New Years - just how we like it -

With all the travels, the odd schedules. THIS is what I want to remember.  We just wanted to have our family friends over to be in our cozies playing family games.  

That is was just perfect. 

 Thank you to Molly, Anthony, Jonah, Mia, Jackie, Ty and Julian for WANTING to play board games with us and being able to stay up to ring in the New Year together.

All the promise of a New Year.  The fresh starts, the new goals, renewed focus.  I would love to remember how it started tonight.

Running barefoot to the mail box (yes it was freezing and yes, only if you lost, or wanted to join in)

Just to list a few

A few more days

We had just one more full day in Texas and yes we filled it.  There were moments like these as the kids  - shane especially  - LOVED the kitties.  

We were thankful to squeeze some time in to see where the magic happens in Liz's Lab

She can be so very modest at times, so it was amazing seeing the lab she created and all the talent she has being truly put to work.

not sure what this crew is looking at - pretty sure they don't know either.

But its cool to check it out.

Anyone want to stay in there??

Definitely not in there - brrrrrr..

we had one final stop we wanted to make - this DELICIOUS burger joint by her house, with a field for the boys to play in while the food gets prepped.  Places like this are a MUST and made for a wonderful afternoon.

I honestly ADORE this photo.  Yes, sometimes we roll our eyes at how many times I ask them to pose - but this one is a gem - Wyland - I see you!

Huge kudos and thank you to Liz for warmly opening your home to all of us and making it seem so effortless.  Barbara and Wyland for enduring the chaos and laughing in spite of it.  

These are the times and memories we all truly want to cherish and thank you all for making it possible in every way.  

This holiday season was family as it was meant to be.

Merry Christmas

Georgetown for the birthday boy!

When we planned this trip we wondered how much we could really accomplish and when our dates overlapped Deakon's Birthday we new making a trip to G'town would be a must.  Now the real question is, can we surprise Deakon??  Surprising Chelcy was never an option as honestly I LOVED talking to her about it before hand and having the both of us be able to truly look forward to our time together.

First we had to knock out a little business - 359 Westbury, the house Chris and I built together and brought Baby Nick home to.  This is the tree we planted for him.  

I love this house and the family currently in it - but can't help thinking what it would be like to live here just as we thought we would.  Amazing the turns life has taken us since than.

We had a quick stop to Hickory lane - our first home that still holds a special place in our hearts (even if the current renter isn't our favorite.

Clearly he doesn't have too much to move out when we send him packing....

After our visits to our homes we made a quick trip to HEB (because of course we LOVE that place) and to buy the birthday boy some Balloons and PBR - who should we run into - Chelcy (wait, she was actually in the G'town Village hood scouting to see if we were there - Love how excited she was and us too!) we even ran into Jenny Bender at the HEB - Big town, small town feel!

So Chelcy and I got to walk into her house together.  

Deakon was chilling in his sofa chair so nicely dressed when I got to say "Happy Birthday"

The coolest comment came when he looked at us a little bewildered and surprised but than thought and later said, well of course Sara and Chris are here. 

Just as it should be.

These are truly friends that no matter the distance - 

we love, adore and soak in our time together.

Chelcy had planned to take us to their favorite haunts in Georgetown Village which continues to get more and more awesome each time we go out there!  

Look at these handsome fellas

The whole crew and yes, I have already spent time getting decorated by Chelcy!

Really just HAPPY

The artwork was something to really take in too

This needs to be along the farmington river!

That night Chelcy hosted a HUGE dinner party with their neighborhood buddies and what a great chance to meet them all - there was PLENTY OF FOOD.  I am pretty sure they lived off of refried beans from Dos Salsas for over a month. It was wonderful soaking in all this time with them and we are just thankful they were able to make the time.

Love these people.

Yes it was too late when we all piled back in the car and Liz drove the entire crew home.  She was wonderful for understanding we wanted every minute we could take.

Thank you Chelcy and Deakon for being our first real friends.  

The kind that invite you over because they just want to hang out with you.  

The kind that can come over in their PJs, bring infants and take out, play cards until too late and laugh until your bellies just hurt.  

We love you and your family so very much!

Texas and time with cousins

Really no matter where we are, its honestly better all together.  One of the biggest things I am so thankful for on this holiday season is how well the cousins get along and how they just are happy to be together.  Which means are all these nerf guns really necessary Aunt Liz??  Well, if you are going to give me wine, than the answer is.... o.k.  Lucky we love you!

Love that Barbara and Wyland were able to join us and stay before and after too.  It worked out perfectly that Liz's fiends were traveling for the holiday so the Grandparents could escape and find some quiet in the evenings.  

Winslow and I got to set the table together - we both admired how simply beautiful it turned out.  Careful for Chris's chair =)!

Kids at the kids table that was thankfully AROUND the corner!

This right here is a Texas Christmas - Shorts, green grass and HUGE christmas tree.  Thank you to Robert who took us for a tour of some must see San Antonio spots.  We were taking notes for a kid free night.

love seeing these 3 curled up like this - I think Purry is more interested in the screen =)!

I know I know - this photo right here is making you think we are in Connecticut right?!?!  Can you believe Texas was COLD all week.  Yes, we went through ALL of Liz's remaining cold weather gear. Glad she saved some for 'just in case!'

The Leadbetters TAKE the Alamo - and clearly like the color Red - This crew did LOTS of walking along the river on this chilly night.

We initially stopped at one restaurant and they said it would be a 40 minute wait.  We put our names in and decided to keep walking....  well, 40 minutes later we were RUSHING back to the same spot (not having found anything better and EXCITED to eat some delicious food!)  We were even serenaded that evening (for surviving the crowds!!)

Nick and Seb were challenged to finish this burrito.  Next year they each get their own =!

Truly family and San Antonio at its finest!

Christmas Morning - best way to travel

The best gift was waking up (at 7) to this BEAUTIFUL snowy morning - it snowed all morning until about 11 - after all the gift were unwrapped and played with (and PACKED) as our gift for this year was a FAMILY trip to San Antonio to spend time with Our cousins and Grandparents.

But First, shovel the driveway!

While we were gone it was BITTER cold - HUGE kudos to the Barbers (mostly TIM) for making sure these girls made it o.k..  Shutting the door and all - Brrrrrr  its cold out there.

I absolutely LOVE when our yard looks like this.

Hand down, BY FAR the BEST way to travel.  We didn't check a SINGLE back and Drew even wheeled mine.

#wehavefinallymadeit

San Antonio, Aunt Liz and crew - 

 HERE WE COME

Luminaries and Christmas Eve

A quick family Christmas Eve photo - pretty sure the neighbors were giggling as they walked by watching us try to capture this one.

We did it!  Another beautiful assembly process for the neighborhood.  Love when we all come together for something so beautiful.

To have snow on Christmas eve - truly magical  - loved walking the neighborhood with the Bemises and Jackie, Ty and Julian - beautiful night!

My folks celebrated Christmas eve with us and of all the gift I have ever thought of to give me father - Alexa is one of my favorites!

He is taking her home tonight =)!

Well look who stopped by!  Snuck right in the front door!  Surprised us all!

And yes, Santa brought us some matching outfits!!

Checking the tracker before bet - time to get some sleep boys!

First Friday of skiing!

First Friday of Skiing - are we all ready?!?!

Looks like the staff is!!

I had to run home and get my staff to come join me when they got home from school

This I would like to do more

 These are the things that truly make my heart grow for my boys - I asked them to pick their favorite Christmas book and bring some Christmas cheer to an assisted living place near our home.

I do thank the folks there for patiently listening as the kids read aloud and did wonderfully.

I truly pray this is something they bring with them every day.