Cheersport in Biloxi...

Last Saturday we went to Biloxi for Anna Lauren's cheer competition...

But first, we watched this little sports loving boy of ours play basketball.  We were oh so thankful their schedules worked out so we didn't have to divide and conquer.  He played in Brandon at 8 AM, and Anna Lauren had to be in Biloxi at 1 PM.  All the high fives that it worked in our favor!!!

Carsyn and McCarley were just making it a day trip so they met us at Matt's parents so they could all get ready together...

I was telling Matt that Carsyn may just be my favorite...she is so laid back/chill, she is not loud, she is never disrespectful, she will call Anna Lauren out in a second, talks to her parents with respect, and just an all around good kid.  

Nothing makes this kid happier than her uniform, a ponytail with a big bow, and some red lipstick...

Pretty sure I've said it more times than we could count, but again, I never thought I would have a cheerleader.  However, I couldn't be more proud.  The amount of hard work she puts into this sport and never complains about the long hours in the gym, the exhausting weekends on the road competing, having to do homework/study late at night, not getting to eat dinner with her family many nights, etc...

I typically never watch her compete without holding my camera in my hand, but I decided to just watch the whole squad instead of just Anna Lauren through my camera lens.  Therefore, I had to steal Matt's pictures...he captures the whole squad, and I get Anna Lauren.

Club Zero...way to go, girls!!!

This was a big deal because this was NOT the case at their last competition...hard work and practice pay off!

So...they got first place at the competition because there wasn't anyone else in their division.  However, they really went to the competition with hopes of getting this bid...and they did!!!  They had the highest score of all "youth" at the competition, which got them this bid.  All this to say, her squad is headed to Disney the first of May to compete at The Summit.  Besides the expense of the trip, we are all super excited for Anna Lauren and her squad.

Waco Christmas Vacation Day 3, 4, and 5...

It was freezing cold on day 3, and we had a pretty jam-packed day 2.  So...we decided to have a low key day 3...

We went shopping for a little bit and had lunch at a really cool bakery (not sure why we didn't take a picture)...

Then we came home and did just this...chilled!!!

Anna Lauren did this puzzle and then she, Jake, and Nanna worked on another one...

Nitrogen ice cream has been on Anna Lauren's bucket list for a while so when she found out they had it in Waco, we told her we would take her.  Considering it was freezing, she was the only one that wanted to get out that night for ice cream so Matt and I had a little outing with our girl...

She was happy, it was super yummy, and Matt and I enjoyed a little time hanging out with her...

On our way back home, we took a few pictures of the Baylor bridge...

Matt and I spent the morning of day 4 enjoying a 10 mile run along the river (marathon training didn't stop on vacation)...

I always love to run when we travel because you get to see things you otherwise wouldn't see...

We passed Brad's office on our run...

And we started and ended our run going through Baylor's campus...

Brad and Paula meet a group from his work every Saturday morning.   They walk and then they all eat breakfast together.  So after we finished our 10 miles, we met up with them for breakfast.  That was actually one of my favorite parts of the trip because I got to put a face with many of the people I hear him and Paula talk about, and they all made us feel super welcome.

That afternoon the girls headed to Homestead while the boys watched football...

Anna Lauren made a pinch pot in the pottery house...

One of the guys explained it to a customer that they are a non-denominational, Christian community...

It was such a neat place, and you just walked from house to house and there was something different in every one of them.

Not very often is it just us girls so it was a fun afternoon treat...

Pretty sure Anna Lauren had never seen fabric being made...

Or cheese...

The cheese cave...

The cheese was aging, and Anna Lauren thought this was creepy and couldn't wait to get out...ha ha!

After dinner at a fun taco place, we did a little Fixer Upper sight seeing.  This is Clint Harp's house right by the shop.

Harp Design Co...

And then Chip and Jo's Bed and Breakfast...

We rode around a little more to see some Christmas lights, Brad and Paula's church, etc...

