The Cousins Came to Visit Texas...

We always love to take a mini-trip around Christmas to celebrate the season in some way...my sisters contacted me a couple of months ago to see if we could arrange to meet up in Fort Worth and it couldn't have been more perfect!  We decided to surprise our boys with the whole trip AND seeing their aunts, uncle and cousins.  

After the excitement of seeing each other, we went to the ICE show...it was amazing (and cold).

We did snow tubing at the Gaylord...SO MUCH FUN!

And we ate brunch at the Riverside Cantina...highly recommend!!!

Then, we checked into the Great Wolf Lodge for some swimming fun while the hubs and Uncle J went to the Dallas Cowboys game.  It was their Christmas gift from their wives...aren't we the best??  My hubs and brother-in-law got to attend their first NFL game AND be without kids for a whole night:)  Uncle J is a HUGE fan so I think he really enjoyed it!

The next day, we ventured back to our house after a little more swimming.  We went out to eat at the hamburger joint in town and went to sleep.  The next morning, we celebrated like it was Christmas morning with present opening and a yummy breakfast of sausage balls, kringle, and monkey bread.

 We had to treat our nephews to some Dallas Cowboys shirts!

After LOTS of cookie baking that day, we decorated gingerbread houses before enjoying a delicious meal of brisket, corn bread, asparagus, and cheese grits (click on the word for the recipe...cheese grits is the only one from a cookbook and the rest are from one of my best friends- Pinterest).

K with her aunties:)

And we also celebrated M's birthday early with his cousins and aunts with his favorite M&M/Kit Kat cake or what we refer to as "Kitty Kat Cake!"(Click on link if you want the recipe!)

 

There was also LOTS of outside play with football/soccer/baseball games...

And movie watching thanks to Em's gift of the "Secret Life of Pets!"

It was a wonderful visit and we packed in so much while they were here...it was also fabulous to send cookies and gifts home to our Virginia relatives.  As soon as they left, B and M said, "We miss them already!"  But, we are so thankful for our time together to celebrate!!!