Breakfast and the Ft.Worth Zoo

We went to breakfast at a local place and got to see Santa, well sort of!

Ft.Worth Zoo!!! Thursday before Christmas, everyone must have still been shopping= YEA FOR US!! No crowds, up front parking and in the mid 50's, a beautiful precious memory!

I HATE snakes..... much braver than their Mamma!

Pop bought them each a stick with birdfeed on it, the neatest thing to be able to see them up close.

We spent a LONG time in here!!! SO neat!!

Thank goodness for that glass... that Tiger was pacing!

Onto the next one!

Levi and Pop!!

I LOVE this picture of them looking at each other!!

Elephants!!

LOVE THIS GIRL!

First Day in Ft.Worth, the week before Christmas

The first trip by myself with three children and a dog from Lubbock to Dallas.............well it was pretty smooth! We made two stops going which is not real bad! We did not get off until about 12:30 and made it by 6:30. We got our stuff out and then headed across the street to the church I grew up in. They were having a sort of fesitval for Christmas. It has been going on for many years but this was the first time we were able to go and it will now be a tradition!!! Complete with pony rides, bounce houses, petting zoo, LIVE Nativity, blacksmith workshop, campfire and live country praise music as well as a hayride down our (my parent's) street to look at Christmas lights! First off we ran into my bestie and her family! Cannot believe we did not discuss these plans but were SO blessed to spend this time together! The kids had a BLAST! Holly and her family were kind enough to take my kids on the hayride since we would have had to wait quite a while for the rest of us to fit and since it was around 9 by this time, Levi would not have made it! His favorite was the animals, Ty's was the Blacksmith where Pop got him a melted nail/knife, and Livi's was the s'mores at the camp fire! I had the pleasure of seeing so many people that I love and had not seen in so long. What a blessing it was to attend!

Christmas Home Tour

The Entry Hall Tree. Our basket below holds all the cards we recieve throughout the season!


This is the Nativity scene my mother gave me years ago, possisbly before I was married...




The most recent gift from my parents just past the entry is our new 9ft tree!!! A slim line that works so much better here. I have included some photos of some of my favorite ornaments!

The view from the breakfast area into the living room..

The lower shelf of my baker's rack in my breakfast area.. includes a photo of Olivia from her adventure on the Polar Express two years ago and the gingerbread house she made in kindergarten this year.


Coffee Bar with all the fixings and breakfast table with a new runner Ty made in school this year.



ANOTHER gift from my mother, the trifle. Been doing this since college :)

My newest plate, after seeing it for my secret sis I had to pick one up myself!! The tree Ty made in pre-k and my better homes and gardens wax warmer, burning 'warm crackling fire'

Full view of Baker's rack with my kitchen tree atop

Dining room view looking in from kitchen



Dining Center piece

My wonderful mother-in-law gave me a piece of Christmas china every year until we were complete with 6 place settings and a serving piece! Lenox Holiday, LOVE it!! Used it for the first time to honor a lady I love.

My Nutcracker Collection, largely done by my mother

Full Dining view from foyer. There was a rustic little wreath on that mirror but after lots of temperature change fell and broke a few in my collection so I opted not to re-hang it :(

Levi's little western tree in his room



Living Room Mantle






Two new decorations this year thanks to the massive sales at Hobby Lobby


My tree again, also new and provided by my mother are those beautiful angelic wing like floral pieces...



The 'volcano' top as my FIL refers to it!

My husband calls this my 'Blair Witch' wreath...





Our old tree found a new home in Ty's room in front of the window! Its done in all their hand made school ornaments from over the years...

Here are some of my favorites:

Hallway table between Olivia and Levi's room
and Olivia's new tree in her window. I let her decorate it however she wanted! Do you see the new glass (acrylic) slipper?