Gingerbread Houses

We have been decorating Gingerbread Houses with the

SAME friends since 2002 :)

Even though the kids are getting bigger and Cooper has joined the group, they still LOVE getting together.

We laugh and wonder if we will still do it even once they're in college?

Even though lives get busy, it is fun to take a break and still do tradition.

And... our houses have GROWN!

Cooper made a Gingerbread Hotel :)

Lexi and her Gingerbread Building.



Yes... HOURS of fun :)

Class Parties

Friday was class parties at our school.

Kinder & 4th grade parties were at the SAME exact time... Grrr...

I am homeroom mom for Lexi's class, so I spent my majority of my time in there,

but thanks to Julie & Stacey, they captured some good moments.

Lexi Ashlyn

Cooper & his Christmas Cookie

The girls go wild with the icing.

Such a fun day for the kids :)

Merry Christmas!

Lexi in "Sufin' Santa"

Our school's 4th & 5th graders have auditioned, and practiced for MONTHS... and finally present us with "Surfin' Santa".

It was student-led... and I was AMAZED!!

Here are the dancers :)

Lexi at home before the big show.

Daddy & Cooper enjoying the show.

My wonderful Co-Director, CP, and her sister - Mini-Pop,

came to show support for Lexi and the other Shining Stars

SO sweet!

I was VERY impressed :)
SO Fantastic!

Sally & Billy go Digital

One morning the kids woke up to the elves holding onto my digital camera.

The kids decided to look at the pictures... and sure enough - those crazy elves had taken pictures of themselves in some silly places!

Sally posing in front of the Manger Scene.

Notice Billy's hand in front of the lens - nice!

Billy washing his hands.

Sally getting a piggy back ride from Yoda.

Billy hanging from Lexi's chandelier.

Sally looks like she is disturbing Crickett during her night time.

Wonder if this means that Billy likes tea?

Shining Star Christmas Party

The Shining Stars always have a BIG Christmas Party - all 3 teams with the Dragonettes! WHEW! It's is CUH-RAZY, but wonderful!

Santa reading "The Night Before Christmas" as the girls pass their ornament to the "right" or "left" depending on what Santa says.

Austin Torros

Some Shining Star Alumni graduated and moved on to Diamond Stars.

They performed at the half-time show during an Austin Torros Game.

We went with our neighbors, Shannon & Bailey.

We had a LOT of fun.

"Retired" Shining Stars :)

The Mommas:

The girls wanting to get the players' autographs:

They left that on for over a week... FINALLY I had to MAKE Lexi wash it off.

Looks like I have a basketball fan on my hands ;)

Christmas Caroling in the Hood

Some of our friends in the back of the neighborhood, invited us to go Christmas caroling. It was SO much fun!!

Definitely on the chilly side.

Pancakes with Santa

Our school had a SUPER awesome Christmas event at the school.

We had pancakes and sausage, 1st grade choir singing beautiful music, vendor booths, and of course - Santa Clause :)

I wonder *what* he is asking Santa for?!?!

Crazy Elves

The elves have been up to their mischief!

Also, they have:

climbed INSIDE the Christmas Tree

Surprised the kids with the movie "Elf" (ha ha ha...)

watched TV in the middle of the night

Brought the kids some Christmas games and

played them in the middle of the night

Played with flashlights & glow sticks in the bathtub

WHEW ~ those elves have been BUSY!!

Guess Who's Back?!?!

Sally ("Sixela") & Billy ("Repooc") - the elves are back!!

They missed their stuffed animal friends SO much, they had a BIG party with them the first night they were here.

With popcorn and LOTS of candy!!

This is Cooper's Hamster - "Fatty Boy"...

this picture is HILARIOUS!!!!

He fell over from too much caramel corn and kit kat!!

Those party animals are MESSY!

Chuy's Children Giving to Children Parade

The Shining Stars decided the attend the Chuy's Giving to Children Parade as a TEAM. It was SOOOOO much fun - our first year to go.

Cooper, Bailey, Lexi, & Cami in front of the Capitol.

Here, I am trying to get a picture of the BACK of the new warm-ups...

a little unsuccessful, but check out Cooper in the corner.

Hee hee...

Lexi and some other of the girls getting interviewed by a local news channel.

Enjoying the parade :)

Lexi, Macy, & Bailey

Such a GOOD TIME!!!

Looks like a tradition in the making!

A&M vs texas

For the BIG game of the season, we had some people over.

This was especially exciting for me - The "Aggie", because it looks like we have a really good chance!!

Pre-Game:

Cooper has since converted to an "Aggie"...

I think he just wants to be on the "winning team".

Hmmm...

HOUSE DIVIDED~

Lucas, Cami, & Cooper


Bailey, Lexi, & Bianca
CUH-RAZY girls!

In the end,... the Aggies won ~ WHOOP!

It was a lonely celebration, but still...

a CELEBRATION!

uh huh... oh yeah...

I'm DANCING right now :)