Christmas with the Bruce Bunch

Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana - We are making her richer than rich...Sophie is IN LOVE with her...She got this chair (Mom put it together all by myself), her own plate/cup & bowl, a puzzle, clothes - clothes - clothes, charm bracelets & other jewelry & her fav of all was her pink Hannah Montana sweat suit! She got some electronic stuff & some other games too but her Hannah Montana chair & clothes were her favorite!!

Isn't she cute with her new jammies??

OOOOHHHH WWWEEEE! Look at those cute kids! The Bruce bunch had a blast this year...Here they are all posed on Aunt Jennifer's couch after getting their special gifts...But Mom messsed up & didn't get a picture of the kids with their most prized present - Aunt Jennifer, Aunt Chrissy & Uncle Abraham gave them a computer of their very own!! They were thrilled & couldn't wait to get it home & get it set up. One of the teachers at the daycare is burning CDROM's for the kids to have games to play too!

Sweet Princess! That is all Tristan kept telling her Daddy this year that she wanted... A Princess Dress! Her Daddy took care of that real quick cuz "Pig" gets anything & everything she wants from her Daddy...Nothing like being a Daddy's Girl!

Spencer loved Christmas this year so much that he bugged us for weeks before... "When is it gonna be Christmas?" Finally it got here & he was thrilled to death! He couldn't wait to see what all Daddy had been hiding out in the storage building. Spencer was the only one that wrote a list to Santa & he got everything he wanted on it...His train, a construction set, police car & Hot Wheels. Daddy's boss Wayne even got him a Hot Wheels race track & boy - that was the best ever!

Lunch with Santa

The Bruce Family went to Lunch with Santa & we had a blast! Valero Energy puts on a

totally free aftenoon with Santa @ one of the church auditoriums here in Ardmore. We get a sack lunch complete with a treat from Santa - our picture with him - all the games & bouncy houses that you could imagine & tons & tons of free prizes for the kids!! Santa even gives them a wrapped present before they leave. It is the best & we have gone for 3 years straight. The kids absolutely love it & I even have a great time with the kids...watching them play, win prizes & get so excited about the presents. Tristan even sang "Jingle Bells" with some other kids on stage! Priceless for Mommy to see. Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.

Christmas Party @ Parker Ranch

December 5, 2008 was the night for our office Christmas party. Dr. Bill & Dr. Mary Parker were gracious enough to offer the Parker Ranch as our host site & even had a great meal catered by Cafe Alley! Flat Iron steak is the BEST!

Everyone from our office came & even brought most of the spouses - kicking & screaming some of them...:) We had a great time, talking & sipping wine & laughing quite loudly if you were at Wendy & Larissa's table (No one would've guessed that though).

We had white elephant present exchange & even got to leave with some wonderful bonus checks! Thanks to all our doctors!

Dr. Mary Parker, Dr. Dorroh, Dr. Morris, Dr. Carpenter & Dr. Bill Parker The awesome girls that run the front office: Larissa (LaLa), Wendy (Bossy) and Emily (Em)
Our great nurses: Kristen, LaQuita, Angela & Misty (not pictured: Vonya)Eric & Wendy - Doesn't Eric look hthrilled to be there?? hehehehe

What's New Monkey Do

There is just not a lot to update on this week....We have been so boring lately. We haven't been to any pumpkin patches, circuses, carnivals, birthdays - etc....So because of the cooling weather outside, the tree leaves turning to bright yellow, orange & red - OR- falling off...I thought this summertime picture of my little monkey Tristan was something to share. Our last outing was to Lori's (Strawberry Blonde Photography girl) house for her yearly seasonal Fall Festival. It was an entire afternoon & night full of fun filled activities for the kids. They did a moon bounce, fishing for toys in the cellar, pumpkin decorating, watch Charlie Brown's Halloween & did a night time (with flashlights) pumpkin hunt & a scarry hay ride!! They loved it. But to my disappointment - Lori didn't post the pictures on MPix, so I didn't get to order (or show you) any of the pictures...Sorry! So you just have to check out my little monkey girl instead!

