The beginning of December...

Some Middle School Youth Group fun, I mean who doesn't want to be a human Christmas tree?

Some Texas football at McLane Stadium since Wylie made it to the playoffs!

 A little fun with Papa since the game was in Waco...bonus.

 I am so thankful these two have their love of sports to share with each other.

 Campbell completed her cotillion classes which included a Daddy/Daughter dancing for two of my favorites. Don't they look so handsome/beautiful?

 Some Pep the elf antics each morning in December

Campbell getting her UIL award for 1st place in Listening Skills! We are so proud of all her extra work she put into attaining this award.

Family Pictures 2015

 Thanks to Cary's very talented sister Chiara and the weather cooperating for about an hour, we managed to get a few family pictures done over Thanksmas. I loved them all as usual and it was nice to check that off of my yearly list. Now to decide which one or ones make the Christmas card...

Thanksmas 2015

Once every three years it is our turn to host Cary's side of the family for "Thanksmas" or Christmas depending on everyones' schedules and what works the best. This year it was "Thanksmas" so we got to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas together. This meant decorating the house for Christmas a little early because we cannot sit around opening Christmas presents without a tree. It was nice to get the house frocked early so we could sit back and enjoy it the rest of the season. This also means 17 people staying at our house for 3-4 nights and lots of food to prepare. It is a crazy but fun time...even if we had rain every day they were here which meant no outside play. All the cousins enjoyed being together and memories were definitely made.

Waiting to thank God for family and food

Our Thanksgiving meal all spread out and ready to eat

 A little Christmas sugar cookie decorating thanks to Aunt Chiara's delicious cookies she always brings.

 Finally it is present time...

 Adalyn

 Londyn

 Crew

 Devon

 Cane

 Chenna

 Campbell

 Colt

 Catch

Kaylee

 Almost everyone seated and ready for church to start

 Who knew trying to get a good cousin picture could be so hard...

 We had a great time together playing games, catching up, eating a lot, and just enjoying our time together. Merry Thanksmas from the Beard side of the family to you!

Happy 14th Birthday Kaylee!

 How did this happen? The question I ask myself every time that we celebrate a Birthday around here. The time continues to pass by no matter how hard I try to stop it or at least make it slow down. Well it happened again, Kaylee turned another year older and a little closer to driving and dating...I am definitely not ready for all of that. Good thing we have 2 more years!

Kaylee is nothing but pure joy! She radiates a gentle spirit that loves to laugh, loves the Lord, and loves her friends and family. She gives 110% to every thing that she does whether it be sports, school, or relationships with others. She is mature beyond her years and is always ready to embrace adventure. I just love her heart and am so thankful that the Lord let us be her parents...what a blessing.

 if you live in Texas then you know that the only ice cream worth eating is Blue Bell. Well unfortunately there was a shutdown in production for several months due to an outbreak at one of their facilities of a virus. This was especially sad to Kaylee and Cary. Kaylee found out that they were going into production again and the first shipment would be coming to some stores around her birthday. So a few days before her birthday she mentioned that she would like to have some Blue Bell as one of her presents. Unfortunately, Abilene was not getting their first shipment until after Kaylee's birthday. Little did she know that I had talked to my friend Amanda who is an amazing caterer and she had an extra gallon of Blue Bell in her possession that she had traveled to a different town to get. She put it aside for me and I took Kaylee with me to pick it up a little before her birthday. You would have thought I had gotten her the Hope Diamond. She was so excited and could not stop saying "Thank you for loving me so much Mom!"while grinning from ear to ear.

I just love celebrating this precious girl! She has definitely made being a mom greater than I could have ever imagined.

Some November happenings...

Once we returned from Boston we hit the ground running with all of the girl's activities...

 ...a little 8th grade Wylie Basketball

 ....one leaky drain pan led to a newly tiled shower, just what you want to spend money on this close to Christmas

 ...a little deer hunting where they found a hog but no deer.

 Campbell and her best bud Lauren...they have so much fun together!

 They also both placed in Listening Skills at the UIL meet.

After all that fun it was time to get the house ready for "Thanksmas" with Cary's side of the family.

 We even managed to get the outside ready for their arrival.