Today my brother Austen would have been 24. We're only 16 months apart. I loved having a brother so close in age. Growing up I always had a playmate and a partner in crime when it came to picking on our younger two siblings, William and Anabelle. William didn't even come around until 1992, so for years it was just the two of us. And eventually we became 4 (siblings)... and now more... and our sibling love grew. But Austen and I will always have that special bond. For those of you who don't know, my brother struggled with addiction for a long time. Thursday he lost that battle. I can't believe it's only been two days. It feels like it's been an eternity since my mom (SMom, in this post) called me to tell me. I have amazing friends from school that took me home, packed me, booked me a flight, and got me to the airport. Thank you. I couldn't have done it without you. A little about my brother... Austen, "Bubs," was someone that could always mak...
I love Christmas! The bright colors. Cool weather. Merry music. Everyone in a good mood. Holiday parties. Gifts. Family. Friends. And of yeah, lots of great deals! ;) But Christmas isn't something everyone looks forward to. This Christmas will be our last to go visit family (on the actual day), as next year we'll start our own traditions. So this Christmas is a little bittersweet for us. I'm so excited to do our own thing next year, but I also want to relish in the traditions I've enjoyed up till now. Christmas Eve morning at the Galleria, watching holiday shoppers hustle and bustle about, trying to get last minute gifts. Then going to lunch with my dad and his siblings. Our big annual Christmas Eve party. Midnight church... which has recently turned into afternoon church. Who can really stay up that late and then get up early Christmas morning? The gift unwrapping free for all at one house and then going to the next house and being expected to take turns openin...
Our Christmas was wonderful!! I hope yours was also! Here are some pictures to show our eventful holiday! Lots of parents and family to see! Christmas Eve SMom and Wayne have a party, and Santa was there! The first picture is of us with Santa. And the second is my brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and my new nephew Connor with Santa! My step-brother Alex came up to me with a ball under his shirt and said, "Look! I look like you!" Christmas morning, wearing our sisters pajamas My dad got the baby a Denver Broncos jersey! My dad loves to give scratch-off lottery tickets in our stockings. William won $7! I won $22! And Anabelle won none. Christmas Dinner at Val's house And of course, we made our rounds to each house over a period of several days. We took lots of pictures along the way - 380-something to be exact!! These are just the best! This might be our last Christmas in Houston for awhile, as we want to start our own traditions with our kids. But one of my...
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