Matthew Comer Agile Scrum Master Project Manager at IBM Unicorn from Austin, Texas

On Friday night, Lee and Phillip came over to have a sleepover with GMAC and Grace. We enjoyed the night together while Kathryn, Dawn, Jenny, and others enjoyed a Forever 31 party at Kat's house. We fell asleep early, but it was a fun filled night.

On Saturday, after Kat brought over breakfast tacos and Phillip helped Daddy replace the front brakes on his truck, we all went to Reagan 3rd BDay Party. It was a great baseball themed  party. And GMAC did it again, 'helped' Reagan open all of his gifts, oh my. It was fun.

After naptime, EE and GP picked up GMAC and Grace for a Sleepover At Cade's House. They all enjoyed the night together and slept together in one big room, I am sure they had a great time a their first sleepover with Cade!!

On Saturday we went on our annual Ice Skating at Whole Foods in downtown Austin. We met EE, GP, Aunt B., Uncle Cary, and Cade there. Everybody skated but all the gals, except for my baby Grace, who is going to be a ballerina ice figure skater!! Then we had a picnic at the park on the top of the store, it was really nice, with fajitas! Afterwards we went over to the new Butler park South of the river on Riverside to climb the hill and take in the view of the growing downtown Austin and all her buildings! Then to Sandies for a frosted chocolate dipped ice cream cone to share with the sleepy GMAC and Grace!

Sunday morning we went to church. To our delight, the new children's building that everybody has been helping to build has been completed and is having the grand opening today! It is big and beautiful. GMAC and Grace run around enjoying all of the open space, new playground, maze, cookies, and treats. They stay in their new room while Mommy and Daddy go to church services. We love the new building at Oak Hill United Methodist Church.

Jenny and Matt decided to host a New Years Eve party at their home on Redleaf. It was a great time, starting at 9:00 and running through to 2012. AQll of our friends and some family were able to make it out and ring in the New Year with the Comers! It was great to see and have everybody over to our home, we thought that the party went very well and everybody had a good time and were safe. Thank you to all of our friends and family for helping us celebrate 2012 together!

GMAC and Grace stayed with EE and GP and celebrated the New Year by shooting off fireworks with Uncle Tommy. GMAC even stayed up until 10 minutes to midnight!!

On New Years Day, after cleaning up the mess left after the party, we were able to go out to Comerosa for the Annual New Years party to eat black eyed peas, venison, and other yummy food! Topping off the night with fireworks with Uncle Tommy, then over to Phillip's house for a night cap.

Happy New Year, happy 2012 to all of our family and friends!

Jenny was off of work this week, as were GMAC and Grace. They played and did things all week. We went to the park and took some family photos for our holiday Christmas cards. We didn't get any out before Christmas, so we thought we could send New Year cards to all of our family and friends. We got lot's of great photos, but the best was a candid funny shot that we ended up using.

On Wednesday, we went to a friends house for lunch. It was such a nice time with a sandwich platter and great company. It is friends that we do not see often, so it was great to visit them and see their home. It was beautiful. And soon to be a kids wonderland!! Full of games, trains, and toys! They have casino style games hung on the wall. And a really cool Star Wars pinball type of gambling game, too!! They were way way too nice and thought to give our children gifts. I don't know how, but Peter is a Jedi and somehow guessed exactly correctly what both kids loved most and the ONLY item each asked of Santa for Christmas this year, an 'ummy' rabbit and a firetruck for Grace and GMAC, WOW!! Thank you for good friends and welcome or extending friendship with new friends!

On Thursday, Jenny took the kids to San Antonio to visit with her friends and exchange gifts, everybody came back worn out and Jenny even sick. She came down with Strep throat. She rested that night.

On Friday, after Jenny returned from the doctors office, she rested for the remainder of the day. Daddy took GMAC and Grace over to Mike's house for a lunchtime swim in his indoor heated pool! That night, Mommy stayed home, but Daddy took GMAC and Grace to a friends house for authentic spaghetti dinner!! The family shared recent photos, videos, and stories from their recent sailing trip to BVI, WOW! Someday, I would love to do this with the children, what a eye opening experience for all!

