Eighty.Six/Three.Six.Five

2016 was the year we bought Tumtacker Ranch.

So, it is only fitting that Tumtacker is where we wrap the year up, and celebrate the things to come in 2017.

Surrounded by our best friends.

...and Templeton.

Life is Good.

Here's to 2017.

Eighty.Five/Three.Six.Five

16 years.

And we just keep getting better with age.

Oh how I love this man.

Even in the moments I don't, there is no doubt that I do.

Always.

Forever.

Eighty.Four/Three.Six.Five

Kids being kids.

Eighty.Three/Three.Six.Five

If you have been around this group for any (even brief) period of time, then you are well aware that Karoke will take hold at some point in the evening.

This might have been one of the best 'living room concerts' to date.

(Sidenote:  The lyrics of a song take on a whole new meaning when you hear your child sing them...especially when blasted over a microphone.)

Eighty.Two/Three.Six.Five

It's the first time in 4 years the entire crew has been back together.

Cousins.  What a lucky bunch.

And my goodness, I love these kids.

Their individuality.  Their quirks.  Their differences.  Their spunk.

I love it all.

And the fact that they all are half Finkel, makes me really damn proud.

Eighty.One/Three.Six.Five

When the Finkel Christmas is being hosted at the Sorhus house, one thing is guaranteed.

There will be an abundance of fine dining, accompanied by GREAT food and GREAT wine.

Eighty/Three.Six.Five

It's Christmas morning, and everyone is ready to begin!

Seventy.Nine/Three.Six.Five

The children were nestled, all snug in their beds....

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Seventy.Eight/Three.Six.Five

This picture is classic.

Always an excuse, Uncle Jeff.

Even when playing a game on Christmas Eve with your 9 year old niece.

Seventy.Seven/Three.Six.Five

It's a big moment every Christmas Eve.  And this year was even BIGGER - not just $1.00 lottery tickets, but $5.00 lottery tickets!

Unfortunately, it doesn't typically pan out well for any of the grandkids.  

But this year there was a win of $100!  

Unfortunately, it wasn't by Ally or Lily.

:-)

Seventy.Six/Three.Six.Five

Christmas in Beaumont.

It's a time to relax.

Enjoy the outdoors.

Enjoy home cooking.

Enjoy making cookies.

Enjoy the Hallmark Channel.

And it didn't disappoint.

However, I will say there is one very important man whose absence is forever felt.

We love you Opa.

Seventy.Five/Three.Six.Five

Each year we try to get the kids out for some Christmas light looking.  It's a holiday must, right?  Unfortunately, with the new "thing" that people do (hiring a 'company' to put up and take down lights - just NONSENSE in my opinion) the lights in the neighborhood are just lame.  Think Stepford.  All the same.  All boring.

So this year we decided to go elsewhere.  Voted one of the best neighborhoods in Houston we headed further into Katy to see what the fuss was all about.

I can't say it was jaw dropping, but what it did have, was an 'old-school' feel.  Each house had it's own throw-down of lights, decor, pictures, holograms and even a street set to music.

It felt right.

Seventy.Four/Three.Six.Five

We waited 2+ hours waiting for our chance to go through the ICE exhibition.

We were walking out of it in just under 15 minutes.

Cakes face tells you why.  The feelings were mutual.

Cold.  Just Cold.

Seventy.Three/Three.Six.Five

Because nothing says Christmas in Texas like Longhorns.

(And don't miss the hidden Elf!)

Seventy.Two/Three.Six.Five

This guy.

He was missing from yesterday's photo, because as luck would have it, things just didn't quite go our way when we got to the Gaylord and he had to leave early for prior engagements (may be what we get for not really looking into the way it worked prior)...but regardless, we made sure he got at least one chance to be the big kid that he is.

As always, he was a great sport.

It's a selfie world.

That wasn't really that exciting, Mom.

(In my opinion, for the pretty penny it cost...it should have gone on for miles.)

Seventy.One/Three.Six.Five

The day the kids got out of school for winter break we decided to make the drive to Dallas to hang out with our favorite people.  (Dad is missing because he decided to support his Coogs one last time this season...in Vegas.)

As always, we had a great time, even though the temps dropped to the teens while we were there, and then we decided what would be even better than to stay cozy indoors was to be part of the THOUSANDS to visit the Gaylord and it's Ice Spectacular.....hmmm....

Notice the drink in Jessie's hand.  There was good reason for that.

Love you Steeles.

Seventy/Three.Six.Five

And here is where I start making my own rules.

The Holidays.

In theory, it would be great to think that I had my camera 24/7 over the next several weeks.  With all the family, friends, outings, games, dinners - so on and so forth - that are getting ready to take place, you would think it is the perfect time to work on my skill.

But 'theory' is all there is.

So, I will simply be highlighting some of my favorite pictures that I did take during the holiday "break".  I can't say they are technically stunning, or push the envelope in any way shape or form, but they document the season.  It's my favorite time of year, but always amazes me as to how tiring it is!

