Murphy Mavericks

The Murphy Mavericks finally kicked off their basketball season this past weekend.  They won big their first game with a score of 20 - 3.  Sunday was no different and they played even better!  J man did the tip-off for both games.  At first glance, we all felt sorry for tiny #4. 

But then Jackson misunderstood the ref and thought he couldn't touch the ball until it came back down, and low and behold, this little guy actually won the tip off!  It was a bright spot in their team's performance, for sure, and I bet that kid was stoked.  Way to go #4! 

The rest of the game went something like this:  We make a shot, they get the ball, dribble down to their basket, try to pass, but then this kid jumps up and takes it away!

Then my point guard takes it back down the court and scores!

Caleb, Jackson, Tucker and Blake.  They were a force, I tell ya!

Such concentration.  The kid made long-range shots...

and lay-ups, too.

By half-time they were winning by 20, I think.

Did this kid let up, though?  Not a chance.  He did so great and scored 10 points for the Mavs.  They won 30 - 2!  We can't wait to watch them play again after the Christmas break.  Maybe by then his baby sister will be there to watch, too:)

Surprise!

In the midst of all the craziness this weekend, we managed to pull off a pretty darn good surprise for Jared.  We'd had a basketball game and soccer game earlier in the day and had his work's holiday party to go to that evening, but in the middle of it we squeezed in a surprise party.  What for?  We found out that after 7 long, hard years at his firm, they asked him to be a shareholder.  Wha hoo!! 

Jackson and Boom already had plans to go watch the Texas Legends basketball team that night, but we made sure they were there for the big surprise.  It was really cute how excited Jackson was for his daddy.  He didn't even want to leave to go to the basketball game--now that's a big deal!

I was so excited that even though it was last minute, both of Jared's brothers and their wives could be there.

Two very proud parents were also able to make it, as were two seriously excited in-laws and a curly headed neice.

Congratulations, babe!  You deserve this and so much more.  You have worked for 10 really long years and it's so nice to finally see you getting the recognition that you deserve.



We couldn't be happier for you!

Icemageddon!

Friday morning rolled around and we were all pretty excited.  No school!  Who hoo!  What should we do, mom??  Well, how about make a gingerbread house?

They both loved getting to assemble and decorate it...

but then Lila took it to a whole new level.  So much for eating icing off of her hand--let's just get it straight out of the packet!

As you can see, this was by far her favorite part of the whole activity!

A few hours later, they finally talked me into letting them go outside.  We spent at least a half hour digging out ski clothes.  We tried our best to make the ski clothes fit Jackson that we bought a few years ago, but he's grown just a bit!  After his pants kept falling off because we didn't snap the bib, we cinched them up on one side, but that just made them come up three inches above his socks.  Finally we just went with it and both snow bunnies were ready to venture outside.  And, oh my, IT WAS COLD!!

They soon realized that EVERYTHING was covered in ice.  There were icicles hanging off of the trampoline...

and even though it looked like the playground was covered in a nice batch of snow, it was indeed ice, too.  Pretty for pictures, but not so easy to play on. 

J man slipped a time or two trying to walk up this part of the playscape.

After striking out on it, they headed back to the tramp.  Jackson worked for a while just chopping up ice with his hands.  He was very proud of this 1 1/4" thick block of ice that he got loose!

We'd almost had enough with all the crazy ice, but we had to check out the front of the house, too.  And yes, more ice was everywhere!  The driveway and sidewalks were just covered in it.  Homebound for sure.

Saturday morning we woke up to an even colder morning and it was Jared's birthday.  I felt so bad that we couldn't take him to a fun breakfast or anything of the sort.  The kids did, too, so they made him these signs and pictures and we created a birthday shrine to Dad before he woke up!  He loved it.  We had to cancel our dinner plans that night because the roads were too bad, but thank goodness for college football, because we watched a lot of it that day.  We had also made cookie bars at his request, so we lit some candles on them and sang him Happy Birthday.  Then Lila gave him her rendition.  It went like this: "Happy Birthday Daddy.  I still love you old man.  I still think you are handsome, even if you're an old man!" What a goose!

I sure hope he felt the love from all of us. We love you, daddy!

In addition to a few other gifts, the kids got their daddy this goofy shirt.  All three of them share an extreme love for the video "What Does the Fox Say?" so they got him the shirt.  Ha!