Meow Meow Kitty Kitty

PSSSTTT! Little black kitty coming out to play....We had so much fun this Halloween. It was the first year that I could take all the kids door to door to trick o' treat & they loved it!! We ran into a few scarry houses but all in all, it was just friendly neighborhood people who loved to see the kids dressed up. Aunt Chrissy was a pirate, me a cat & Aunt Jennifer went too but didn't get to dress up. Spencer was a mummy, Tristan a princess & Sophie a fairy. I didn't get any pix of the kids this year - camera malfunction - but the girls at work & I all dressed up for fun!

Welcome to the World Baby Tripp

One of my dearest & cherished friends in the world had her first baby Saturday, October 25th...Tripp Harper Gray. I want to send a special "Congratulations" to his Mommy & Daddy - Chris & Will! He is a beautiful baby boy & will forever from this day be the center of your soul. Know that only through God are things possible...He is your way & Tripp is your blessing!

I am truly so happy for my friend Christina - She waited & chose the right man & now has another little man who will steal her heart!

Haunted Halloween

Third Thursday put on their monthly family fun downtown on Oct 16th & we were there for it! There were lots of games/prizes, a haunted house & fall pictures with Strawberry Blonde Photography! Well, since Aunt Chrissy is part of the Third Thursday committee - we had to attend!! It was a nice night outside & the kids had a blast bobbing for apples, fishing & doing the cake walk! Can't wait to see what they do for November.

Family, Friends & Lots of Playtime

Mom's Beautiful Girls

Stylin' & Profil'n Ms. Bossy!

Spencer's new dirt bike! Just like Dad's but in mini size...VVRROOOOOMMMM!

Tristan's 1st horse back ride...Doesn't she look enthused??

Spencer poses after the trolley ride around downtown Ardmore @ the Black Gold Festival

Mom & Dad are so proud of our 5 year old boy!

Pumpkin Patch

What a blast! Aunt Sherry & Ashton took the kids for a great day at the pumpkin patch Saturday...Now this was after getting to spend the night with Uncle Doug & Aunt Sherry on Friday night (you don't see Sophie cuz she was at a sleep over with her friend Jerrynique). The kids got a chance to dig in the huge sandboxes & make sandcastles.

Then they were off to the duck races...Old timey water pumps fueled the ducks & the harder they pumped the water - the faster the ducks shot down the track....Spencer loved that!

Feeding the small animals was next on the list...Aunt Sherry said the animals were so hungry & they just kept eating & eating. Sissy loves the small deer & sheep. You will always get big smiles from her when she's with the animals.

Well, the day was fun & tiring. After all the activites, eating corn dogs & chips, picking out the pumpkins - it was time to rest! Big rockers were just the ticket...On the way home, both babies were fast asleep!

Sophie's Birthday

This weekend was a blast! Sophie wanted her ears pierced for her 8th birthday, so we jetted off to pick up Aunt Chrissy & Aunt Jennifer & off to the mall we went. We searched high & low for the best deals for lots of earrings & then it was time to sit in the big chair. She was very brave for the 1st ear, but then...OH NO! THE PAIN of it all! But, we got her settled & calmed down & we did the other ear. We got big smiles after it was all over...But then Tristan decided that it was her turn. So, she climbed in the big chair & got hers done too! It was quite tramatic for Mom, but I made it through. After we had our fun at Claire's, we scooted over to Applebees for our birthday lunch & CHOCOLATE CAKE! Yummy!

New Family Member

My new "nephew" Eli was born Sept 18th in California. For those of you that have known me for more than 5 minutes, you know that my Uncle Matt is like my brother & he & his wife, Jeanette just welcomed their 2nd son, Eli. I'm so happy for them & thank God for their blessing!

Old Timey Time

Last week, me & the kids ran down town to see Aunt Chrissy @ the Rustic Furniture store & low & behold...old timey photos were being taken for FREE from Strawberry Blonde Photography and we had the best time. I had no sooner gotten home from parent-teacher conference & Aunt Chrissy called to get us down there for the Black Gold Festival. I didn't even know anything about it, but I am so glad that we went.

At first, I couldn't get Spencer to dress up, but once he saw that me & the girls dressed up & took pictures, he thought it looked fun. So, I gave him a vest & a gun & it was all good from there!