So here is to the last few weeks of 2017.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sixty.Nine/Three.Six.Five

Galveston work retreat in order to prep for the new year.

Vision boards aren't really my "thing" but it's always a good thing to get some of those goals on paper...and even better when it's on paper with colored sharpies.

Sixty.Eight/Three.Six.Five

We don't get to enjoy it often with Texas "winters", but when we can, we take full advantage.

Sixty.Seven/Three.Six.Five

Did you need something?

Sixty.Six/Three.Six.Five

To finish off the week of ornaments, it is only right to share my tree topper.  It is the last ornament put on each year.  For years and years, our tree actually didn't have a topper of any sort.  I would buy a star or something that I never really liked, and then decide that it wasn't even worth putting up.  I always had my eye out for something that I loved.  Finally a couple years ago, I found it.  Made by the same company as my Nativity Scene, it instantly caught my eye.  I had never seen it before because it was actually the first year it had been released.  I knew it was perfect.

And it still is.

Sixty.Five/Three.Six.Five

To follow up yesterday's ornament, this meant I had to share a favorite of the other kid in the family!  Given a couple years ago, it was a must that she have some sort of Harry Potter memorabilia to hang on the tree from year to year.  The problem at the time...they didn't make any that I could find worth buying.  So I ended up having to actually buy a retired Hallmark ornament, that I'm sure was about 4 times the original price.  But hey, I found it.

Sixty.Four/Three.Six.Five

This special ornament isn't actually mine, and if you know our family at all, then you know who it belongs to.... Ms. Lily.  Obsessed with pigs, this one was opened last year and was waited on very 'patiently' this year so she could hang it up again.

The best part....the pigs actually oink Jingle Bells.

It's awesome, let me tell ya.

Sixty.Three/Three.Six.Five

I'm pretty sure this angel is the oldest ornament on our tree.  My first 'special ornament' from childhood, she gets placed in the same spot every year, at the very top of the tree, only under the tree topper.  Even as a little girl this was where she went with good reason and purpose....

You see, my dad had to lift me up in order for me to reach.

So there she will remain - as a reminder of my dad - and my childhood Christmas days.

Sixty.Two/Three.Six.Five

One of my collections growing up was my Swarovski snowflake ornaments.  My first was given to me in 1993 as a special ornament, however, after that I asked for one each year for Christmas, and as I got older began to buy them for myself.  It lasted for close to 10 years.  I love them all because of the way they crazy catch the lights.  If I could have a tree of only them - I would be happy.

Sixty.One/Three.Six.Five

We don't actually collect ornaments from our travels, but books instead.  However, when I saw this ornament while living in Jakarta, I knew it needed to be on our tree.  Our time overseas was a HUGE part of our life even if was only for a couple years, and it will forever hold a special place in our hearts, along with this little guy.

Sixty/Three.Six.Five

I'm not a HUGE fan of decorating a tree.  I'm a little too anal when it comes to precision, but yet, don't really care enough to worry TOO MUCH about it.  On top of the fact, that the tree "fashion" these days includes ribbon, bows, and all sorts of jazz that I'm just not very good at and again another thing I don't really care enough to worry about.  Don't get me wrong, I love a Christmas tree, just don't love the process leading up to it!

BUT...

What I do love is the ornaments.  If it's not a normal round bulb, then it has special meaning.

Growing up, each Christmas one kid in my family had one 'extra' gift under the tree.  It was tagged as the "special ornament" of the year.  When we each got old enough to have our own tree, those special ornaments were passed down to us to start off our own tree decoration.  I have continued this tradition with my own kids.

So this week, I decided to highlight a few of my very favorite decorations.  Not all are from my childhood, and not all are mine, but each has a story and a reason why it means something to me.

Today's IS from my childhood and probably my very favorite on my tree.  It was made from the ashes of Mt. Saint Helens.  It's heavy, tons of awesome colors, unique and NO ONE is allowed to touch it except me.  :-)

Fifty.Nine/Three.Six.Five

Today's post is actually our 2016 Franks Family Christmas Card.

We finally got the pictures taken and I got the design completed and cards ordered.

It's always a big sigh-of-relief-moment for me.

However, since it hasn't been sent out yet, it is still a surprise.  

So, once they have been mailed - I will return here to upload the finished product.

:-)

Fifty.Eight/Three.Six.Five

This girl definitely walks to the beat of her own drum.  Always has.

Her newest hobby is Aerial Silks.  I signed her up in a new gym right by our house for Yoga Silks, thinking she could would enjoy the meditation and holistic aspect to yoga.  After a couple classes, she decided she really wanted to try out the Aerial Silks class.  She advanced to Level 2 after 2 classes and what started as once a week, grew to a couple times a week.

She is still timid when it comes to heights, but I was so impressed by her dedication and willingness to give it her all.  She had her first performance this past weekend and I couldn't be more proud!  It was so much fun to watch.

Fifty.Seven/Three.Six.Five

Inside of the house.

Outside of the house.

"Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, the AC was running, because we live in the South."