Christmas in Carbon

On Saturday morning, we started our drive to Texas.  Well, we said we were going to leave early Saturday morning, but then there was a middle school basketball game at 9am that Tyler just could not miss.  We ended up pulling out of Montgomery by 1130 which is way to late to start a 13 hour trip!!!  John Mark did an amazing job STAYING awake.  As we tell the story, we only got to stop a few times--4 to be exact and the total time involved in those stops amounted to 1 hour.  The kids were troopers.  Thank goodness we decided to actually go into Wendy's for dinner because Colleen had a diaper explosion that would have been horrible for everyone if it would have happened in the carseat!!!!

If we did not look redneck enough with the ice chest strapped to the back of the car, we do now!  But it was the perfect changing table!!!

We arrived at my parents house a little after 1am.  My mom was the only one awake, and she told us which beds to go to!  We awoke Sunday morning to head to church with my family feeling a little groggy, but excited to be here ready to celebrate with my family.  Tyler asked to drive himself to church in the Ranger, and my parents and JM agreed.  (Remember I am from a small farming community and the church was about 1 mile away.)  He was so excited.  He had to stay between my brother car and our car at all times! 

Only in rural Texas would this happen and nobody think twice!!!

After church, Tyler drove Corynne home in the Ranger after he did a few figure 8s in the old baseball field in front of the church!  Wow!  That kid is going to be trouble in a few years!  When all arrived safely back to my parents house.  Mom cooked a big meal for everyone, and we enjoyed exchanging gifts.

My brother Michael and his wife Jacqline with their dog, Sprinkles!

Papa made these awesome teeter-totters for the kids.  Corynne and Lauren are playing on the big version.  He made a smaller version for the little girls!

"I am not going to share these M&Ms with you Sprinkles!"

Farming fun.  Going to feed the cows or is this just an excuse.

Grammy put the kids to work scrubbing the floors and cooking.

Then there was plenty of time for Corynne and Tyler to cheat at a game!!

Well all the cleaning and cooking really was for a fun purpose!  Grammy and the girls hosted a "Tuesday Tea".  They had fun getting dressed up!!!

Colleen was scared of the surprise visitor, Santa!   Cousin Stacy protected her!

That Santa dude must not be to bad because I found chocolate in the stocking he left me!!!!