Missouri Holiday

On Christmas night we put our kids to bed and discussed our travel-to-Missouri plans. I was completely wiped out and the house was a disaster. Curtis wanted us to pack and leave before dawn and I just couldn't wrap my mind around getting it all done. I really wanted to cry and actually I think I might have. But he got to work and showed me I wouldn't be doing all the prep work on my own. By midnight-ish we were packed, the house was ready for my sister and Colin to move in for 12 days, and we were ready to go. We got up at 3:45 and pulled out of the driveway with the kids in their pajamas at 4:45. The kids and I slept off and on until we got to Dallas. Then I drove a few hours and before we knew it, we were in Missouri. It really helped that the kids were tired and could sleep easily.

That night we had Christmas with my in-laws, Curt's grandpa, and Curt's sister and her family. This was our first Christmas without Grandma Wanda and it was sad not to have her there. I opened up a box and found a little red apron in it. It was one Grandma's and each of the women in the family had been given one. Curt says he remembers the one I have vividly. What a sweet gift. Annabeth got a little piano and Curtis got the banjo he's been asking for. I have no idea why he wanted a banjo.

For dinner we had some Chinese take-out and I tried Springfield's famous cashew chicken. It's unlike any other cashew chicken you might find. So here's my conclusion for my readers from Springfield: it's good but not very Chinese! It's like a chicken nugget with gravy on it. Curtis reminded me that you don't get more American than Springfield, MO.

We enjoyed spending time with Curt's family over the next few days. One night we went to Silver Dollar City. I was not too excited about going, seeing as how we'd just been to Disney World. And in case you didn't know, Missouri is cold in the winter! But it ended up being a total blast. Jackson was riding next to me in one of the roller coasters and he was screaming, "I'm flying to destiny!" Funniest thing ever! The next day he was playing Hungry Hungry Hippos and he declared, "I'm chomping to destiny!" Where on earth is he getting that?

The babies stayed pretty happy at Silver Dollar City. Again with the popcorn!

Here's a cuter picture of them. I kept calling them the twins in my mind even though they look nothing alike. They're exactly 2 months apart.

One of my favorite things about being in Missouri during the holidays is the New Year's Eve party my in-laws host at their house. Lindsay's mother-in-law is Cozy's best friend, so we get together with them and with the rest of our family and it is like one huge clan of people. If you can picture it, we get to hang out with people we're not related to, but share nephews with. I think our kids were the only ones there without two sets of grandparents in the house.

Curt's 30th birthday was on New Year's Day and this was a fun way to celebrate. Cousin Erin even made him one of her special cakes.

Apparently Lindsay and I look like real sisters because Annabeth kept getting us confused that night. I think it's the hair. I actually think Annabeth's hair is going to be the same color as Lindsay's. We'll see!

Here's Lindsay, Erin and me.

This year we played Just Dance on the Wii. Annabeth and Jackson got really into it. Curtis even took on Lindsay, completely shocking me. He almost beat her, which is saying something because she was a cheerleader. After everyone else left, Curtis and I competed and I smoked him two out of three times.

Curt and Lindsay

Annabeth thought this bent up crazy straw was as good as a Wii controller for a while.

Gavin and his little brother, Cael. Horrible picture but you can tell they're dancing.

Lindsay and Jackson

Cael and Annabeth both threw fits because they didn't have controllers, so we gave them some that weren't being used. They had so much fun.

We had to go to the airport at 4:15 the next morning to leave for the Passion conference in Atlanta, so we called it a night relatively early. Passion will have to be its own post.

This is a major change of subjects, but yesterday was an amazing day. Our Amy, who I've described to you as my adopted big sister, had her first baby - a girl! My mom got to be with her at the hospital in San Antonio and I pestered her with text messages all day long. That afternoon my sister-in-law, Lindsay, had a sonogram and found out she is having a girl! (After two amazing boys.) Not only that, but on the same day we got word that my cousin-in-law, Mindy, is also having a baby girl! (She has one amazing boy.) I couldn't believe it. There was much celebrating going on in my house. Hooray for little girls!