31 Feels Good

First off, I've never realized how many people I know with birthdays close to mine... I went to three birthday parties the weekend before my birthday - and none of them were mine! I know at least 10 people who have birthdays within a week of mine. Very strange. Maybe it's just because I'm 31 now and I know a lot of people?

Casey Haun made me homemade buttermilk wheat biscuits and honey butter for breakfast, which I enjoyed right after my luxurious morning routine in my newly remodeled master bathroom. My sweet friends - well, really just Tay - decorated my office for me, which was a fun surprise. I ate lunch with my mom at Mariposa (Neiman Marcus' restaurant) and got to ride the escalators through the white hanging butterflies. For those of you (girls) who have never done it, it's just magical. Sorry I didn't take a picture; I thought I might get sued.

Then the freezing rain started, making the roads dangerous, so I got to go home at 3! I love cold freezing precipitation of any kind and thought it was a very nice little gift from God. After I hung out with Casey for a couple of hours, we braved the slippery streets to Frisco and made homemade pizza together with the Haun clan - YUMMY! I got birthday kisses from some very special gentlemen, but Barron and Jeff flat out refused. I'm not sure what kind of message they're trying to send with their reluctance to participate in family traditions, but I can't say I'm not a little concerned about it...

What can I say? I got to wear a tiara and eat creme brulee! It doesn't get much nicer than that. We braved the weather, which by that point was way more treacherous, like the true adventurers we are and made it home safely. I didn't have to go in to work the next morning until 11, so we slept in and had another leisurely breakfast and Casey drove me to work and worked from my office all day. It was just perfect.

I received so many texts, emails, facebook messages, electronic cards, physical cards and phone calls! It's amazing to know so many wonderful people. Thanks for celebrating with me. I've continued the birthday week, as is our custom, and enjoyed myself thoroughly. Now, onto Holly's birthday...

Marci's Visit

We had the special privilege of celebrating our friend Marci's 30th birthday (5 months after the fact) in Dallas. We loved getting to hang out with no agenda but fun...

We ate a lot of good food, watched a great movie, experienced a gospel choir/buffet and talked a lot. Of course, we thought our time was much too short and was gone way too fast, but we are thankful for it! Love you, Bubb... Thanks for coming to see us :)

Hauns' New Year's Eve / Christmas

Every year we prolong our Christmas (yea!) until New Year's Day. The big boys golfed on New Year's Eve, we met up at the senior Hauns' house for a yummy dinner, the kids opened pajamas and headed to bed so Santa could come - again. Although, Beau told me a disturbing rumor that Santa is his daddy... and sometimes, Tatu! The grown ups stayed awake to ring in the New Year, but Morgan and Barron were too weirded out to get in the hot tub with the entire fam, so we skipped it this year. Barron didn't want to rub legs with any of the hairy boys or Kaye Haun - funny. Anyway, we all headed to bed and woke up to have our Christmas morning together on New Year's Day. Wow! There was a lot of wrapping paper and lots of fun gifts :) We ended our time eating at Babe's Fried Chicken and, oh man, it was so good. It was a perfect ending to a perfect last Christmas.

Morning coffee...

Brady's third or fourth jam packed stocking!

Tatu helped Beau find his inner pirate. He just couldn't keep that earring on.

Betsy was into her stocking. And she was walking just in time for her 1st Birthday. We're so proud of her...Holly and her mama.

Such a smiley guy, that Jeff.

What do you think of Kaye Haun's new boots and scarf? It's a good look, I think.