On Christmas Eve we went to the Oak Hill United Methodist Church where we have been going as a family for about three years now. It was a beautiful 5:00 Christmas worship service. GMAC donned a little sheppard's clothes and head dress. He did so well walking up there and standing throughout the long service, like such a big boy.

On Christmas Morning, we all woke up to the surprise of what Santa brought the night before!! So many toys and gifts for the kids. The kids were all wide eyed and surprised with all of the gifts and toys that Mommy, Daddy, family, and Santa brought to them. An 'ummy' rabbit for Grace and a fire truck for GMAC! And Daddy got a 60 inch plasma TV!!

Also, we secretly caught Santa Claus on video!!

Then Goo Goo and Papa Terry came over and even more gifts were exchanged. Whoa, lot's of gifts!! Goo Goo gave soo soo much!!

Then off to Aunt Barbara's house after nap time to have Christmas Dinner and exchange more gifts with the family. What a wonderful day.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The Comers!

On Friday, Jenny and Daddy went to her Offices Annual Holiday Party. This year it was held at Gumbo's at the Galleria. The food and company were so good! The coworkers exchanged gifts, then it was time to surprise the Dr. with a very special gift. Daddy presented the gift wearing a rented Snowman costume. Everybody was so tickled and wished everybody a very Merry Christmas!

After leaving the Holiday Party, we hurried to Miss Toni's Christmas Program to see GMAC and Grace perform their parts along with all of their other fellow classmates. GMAC wanted the part of 'his favorite' Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, but was consoled with being another reindeer, but we didn't tell him that as he thought that he was the Rudolf. He started the play off with his standard "Ready, Set, Go" and sang the Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer twice while the others where in reindeer costumes. Grace danced in a Frosty the Snowman costume while the others sang the song. At one point GMAC twirled around so many times that he got dizzy and disoriented and then fell right off of the stage and onto the floor. It was histerical!! There were so many other great moments in the program from so many talented children. It was a delight to witness these special children. Then afterwards, Santa made an appearance and gave all of the children special gifts. Then there was even a special appearance by the one and only Frosty the Snowman!!

Grace's 2nd Birthday Frosty Party!! On Saturday, all of Grace's little friends came out to celebrate our little girl turning two years old. When EE and GP brought GMAC and Grace home, after spending the night so that Jenny and Daddy could ready the house. Grace walked into the party, just barely underway, with amazement, astonishment, and utter excitement. The house looked like a Winter Wonderland, snowflakes falling from the ceiling, draping the entire house from hall, to living room, kitchen, and into the backyard. Now the party was ready to start, all of the children sat at the tables and worked on an arts and craft project to put together Frosty the Snowman. While everyone visited, the children ran from room to room and outside always caring armfuls of GMAC and Grace's toys. Time got away from the hosts, and we didn't get a chance do sing Happy Birthday to the special girl, until the party was almost over.

Uncle Cary donned a rented Frosty the Snowman costume, along with Mommy in a borrowed child snowman costume from Miss Toni, and made their entrance into the bustling den of our house. Frosty was carrying the beautiful Frosty the Snowman cake that Mommy handmade the night before. It was beautiful. Grace was sitting at her little tea party table looking the opposite direction at all of the smiling faces and adoring eyes. Not even realizing what was taking place behind here. When she finally realized that the Frosty the Snowman and Frosty's wife Crystal (played by Mommy) were behind her, she got so excited! Everybody sang Happy Birthday and brother GMAC helped her blow out the candles.

We met Janna, Nick, McCarty and Starkey (yes of a little band named The Beatles fame). They have cousins Lennon and Harrison, too! We all ate at Chuy's North. Goo Goo and Papa Terry were there as well as Nicks mother. It was so great seeing and meeting family for the first time or for Jenny's sake, first time in a long time. It was so nice to meet them. Janna the oh so talented craft maker, made GMAC his very own framed GMAC sign!! And Grace a little toto!!

