Christmas

I think this was, by far, my favorite Christmas ever! The girls are at such a great age! They really loved everything about Christmas...especially Santa Claus (although, if you asked them why Santa brings them presents, they will both sweetly answer "because Santa is celebrating Jesus' birthday!") That really blesses my heart...at 2 and 4 they already know the true meaning of Christmas. Anyway, we started the holiday by going over to the Meers' on Sunday to welcome Alan's grandparents in from Pampa, TX. Cindy made a huge Christmas dinner with a ham and everything (and then an even bigger dinner on Christmas day!!) Then, we went to Austin on Monday to spend a couple of days with my parents. On Monday, we did some cold Christmas shopping, on Tuesday we did some more, and then ate and went to the Trail of Lights, and then on Wednesday we went to the Christmas Eve service and then came back for yummy appetizers and more presents. We headed back home on Wednesday in a huge hurry because Maci was terrified that Santa wouldn't come because we weren't home yet. She talked about him and asked some of the most hilarious questions the whole way home. We put out cookies and milk for the bug guy and read The night Before Christmas. We put the girls to bed (the first night in months with no fight from Maci) and then got busy playing Santa. Christmas morning they opened all their gifts at our house then we hurried out the door to the Meers' so Alan could cook the turkey. We spent all day with Alan's family and had a ton of fun. We even got in a little time on Kevin's Wii, which was very entertaining (especially when their Granny kicked their rears at bowling:) ) The next day we spent the entire day shopping the Galleria with Papa and Grandma! Great fun! What a wonderful Christmas it has been!

My family in Austin

Mimi and Granddaddy with the girls

the girls

Maci on her new scooter from Mimi and Granddaddy

Payton on her "wormy worm" from Mimi and Granddaddy

An obscene amount of presents at Mimi and Granddaddy's

Mommy and her baby

Alan and I won 13 out of 15 presents on game-night!!!

We decided to wear them all just to rub it in a little...Tonya, how many did you win??? :)

The Meers Family

Alan's Grandpa and Granny came to Houston from Pampa to spend Christmas with usMaci opening her new Plasma car from Papa and Grandma Payton opening more gifts from Papa and Grandma

Payton digging every last little thing out of her stocking at Papa and Grandma's Maci bowling on the Wii...she did fantastic!
Maci posing in front of the tons of gifts at Papa and Grandma's The paparazzi was out in full force on Christmas morning
Can you tell Maci and Payton are the only grandchildren on both sides??? The grandparents all went wild with their large amount of gifts for the girls, and their gifts for us, I think they all must think they are still Santa Claus!!! :)

I hope you all had a very wonderful Christmas...God bless you and your families this holiday!

Baking Christmas Goodies with Mommy

Today the girls and I made Christmas goodies together. We made Tara's candy, "Snow Candy," rice crispy treats, and Gingerbread cookies! Too much fun! The girls helped every step of the way. I do believe their favorite part was decorating the cookies at the end. I just loved spending the day cooking with my girls!! Maci's final product (all by herself)Payton's final product (I did the face) When daddy got home, he got in on the action, tooDaddy's cookie

4th Annual Christmas Date

Saturday was our fourth annual Christmas date. Every year, one Saturday in December we spend the first part of the day having a fun breakfast, watching Christmas movies, sometimes visiting Santa (not this year), and then the second part of the date we all get dressed up and go to the Woodlands for PF Changs and then Starbucks, and then Christmas light looking. This is one of our very favorite traditions that we've started with our little family.
These are a couple of pictures of the girls watching Christmas movies that morning. Alan's Uncle Monte and Aunt Sherry got the girls these AWESOME rocker/recliners and we thought this occasion was the perfect time to give them to the girls. They really LOVED the chairs. They have now spent a good part of the last 3 days in them. PERFECT gift. Thank you so much, Monte and Sherry!
We had a really great time with our girls!

Last Day of School--Christmas Party

The girls let me get a couple of pictures of them before school this morning. They were dressed for their Christmas parties on their last day before the Christmas break. The pictures were just too cute not to share.

It SNOWED in HOUSTON!!!

I cannot believe it SNOWED today!! I was filled with excitement like a kid on Christmas morning. I am really starting to think that a love for snow and all things Christmas is a genetic trait. My girls are just as giddy about these things as their mommy. You wouldn't believe how thrilled Maci and Payton got over something they've never even experienced. It was wonderful! Maci played in the snow when she was 2 in New Mexico, but she has never seen it snow here. They had a blast. When they were all played out and as cold as popsicles, they came inside for some "snow candy" and warm milk. What a sweet day I got to share with my girls.

Well, I know its no blizzard, but we'll take what we can get. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Family Christmas Pictures

I thought I would share with you the family portraits we just took for Christmas. I hope you all enjoy!

What happens in Vegas...

Alan had a conference in Las Vegas this past week and I went with him. I have never spent a night away from my girls, so I was a little nervous about going. I will say that a a week alone with my husband was WONDERFUL!!! We had so much fun together. While Alan was doing his thing in the conference, I did almost all of my Christmas shopping. Alan joined me for lunch everyday and then I'd shop more until dinner. The food was one of our favorite parts of the trip. The beautifully decorated Casino-Resorts were another favorite. Going the week after Thanksgiving meant Christmas decorations and Christmas music everywhere we went. It was great! I think we will need to make trips for just the two of us a more regular occurrence.

This is an Italian restaurant in The Venetian that we really enjoyed 3 years ago when we were there on another trip.

This was the view from our table...beautiful Victorian carolers

A gorgeous fountain in The Pallazo

A winter, wonderland in the Wynn

Alan posing with The Blue Man Group (well, sort of)

They're statues...very convincing ones

Dinner with another great view

Our favorite meal (ever) was at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill in our casino, Caesar's Palace

Alan goofing off at FAO Shwartz

We loved watching the fountains at the Bellagio, they were set to Christmas music.