Family Pictures

For whatever reason, we didn't get a whole family picture during Christmas. So my mom was adamant that we get a family picture before Jamie went to Phoenix. We started out in the backyard. Thankfully Doug was there to take the pictures. The cool thing about my new camera that we used is that it takes a lot of pictures really fast. And so Doug did just that. He took a lot of pictures...over 150 pictures! Lucky you only get to see a few. They are fun to look at because he captured everything which now documents what we went through to get a family picture!

Ray kept leaning on me and finally pushed me off the stool.
We realized these wouldn't work because my dad was off centered. But at that point he already was done and went inside. So we got some of just the girls.

Jamie posing again!

Then it was just our turn. We decided to hold our hands like the college girls do on facebook. Clearly it took some discussion. Unfortunately those pictures didn't turn out.

Cute couple

Another cute couple! :)

So we tried the whole family picture again inside. I don't remember what was so funny! But it was!

Ray felt the need to put his arm on me. I didn't like that...everyone else had their arms down. To bad we ruined it because it's great of everyone else!

Oh wait! Let's get Ashley...she's a part of the family! It didn't start out good.

Check out Jamie's face! I love that my dad and Ray are oblivious to what is going on!

I should just let go!

Finally!

Christmas Day

Christmas morning!

We all got one big gift so to help make it more exciting, my mom made a puzzle out of it.

Do you notice Davy's stocking? My mom made it to match ours. So cute!

Aunt Jamie checking out the stocking loot!

Santa did good!

Feasting on wrapping paper.

He was so excited...he couldn't wait!

He loved his bone. By that night he had eaten through the middle.

I love Skype! We got to talk with both of Raymond's sisters...and Jamie across living room!

It's tradition to decorate sugar cookies every year. And each year we start out together but I always end up finishing by myself!

Some of our cookies.

Julie heart Raymond

Phase 10 ...I won!

Day 9

For Christmas we got tickets to see the Rockettes. My mom says that everyone needs to see the Rockettes at least once.

What a fun show! It was so clever and creative. We loved every minute of it.

Then we met my family and aunt and uncle for our annual trip downtown. Each time we always eat at Toby Kieth's.

We then ventured to Bass Pro Shop. We always have fun in this store.

We then decided to go to McDonald's to get some ice cream. It worked out that they had couches where we could sit. Tomorrow is my aunts birthday so we sang to her.

Then we went to the Myriad Gardens and Crystal Bridge. During the month of December it is free on Sunday nights. Lots of people took advantage of this with us! But we still enjoyed seeing all the lights! I hadn't been since my aunt and uncle were married there my senior year in high school. We had fun remembering as we walked through despite the crowd!

I love hanging out with my family!

Jamie Came to Town!

She came for Juli Makenzie's wedding. Not only was it beautiful, but the ceremony was incredible and worshipful. Their reception was at the Skirvin. It was my first time to go there and it was so pretty too! Great places to take pictures!I love that there was a photo booth. So fun!

Of course she was the first to get candy as the wedding favors. I think she was excited!

Then on Sunday we did Thanksgiving since she couldn't be back for the actual holiday. We were trying to take some pictures that could possibly be used for a Christmas card and of course had fun while at it.

Typical Day Family gatherings include playing games. As we were playing, talk of the previous night's wedding came up. The program was sitting on the counter and so Jamie was showing it to my uncle. When it came to the page with words to a congregational song it was no surprise that Jamie started singing. I took the little pause in the game to grab my camera to get a picture of us playing a game. While away from the table my uncle then started to sing with her. Just as I snapped the picture he yelled "Everybody!" to join in at the chorus. Crazily we all did! Priceless, yet typical family behavior!

We love it when Jamie comes. It is always fun and full of laughing...usually at her. But I love how she can liven everything up! Looking forward to when she comes for Christmas!

Dacation

I wish that I was clever enough to have come up with that term. I recently heard it on the news in a story about vacations that you can take in just a day. But it is perfect for the days that the Day family spent together with Jamie home! With working and other scheduled events, we couldn't go too far. So we stuck close to home and had a great time. We started with breakfast at the lake. A little windy but yummy french toast casserole was perfect for our picnic. We then played games and rode bikes all before it got too hot.

(Sorry for the smallness...all the small pics you will see were emailed from Jamie.)

We then went back to my parents house to cook-out burgers for lunch. We ended our day at my aunt and uncle's house to swim in their pool and eat pizza for dinner. I've been in a pool recently but I hadn't had this much fun in a long time! I got my hair wet, sprayed water, chicken fought with Jamie and laughed so hard. I'm sad I didn't get pictures of this event, but I didn't want to take the time to get out of the pool to get my camera. After swimming we had a 4th of July cake since Jamie was in Africa over her favorite holiday. She is wearing the perfect shirt for her: "Proud to be an American"

She was "matchy" with our grandpa. We laughed when he had no clue what she meant by that word.

The next day we got pedicures with our mom and then went to Frontier City with my dad. On Mondays you can get in for 50 cents if you are/were in the military and so my dad couldn't pass up that deal. This was before we went. I wasn't about to document what we looked like once there. Luckily I went with people who already love me.

I know this may surprise some of you, but I don't do heat. So going in the middle of the afternoon when the temp had passed hundred degrees (It was SO HOT!), I was surprised at how much fun it was. We hardly waited in any lines and sometimes would get back on the ride as soon as we got off.

The next 3 days we went to my aunts house in Arkansas. It is always so fun. Watching cooking shows, reading magazines, and eating are our staple activities. Every time I'm at their house I spend a lot of time sitting at their bar watching my aunt cook and so this is the typical view.

On our way home we stopped by a Little Debbie outlet store. Everything is so cheap that you can't pass up buying a box or two...or 12! Raymond is always eating so much that I have to keep our pantry stocked. Last time I came home with Little Debbie treats they were all gone in no time. So this time I made sure that I stocked up, but am thinking that this supply will not last very long either. Luckily I'm not tempted by these treats or I would be in trouble. When I was showing Raymond what all I bought I stacked them up on our counter. I couldn't resist taking a picture.

I loved spending time with my family. We always have a good time and it was fabulous with Jamie here. Can't wait until November when she comes back home.