Then we went to A Wonderful Life festival at First Evangelical Free Church. It was a surprise to see EE, GP, and Cade there! We all made and sprinkled Christmas cookies, made our own Christmas tree ornaments, visited a petting zoo, got balloon art, got faces painted, played at the playground and of course say the  amazing Biscuit Brothers and other great musicians.

On Sunday after the play at Church, we had a playdate with classmate from school. Both kids had a great time with the girls! It was fun to get to know the parents and see their beautiful home. Afterwards, we had dinner at the Houlton's while Phillip was frying many a chicken. Mmm, good!

Friday night was the Pajama Party at Miss Toni's Fun Learning Center. GMAC and Grace petitioned to go and spend the better part of the day and night with all of their friends. Jenny and I were able to meet in downtown Austin for a Happy Hour at Corazon at Castle Hill. It was nice to be together and enjoy some great food and drinks together. We were also able to take in a movie at home, and a  late night snack all before pickup up the kids before 10:00 from the late night party.

On Saturday, Mommy took GMAC and Grace to, fellow school mate, Jasmine's 5th BDay Party. A Mad Scientist party, complete with a real scientist who performed many cool experiments. Later that day, we packed up and headed up to the lake for a special appearance from Santa Claus on a fire engine. The Pedernales Fire Department came out in force, Santa riding up on the side of a brush breaker, a special van, and a fire engine. Santa hugged all of the children, then came inside for a decked out winter room, complete with Christmas tree and Mrs. Claus. GMAC and Grace sat patiently at the feet of Santa. When he read out their names, they ran up to him and accepted the presents that he brought for them. GMAC a fire truck and Grace some stuffed animals. All of the children continued to play on the floor while the adults exchanged gifts in a game of White Elephant. Mommy even won a door prize, heck two in a row!! Then we went up to the cabin and slept for the night. The rain came late at night and it was so nice to hear the rain on a tin roof.

The next morning we woke up and grabbed some breakfast tacos from Grandpa's on Hwy 71 and Bee Creek Road, then ventured back home. After a rainy day nap we went to Lee's 3rd BDay party at Phillip and Kat's. The kids had a great time doing a dinosaur egg hunt!! Then we went home and put up the Christmas tree, it was a great weekend.

We were thankful for so much this year. Family, friends, jobs, house, so much. We are thankful for our little ones. We enjoyed spending Thanksgiving Day and Dinner at the Koenning's in Dripping Springs. Throwing the football and playing outside on one of the nicest days in a while. And the food, well the food… amazing!!

Daddy took GMAC with him and GP on Friday afternoon to go up to Granny Priss' Freeman Ranch for a weekend with the boys, working, playing, and hunting. We stopped at Inman's in Marble Falls for some great turkey sausage then a Triple meat jalapeno cheeseburger from Storms in Lampasas. GMAC had such a great time and was one of the boys helping being good and playing with Dax.

We were able to drill and install many poles in two very dry tanks for a future dock pier for fishing and enjoyment. Also, we setup a new deer stand blind over where I hunt next to C.B.'s old stand.

The only hunting that Daddy did was with Shay and Dax and we were unable to secure a pig. Daddy did take GMAC on his very first hunt the following morning, per his insistence after waking up that morning. We sat in the stand for oh, 2 minutes before he used a word that I have maybe only heard him say once before 'bored'. He said, let's go back to the house. I said, Why? And GMAC said, This boring, ha, fast learner, especially as there were no deer in sight. We left early for Austin so Cary could attend a farewell ceremony for Jon Mesiroff. Watch Video,,, at the 1 minute mark when the TV starts to talk… You will see little CADE running in the background. He picks himself off the ground then runs off. 🙂
http://www.kvue.com/news/400-soldiers–134567448.html

During this time, Mommy took Grace to the Chuy's Thanksgiving Parade downtown. Photographers were a buzz snapping photos of that little girl in between all of the amazing floats =-).

On Sunday evening. Mommy, Daddy, and GMAC (Grace stayed home with EE) joined Aunt B. and Uncle Cary for a Hill Country Train "Polar Express" Ride! It was really nice going from Cedar Park to Burnet and back. Hot Chocolate, songs, stories, and a visit from Santa Clause. Two happy little boys.