Thursday, December 31, 2009

12 Days of Christmas

by Holly

12 white chocolate covered pretzels
11 wooden train tracks
10 thousand miles of driving
9 days of snow
8 pounds of chewy bars
7 sticky Eli kisses
6 blinking twinkle lights
5 snow angels
4 trips to post office
3 happy Noble's
2 family visits
and a precious 2 year old!

We had a great Christmas and hope you all did as well. We are actually still celebrating as we leave in just a few minutes for my family Christmas this weekend. Pictures coming soon!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

How to Drive in Lubbock

By Justin

1. Speed limits are made for people from Dallas and ‘those dang College kids’. Feel free to drive whatever speed you desire so long as it is at least 5 mph UNDER the posted speed.

2. The exception to the speed limit rule is on Sunday morning when you are running late for church. You should then drive as fast as you can to make sure you get YOUR pew. Jesus understands. Besides the police officer should be in church anyways.

3. At random intervals tap your brakes just to ensure the person behind you is awake.

4. Drive in the right most lane of THE loop. Do not mind those cars trying to merge on, they can just wait their turn.

5. The inverse is true as well. While trying to enter the loop with a full right lane, simply turn your left turn blinker on and start merging. They will either let you in or get hit. You’re insured, right?

6. Most importantly remember this: Red lights in this city are merely a suggestion to stop. Feel free to continue along your pace if you feel that stopping and waiting for the light to cycle will make you unnecessarily tardy. Note: At no point do you speed up to accomplish this task, simply continue on at your normal 5 mph UNDER speed.

Justin’s key’s to surviving Lubbock driving:

1. Don’t be running late for church. A little extra time here is worth keeping the grey-haired grandma out of your bumper.

2. Do not drive in the right most lane of the loop. The fact is by driving the speed limit you are going to be one of the fastest cars on the highway, so feel free to drive in the left most lane.

3. Avoid the loop.

4. Give it a good two Mississippi count after the light turns red. You think I am kidding on this one.

5. Get to know your car insurance man. The reality is that major accidents don’t happen in Lubbock, but a fender bender body shop man makes a killin’.

Monday, December 07, 2009

Lessons Learned (or not quite so much yet...)

by Holly

My friend Erin and I went to lunch at a girlie bakery place on Saturday and I brought home a Christmas cookie each for Justin, Eli and Erin's husband Bryan. The men ate theirs immediately. Eli picked off the nose of his Santa cookie and ate it, but wanted to save the rest for later. Well, later turned out to be late last night when Eli should have already been in bed but instead sweetly asked for Santa cookie and I couldn't resist.

And here comes the lesson part: Eli was so excited about his cookie that he ran to show Daddy and then Jazzy (the dog). In true dog fashion, a treat extended under your nose means its your treat. Jazzy took the cookie, ran to our bedroom and ate it. Eli was wailing. He didn't understand why she took it and even more so why he couldn't still eat the piece she dropped. So sorry honey, but we don't eat after the dog, even if Mama does let you double dip.

Jazzy needs to learn not to take our food, but Eli needs to learn not to offer his food to Jazzy. Who do you think will learn their lesson first? My bet is on Mama not letting these situations occur if I can help it!

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Carol of Lights

by Holly

What a fantastic Texas Tech tradition, the Carol of Lights! This was one event that we truly missed when we lived in Dallas and were so excited to attend this year, even with it being moved to a Wednesday. For those of you questioning it being on Wednesday, go ahead and mark your calendars for the next two years as it has already been moved to the first Wednesday of December then too.

It was very cold out, so we bundled up and danced to the Christmas music to stay warm. Eli was taking it all in, and insisted on being on Justin's shoulders most of the time, when he wasn't playing peek-a-boo around my legs with the college girls behind us. :)


After the event, we went to Starbucks to warm up. I got my standard holiday order- peppermint mocha, and Justin resorted to his year round standby- grande vanilla latte w/ one shot. We asked for some steamed milk for Eli and they made him a 'kids temp steamed milk' in a tiny Starbucks cup and he thought he was soooo big! When we got home he wanted a refill so I microwaved some more milk and he drank that too. Glad he's easy to please!





Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Winter Wonderland

by Holly

These top 2 pictures are at my parents' house on Sunday. It was heavy enough that we couldn't see past the tree line until into the afternoon and didn't venture the 14 miles to church. What a beautiful sight to wake up to! We even enjoyed snow ice cream midmorning.



These 3 are from our house yesterday. We didn't have as much accumulation as Friona did on Sunday, but the large flakes were just as lovely.













Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Jasmine

by Holly

So here is our new dog. Her name is Jasmine and we call her Jazzy. She is 5 1/2 years old and is a mix of border collie and cocker spaniel. She is crate trained and loves the crate, which I love equally as much. She stays outside during the day if the weather is nice and inside at night. Eli loves his 'puppy' and is getting used to her sniffing and kissing him. A few days ago, he would just cry if she got too close and last night she had him pinned on the floor licking his neck and he was laughing so hard he lost his breath. Disgusting, but progress so I'll take it.

This is at my parents' house in their new addition, the log room. Without the rock floor, I suspect Jazzy would have had to stay in the garage, so we were glad the room is finished! This is not Eli in the background, but our little friend Cale Conklin. Also note how much whiter Jazzy's underside is in the top picture after a bath!


Daddy and Jazzy on her first night with us. Jazzy thinks she is a lap dog, and I guess it could be worse. She weighs less than Eli, at 26 lbs.



Eli, Daddy and Jazzy getting acquainted. He was happy to have a puppy, but wanted her at a distance. :)