Love from the Murphy's: Christmas in Texas

So we planned a trip to Texas this year to see my dad. I had never traveled during the holidays before and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Of course the airports were full, but it wasn't as crazy as I had expected. This was the first time Rylan had been on an airplane and a bus for that matter...he wasn't so sure about it at first. (Neither was I)

Here he is in the airport getting ready to board...

Us on the airplane.

Rylan did SO good on the plane, I was so surprised. We took snacks and things for him to do including our laptop with movies that we never had to get out! I was so proud of him! He sat in his seat like a big boy and didn't raise a fuss or get restless any. Yay for Ry!

So we made it safely to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and it was like...close to 70 degrees! We got to my dad's and one of the first things Rylan found was a golf club...

One side note: I got a new toy for Christmas that I absolutely LOVE!!!!!

Introducing 'The Flip'....

Here's my first real video using my new best friend!

Good picture, my dad reminds me of my papaw here...

Some cooking...

So by Christmas Eve, this is what we got, all day long....

Funny, we had to go to Texas, of all places, to get a white Christmas!

Christmas Eve was nice. We had family, a fire, homemade pizzas, presents and snow outside...

And of course open one present each. That was mainly because we needed a working DVD player to watch a movie!

Brandon...please!

Thank you!

Yay, Where the Wild Things Are!

The homemade pizzas, so yummy!

CHRISTMAS DAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

We first woke up....

Well...some of us...

Start with the stockings

Now the real presents!

Santa brought him the train set.

I hate how I sound, plus I was sick...AND it's funny how adults talk to children!

The last day there we went to the Stock Yards. We had been there before but not during the Christmas season...

Since first opening its doors in 1907, cowboys, kings and queens of country music, even an outlaw or two have found refuge and romance at this hotel. They have traveled by foot, horseback, stagecoach, motorcar and plane to enjoy the hospitality of this premier hotel.

White Horse Saloon

We went to Billy Bobs, here are some facts about this place:

The Building now known as Billy Bob's Texas was built in 1910 and was once a large open-air barn for housing prize cattle during the Fort Worth Stock Show.

In 1936, as a Texas Centennial Project, the building was enclosed by the City of Fort Worth at a cost of $183,500 and the tower added. The "new" structure contained 1257 animal stalls, and a 1200 seat auction ring that is now Billy Bob's Bull Riding arena.

The floor of Billy Bob's slopes from the entry toward the showroom stage, making an ideal elevation for concert seating.

This slope was originally constructed to allow easy cleaning and runoff from the cattle pens. Livestock events were held here until the stock show moved to the Will Rogers Memorial Complex, in the present downtown area, around 1943.

During World War II, the building was used as an airplane factory for the Globe Aircraft Corporation.

In the 1950's the building became a department store so large that the stock boys wore roller skates to make their jobs quicker and easier.

With 127,000 square feet of space, which is nearly 3 acres inside and 20 acres of parking, for entertainment and events, Billy Bob's has 32 Max individual bar stations, country music's biggest stars, Live Pro Bull Riding and a Texas size dance floor for everyone to enjoy.

Here are some guitars on display from lots of famous musicians. Each are signed but hard to see.

There are many, many hand prints. I took a picture of this one cause of Trace's pinky finger!

Walking down the sidewalk, we came across this...craziness. A man had his dog, cat and mouse just sitting on top of each other. Oh and of course a can for anyone willing to give him a little money for this lovely show.