The More Stationary Padgetts: 2007

Christmas #3

We left Dallas late Christmas Eve and surprised my parents by being there when everyone woke up Christmas morning. It was so much fun being with my family on Christmas- we just sat around and talked all morning about all that God has done in our lives this year, about the true worth of Christ, then prayed together and finally opened gifts sometime before dinner. We also went over to my aunt and uncle's house that evening- a Christmas day tradition, and hung out and played games. This was definitely one of the best Christmas' I can ever remember.

When a rare moment like this comes- you just have to get a picture of it! My dad was really excited about the stockings we gave them, and even more excited when he realized that they were matching and he could wear them, along with the reindeer antler headband my mom gave Betsy and I.

A REAL Christmas tree! First one in 15-20 years? It smelled so great!

"Quiet Morning"

Bryan & I

Everybody hanging out

Uncle Gary and Aunt Ann

My beautiful sister, Betsy

Family Games

Christmas #2

Christmas #2 was at Bryan's Grandparents on Christmas Eve with all his siblings and all the aunts and uncles. We all drew names for gifts, the best way to go with big families, and got to hang out all day and catch up on everyone's lives. Christmas #2 was tons of fun and lots of laughs this year.

Bryan's beautiful sisters-Page and Stacy

Stacy & her husband Erik

Aunt Melanie from Florida

Abbey & Page and new Christmas earrings- I was a little jealous that Page's had jingle bells, maybe next year.

Linda learning Dean's classic sorority pose

Linda, Page & Abbey with great new Christmas earrings from our stockings- thanks Grandma!

Jackie & JoJo

Grandpa eating Christmas dinner

JoJo & Jonathan

Christmas #1

Sunday before Christmas we were able to get together with Bryan's dad and Aunt Sue to celebrate. Page & Shane, Bryan's brother and sister were there, and Page's friend from church, Simeon. Simeon told us all great stories of growing up in Zambia and what's its been like for him to come to the US. We even got to go to our Christmas service at The Village that evening, it was a great day!

Pat, Shane, Page, Aunt Sue, Simeon, Bryan and Abbey

Bryan's football shaped Raisin Pie-good thing it tasted so good!

Page & Abbey

Date Nights!

Its so wonderful to be back in Dallas for a break and get some real dates with my hubby! We dont get a ton of alone time on the road, and it's definitely a great opportunity to learn to be creative, but it's been great getting some real dates while we're back.

Fun Thai restaurant and a new great movie, Bella. Check it out here: http://www.bellamoviesite.com/site/

Driving through "Prairie Lights"- there were over 3 million lights, who doesn't love looking at Christmas lights??

Halfway through Prairie Lights was a small carnival where we got Kettle corn and hot apple cider- great date!

The tunnel of lights

Thanksgiving in Dallas

We got to spend Thanksgiving with both families this year in Dallas, it was great. And, miracle of all miracles, it snowed Thanksgiving day! Although it didn't stick as usual, it did come down in the form of snowballs -Bryan tried to catch a few, it was pretty fun to watch. We also got to watch OSU lose to OU yet again, but the company and enchiladas were good!

Bryan catch snowballs in his mouth

Kissing in the falling snow!

Bryan and Mic

Christy and Michaela

The Murphy/Padgett clan -Richard, Mary, Betsy & Bryan and I

Chicago!

Chicago was so much fun! We got the grand tour from some great friends, Steven and Lauren (soon to be married!) with an itinerary and all! We should have taken a picture of it, it had a great title-'The Traveling Team does Chicago'. We also got to hang out with Josh, Stevens brother and his girlfriend Katie and another friend Jasmine, too. It was such a great day! Thanks guys, you're the best!

The whole group on our Architecture tour. It was a great way to see the city!

The gang in front of "The Bean"

Chicago skyline reflection in The Bean

View from the lake on the Architecture tour

The guys on the boat

Best Pizza in Chicago!

The group at Gino's

The graffiti walls at Gino's

Classic Chicago style popcorn

Celebration Dinner and... Crash??

We got to celebrate a GREAT semester our last week on the road in Chicago with a fun dinner together! The four of us had a great time talking about the semester and enjoyed some superb desserts-especially the boys. After our celebration dinner we headed to our very last meeting at Columbia College in downtown Chicago and then home to sleep to enjoy some sightseeing in Chicago the next day before we headed home.

However, instead of getting home to our great hotel beds, we fell prey to a stolen car hit and run! It was midnight in Chicago and traffic was still crazy- and not just us but 3 other cars got hit too! We were all sent to a parking lot off the highway where we found out from the cops that the woman driving the car hit all 4 of us, then sped of in her stolen car only to have the tires catch on fire and blow out, run from the car and not get caught! It was definitely a crazy night. God is so good, though! I mean, if you're going to get hit, not bad timing, 10 minutes after our very last meeting, none of us got hurt, and we were still able to drive the car all the way home to Oklahoma. Pretty exciting story, just not cool for the van.