MISTAKE!! The place was over packed and crazy. We quickly decided to leave and go back another night. Nate wasn't too upset because we made a stop at the local Dairy Queen and all was good. The following Tuesday we decided to try again. I am so glad we did. It wasn't busy at all and we got to go through the entire show without that feeling of being rushed or smushed by other people.

The theme this year was "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." To get Nate ready for the show we watched "The Grinch" at home first. Here are a few highlights from the show. They gave us blue parkas to wear because it stays a freezing 9 degrees in order to keep the ice from melting!!

This is the view of the Gaylord as you enter the common area.

Here is Nate on the sled

Nate took a picture of Allan and I on the sled. I think he did a great job!

Nate was excited to get to WHO-ville

YAY! Nate made it to Who-ville!! He was ready to go!!

Allan and I got to go too!

The Grinch himself

The Grinch is stealing the Christmas turkey while the little Who's are asleep.

Nate and Allan in the ice tunnel

Allan wanting to take a bite out of the ice cake

Me wanting to take a bite out of the ice turkey

The end of the show they have a beautiful ice sculpture of the nativity and the Christmas story is being told over loud speakers! Wonderful!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

"Friday Night Lights"

Those who know me well have quickly figured out not to ask me what my plans for Friday night are anymore. 9 times out of 10 my answer will be at a hockey game. Allan plays hockey for a league in Plano and I go with him to cheer from the stands. Because it is an adult league the games are usually pretty late. Sometimes I am the only one there to cheer the team on. On this particular Friday we took Nate with us to watch. Nate loves going to see Allan play and can get pretty loud in the stands.

Allan waiting for the game to start.

My boys! I love this picure!
Allan plays center. He is number 37 in the face off.
Nate loves to sit front and center to watch the game.

My silly boy had tons of energy and was dancing to the music before the game started. He didn't know I was recording him. I had the hardest time holding the camera still cause I was laughing so hard. What a nut!