Christmas in Dallas 2011

We decided to celebrate Christmas a week early this year with our family 

in Dallas, and then do actual Christmas Day

in Galveston (since Jordan was leaving 2 days later for Peru)

So here are the events from that weekend:

Annual Kirby Christmas Symphony at the DSO:

I love getting to dress up and go out:)

This year's symphony was the best in years, the arrangements were 

so unique and really refreshing to hear. We were so glad

we got to make it this year. We missed Matt & Alethea this time:/

The next day we had Christmas at the Kirby's house:

Tillie was a little sad that night:)

Madeline was so helpful with all the Christmas gifts!!

Everyone got personalized calligraphy rubber stamps from

Rachel Carl & Co:)  haha!

Matt's Family-they are getting so big!:)

 The next night we went over to Jordan's Grandparents new house 

(they just moved down from Ohio!!) 

While there, we finally go to meet Ben & Abby's 

son- Abe!!! He is such a cutie!!!!

Abram Adane Lowery!

Ben & Abby with their precious son!

Jordan helping his grandpa put on the hardware on all the cabinets

 Emme helped cook and then I was showing her how to write "fancy"

 Grandma helping Emma with a drawing:)

And Gabe was playing games on his laptop,

and shopping for money clips..... (?)

They were sure glad to get to hang out with their brother:

Opening gifts that night (more address stamps:)!

Hayden loved this bucket!!

We left the next morning to go back to Galveston....

its always hard having to leave family, but we love seeing them!

More to come! :)

Dickens on the Strand 2011

The weekend after Thanksgiving both sets of parents came to Galveston for Dickens on the Strand. Its an annual event where everyone dresses up and the downtown area is all decorated, its a lot of fun.

The first night, my parents got their first, they helped us decorate our tree!

We have a memory tree, all of our ornaments from childhood, and we add to it every

year if we can with something that means something, or reminds us of that year.

Let me give a backstory on the first ornament, b/c I don't want you to 

think we are crazyweird dog people. Last year, we were at 

Kemah in an ornament shopand I found a pomeranian ornament 

(looks like Bella), but, alas, there were no black and white 

pomeranian ornaments, so we just got the one Jordan

 joked with me about it for a while b/c he always says Bella is 

the 'favorite dog', so,this year, I went out in search for a black

 pomeranian ornament. I finally found one on this shady website,

 but it only came in an all-black pomeranian, 

and as you know, Zeus has unique patches of white on him:) 

Well, thanks to white out, I could make it look just like him,

 and the teacup its sitting in is such a nice touch I thought:

I had 2 picture ornaments made, on shutterfly (it was super easy) 

one for my business I started this year 

(kind nerdy, I know-but there aren't 

many calligraphy ornaments out there)

 and the other one is a picture from

 our 5 year Anniversary Vacation in Cancun:)

and lastly, I found this unique Palm Tree Christmas Tree.

 It made me think of 'Christmas at the beach' and since 

we're in Galveston, I thought it was fitting.

Watching us put up ornaments:)

The next morning I had my monthly breakfast with the 

UTMB Med Student Wives:

This month we had: Callie, Katie, Me and Emmie.

Later that day was Dickens on the Strand, its held every year, and you 

get to dress up, so its pretty fun, esp for kiddos.

You can check it out here

They dressed up pretty good.

Emma was so excited!:)

i love this pic.

Jordan should wear this more.

I saw my friend from my old elem school in Dickinson, Amber! 

So glad to see her:)

Playing around on the strand.

our outfits weren't that great, but we had fun anyway.

Emma got her picture with the Queen, so cool.

That afternoon, Gabe and Emma were playing on 

our front porch after the Dickens thing.

Unfortunately, Emma slipped on the steps, 

fell and broke her arm/wrist. We all

walked across the street to the UTMB Emergency Room, 

(came in handy after all)

She was a pretty good sport about it though:)

After she got the sling at the hospital, we all went to

 Moody Gardens Festival of Lights:

Had a great time with family, wished we could be with them more,

but its nice the time we do have with them.

Thanks for reading:)

Turkey Day 2011

Thanksgiving weekend was such a blast this year:) I remembered last year not being so fun b/c Jordan had a test the Monday after, so he was very stressed. This year he had just finished a test, so it was much more enjoyable all around! We did Thanksgiving on Thursday with my family and then on Friday spend the day with the Carl side.

Thanksgiving Day:

Poppy feeding Tillie Turkey!

Jordan and my dad cut the turkey together, it was great!

Mom and Josh, this is his first Thanksgiving as a married man-he's looking pretty good 

(this is pre-dinner though, lol)

And his beautiful bride Jennifer:) She is a lot of fun.

My mom was pretty happy about how the turkey turned out:)

Jordan and Peyton chill in on the couch.

The food at the Kirby house was SO yum!! It was nice to see all of my family together as well.

We watched Soul Surfer that night, we have been wanting to watch it for a while, it was really good.

Friday:

walking around Firewheel mall with our nephew Hayden!

playing on the laptops...big surprise. yes, jordan's is pink. j/k, its emmas:)

Good to see Kelsey! Love her new haircut.

We saw Arthur Christmas together, it was so funny, I loved it!:)

Nana and Hayden.

Then we drove by the Carls house that is almost finished being built. It has this great field behind it that Jordan and Gabe were playing in.

Look at his cute hat! love it!:)

At Cheesecake factory for dinner. Kelsey's cute little family:)

being silly with Nana

Thanksgiving weekend 2011

Many great memories, and lots of fun with family.