{Christmas decor 2013}

I have never been really good at taking pictures of all of my Christmas decorations and after I take it all I down I regret it.  This year I almost forgot to take pictures again but I told myself I wasn't allowed to take it down until I took pictures.  These pictures below don't need any explaining but in the future I will now be able to look back and see how we decorated for our first Christmas in Texas.

{christmas day part 2}

After opening gifts at our house we all got dressed and headed over to my sister Lynda's house.  We had our traditional biscuits and gravy and this year we added fresh squeezed orange juice.  After breakfast the adults handed out their stockings.  This year we tried something new.  We were each given a stocking and we were only allowed to spend $20 and it had to fit in the stocking.

After the stockings were opened we all went outside to watch Nan do her diet coke mentos explosion.  The kids loved watching this.

The rest of the day we spent at my house watching the basketball games (the Lakers lost, boo) and hanging out.  We had beef dip sandwiches, macaroni salad, cheesy potatoes, pasta salads, and chips for dinner.  Overall it was a great Christmas, even the kids said it was one of their most favorite.  Its the been a long time since we've all been together on Christmas and its the start of many new traditions here in Texas.

{Christmas Eve after Santa came}

{don't forget the bus driver}

Here's an easy inexpensive gift you can give to your kids bus driver.  At our last school I had to take and pick up my kids everyday.  This year all of them but Chase ride the bus.  I can't tell you how nice it is to not have to take them to school everyday.  Show them how much you appreciate them by giving them a little gift too.

{Christmas Eve}

Christmas Eve Day is a little different at our house.  Its not only Christmas but Garrett's birthday as well.  We actually celebrated his birthday a few weeks ago with friends and family because its too hard to celebrate it on his actual birthday.

He is now 16 years old and will be getting his license in the next few weeks.  I made him a cake for his birthday and we all sang him happy birthday.  We got him a radio for his car.

That night Santa came to our house and left lots of goodies.  One of my kids favorite things to get from Santa is banana baby food.  You might think eww gross but its actually very good.  Everyone likes it except Garrett and Darian.

The stocking are all filled with goodies for the kids.

All ready for Christmas morning.

Santa left some stuff for Garrett...

and for Chase.

{the christmas card that didn't happen}

Trying to get pictures of my family has been almost impossible.  Between soccer games, good lighting, Garrett being at his moms, Darian being at work, and not getting my families pictures taken at Syd's wedding it almost didn't happen.  So yesterday before church we stopped by an abandoned building and I took some quick shots.  Darian and I are not in the picture because I took the pictures so the kids will have to do and believe me it was hard enough just to get them all together.

I worked for a couple hours on these cards but when I went to my favorite website to upload them they wouldn't fit.  I was so bummed.  I was frustrated so I just gave up and ordered them from Costco.

So now I can show you our Christmas card that didn't happen.

{Christmas Cards}

Here is this years Christmas Card.  I have not done Christmas Cards for a long time so it feels good to finally get them out.  Next year I hope to be more prepared and send them to my blogging friends too but for now these pictures will have to do.

Merry Christmas from the Byrd Family!!!

{FRONT}

{BACK}

{family pictures}

Merry Christmas from the Byrd family!  I had the kids photos taken for our Christmas card today and now I can't decide which one to use.  We haven't sent out a Christmas card in the last 4 or 5 years so this is a big deal for me.  I need your help to choose a picture.  Please let me know which one is your favorite.  I have numbered them to make it easier to pick then remember to comment and tell me which number or numbers you like the best.

Thanks!

Oh and one more thing do you have a favorite website that you order your cards from?

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