Christmas 2009

Chris and I traveled to Nacogdoches this past (very rainy) Wednesday night to spend Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day with my lovely in-laws. It is always fun to experience the Childs' Christmas traditions, as it usually includes a few more people than the Bickley clan is used to...as in 29 people for Christmas Eve dinner!! In Chris's family, everyone gathers at Meme and Pop's house for Christmas Eve dinner after church. There is tons of food, which includes home made pies, fudge, and fruit cake. Meme and Pop have a stocking for everyone in the family (including those of us who marry into the family)! Wonder when she will have to build a bigger mantle?!

Christmas Eve...after devouring tons of homemade fudge...mmmm


Christmas day was wonderful as well. We got to catch up with my sis-in-law via Skype, as she is halfway around the world serving as a missionary. We are so proud of her, but have to admit that she was very missed on Christmas morning. We had a slow paced morning, opened a few presents, ate poppy seed Christmas roll (a Bickley tradition that the Childs' have gladly welcomed), and watched my 6 month old niece play with tissue paper as she opened her first Christmas gifts.

The ever growing Childs's mantle.


Gary on Christmas morning.


Kim after opening her new recipe book and finding out that Melody and I are going to organize it for her.



Can you tell Chris is not quite as excited about our new Paula Deen cookware?? When can I add some butter?

Chris and Nonnie


We are so very thankful for all our friends and family!!! I know it's a couple days belated, but we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and pray that 2010 holds many blessings for you and your family!

P.S. Oops...Bauer and Wyatt wanted us to add their Christmas day picture.

Bauer enjoying his bone that Santa Dog brought him.


Wyatt checking out all the gifts.

December Recap

It has been a wonderful, yet very busy month. I'm sure most of y'all feel the same way. Chris and I celebrated an early Christmas with my parents in Denver this year. We love going to Denver to spend time with Mom and Dad, enjoy the gorgeous weather and sights of Colorado, and of course...we greatly enjoy the snow and skiing opportunities.

Saturday morning began with a trip to Kaladi Coffee and a stop at the Trompeau Bakery for pan au chocolat...talk about my taste buds being in heaven!!! The rest of Saturday afternoon was spent relaxing, walking in Wash Park, and then the guys went for a hike, while Mom and I toured the historial Governor's Mansion (that was beautifully decorated for Christmas) and stopped at an adorable French restaurant where we shared mussels. It was my first go at mussels, but I have to admit I greatly enjoyed them...check out the pics.




On Sunday, we decided to go for a day ski trip at Eldora, just outside of Boulder. It was an absolutely wonderful day; it snowed ALL day and by the mid afternoon, there was not even a lift line. What can we say? We heart Colorado!!






Here are a few last minute pictures from before we left. M&D, thank y'all for the wonderful visit and Merry Christmas!





We flew back to Texas to get back to work and prep for Christmas in East Texas. Chris's parents came in town and helped us celebrate Chris's 27th b-day. We cooked a big dinner and watched the Cowboys defeat the (then undefeated) Saints.





Lastly, here is our Christmas tree this year. I can't tell you how happy and warm it makes me feel when I come home from work and turn on the Christmas tree lights. Ahhh....

Thanksgiving Vist

So, I'm running a bit behind, as far as posting our latest pictures. I think this is mostly because I have been trying to get ready for the holidays and trying to figure out how people (who work full time and outside the school district) get everything done without that little thing called "Christmas break". Yes, this is my first year out of school and I have tried not to wallow in the fact that I don't have a week or two off. Overall, I know I should be thankful for the fact that I have a job!

My Mom and Dad flew in from Denver to celebrate Thanksgiving with us in Houston. It was the first year for us to "host" Thanksgiving and we had a wonderful time. I think my biggest surprise was shopping for a Thanksgiving dinner. I have always helped my parents cook the big feast, but I don't think that I have ever bought ALL the food to make it. Talk about an eye opening experience!! We spent most of the day before Thanksgiving baking homemade pies and prepping as much as we could for Thanksgiving day. We had 4 people at the dinner table, but Mom and I cooked like there was an army coming over to eat. It was so much fun!! Here are few pics from Thanksgiving week.


