January is a big month for our family, as both my sisters celebrate their birthdays! For Anna's birthday on January 10th, I got a peek into her college life. She and her roommates threw an enormous "Roaring Twenties" birthday party. So many people came dressed up to match the theme. Christina and I found ourselves a bit old- especially considering my roaring twenties are now past me- so we dropped in once or twice and mostly stayed holed up in the condo having dinner with Jer, Scotty, Christian and Chelsey. I was so proud of Anna for being such a great hostess with the mostest.
Tina and Jer brought Scotty up one Saturday so I could watch him while they went to the temple. This kid is growing up so fast, and learning SO MUCH. He can throw and (sort of) catch a ball, he is saying lots of words, and he's the hippest toddler on the block- check out his outfit! He loves to crawl into our laps and have books read to him. He says, "ho ho ho" whenever he sees a picture of Santa Claus. He does baby signs, especially sorry, please, and all done. If he gets excited and hits, we tell him to be soft and he drags his little hand "softly" across the face of the person he hit. It's so cute.
I also got to have another "girls night" sleepover with cousin Nicole! We visited Scotty and she read him a book. We also helped babysit for stake conference and got milkshakes.
For Christina's 27th birthday, we had a family dinner consisting of one of Christina's favorites meals, Stauffer's lasagna! My mom made Tina's favorite buttermilk chocolate cake (sans the discontinued rainbow chip frosting...so sad). We also went to the outlets for Tina to pick out her birthday present from my parents, a puffy winter vest. Scotty had the time of his life running around outside in between stores. Again, please appreciate the way his mommy dresses him.
My dad and his brothers own my Grandad's property. AND THEY HAVE HORSES! And two llamas. It's like my dad's dream come true. And all the kids have a bit of cowboy and girl running through our veins, thanks to a mom who was raised on a farm and a dad who lived every summer at his grandparents' ranch. I had a great time brushing and walking Annie. I am known as the only Houston kid who doesn't love animals, but I have a special love for horses. Check out that brush-- crazy! I wouldn't like that thing on my hair, but Annie loved it. Christina got a chance to ride her a couple days later. Can't wait for my turn!
Well, I did it. I got my hair colored after years of abstaining. And I am LOVING IT. I really shouldn't have started...because now I won't be able to stop.
For New Beginnings, we are introducing the mutual theme this year of embarking in the service of God. I am in charge of the frames we will send home with each girl. Gilary made the darling picture we are putting inside each one. I find it therapeutic to come home from work and school and work on a few frames at a time. I'll be kind of sad when they are all finished!
