merry christmas, ya filthy animal.

Hello, everyone! 

I hope you all had a super rad time with your families over the Christmas holidays.  My time was just wonderful.  I'm pretty fond of my fam.

The mister and I....looking all happy and stuff.

 We started by celebrating at home together with Miss Matti.  She loved all of her gifts, but really loved her Ho Ho from littlebitfunky.  She's already named it "Brownie."  If you haven't seen them, you should definitely check them out.

Matti loved her HoHo from littlebitfunky!  Check them out...they're awesome!

Jax enjoying his Christmas bone.

 Christmas Eve kicked off at my uncle Mike's with our annual breakfast.  I'm not sure why, but this is my favorite family tradition.  The mister even wore his black Santa hat.  (I sometimes refer to him as Johnny Cash for his monochromatic fashion choices).  Because of this hat, we lovingly dubbed him as "Bad Santa."

Granny with Bad Santa.

 After breakfast, we stayed to shoot guns with my uncle and cousins.  Highlight of the day.  So much fun...even if I was the only girl.

Bad Santa doing some work with my Glock.

Bang. Bang.

 Afterwards, we headed to my mom's house for a much needed nap.  Breakfast & guns will take it out of ya!  That evening, we all met up again at Granny's for our Christmas festivies.

My mom, stepdad & 4-legged baby sister - Izzy.

 The mister and spent the night at Mom's that night.  It felt so warm and cozy to be back home with the light from the Christmas tree glowing through the living room.  There's really no place like home. 

I will always love this view -- Christmas at Mom's.

 We woke up Christmas morning to happy times, good breakfast and lots of presents.  

Merry Christmas to the mister. :)

My neice, Lexy, KNOWS how to make some hot cocoa.

I love this shot of Bad Santa.

 I said all of this to say -- this was one amazing Christmas.  I so enjoyed my time with my family and really enjoyed my time off from work with the mister.  I'm one happy girl!

 So, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Henry fam.  Hope your holidays were grand and that you ring in the New Year with awesomeness!

 

thanksgiving recap.

Greetings from the month of December, folks!  Can you believe it's here?  

Tis the season to throat punch someone be jolly!  Am I right!?

I'm finally rested from the awesome Thanksgiving festivities of last week.  This is how my holiday went down: 

• The mister and I drove an hour and a half to my mom's house on Wednesday night for the annual Pre-Thanksgiving Friendsgiving.  Just a bunch of good food (can someone say jalapeno burgers?) and good ol' boys. 
• Thursday morning consisted of pj's all day, cuddles with the mister during our annual James Bond-a-thon, and cooking with mom.
• Thursday afternoon, we left to go to my grandparents house to meet up with the whole fam.  Did that include skeet shooting?  Yes.  Yes, it did.  Was I good blogger who took awesome pics?  No.  No, I was not.  If I was, you would have sweet shots of yours truly crushing all 3 of my skeets.  Oh yeah!  But alas, I failed.
• I drove my grandfather's golf cart out to shoot...but it died.  I may of had to walk back and just leave it out in the woods.  Yep.  I'm awesome.
• Food, food, food and photo ops with the fam!  Enjoy....

I seriously love my nephew.  He is beyond amazing!

The mister & I with some of my favorite cousins, Nathan & Carleigh.

Couldn't miss getting a shot with my favorite lady.  Love my momma!

Go ahead & tell me how awesome my little nephew is.  This is golden.

I was not a trooper this year.  I did not get up early and shop.  No sir, no ma'am.  The mister and I slept in like the lazy brilliant people we are.  That afternoon, we braved Wal-Mart, but only the Lawn & Garden center for some Christmas decor.  Since this is our first Christmas together, we had to buy everything!  FUN!  Luckily, we were out in a flash and home to decorate.  The tree is up, folks!  I'm pretty proud.

Notice the pickle?  Oh yeah.  Necessity.

And look who celebrated his first Thanksgiving.  Don'tcha just love that little mug?

 

 

Did you and your family do anything extra exciting?  Let me know by leaving a comment.


Happy Thanksgiving to you guys.  Hope your holiday was as rad as mine.  Now on to the Christmas festivities!

getting to know me: the mom.

I know that most people who have a good relationship with their parents usually say that they're the best.  I listen to this in total skepticism.  I believe that to them they are the best.  But they haven't met my mom.  They don't know Shannon!  Because if they did, they would understand that all they have ever known about "good parents" is simply generic.

Let me first explain that I am not a kiss-up.  If anything, I'm usually one of the most straight-forward (yet tactful) people you'll know.  But I honestly believe that I am one lucky girl to have a mom like mine.  

Our relationship is not the typical parent/child relationship, but a true friendship.  I don't roll my eyes at the fact that my mom is on Facebook.  I would honestly be more inclined to encourage her to get one if she wasn't already a pro.  I don't get embarrassed when she comes and goofs off with my friends.  Where do you think I got it?  I don't keep things from her.  I don't sigh when she asks to hang out.  I love her and I love spending time with her.  She's my best friend.  Honestly, we're too much alike.  It's scary.  Saying the same things at the same time, laughing together....we even share our road rage. ;)

We've practically been inseparable since I was born....until I moved to California.  *sigh*  It was then that I realized just how much time we spent together.  How many Saturdays we spent shopping.  How many nights we hung out in our pj's and played Guitar Hero.  I missed "Feed the Children" nights when she would have me and my brother and his family over for dinner every Saturday night.  I missed playing the drums in church and having her look over from the choir loft to make faces at me. I missed rooting on the Texas Longhorns together in our hoodies and baseball caps. I missed my mom.

The longest I went without seeing her, was six months.  I hated it.  If she wanted to move in with me tomorrow, she would have a room.  No questions asked. haha.  I am so glad to be back in Texas and close to her again...even if we are over an hour away.  It's soooo much better than 17,000 miles!

I am definitely my mother's daughter.  If you think I'm bad, let me introduce you to my sensei. ;)

five senses friday #5.

Five Senses Friday is were I reflect on the last week through the senses.  This week was full of activity...and the weekend will only bring more!  Friday makes me happier than any other day.

Tasting::

 

The mister's spicy chili.  I don't say spicy nonchalantly people.  This man is a heat seeker.  We're talking ghost peppers and scorpion sauce.  Slap ya mama hot.  But YUM!  He's quite the cook.

Feeling:: 

Our little family.

The warmth and love of walking into my mom's house.  I love spending time with my mom.  I love the feeling I get when I'm back home.  I especially loved the feeling of tucking Miss Mattison into my old bed...in my old room...with her Nintendo DS.  

Crazy faces with Mom & M.

Excitement for Seestarpalooza this weekend with my little sis, Laci!  We live 2 hours apart and haven't hung out much since I moved off to California.  Now that I'm back, we've got some time to make up.  I can't wait! 

Seeing::

Little Matti as the cutest bumblebee I've ever seen and Jax looking like such a cute little boy during his Halloween picture. Don't let him fool you, this took work.  Thanks to the mister for being the patient assistant.

Hearing:: 

Coughing and wheezing from our poor, little Jax.  He woke us up every hour on the hour Tuesday night.  Wednesday morning we were at the vet's office.  Diagnosis: Kennel Cough. Looks like he caught it while we were at the office last week for his shots.  *sigh*  The antibiotics and the cough suppressant are working wonders...and mom and dad can sleep through the night.

 

Smelling::

 

My awesome fall Scentsy that reminds me of my mom's house.  The mister has deemed it "too girly" for the house.  We are now enjoying the aroma of Crackling Campfire.  The struggle.

What were some of your experiences this week?  Feel free to play along in the comments, find me online or post your own blog!