{Texas Tuesday - The Chicken Scratch}

Hey y'all!! Happy Texas Tuesday!!

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What is Texas Tuesday? A chance for you to show off the awesomeness that is TEXAS!! You can blog about anything; restaurants, vacation spots, venues, concerts, your hometown, shops, fashion, sports, etc. The linkup is not limited to Texans, we just ask that the post is about Texas. 

We don't make following any of the hosts a requirement, but we do ask that you include our button and at least post about a Texas related topic. Any links that are not related to the link up will be deleted. (button code is in grab box below the image above)
 
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Nathan and I heard about this place through some friends and couldn't wait to try it. It was only about 5 minutes from my office when I worked in the Bishop Arts District (Dallas, TX). 

I knew I was going to love the place when we first walked up. A lot of times the atmosphere makes or breaks the dining experience and this place was so cool!! The outdoor seating area was awesome!

The Food? Oh man. SO good! They serve knife & fork biscuit sandwiches. And believe me, you will need the knife and fork! Nathan and I got the Foundry - Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, smoked bacon, cucumber pickles (I could have eaten a whole jar of these), beer mustard and oregano honey. It's like a meal all in one!

Nathan and I shared a basket of fries with our meals and we should have passed on those. Not that they weren't delicious, it was just SO much food! 

One thing that some may not like, but I did - they do not have coke, sprite, etc. they have their own sodas. I had a grape soda and it was delicious!!!

We will definitely be going back! Maybe on a weekend next time so that we can get the whole experience. Connected to the Chicken Scratch is a bar called The Foundry. They also have music and such on the weekends.

Cool place, great food and awesome atmosphere.

 

{Christmas cheer and Merry Christmas Eve}

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

{Hall Family Winter Pictures}

The Monday after we got the ice storm Nathan and Mason stayed home with me. At lunch time we ran to downtown Waxahachie to snap some Family Christmas pictures. It was probably one of the coldest and windiest days we've had...but it was a small window that we could all go. Nate's brother was out of school and was able to snap these so that I didn't have to use the tripod and remote! 

{Mommy take a picture of baby Jesus}

I shared this on Instagram, but wanted to share it here too. 

Last night we were driving around listening to Christmas music and looking at Christmas lights. One of the first houses we saw had a nativity scene out front and Mason got so excited! We talked about all of those in the Nativity, The star, the three kings, and of course baby Jesus. For the rest of the evening Mason wanted me to take a picture of every house that had a 'baby Jesus'. I love that he has learned so much about the true meaning of Christmas this year.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!!

As we were driving around the Happy Birthday Jesus song came on and he sang his little heart out! I was holding back tears. It was the sweetest little thing!

We had so much fun, but had to be cut off short because the fog was so thick and we couldn't see anything! We are venturing back out tonight!!

Happy Sunday everyone!

{Hall Family Christmas traditions}

Visit the Christmas Tree Farm - {post here} this was our first year to actually visit the farm...but definitely not the last. We had such a fun time!

Ride the North Pole Express - {posts here and here} I can hardly write about this one without crying. All tickets to the North Pole Express sold out quickly...before we could get any! So, we will not be doing this. I am so sad! We did find an alternative in Palestine, TX that goes through the weekend after Christmas, but trying to find a time to go is hard! 

Buy new Christmas Pajamas {for Mason} - to wear to the North Pole Express and for Christmas Eve.

Make Ornaments - this year we made Rudolf ornaments using Mason's thumbprint {post here} and we also made salt dough ornaments {post here} and Jesus in the manger. 

We also have a sliver of the trunk of our Christmas Tree cut off every year so that we can make an ornament out of it.

Mason's Christmas Program - {post here} I just love these programs!!

Bake cookies for Santa - and a treat for the reindeer. This year we also have magical reindeer food to spread out in the yard. Looking forward to doing this for years to come! 

Visit Santa at Bass Pro shop - {post here} this year was quite the adventure, but so worth it. 

Make a Santa video for Mason - we do this every year and use this website. I love to see his face when he watches these. They have a free version, but I always pay a few bucks more to personalize the video.

Do you have any family traditions? I would love to hear them!

 

{Mason's Christmas Program}

Last year was the first year that Mason was able to participate in the program and it was amazing! I had been looking forward to this years program for a while now!! These programs are good for my soul! This year's theme was Happy Birthday Jesus, and what a celebration it was.

They start with the 2's and then move up through the years. They each started their part of the program by taking their wrapped gift and presenting it to Jesus. Then they sang 2 or 3 songs and recited their bible verse.

It will awaken your soul and tug at your heartstrings!! 

Mason's group sang I'm a little Snowman, I'm H-A-P-P-Y and Jingle Bells. They recited James 1:17 - 

Every good gift and perfect gift is from above.
                                                  -James 1:17

His look after he found the family in the pews

 

After the program we asked Mason what his gift to Jesus was. And with a very excited and sweet little voice he says, "A firetruck!!!!"

Goodness I love him!!