Christmas in Oklahoma

We have just spent a week in Oklahoma visiting family and friends for Christmas. It was a fabulous visit! Here are some pics:

Roy just loves having his picture taken!!!

My parents

My sister, my mom, and yours truly

My sister and her family

John got a stocking full of pickles!

Sweet Sarah posing for Auntie Debbie

My grandparents

I got a special treat this visit! My best friend from high school, Lacey, was in town with her new baby!!!!

Roy's niece, Keara, is now two years old. Isn't she a cutie?!!! She loves coffee - Starbucks, of course, and when we were visiting one night, she told her mom, "I need my coffee!"

Keara and mommy playing with the new kitchen set from Aunt Debbie and Uncle Roy.

Showing off for the camera with her new teddy bear from Uncle Adam - he built it himself at Build-a-Bear! Such a sweet uncle - yes, ladies, he's single and good looking!

My mom got Cleo a tent for Xmas! She was too nervous to play with it much while at Grandma's, but she has played in it and walked through it several times now that we are home.

I am so glad to be home in Texas where the weather is warm! While in Oklahoma, we got several inches of snow, and it was just too cold!!! Cleo liked the snow, but she would just shiver from being so cold.

If you think this looks like a sad puppy-dog face, then you are definitely correct! We always stay at Roy's grandma's house when we go to Oklahoma, and Cleo loves to hang out with Grandma while Roy and I are off visiting family. This time, however, Grandma was in the city visiting her daughter, so Cleo sometimes had to stay home alone during the day. She would sit in this chair and pout, looking at the front door. I think she was just wondering when Grandma was going to come back home. Poor thing...

We have been back in Texas for a couple of days now, and I must say we have done little but sleep and eat. It has been nice. Next week we both have to start back to schoolwork...

Random Updates

I can't believe it has been so long since I updated my blog! Things have been so busy at school and otherwise, I just haven't had much time. Roy and I are doing well. Roy is out of school for winter break; he did so well this semester: A, A-, and B+ in his classes. He also has become known as a hardworking grad assistant; one which works harder and longer than any other grad assistant, mostly due to the requirements of the professor he works for. Incidentally, that professor gave Roy a $50 gift card to Outback Steakhouse!!! I had a winter white martini, which was fantastic! My school is fine, just busier than ever. History fair just finished up today, and UIL finished a couple of weeks ago. I don't remember being this busy the past two years... I suppose it's because we have about 25 more students than we did last year, but really no additional staff members. That means we all have to do more.

We are leaving for Ponca on Thursday after school. We will be there about a week. We are taking Cleo with us again. She has been so great! Right now she is chewing on her Xmas gift - a peanut butter flavored candy cane bone. She is about 14lbs, so I have her on a no table food diet. I must take full responsibility for her being a bit overweight. It is so hard for me not to give in to her pouty face when she is begging for food. Roy and I are trying to watch our weight, too. It's ridiculous how much weight I've gained in the last two years. My goal is to lose 10-15lbs before the end of May. That way I will be my normal weight before I get pregnant - I hope. It is really exciting planning for parenthood. Roy and I were talking tonight about whether or not we should get rid of our piano. We decided to keep it because our kids might want to learn to play, or we could all take lessons together. Though we still have many fears, mostly financial, about parenting, I think we are as ready as can be.

Roy gave me one of my Xmas gifts early - he made me a lap desk for my jewelry making. It is great. I haven't officially sold any earrings yet, but I haven't exactly taken the opportunity to sell any, either. I have been trying to make several different styles to meet different tastes. I have given a few pairs away, and that has been good advertisement, but now I just need to say, "If you would like to order a pair, let me know" when people see a pair they love.

Okay, enough of this dull update... Merry Christmas, everyone!