Christmas Vacation!

For our frequent readers, I apologize for being MIA! I have not able to update the blog in forever its seems, so I also apologize for the amount of pictures here because I had a hard time choosing the ones I wanted to share with you.

Our last month...
Kate and I flew to Texas and were there about 3 1/2 weeks. Mike and Tucker were there about 2 weeks and they were both troopers as Mike had decided he would drive with a friend from work and save us lots of $$ in the process. I think he said he drove 3700 miles total during vacation! He is the eternal optimist though and was really a good sport about it, me on the other hand...probably would have handled that differently :)...

Kate was wonderful on the plane both times. She slept almost the whole way there when we came to TX and she talked to me half of the time and slept half of the time on our way back. I was so relieved that things went smoothly!

Our pictures begin here with our arrival at the airport. Then we drove up to Dallas that day to see Aunt Allison run her 1/2 marathon the next morning. She did great and was in super shape!! Kate and I stayed in Fort Worth with her for several days and got to see lots of friends and she even got to babysit Kate while I went to dinner with friends. She told me she is happy being an aunt and not a mom for a long time!! :) After being in Fort Worth, Kate and I traveled back to The Woodlands and she got to meets lots of friends and Mike joined back up with us here. Papa came to visit for a couple of days and we got to share Christmas Eve with him and my family. Then Mike, Kate and I drove to Mimi's house in Brenham and were there for Christmas and stayed for a few days. Kate also got to meet her Uncle Stephen for the first time (this was majorly overdue) and they loved the time they got together. After being in Brenham, we came back to my family's house where Kate got to meet Nana for the first time. It was so neat to see them together and we took a 4 generations picture. We spent New Year's Eve with Allison and Jay, and Mike and I enjoyed getting to go out and feel like real people! :) After New Year's, Mike drove to Austin for his pledge brother's wedding and then came back to pick up Tucker and left for his long drive back to VA. I left a few days later with Kate.

And you'd think my long story would be over..but no...the night Kate and I flew in, I hurt my back picking her up out of her crib! I went to the doctor and was told I sprained my SI joint in my lower back and was not allowed to pick up Kate for at least a week. Well...how was I supposed to do that?!! So, my mom is coming up here for a week to help me as I recover and she will pick up Kate for me so Mike can get back to work.

It has been one crazy month for us! But I do have to share one more thing...Kate rolled over from her tummy to back the day after Christmas! We were so excited and are excited to see her do it now almost daily. She has grown and changed a lot this month. Her hair is falling out more and getting lighter and she is talking and laughing with us all the time. She is 16 1/2 weeks now. Enjoy the pictures and our next blog won't be so long or so overdue. I promise!

Our arrival in Houston Waiting for Aunt Allison to run by

Yea! She finished!

Allison, Emily, Me and Kate and Anna

The runner and her cheerleaders
Kate and her Aunt Allison (that's where she got her blue eyes!)
My friends in Fort Worth at Joe T's..YUM!
Christmas party with friends
Good morning Kate!
Linny and Kate

My favorite picture this past month

Her first picture with Santa The Fam

Mike, Kate and Papa

Kate and Paige (they are one day apart and got to meet for the 1st time!)
Love the socks! We love you Paige!

Christmas morning with Uncle Stephen

Mimi and Kate

Us again

Kate and Nana

Four generations of girls

Happy 2009!

Kate's crib at my parent's house (my mom slept in this as did my sisters and I)

Mike at his friend Ernie's wedding with friends

Daddy and Kate ready for the Nat'l Championship game...Go Sooners! A little late I know..

I can't forget to mention Tucker (in the middle here). He LOVED getting to come to TX and see his friend's Lucy and Raz. He played constantly and was worn out by the time he got back in the car to go home. We also loved having him with us and not in a kennel at the vet while we were gone. Allison is giving a treat to all 3 dogs here. Raz came for a few days with Jay and joined Lucy the lab and Tucker for some fun!