Christmas 2019

Our Christmas started with attending the candle light Christmas Eve service at our church. I love attending this service for numerous reasons, but the music, especially O Holy Night, gets me every time. And when the church sanctuary is filled with lit candles . . . it is just breath taking.

After getting home from church, the boys got ready for bed so that Santa would come. They were so excited to get to bed, we forgot to lay out our cookies for Santa. So, before Shane and I headed to bed, I laid out some cookies and milk for him (not sure I picked the exact cookie the boys wanted to leave for Santa, but I didn't think Santa would be too picky).

We woke up early on Christmas morning and the boys first headed for their stocking to see what exciting Santa left in them. They received gum (a favorite), a new water bottle, lottery tickets, hand sanitizer, and pokemon card holders. They loved what was in their stocking, so hopefully Santa delivered on their big gift!

No one was a winner. :(

And, it looks like they got exactly what they were hoping for - a Nintendo switch for Casen and a new bike for Camden.

After we opened our gifts, everyone got dressed and they boys played with their toys, while I prepared lunch for our Christmas celebration with Shane's family. I was able to talk to my grandma via FaceTime and wish her a Happy 102nd Birthday!!!! We are soooooo very blessed to be able to celebrate yet another birthday and Christmas with her.

Shane's family arrived and we had a good meal, opened gifts and the boys were surprised with a trampoline from Nana and Poppa. This momma had to do some talking to Shane to convince him it was OK for the boys to get a trampoline, so they owe me one! LOL.

Cousins!

Hood Family Christmas 2019

On Thursday, my parents arrived so we could celebrate Christmas with my sister and her family on Friday.  Before eating lunch, we had to take care of a little business in regards to Casen and a loose tooth that was just about driving me crazy because of the way it was sticking out. Mason told Casen that Grandma had pulled one of his teeth in front of Ranchitos (our favorite Mexican restaurant) one time and that was all it took. He let Grandma pull that front tooth right out! Afterwards, we had a great meal of lasagna catered from Adriatic Cafe.

We then opened gifts and the boys were thrilled to receive more gifts that were on their lists, including hover boards from Grandma and Grandpa. They were able to get on them and ride them in no time flat. I tried, and fell, thus popping a blood vessel in my hand. Honestly, I am lucky that is all I did. Mason, Braden and Grandpa all got on and did really well. Grandpa fell off when he tried stepping off the front to get off, instead of the back, but he did not hurt himself, thank goodness!!! Too bad I had already turned off my video for that!

Since Mason is attending Texas A&M, Camden
is all about it now!

Mason was thrilled to get fuzzy crocs!

I guess now we can find out exactly where
we come from!

Now Dad can become the official
weatherman of Buckhorn!

Hoverboard!!!!!!

Key Family Christmas 2019

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday and are very blessed for all the things God has provided for our family this past year. We are looking forward to a year filled with fun, family and sports in 2020.

Better to See you With

I have been debating back and forth for several months if now was the time for Camden to get contacts. It was obvious that his vision has worsened over the year and he needed to get a new prescription. He has been very good about always wearing his glasses and is very responsible with them, choosing to take them off anytime he is playing outside, at PE/recess or soccer. He has asked about getting contacts and I told him that I did not get them until 5th grade, so was thinking we would wait until then. However, with his eye appointments falling in December versus the summer, it kind of made me think that maybe we just go for it now so that he can see clearly while he is outside doing the things he loves.

He had his eye appointment a few weeks ago and sure enough is prescription doubled in strength from last year. I asked his eye doctor her thoughts about contacts and she said if I thought he was ready, we could definitely try. She said the main issue would be if he could get his fingers close to his eye, which I knew would not be an issue, because we had been practicing that at home. So, today was his contact fitting and he did great! He was amazed at how well he could see with the contacts! He struggled a little getting them in at first, but after they brought in a different kind of lens, he was able to get them in. My boy is growing up!

This year with contacts for the fist time versus
last year with glasses for the fist time.

Cookies for Santa

Yesterday was an exciting day for Casen as he finally lost one of his top front teeth. Those durn things have been loose for awhile and we have been anticipating the loss of his left one, since it has been looser longer, however he ended up pulling his right one. I told him he needed to hurry up and pull the other one now so he didn't have to go around with a snuggle tooth. :)

As is tradition, today we decorated cookies for Santa. This year we invited Camden's best friend, Cole, over to decorate with us. They made messes, laughed, ate all sorts of sprinkles and red hots and eventually finished decorating their cookies. There is nothing better than hearing their giggles and laughs.

The finished products. I got so tickled when I sent this picture
to Cole's mom and she thought the one Santa on the top right
row was a poop emoji! LOL!!! 

We also made ornaments out of Oreos, which was another fun and finger licking good mess!

Now to decide which one's we will leave out for Santa!

Games, School Program and Christmas Festivities

This was probably one of the busiest weeks of the month for us! Aside from our normal schedule of allergy shots for Casen and soccer practice for Camden on Monday and Wednesday and then baseball practice Tuesday and Thursday for Casen, we had tournaments and Christmas festivities to throw in the mix. It started with Casen having his final baseball tournament of the fall season. His team did not play up to their potential, but they still had a good time.

The tournament was also a time for our kids to give
back by donating bikes to children in need.

We came home after our game on Sunday and Casen learned to ride his bike (finally). It took a four year old  as well as one of his second grade friends on our street learning to ride their bikes without training wheels to encourage him to learn. I guess whatever motivation it takes . . . Camden was so stinking thrilled for him. It was fun watching him encourage Casen and telling him how proud he was of him. I know he is excited that they will now be able to ride bikes together.

Casen's 2nd grade Christmas program took place Tuesday evening and it was very cute! 

Since he is the tallest in the whole second grade class
he was in the center on the back row.

I had several Christmas parties myself, the first was actually last week with my Bunco chics. We met up at Ambriza restaurant and had a great time. I have been a part of this group for the past four years and really look forward to getting together once a month with them for good food, fellowship and fun. Very thankful for these ladies!

On Wednesday I had a get together with several of my front office co-workers where we ate, drank and revealed who our Secret Santa was (we each had drawn a name and for 10 days had been giving our person a gift). This was the second year we have done this and we are enjoying making it a tradition. My 'sister' drew my name and spoiled me with all the things I love!

Marnie (my 'sister from the same mister, different mom' as she
tells the students at school) and Mary - my 'mom' at school.
I love these ladies so much!!! 

We ended the week with Camden having a soccer tournament which rounded out the ending to his fall soccer season.  We were up and at 'em early both days since the tournament was in Sugarland and we had to be there at 7:15am. They played up a division and ended up losing both games on Saturday and one Sunday. They had a winning season and finished on top, so this was a good look for them to see the improvements they need to make to compete at the next level. 

We are looking forward to a few weeks without sports so we can focus on the reason for the season as well as enjoy some time with our families.