Beginning of December

Bubbles and Snowflake left us gingerbread houses to help us kick off December!

Christmas Nails!

Lunch for Megan’s 40th!

Ellis got her new FREE hair club for kids wig, and she absolutely loves it! So fun that she gets to change it up and be blonde one day and brunette the next!

Can’t remember if I updated about this, but Ellis officially quit gymnastics. To be honest, I’m not upset about it at all. With everything she has going on, it really was too much for her. We kept cutting back her practice days, and then decided to take a break from team and just do rec, and now she’s not even doing that. We decided to let her take a break from everything and really just focus on her mental health and getting her better for now!

After the Thanksgiving break she was still not ready to go back to school, so we got her approved for Homebound Schooling. Her sweet teacher comes to our house two days a week for two hours at a time after school. She sends her links with schoolwork to do during the day, and it has been a GameChanger. Living in limbo and not knowing day to day what the plan was going to be was rough. This was the least disruptive option where we could keep her enrolled in school and as on track as possible, with the hope she’ll be able to return to school eventually.

Her classmates made her this card and her teacher, Mrs. Wilson, brought it to her. Ellis misses her friends so much, and I know she really really wants to get back to school. I’m just so grateful for the supportive staff and that this homebound option even exists.

Brooks opted for a party at Andretti’s for his 12th birthday this year!

They started with a VR game!

The girls were cracking me up with their screams!

Next was laser tag!

Then it was time for the go karts!

There was a bit of a line, so they entertained themselves with some boxing while they waited…

”Keep it clean, but keep it mean!”

Pizza and cake time!

I prefer the age of drop off and pick up birthday parties! Six twelve year old boys in one car is VERY loud though!

I love where we live! Such a cool area with so many fun things around!

Friday was Brooks’ birthday party and Saturday was our favorite holiday tradition- The Gift of Christmas! Shep had a late basketball game, so we had to hurry and scarf down a fancy dinner at CFA before the show!

We met the Stolarskis and Smiths there, and I can’t believe I didn’t take one single video or picture during the actual show. I think this was our 5th or 6th year in a row seeing the same exact show, but I swear it never gets old!

Sweet girls dressed alike and didn’t even mean to!

Handsome boys were almost matching too!

Matching goofball personalities!

Love this family of mine!

Sunday we ended our fun filled weekend with a little trip to the ER. We had just finished watching a Christmas movie as a family and were already late getting to bed, when Brooks and Shep decided to wrestle (per usual). Adam even told them to stop before someone got hurt this time. Sure enough, Shep conked his head just right on the edge of the coffee table and all the blood came gushing out. Off to the Urgent Care ER right outside of our neighborhood he and I went!

Thankfully, we were literally the only ones there and were in and out in less than an hour!

Apparently they don’t do stitches or tape or glue on the head, only staples. They are WAY less dramatic than they sound though. Numbing gel, a numbing shot, then bam, bam, bam…you’re done. Shep never even took pain meds, had no restrictions and got the staples out just one week later! Trying to squeeze as much out of the doctors visits and procedures as possible, I guess, since we met our deductible!

Speaking of expensive visits, this one had to get an MRI with contrast on her wrist, and despite chickening out of the contrast part, she rocked it. Fortunately, the MRI showed she does not have arthritis, but unfortunately, that meant insurance denied paying for her infusions. We are currently trying to figure out another way around that, and I’m trying my hardest to be patient. I just want my baby to get the help she needs RIGHT NOW and for her not to suffer with all of this anxiety, and OCD, and trichotillomania. I know she was perfectly and wonderfully made exactly as she is and God has GREAT plans for her, but if there is anything we can do to make her life even an ounce better or easier, than sign us up! It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and we’ll get there!

Brooks’ actual birthday was on Tuesday this year, and I just love that our almost teenager wanted mostly work out stuff!

Favorite birthday video every year!

Happy 12th birthday Brooksy Bear! Love you and more proud of you than you will ever know!

Love his self motivation in everything he does!

As much as I hate that she can’t be in school, I do kind of love having my little sidekick with me to go shopping with! She helped me pick out all the gifts for our Angel Tree kiddos!

Brooks had his very first band concert on his birthday, and his best bud came to support him!

He’s literally only been playing drums and learning how to read music for 3 months or so. I was super impressed!

I really hope he sticks with band! He seems to be enjoying it more and more!

Band buddies!

Finally cake time after his concert!

Thursday we had our annual neighborhood ladies ornament exchange!

And by Friday Adam and I were in Nashville for both of our first times ever!

