Hey There Friends! I hope you had a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year {so far!} It feels great to be back with you! There’s something about taking a break at the end of every year. I get hyped about returning with new ideas and then I apply everything you guys mentioned in that poll when I start planning content for the new year. Needless to say, I’m SO EXCITED to be back with you with some FUN things to come this year! I read through all of your comments and am excited to share. The peace maker in me wants to tell you that while I might share something you said you weren’t a fan of, many other people mentioned they loved it. Just keep that in mind this year as you’re reading.
I have a few other random things I wanted to go over for the new year.
- THANK YOU for reading! I know I mention it frequently but the kindness of you guys showing up to check this little space isn’t lost on me. THANK YOU!
- I didn’t realize how much our home renovation was weighing on me. WHEW! We’re mostly moved into our house. Still getting some places settled but the relief I have when thinking about our house is indescribable. I’m saying all that to say-I got many messages from you guys who are also in the throes of a home reno. Be patient, friends. The end is NEAR! And it’ll be so worth it! 🙂
- My blog plan is to be here every Tuesday-Friday. I’ll for sure take some breaks when we’re on vacation or my kids have a big school break, but my plan is to be here every Tuesday-Friday. Several of you mentioned more blog posts and I promise to consistently be here in this space four days each week. Please check here for a new post each Tuesday-Friday. If I’m gonna be gone, I’ll be sure to let you know. I’m thinking since I now have a steady place to live it’ll be much easier. The end of that house stuff threw me for a loop!
- One more thing people mentioned was to let you know via IG when I have a new post so that you can check it out if you haven’t looked. I’ll for sure be doing that in 2023! Thanks for the suggestion!
- I think those were all the major suggestions when it comes to kind of house keeping things, but if I forgot something please remind me via comments or messages.
Again, THANK YOU for helping me with that and I’m excited to take you along with me this year! But first, {Did any Big Brother fans out there think of Julie when I reading that?} let’s take a little look back to 2022. If you’re new here, this should get you all caught up with what’s happened over the last year.
January:
As I scrolled my phone for January pictures, it hit me….this is THE TIME for our family to relax before the months get busier. So, that’s my plan for January 2023. In 2022, we enjoyed as many nice days outside as the weather gave us.
February:
Ebby Lee’s club volleyball team played in many weekend tournaments.
The Arctic Blast kept us out of school a few days and our sleds came in handy. P.S.-I LOVE a school snow day. Does it mess up the school calendar? Absolutely! But there’s something magical about school being cancelled and I’m HERE for it!
We began packing up everything in the upstairs so the kids could move downstairs. The crews were beginning upstairs.
We celebrated Valentine’s Day with a third grade class party.
Ebby Lee attended her first middle school dance with friends.
She played basketball {and decided she’d never do that again-ha!}.
And we got to witness two of our favorite people get the exciting news their TWIN babies would be GIRLS!
March:
In March, the Slaughter Six headed to the sunny beaches of Mexico for Spring Break.
And we absolutely LOVED it!
Decisions, decisions, decisions kicked off with ALL THE THINGS house!
Britty had a petting zoo visit her TK class.
Bowen’s new baseball team kicked off the spring season with their first tournament.
And we spent many weekends with baseball hats, dirty faces, and many memories made.
April:
Ebby Lee’s club volleyball team played in Orlando so we invited my mom to meet us there for a little girl trip.
Nixon’s team traveled to Ardmore, Oklahoma, for their own little travel tourney.
The Slaughter boys snuck in some Texas Rangers’ Baseball.
I got to watch this girly hunt Easter Eggs at her school.
And then my girlfriends and I met my favorite author, Sally Hepworth, in our own town!
Nixon celebrated his 12th birthday in Nashville taking in some Vandy baseball with friends.
While I had a night out in Dallas with Ebby Lee and friends to celebrate her 13th birthday.
We all got to go to church together for Easter which was extra special.
And then Britty had her very first fun run at school.
