Christmas 2009: Part 2 The Ward Family Christmas

The next stop on our Christmas adventure was Keller Texas. We woke up on December 20Th, packed up the car…loaded up the presents and headed down I-20 for another celebration. It’s also become tradition at the Ward family Christmas that we draw names! My brother-in-law Brandon drew my name...and he bought me a digital picture frame...which I have always wanted. Andy scored an Academy gift card from his Aunt Sissy, a gift card to the Sunglass Hut and "another" Madden football video game thanks to Jan. Jolea on the other hand scored “Way Too Much” from everyone. Let’s just say her play kitchen is set for life with all the latest appliances, thanks to her Aunt Erin. She also got a sweet pink tricycle that is just a little too big for her and the cutest helmet and knee pad set from her Grandparents! She got the sweetest Cach Cach dress that I cannot wait to share with you!

Here is Jolea trying out her new ride...

This girl makes a bicycle helmet look so darn cute!

I mentioned in an earlier post that I am especially fond of my Willow Tree Angel Nativity Set…well my mother-in-law delivered again…and she so graciously added the Three Wise Men to my collection. I took the scene down before I got a picture, but was able to snag this one from the Internet. I cannot wait too add these little beauties next year! Someday when I have a bigger house and a bigger place to put my collection, I just might leave it out year-round.

While we were in town, my Hubby and his Mother were kind enough to escort me to the new...

Sam Moon store for a little shopping. Andy and Stacy watched the baby and I got to experience a little piece of heaven while I shopped and shopped for bags, purses, jewelry, home interiors and so much more. I have NEVER been to a Sam Moon before and it was a GREAT first time experience. Luckily for me its conveniently located right on the way to my in-laws house…therefore I predict many more stops there. I came away with a great overnight bag, a snazzy winter hat, a couple of scarves and a nice pair of dangle earrings.

While we there we also made a trip to Boyd Texas to see a cousin of Andy’s who is courageously battling cancer. Please keep the Shawn Ward family in your prayers. He is a young husband and father that was diagnosed with cancer several years ago and has been fighting the battle ever since. While we were there, Jolea got the cutest little pink bracelet that says “Cancer Sucks”…its one of those that resembles the Lance Armstrong Live Strong bracelets that became so popular several years ago. Even though she is too young to understand what it means, it sits in her room and we think of Shawn, Amy and their sweet children very often.

After our visit in Boyd, it was off to Decatur Texas to visit our sweet little PawPaw, Karen, Mark, Melinda and Randy. Too bad I forgot my camera this time and I don’t have any pictures to share. Andy’s Grandma passed away earlier this year and this was our first Christmas without her. It was different…something was missing of course…but she is looking down on us and smiling, happy that we were all together even though she couldn't be there with us. PawPaw just adores all of his Great Grandchildren…and I know it did him a lot of good to get to see Jolea and spend some time with her during the holidays.

The trip was short...but very sweet...and here are some pictures I wanted to share :)

Jolea and Crissy were playing a dice game...and it looks like Jolea won

After she won all that money, she decided to put it in her brand new pink piggy bank to save for college!

Here is Andy and all of his siblings...from the left...Brandon, Jansen and Erin

Jan is Andy's baby brother...him and I are pretty good buds...I decided to call him Q-tip during this holiday trip because his hair was bleach blonde...silly kid

This is a great picture...and one that is hard to come by. Besides the holidays it seems as if we are never all in the same place at the same time to capture a moment like this one.

Speaking of sweet pictures...I managed to capture this one...and I love it. My girl looks so grown up and so darn precious. The outfit she is wearing has been one of my favorites ever since the day she was born. I have a picture of her wearing this same print when she was just a wee-tiny baby...its Icky Baby...and I adore it! Maybe I will buy it in every size until she just gets too big to wear it.

As with every post, I am sure there is something I am forgetting to mention! We have been so busy going from one place to the next that its easy to forget some of the most precious memories! Thank Goodness for this blog and for digital cameras that way I can document all of life's most precious moments. Stay tuned for Christmas Part 3: The Gaylord Texan, Christmas Part 4: A White Christmas in St. Joseph and Christmas Part 5: A Day in Chicago on Michigan Avenue. I told ya...we have been busy!