George W Bush Presidential Library

 This is the main White House Christmas tree from December 2001

 Laura Bush chose the theme "Home for the Holidays" in March of 2001

 The Alamo was represented on the tree

 I think this is the Colorado state capitol or maybe Minnesota (I can't remember)

 This was such an fascinating ornament it is the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina

 These boots were from Arizona

 There were ornaments representing each State

The tree was really tall

 Mount Vernon, George Washington's home

 Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home

 James Madison's home

 Martin Van Buren's home

 Theodore Roosevelt's home

 Franklin Roosevelt's home

 Ulysses S. Grant's home

 Woodrow Wilson's home

 Lyndon Baines Johnson's home

 Herbert Hoover's home, was this a depression post Presidency home or a childhood home?

The White House, home to the President of the United States

Greerson and Daryl in front of the White House tree

 The September 11 section brought back all of the emotion of that day. Greerson was too young to remember any of it.

 This is actually a piece of the World Trade Center

 This was the jacket and ball that President Bush used at the World Series to throw the first pitch in Yankee Stadium after the attack

 This doctrine served us well while he was President!

 This was the State Dinner when Queen Elizabeth came to visit

 View of the wall in front of the desk in the oval office

 This painting was in the Oval office

 this lion was huge, look how tall it is compared to Christa

 This was in the floor and most people never noticed it, but I thought it was really profound

The winter landscape in the front of the museum

 

We decided to visit the George W Bush Presidential Museum in Dallas the Saturday before Christmas. They had a special exhibit of the decorations from the White House in December 2001. That year the White House was closed and the American people did not get to see the decorations. The theme, "Home for the Holidays" was very fitting particularly when you consider it was selected in March before the September tragedy stunned the Nation. The tree was most interesting with homes represented from all over the United States. The Biltmore House ornament was particularly unique. The models of the various president's houses were very interesting. They each had a description and a picture showing where they were displayed in the White House. The permanent exhibits in the museum were very nice. The September 11, 2001 area was very emotional. It showed the video footage of the towers falling and the second plane hitting the tower. Seeing this museum really made me miss President Bush's leadership and insight. It was like visiting an old friend.

 

Baylor Bears Big 12 Champions 2013

 Greerson wears his green and gold

 Christa is bundled up and cheering for Baylor!!!!!

 The Bands halftime show paid tribute to Floyd Casey Stadium

 Baylor beats Texas!!!!!!!!

 They surrounded the goal posts with policemen to prevent the fans from tearing them down

December 7 was a historical day in more ways than one. Not only was it a day that would live in infamy in regards to the attack on Pearl Harbor, but it also was the day that Baylor beat Texas to win the Big 12 Conference Championship. We braved the cold, cold weather (24 degrees) To attend this game. It not only was the final home game of the season, but was the last game to be played at Floyd Casey Stadium. Baylor is moving to a new stadium on the Brazos next Fall. The band at halftime was great, the twirlers twirled fire batons and the band presented a tribute to Floyd Casey Stadium. We were excited to be there to witness it first hand. The closing ceremony was really cool. They had men from each decade of the stadiums use to turn off the lights. Then the school song was played one last time and we all left. We headed quickly to the car and turned on the heater then headed to Starbucks for a warm drink.
Sic'em Bears!!!!!

Fall 2013 update

 Marshall decided to read the Normangee newspaper

 Christa experiments with frying a turkey

 Marshall and Brenna sit and watch the excitement of frying a turkey

Greerson a Magoo relax after lunch

 Midway playoff game at AT&T stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys

 Greerson marching at halftime

 The Midway High School Band

 The Panthers lost by one point

Greerson in his band uniform

 Greerson shot his first deer at Thanksgiving

 He didn't want to waste anything so he is tanning the hide

We have had an eventful November. It started with playoff games for the Midway High School Panther Football team. This meant that the band had to play for all of the games. We ended up at AT&T stadium in Arlington the weekend before Thanksgiving. The Panthers lost by one point. Thanksgiving we gathered at the ranch with Christa's brother and his family, her parents and her grandmother and one of her great uncles and his wife. We had a nice meal and got to visit. After lunch we played Mexican train and Chicken foot. The next day we got out the old pumpkins from Halloween and the Fall and had target practice. Greerson was determined to get a deer so he and Grandpa Woody sat in the condo (their fancy deer stand they built last summer) two mornings. Greerson's snoring hindered their progress the first day, but the second morning they had success. Greerson was so excited to shoot his first deer. He learned to process it and is even tanning the hide.
We will be enjoying fresh venison this winter.

Family Portraits November 2013

We had pictures taken 11 days after Daryl had surgery. He has lost 50lbs since then so he looks a little different now, but the pictures turned out nice.