Followed by the best field trip ever where her class raised money, bought groceries for a local food pantry, and then hand delivered them.
And we ended the month with my favorite twin mom’s baby shower.
May:
The Friday night lights in May looked a whole lot like this…watching Bowen’s flag football team each week.
And then we caught the ball field lights the rest of the weekend.
We watched our favorite TK’er graduate from TK!
Tab and I got to attend the Byron Nelson with friends…
and then make it to Jeni’s Byron Nelson party as well.
Our kitchen got completely demolished.
While we celebrated one of favorite seniors graduating.
My parents came to visit to watch all the sports.
And Nixon’s team WON!
Memorial Weekend was full of neighborhood fun.
And then Britty nailed her first attempt at tennis camp.
June:
In June she followed it up with volleyball camp at the local high school.
Then we snuck in a few days in Rosemary Beach before…
Nixon’s Panama City baseball tournament began.
And walls in our living room came down.
We managed to sneak in a fun quadruple date night with friends before the month ended.
July:
In July we celebrated July 4th in McKinney.
And then had an amazing summer vacation to Alaska!
August:
Watch out Kindergarten, here she comes!! Britt started kindergarten!
Bowen started 4th grade, Nixon started 7th grade, and Ebby Lee {not pictured} started 8th grade.
Bowen’s flag team snuck in one more tournament before the real football season began.
And we were able to watch our favorite McKinney team under those real Friday night lights.
September:
Kicked off Nixon’s 7th grade football season.
Bowen and I drafted our first Fantasy Football team and in our first round draft pick’s honor got matching Josh Allen jerseys.
While Ebby Lee’s 8th grade cheer season was well underway.
I took this Cincinnati Bengal’s loving girl to the Cowboys/Bengals’ game.
And for just a bit the stars aligned and he played while she cheered.
Ebby Lee played 8th grade volleyball.
And Tab and I made it to Oktoberfest in Munich with our besties.
October:
In October we watched an NFL game in London {and Tab officiated}.
Then Tab had an off weekend so he got to take in all the flag football he could manage on a Saturday.
I watched these girlies perform at a TCU halftime.
And I met up with some of my bestie for a little Halloween-inspired dinner.
Nixon got to play in our local high school’s stadium which was extra cool for him.
Ebby Lee played in her last volleyball game {she’s hung the knee pads up right after this picture}.
We took some middle schoolers to a haunted trail.
My favorite kindergartener won the Go-Getter award!
Nixon joined Tab in Philadelphia for an Eagles game.
And we had a GREAT Halloween with friends.
November:
November was full of Fun Runs,
7-year-old birthday parties,
and Mix and Match Travel Agency Disney trips!
Tab was off one weekend and able to coach Nixon’s 7v7 football tournament.
We had so very much to be thankful for.
And we ended the month with a TEN-YEAR-OLD!
December:
December brought all the festivities!
A neighborhood Christmas party,
a festive recipe exchange,
and a McKinney Parade of Lights!
Watched by these two. 🙂
The last day of school before Winter Break was extra festive with a Polar Express theme and pajamas.
Tab and I managed to sneak off for a Christmas dinner with the Shulls.
And the whole crew returned for a carriage ride just a few days later.
On December 23rd, we flew to Kansas City for the big game and to see my cousin, his wife, and their two sweet boys.
The Chiefs/Seahawks game was COLD!!!
So we snuck inside to eat!
And managed just fine!
We flew back to Texas on Christmas morning {after a few delays}…
to spend the evening with family.
The next day our Missouri family arrived! We went ice skating at the Galleria.
I even managed to get this guy inside a mall!
We also visited Six Flags while our family was in town.
This was the roller coaster crew. Minus Bowen-after the Texas Giant he was in search of the smaller ride group. ha!
Lots of FUN {and waiting} was had!
And on January 1st some of our friends attended Tab’s game in Los Angeles so they sent me this pic!
Whew! What a YEAR! Thank you for being here! I’m excited to see what 2023 has in store. Praying it’s a great one!
XO
