This year we decided to embark on another "Tour de Texas" and spend Christmas with Jason's father and grandmother in Midland, TX. Yes folks, that is a 14 hour drive. Yes, f-o-u-r-t-e-e-n hours. Fourteen hours spent driving through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Wind farms, cattle, oil derricks, and traffic. Jason and I, being the over-achievers we are, decided to do the drive in one day. Start early and keep going until we get there. It worked, until hour 13 hit. Here we are driving along, making great time and are about an hour outside of Midland. Then all the bells and whistles on the Durango's control panel go off. Really? WTH? So we pull over, grab the manual and start reading. Something the do with the catalytic converter. Great. It says, "If the light starts blinking you will need a tow truck." In other words, keep driving until the light blinks. Then you are sh*t out of luck, in the middle of nowhere on country roads. AWESOME. We decide to pull over, have some dinner, and rethink our strategy. Ok, what's the worse that can happen? Our car becomes completely inoperable and we get a hotel for the night and a rental car to continue in the morning. Not so bad. Things could be much worse. Always try to find the silver lining people. Always. So we decide to push forward until the car dies and we need a tow. Well, we made it into Midland and pulled into Pawpaws driveway with a big sigh of relief. No biggie. Tragedy averted. The car went to the dealership the following day for some repairs.
Then MY panic starts to set in. OMG. I still have a TON of Christmas shopping to do. It's a few days away and I don't have a car. Fantastic. So John generously lends me his sweet ass truck to go shopping. And by sweet ass, I mean this truck has every bell and whistle on it - the back up camera that displays in the review mirror, leather seats, and a gas pedal that responds with a thunderous roar with a tap of the foot. Now, my Durango isn't something to balk at with leather seats, DVD player, Infinity sound system, and a hemi. But his is sweet ass. Anyway, back to the story, I glide to wally and have a cart full of toys. I go to pay only to be told, "Your card has been denied." Really? WTH? Are you serious? So I make the walk of shame back to the Sweet A truck empty handed. A quick call to my bank later that night revealed that they shut down my card flagging theft. See, when you open your bank account in Kansas and suddenly charges start showing up in TX, it throws some big red flags. Thank you Bank of America for being so cautious and blocking my account, but see, we are a couple of days away from Christmas and unless I get some gifts for the kids NOW, there will be no Christmas. Awesome. So the next couple of days, I am scrambling getting gifts and wrapping them immediately. It all turned out well in the end, but not without some panic and stress. Isn't that what EVERY holiday entails?
Everything went uphill from there. We spent the days chatting and cooking with Dovie and John. The evenings were spent wrapping gifts and watching movies. This is what holidays are for. Family. Simply put. I love spending holidays with family. Broken down car, denied card, and all. I love it. Because simply put, there is nothing that will stop us from having a great holiday with the ones we love. Nothing.
On Christmas Eve, as tradition reigns, we read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'. The girls stared in wide-eyed wonder knowing that in just a few short hours, Santa would come. It was magical. They laid down to sleep when the bells on the front door started to ring. OHHHH Santa was coming soon, you better close your eyes! The next morning we waited until everyone was up and made the mad dash to see what Santa left behind. The girls were mesmerized and thrilled beyond belief. Later that afternoon, Jason's sister Shelly, her husband Scott, and Eli came to Midland for a visit. We had a wonderful turkey dinner and a night full of laughter.
I have to say, that I love the holidays. And what I love more, is spending them with family. *That* is what the holidays are all about. Being with your loved ones and sharing in the joys of your children.
Jillian and her stash of Lightening McQueen goodies. And of course, Tobio - aka Astro Boy.
Katelyn and her favorite gee gee geee GUITAR! I am rockin' out momma!
Sweet cousin Eli
Eli's new dog Pumpkin.
Here's how the conversation went. "Jillian, did you EAT DIRT?" "No mommy." "Why is there mud on your face?" "I ate some." "Ok, did it taste yummy." "No, dirt is yucky." Yes kiddo, dirt is yucky.
