Keeli's Winter Formal Cotillion

These photos are living proof that my little girl, is growing up to be a beautiful young lady.

2009 Winter Formal for Montgomery Cotillion was held at the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe Texas. Keeli's "date" was a long time school friend Nick Nightingale.

In these photo's above, Keeli and her friends took pictures at the Bent Water Yacht Club.

We are so proud of you baby girl! We love you!!

New Years Eve with the Barnett's

This year, we spent New Year's Eve at Sherri and Garlands playing poker. Fun Fun Fun!!

Of course, the girls walked away with the money. Sherri won the first game and I won the 2nd. The guys just thought they were better at those poker faces!

Sherri had a ton of Kameron & Koltons friends over and also invited her dad Joe and Uncle Bill. All the kids sat around and played Wii and then popped fireworks outside.

We had originally planned to spend New Years Eve with Ronnie & Mariland, but Triston was not feeling good. Turned out to be a nice night with friends and family. Looking forward to 2009!

Ronnie & Mariland's visit

This New Years Eve, I got a great surprise. My cousin Ronnie and his wife Mariland, came in from Maryland for a week visit. The weather was beautiful (in the 70's) while they were here and boy were they glad for that. It had been snowing when they left Baltimore.

Johnnie and I had them over for dinner and then we decided to all go out dancing at "Dalton's" in Conroe. We met up there with Johnnie's cousin Sherri and her husband Garland. Also, got to see a few of Johnnie's friends Louis and Jay. Later in the night, my sister Janice and her husband showed up and our cousin Linda. It was nice for us to be able to get together and see Ronnie and Mariland, whom we don't get to see often, because they live so far away!

Mariland is pregnant and due in March. How exciting!! Their 1st baby...and it's a BOY!!

2008 Dixon Christmas

This Christmas, we had a lot of "first". Our first flocked tree was one of them. We went tree shopping and Johnnie and the kids decided that they wanted a flocked tree. Triston loved it!! He thought it was real snow and of course wouldn't see any other tree on the lot.

Christmas morning, the kids woke us up at 5:45 a.m.. Triston ran in our room, jumped on our bed and said "Wake up NOW! Santa has come". ( I love that part). He is our baby and it wont be long and the "magic" of Santa will no longer fill our Christmas mornings. Our baby turns 9 on January 5th.

The kids got a Wii for Christmas this year. Johnnie and I both have had so much fun playing it. Keeli and Dalton videoed us playing on Christmas day and Johnnie and I watched the video last night and I laughed so hard...I cried!

I woke up today....sore!!! What a work out!

Dalton & Keeli both got new cameras and lots of other "goodies". Tristons favorite was his Cyclopes night goggles. He played with them last night in the back yard. He came running in saying "Hey...there are lots of red eyes in our back yard". CREEPY!!

Cody spent Christmas morning at Jeffs this year. He came home with a wallet full of money! Exactly what he wanted!! It's already burning a hole in his pocket.

I am truly a blessed woman. I have the most wonderful husband and children a girl could ask for.

Christmas Eve Pajama gift opening

Christmas Eve, we have a tradition that we open our "Christmas Pj's" and lay around in them all afternoon. We play games (this year was Phase 10) and watch Christmas movies, eat smores, drink hot chocolate and just be together! Its actually my favorite thing about Christmas.

Family Christmas Party

This year we had our "Family" Christmas party at my house. I rented an outdoor projector and we layed blankets out on the back lawn and watched "The Nativity Story" outdoors. Which the kids all loved. It was like being at the drive in.

Afterward, we went 1 street over from our house to see the light show. The most amazing light show there ever was!! Once we were done there, we all came back and opened gifts and played the "White elephant" gift exchange. Had lots of good food and good company!

I love being with my family. In the photos above, we all sat and posed for our "family" picture. The only one I don't have is Kim & Derricks family. I especially love the photo of daddy and all of his grandchildren. He was so happy and proud that day!!!

Thanksgiving with "The Carrells"

This year, we decided that I was not going to cook (thank goodness) Thanksgiving dinner and went to my brother Derricks house for dinner.

We spent the day at Kim & Derricks and enjoyed being around family. I ended up spending the night with my sister in law Kim so that I could arise at 3:30 a.m. to go shopping for "Black Friday". We had so much fun!!

Thanksgiving this year was relaxing...not work, work, work...which was a change for me!