Trip to Dallas

I am really late in posting about our Christmas trip to Dallas. It was our first trip back home since the move, and honestly, it felt like it went so fast. It snowed 7" here on the day that we left. I think the road trip went well because we were all so entertained by the blizzard hitting our windshield and the many dvds we brought along. Finney couldn't wait to sleep in the hotel, because its her favorite thing to do right now. We were all so excited about Christmas, family, and the adventure, that it really was a fun memory for us. Here are some of the highlights:

-Watching the cousins run around like they were at Six Flags. They get so excited to be together and my kids are deliriously silly around them.

-Seeing Ted get a few chances to take a bike ride with my brother.

-Working a ridiculously difficult puzzle with my mom, brother and dad. It took us the full three days that we were together.

-Seeing some of my close mommy friends and their kids that already look older.

-Eating dinner with our old neighbors, across from our old house. That kinda made me sad.

-Sitting by the fire in my parents house and watching football, just like the good old days.

Probably the biggest highlight of the trip happened on Christmas Eve night. My dad finished reading the Christmas story and announced that we should all pray. Finny stood up on the couch and confidently raised her hand, so of course, we turned it over to her. I was laughing at her side pony tail sticking up off the top of her head and how she perched herself on the top of the couch, as if to begin her speech. Certain that it would be another one of her silly and illogical prayers, we all looked at her in anticipation. She began to thank God for everyone in the family, her cousins, her mom, papa, and Ryder. She said that she was thankful for the house and thankful for her family. She said it with such passion and maturity that when she finished, we were all in tears. It was a really sweet moment, and all of us were wishing we had gotten it on tape, but I think we were too mesmerized to move.

Thankful for these great memories, and how richly blessed I am by my family (wish I had more pictures, but I think I was too busy talking).