Chris decided that traditional green been casserole is not his "thing".











Made my very first homemade pumpkin pie...used my Great Aunt's crust recipe...yum!


Check out how happy Bauer was about cooking a turkey!

Happy Halloween

Bauer and Wyatt humored us by wearing their Halloween hats for about 30 seconds. I know it's a bit hard to tell, but Wyatt is wearing devil horns; I think he was least impressed by this dress up time.

Happy Halloween to everyone!

Denver to Houston in a Flash

While I was at work last Thursday, I received a text from Mom that said, "Can we stay with your tonight?" As most of y'all know, my parents live in Colorado, so this unexpected text took me by surprise! My parents said they decided that morning that they needed a weekend to see us kids and their sweet grandbaby.

Chris and I picked them up at the airport that evening and luckily (once again, the perks of working at a small hospital), I took Friday off and got to spend the day with my parents! Such fun!! Friday night, we had a Bickley dinner in Houston. It is very rare that we can all get together, so when we can organize a day/time/place to gather everyone...it seems like a small miracle. Unfortunately, Chris couldn't make the 6:00 dinner, but I took him home a Churrasco steak, yum! Thanks for the great visit M&D!


Don't you love how Seby is feeding his Mommy cheerios?! Too cute!

Cool and Hot....spots

It has finally cooled down in Houston; it is 45 degrees right now. What can I say? I'm loving the cool mornings, deciding which jacket to wear, and using my booty warmer in the car. The only bad thing about all this weather change is the fact that our sweet Bauer has seasonal allergies (according to our vet). I have taken B to the vet 2 times this week for skin reactions called hot spots. Prior to owning a sweet (but high maintenance) pup, I had never heard of these hot spots. However, we know them all too well now. Bauer had to have his entire back left rear shaved, because he developed these. They are not pretty and I know that they must itch badly. Every time Chris and I walk by B and pet him, we pout our lips at him and say, "Poor baby." If you've ever seen the movie, The Great Outdoors, with John Candy, you'll understand what I mean when I say that Bauer kind of looks like the bear at the end of the movie. It is sad, but a bit comical in the end (no pun intended).

Upon picking up B from the vet for the 2nd time this week, he was wearing an E-collar. We are supposed to keep it on him when we are not home, so that we can keep him from chewing his back side. As you can tell, Bauer was not excited about his new neckware.

Big D

Last weekend, I made a little jaunt up to Dallas to visit with my OT/grad school pals. Kyndra, a dear friend who is now living in Nevada, was in town. So I thought it would be a perfect excuse to plan a get together with everyone! We met up at Blue Mesa and had a blast catching up; what can I say? I miss these girls!!! It was so wonderful to see everyone...so thank you all for such a great time!
Another fabulous friend, Christina, let me crash at her beautiful home on Friday night; then we took the morning to drink Dunkin-Donuts coffee (YUM!) and hit the mall. She even talked me into buying these ridiculously high heels (but in red)...aren't they adorable?! Not sure where I'm wearing 'em, but I'll find a place!
Saturday afternoon was filled with meeting friends for lunch, then coffee, a pedicure, and then dinner with Chris and more friends. Sunday morning started with a Bubbas hit (if you are in Dallas and have not been, I recommend you check it out pronto), drove by our old house, and then met up with Christina and her hubby, Jeremy, at the Cowboys stadium for a tour. I must say that the stadium is truly something to see! Wasn't a big fan of how they ran the tours, but in the end, it was worth it!

In the locker room...if you touched anything, I think they would kick ya out!

I have to admit, I even bought a Barber jersey to wear this season. I never thought I would love football so much! Let's just say Chris has made me a football lovin' gal!

Random football decorations

Christina and I enjoying the club seats minus a real game.


Super blurry, but cute!

So you have a feel for how big the screen is...that yellow truck is a fork lift!A lounge in the stadium...crazy!

This is where the players are before they run out on the field.

It doesn't look comfy to us, but this is how Bauer rode all the way back home.