Go Texans

By this time of the year, we were well into the 2022 football season and our Houston Texans continued to find ways to amaze and depress us week after week. As a fan, at this point you just have to find ways to enjoy the games without counting on any wins. And if you're lucky enough, maybe your abysmal season can lead to some exciting draft picks to give you hope for the future. But alas, it's the Texans, and they even manage to find ways to screw THAT up! If you know you know. Oh well, Go Texans!

Encore Celebration

After only a couple days into the winter break, it was time for Kaitlynn's next cheer competition. This time, it was Encore Celebration in downtown Houston, which made a perfect opportunity for the family and other local friends to cheer her on. Day 1 was full of fun and excitement as Kaitlynn felt the love from so many supporters. The Nighthawks performed great and were really starting to hit their stride in their Aladdin-themed routine. It was awesome to see them perform, and then we were able to hang out as a family to grab some food before heading back to the venue to watch some of Kaitlynn's friends compete. We loved having the flexibility to enjoy the performances but still head home and sleep in our own beds for the night. Overall, Day 1 was a success and we were ready for Day 2!

However, Day 2 of the competition started off quite a bit more chaotic. It was the final day of the World Cup and there were all kinds of parties and celebrations downtown which made our arrival a little rushed. Then we headed inside for team photos, but shortly afterwards, there was an electrical fire in the convention center that scared everyone and caused us all to rush outside in the celebratory World Cup crowds. It was mass chaos but still a fun and festive atmosphere to get the girls' blood flowing before they hit warmups.

Regardless of the chaos, the Nighthawks took to the stage and killed it! They performed their routine in amazing fashion and ended up taking home the titles of National Champion, Best Choreography, and Entertainer of the Year for their division! Wow! It was an unexpected honor and the team was beyond thrilled! We were so excited for these girls and reveled in all the celebratory fun into the late hours of the night! Go Nighthawks!!

December Updates

Now that we were in December, it was full speed ahead on all the usual end of year and holiday activities. Kaitlynn's school cheer squad performed at one of the final basketball games of the semester, and it was nice to see her in action on the court - this time in her cheer uniform!

Amidst the busy month, I carved out a few days to travel to Dallas to catch up with my work colleagues and attend the annual holiday party. It was such a nice visit with some of my favorite ladies, and I always enjoy the beautiful luncheon and holiday atmosphere.

I wasn't the only one enjoying the holiday festivities. Kaitlynn's school cheer squad held their annual Christmas party, and there was no shortage of fun and laughs. The girls enjoyed a massive spread of yummy holiday treats and exchanged gifts for a great night together as a squad. 

Once the holiday break was official, the kids were SO happy for the much-needed rest and usual Christmas fun. Kaitlynn was excited to hang out with one of her longtime besties, Lily, while Connor couldn't resist torturing Kaitlynn with their sibling shenanigans any chance he got. Kaitlynn and I managed a much-needed haircut, and Jeff and Kaitlynn saved Christmas by putting up the tree and enjoying a Cici's pizza break. It is one of our favorite times of the year, and we were soaking in all the fun!