Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Christmas Day and the Drouet Christmas

Christmas day as we were getting ready to leave for my dad's house, the kids ran around outside in the beautiful weather. There may be no snow but it is a wonderful 70degrees each Christmas in Houston!

Drew holding two of his new trains in his hands.

Must run everywhere!

Daddy and Drew having so much fun!

My dad, "PawDee," with Drew outside playing with all the dogs.


My grandmother, MawDee, and I on Christmas Day. She gave Drew a Precious Moment from her collection called, "Onward Christian Soldier."

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning

David, Kinsey, Drew and Beva

My mom and Drew with his new bike!

Drew with his new yellow truck from mommy and daddy.

Drew giving David his new tool kit for Christmas.

Christmas morning was very fun with the kids waking up to what Santa Claus brought them.

This is what Drew got - his big gift was this wagon along with a stroller/cabbage patch baby, Thomas Laptop, Thomas coloring book and Crayola crayons, Candyland game and a movie.

David's family still has the tradition that Santa Claus visits adults too. Santa brought me some longhorn slippers which I love and wear every day and David a Rice cap and an xbox 360 game.

MawMille, Popo and Drew on Christmas morning.

Drew when he saw what Santa brought - he climbed immediately into the wagon!

Christmas Eve

We had our big Christmas Dinner with my mom and her husband, Sam, on Christmas Eve. Then, we put the kids to bed and the adults opened gifts.

Kinsey and Keely - Keely gave me an electric griddle that I wanted. In just 6 months or so, I'll have my own kitchen again to put it in!

Drew and Popo having fun playing hide and seek.

Drew and Lacey in their Christmas pajamas.

My brother, Damon, his wife, Amy (pregnant with Landon, born the day after Christmas) and my twin sister, Keely.

Sam and my mom


David and me

Christmas Eve Eve with the Hudson's

Sunday evening we arrived at my mom and Sam's house (Hudson's)
and Drew and his cousin, Lacey, opened a few presents.

Drew is excited over his new Elmo puzzle!

Kinsey's mom with Drew and Lacey reading an Elmo potty book! Drew is not yet interested in the potty - he'll sit on it occasionally but when we ask him to take off his pants/diaper to go actual potty, he runs away from it.


Drew got new shoes from my mom as well and he and Lacey decided to wear one of each!

Drew and Lacey playing a game sitting on the presents

Pistorius Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year!
Here are some pictures from our Pistorius family Christmas with David's side of the family.


David and Drew - Drew got a leapPad from David's mom with a Thomas the train story. He loves it but still is less enthusiastic about pictures being taken of him!

David and his mom - David and I received an air compressor from Colleen for Christmas. It is for David and his many future projects!

Lisa, David's Grandmother, David, Colleen, and Wendy

Pistorius family resting on the couch after a fun celebration

Drew dressing his part as a shepherd for the acting out of the Christmas story.

The grandchildren after performing their re-enactment of the Christmas story. Drew would not get in the picture without me so there I am!

Drew with his grandma and with cousin, Ethan, on the Sunday before Christmas all dressed and ready to go to church!

Colleen and David sang in the church choir on the Sunday before Christmas. It was a great program and both did an excellent job!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Dear Family and Friends, Christmas 2007

Merry Christmas! We hope you and your loved ones are safe and in good health this winter season. As we approach the holidays and a new year begins, it is one of our family traditions to reflect upon the closing year.

David has been completing his coursework for his Master’s degree in Business at Rice University. He has only one semester left as he is set to graduate in May 2008. David completed a summer internship for Cooper Industries in the Mergers & Acquisitions group. He recently accepted a full-time job offer with Cooper Industries in the Advanced Leadership Program, which he will begin next summer. It will be a rotational program which will give us the opportunity to relocate for a few years before bringing us back to Houston permanently.

As for me, I continue to work three nights a week in my private practice doing therapy with couples and families in the northwest Houston area. What I love the most about working part-time is that while I do earn money for our family, it allows me the opportunity to stay home with Drew and be his mom. Being a mom is truly what gives me the greatest joy.

Drew is 2 ½ years old now. This past summer the doctor put tubes in his ears and removed his adenoids due to repeated ear infections. As a result, Drew is talking so much more and learning new words on a daily basis. Drew loves Thomas the Tank Engine and plays with his trains every day. He has learned his colors and enjoys pointing out objects that are yellow most of all. He adores Beva, our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, (or “Bubba” as he calls her) and has the most fun running around the house with food in his hand so she will chase him!

While our family has been extremely fortunate this year, we have also experienced some losses. David’s father passed away in the summer from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. We miss him greatly, and we feel extremely privileged to have spent so much time with him this past year. He was a good father to David and grandfather to Drew. Just recently, David’s maternal grandmother, Etta Miller, died as well. David had the opportunity to reunite with his extended family for the funeral services in Colorado. He really enjoyed reconnecting with aunts, uncles and cousins. Indeed, we are grateful for the wonderful memories we created with David’s dad and his grandmother, and we will always cherish them. We have faith that one day we will see them both again.

Looking ahead to the New Year, David and I will be celebrating 7 years of marriage the first week of January. We look forward to the possibilities 2008 brings! May your holidays and New Year be filled with joy and happiness!

With all our love,

The Pistorius Family

David, Kinsey and Drew

Pistorius Family Christmas Photo and Letter

Pistorius Family- Christmas 2007

Santa Claus


Drew's visit with Santa Claus went about what we expected. He kept saying, "No want Santa," but he didn't cry until he actually sat on his lap. The picture was taken instantly so he did not sit there long, but it was pretty funny to capture the moment.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Drew and I went to Rockport this past weekend with my mom and her husband, Sam. David was in Colordao with his family because his grandmother died. Drew had fun picking out this yellow hat from Sam's closet and just HAD to wear it all weekend long. He usually doesn't wear hats but since Sam was wearing one, he had to!

Drew and my mom reading a book before bed.

Drew in his yellow hat with my mom and Sam. We went to look at the wonderful kites flying high in the sky!

Hat to hat - having so much fun!


My Daddy and Me
Drew woke up from a nap but was still tired so he fell back asleep on David.