On day 5, we packed up and headed home.  Matt and I had heard about Buc-ee's, but we were like we don't have to stop.  However, glad Nanna encouraged us to stop because it was fun and definitely something to see...

Cooper "thinks" he should get something EVERYWHERE he goes.  Therefore, he picked out all of this...

Lucky for him Nanna let them each get one thing so he got to leave with this Buc-ee that  that he has slept with every night.

We stopped in Vicksburg and had dinner by the fire at Cracker Barrel and then drove the rest of the way home.  We got warm and cozy, watched a movie, and watched the ball drop in New York before calling it a year!!!  

Waco Christmas Vacation Day 1 and 2...

Brad started working in Waco the beginning of last year, and they officially moved there in May.  Sadly, it took us until December to find a time that worked with both of our schedules for us to go visit for a few days.  We had the best time and Waco didn't disappoint.

Day 1 of our Waco Christmas vacation was spent in the car.  It was a 9 hour drive from Gulfport to Waco, and we were all excited when we saw the "Welcome to Texas" sign...

Paula thought we should go to Magnolia first because week days are typically less crowded than the weekend.  We didn't complain because it was at the top of our things to do in Waco list...

The inside of the store, and supposedly, this is not crowded...

I really wanted to buy all of these wall badges for Cooper's room, but I decided to just take a picture instead...

The store has two levels...this is on the bottom level, which had a good bit of Christmas.  Wonder what it has other times of the year?

There were several places that were set up so you could take pictures.  Paula says sometimes they even have a worker standing there to take your picture.

This may have been my favorite place for a photo...love the old truck, tree on top, trees in background...

This would be the cupcake line.  Matt waited in line for about 20 minutes while we checked out at the store, which was another line that took at least 20 minutes.  Then we switched with him and waited another 20 minutes or so...

These were window boxes on the side of the freezer behind the bakery.  Everything was so pretty/well manicured.  And the workers were nicer than the workers at Disney World...it was IMPRESSIVE!!!

They gave you a pencil and card so you could decide what you wanted and once inside, you just handed them the card.

While we shopped and waited in the cupcake line, Cooper stayed right here.  He was in heaven getting to play ball with the other kids.

Honestly, even in the freezing cold, he could have stayed there and played all.day.long!!!

The front of the bakery...

And then the inside of the bakery...

Some how, some way, Matt convinced Cooper to quit playing long enough to come get a cupcake...

And take a picture with his sister...

Yes, we waited in line probably 45 minutes to an hour for these cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, and cookies.  But...they were so worth it...everything was delicious!!!

We entered from the back but this is the front entrance...

The front of the store...

The #milestomagnolia picture that everyone takes at Magnolia...

At lot of the things were covered up because it was freezing, and we didn't go to the seed & supply store.  Didn't figure I needed anything in there.

Seriously...he could have stayed there all day and hung out with all these little boys.  One thing for sure is that Cooper can make a friend ANYWHERE he goes!!!

We started talking about lunch, and Anna Lauren was like please let's go to In-N-Out.  Paula said everyone under the age of 21 wants to go there.  It was fine, but just a burger...nothing special.

After lunch we did a little sight seeing around Waco...can we say tourist attraction?

Jake was such a good sport the entire time...

Everyone had to get on a bull and have their picture taken...it seemed like there were hundreds of them.

And Matt was NOT leaving until I got on one...even if I almost ripped my jeans slinging my leg over...ha ha!!!

I had heard about Jacob's Ladder so I was anxious to see what it was all about...we all climbed to the top...even Nanna!!!

There was a playground and huge rocks at the top so the kids played for a little while...

We all went up and down once...Cooper however, did it a couple times...

After a little down time at home, we headed to the rodeo...and...had front row seats!!!

My nephews are way too cool for their Aunt Mandi, but I sure do love any chance I get to hang out with them!!!

Our little cowboy was taking it all in...

And he was super proud of his new belt buckle...

Such a busy, fun-filled day in Waco!!!