We stayed at the coolest hotel called, The Bobby!

Our first stop was lunch at Garth Brooks’ bar!

Then we went to the “world famous” Tootsies bar!

Julie and David were there too! They met us in Nashville! It was actually Julie that recommended this fun little adults only quick get away!

We nicknamed this old man, Cadillac. He’s apparently some kind of a legend in Nashville! No clue who he is, but he has a crap ton of acres in Amarillo, and they invited him to sing on stage at a few of the bars we were in. He loved the “Julie’s”!

The talent at every single bar along Broadway is just incredible! I love how they all sing old school 90’s country! I was definitely in my element!

My favorite bar was probably Layla’s!

Morgan Wallen’s bar was pretty cool, but I love the old school ones that have been there forever!

Best traveling friends ever and always so much fun!

Dinner at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse was a little excessive, but oh so delicious!

Gotta get every last morsel of that ridiculously expensive meat!

The whole reason for the trip- Wyatt Flores at the Ryman!

Our seats were in the back, but we somehow managed to sneak up to the front!

Coolest most iconic venue ever! The sound is phenomenal and I love how intimate it is!

Wyatt Flores looks like he’s 12, but he puts on the best show!

Brunch at the Hampton Social the next morning was on point!

Hanging at Kid Rock’s bar and this band definitely rocked! I love the energy in Nashville!

On the rooftop at Luke Bryan’s bar!

Back to Layla’s to dance….

….Dance….

…Dance…

…and dance some more!!

So much fun!

Seriously, best day ever!

Got changed super fast at the hotel

And had another fabulous dinner at Frank Sinatra’s!

Then we went back out on the town to listen to incredible music and dance some more!

Finished off our short but sweet little getaway at the famous Hattie B’s Hot Chicken!

Mouth is watering just looking at this picture and remembering this yummy food!

While we were in Nashville, Shep was just making buckets, no big deal!

Hit the ground running Monday morning with the first of many Christmas celebrations!

First up was the white elephant exchange with my Bible Study ladies!

Later that week was the “Favorite Things” party with my book club!

Then it was on to Shep’s school Holiday Party! I remember having to send Adam to the holiday party for all three kids last year, because I was not in a good place. I was in the thick of my depression and was afraid I wouldn’t be able to hold it together. So thankful for God leading me out of that darkness. Just remember to always hold on (putting this there for my future self to read). God is always working and is always there, but you’ve got to seek Him and wait. I promise He will always show up!

I was a little sad Ellis couldn’t be there for her last elementary Christmas party, but in the big scheme of things does it really matter??

Brooks has no idea how lucky he is to get to go to a Maverick’s game for a birthday party!

Girls Christmas party at Grace’s house!

My bonus daughter!

And last but not least, baseball moms Christmas party!

My shopping buddy wanted to do this silly tik tok trend…

Seriously, getting ALL the medical things done before the end of the year! Now I don’t have to keep my eye on that pesky mole anymore!

When you’re home all day you get to stay in your PJ’s and have a matching photo sesh with your pups!

Decided to give our BFF’s experience gifts this year instead of more junk they don’t need! Shep wanted to take Connor to Ninja Nation…

They won some contest and got these free snacks!

Brooks and Ellis wanted to take Hunter and Grace to Six Flags!

Nancy gets a “disability” pass at all the theme parks for her son’s adhd, and talked me into getting one for Ellis’ anxiety. I had to show her 504 paperwork and give her dr.’s contact info, but oh my goodness was this AMAZING! It seriously made all the difference in her mood and made the day so much more enjoyable! When Ellis is happy we’re all happy! We got to go to the front of the line for every single ride!

These crazy’s headed straight to Dive Bomber Alley!

It’s surprisingly hard to find friends that aren’t afraid of roller coasters! Love that the Stolarski’s are adrenaline junkies like us!

Silly girls!

Hunter was a hard no for the Texas Titan. The 255 foot drop is where he drew the line!

Ellis and Grace were too short for the Go Karts…

No clue, lol

One of ten million snack breaks!

Sent them with $20 to play a game, but apparently they don’t take cash. They let them play for free and gave them prizes, so the girls gave them a $20 tip, lol

I was there too!

It was lit up all pretty for the holidays!

Love this!

It even snowed!

Final snack break!

We are definitely going to keep up this experience gift tradition year after year!

Christmas Eve eve we finally went to see The Nutcracker! It’s not Ellis’ favorite, but I’m glad she humors me and powers through because she knows I love it!