We also got him a Wake Forest beanie.  Not sure what he liked more, the gift or the kiss from his youngest:)

Sunday morning the kids woke up bright and early and were SO thrilled to be able to report that Johnny the Elf was able to fly to the North Pole and back the night before.  They were very worried about him because icemageddon had kept him homebound for the last few nights, too.  It was so good to see him back to his old tricks and they found him reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas to three of his friends.  Too funny, Johnny!

A little while later, we needed to go check on our old house in Garland.  Imagine our horror when we drove up and saw THIS!  Holy Macarel!  My mouth literally fell open.  Both big trees were down in the front yard and the whole neighborhood looked like a tornado hit it.

By this time, my dislike for ice was getting pretty darn high.  To fix this huge mess, my dad, Jared and Uncle Andrew had to spend the afternoon cutting it all down with chainsaws.  It was one day that I was happy to be 8 months pregnant and forced to stay inside. 
Icemageddon, we now hate you!

We still had one more bright spot in our weekend, though, and the whole fam was pumped to be celebrating Jared's birthday at Babe's Chicken Dinner House.  The chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and cream corn was calling our name.  The ice had melted on the roads so we did not anticipate any problems.  We arrived at the restaurant at 6:20 last night.  There were plenty of cars in the parking lot and people inside eating their delicious dinners.  Then we tried to open the door and it was locked.  Uh oh.  Then we saw it.  A sign that read, "We are closing early tonight due to the weather.  Closed at 6pm."  Neat.  Are you kidding me?!   At this point Jared declared it the biggest Birthday Fail Ever.  Thank goodness we were near A Taste of Italy and it was open.  We ended up having a great time with everyone and he was so thankful to have a big family to celebrate with.  Icemageddon, you may throw us a few curveballs, but you will not bring us down!

Johnny the Elf is back!

Guess who came back to our house on December 1st?!  You got it--Johnny the Elf is back and in full effect.  The kids were SO happy to see that he came back again this year.

Jackson was even amazed at Johnny's new handwriting skills.  I told him that I guess that's "elf cursive" and he must have learned it this year in school.  He agreed, and said, "he did a really good job, didn't he?!"  Way to go, Johnny.

We have found him taking a marshmallow bath set out by Lila.  She remembered that he did that last year and thought it was so funny.  We went ahead and poured some marshmallows and candy corns in a bowl and low and behold, the next morning we found him lounging in it!  Today he is reclining in our sugar canister, but my favorite was when we found him holding baby Jesus.  Such a sweet little elf.  We can't wait to see all the silliness that will ensue over the next 20 days.  Welcome back, Johnny!  We've missed you.

Giving Thanks

We kicked off Thanksgiving Day by celebrating at the Raines House for lunch. 

And my, what a feast it was!

 

Madison, Gigi, Meme, Lila and I couldn't wait to dig in...

and neither could Jackson, Jared or Boom.  Lila said the sweetest little prayer to bless the meal and then it was chow time.

After getting our bellies good and full, Jackson headed up the touch football game.  He got in a few practice kicks before the game began.

It was Jared, Lila and Maddie vs. Jackson and Boom.  I promised J that I'll be out there next year!

They got a good game plan together and then the fun was on!

"Get him, Jackson!"

Jackson is quicker than his daddy thought!  They played for a solid hour and just had the best time.  Lila even told us tonight that it was one of her favorite things she got to do over Thanksgiving break.  So cool.

After staying a couple of hours, it was time to say goodbye.

Meme got lots of good hugs from these two and then we were headed to Fort Worth.

Both kids were worn out from the football game, so they slept most of the way there.  No rest for the weary, though.  Jackson brought his football and had the uncles playing catch in the front yard within the first 10 minutes!  Before that, though, he got to visit with Pa Hays:)

I'm pretty sure that this was Jared's first year to carve the turkey.  And he did an excellent job!

We enjoyed hanging out at Aunt Bina's house and got to visit with the newlyweds...

and lovebirds, too...

Memaw and Poppi and the whole Hays crew:)

It was a very happy Thanksgiving!  Oh yeah, and a good football day, too.  Both the Cowboys and the Longhorns won.  A Thanksgiving miracle!