Christmas Eve/Day!

We had a great Christmas this year...although it was a bitter sweet one for me. This was the first year in our new house and also the first year of my parents being in their apartment...so no Christmas Eve at their old house. Mondo was excited to start new traditions in our new house which yes, will be nice. But it was hard for me to move on from the old memories. I'm sure every year will get a little easier...I hope.

Thank you to my cousin Hilari for hosting Christmas Eve again!

I ran up on the last minute of this pic so I didn't get the best one. We take a boy cousin pic every year to see how much they've grown!

Some of the kids playing Head's Up.

We played a little game with the younger kids where there were several little gifts wrapped inside of a giant ball of saran wrap. They each took turns rolling the dice until they got a double then had to pass the present ball and start unwrapping until the next person rolled a double. They had a great time!

Playing with some xmas Snap Chat filters.

The boys had a good time playing some touch football in the backyard.

Me and my man. :-)

Ethan and cousin Grant being silly and laying on the floor hanging out.

After we got back home and got the kids tucked in, Santa came to visit!

Blessed.

Cookies and milk for Santa.

Finally...Christmas morning!!

I love the look of awe on his face when he got something he didn't think he would get! (And no, I didn't get him cereal. It was to disguise a video game!)

Caleb got a stack of $2 bills...because he loves $2 bills.

All of the loot!

Christmas breakfast. Yummy!

Random pic of Santa and Elfie dancing.

One of Caleb's presents...a "You're killing me Smalls" t-shirt! He said that ALL of the time after watching that movie.

San Antonio

We used to go to San Antonio ALL of the time! But, it had been a few years since we went so we decided to go on Christmas break. We wanted to check out the lights on the River Walk and also see Mondo's family who lives there. We had a great time!

 

These cutouts were in the hotel lobby so Mondo and I had some fun.

It was rainy and cold the whole time we were there but we still managed to get some pics!

We managed to pick the weekend of Mondo's grandma's birthday! We met his family for birthday lunch at her favorite restaurant. Those guys are two of Mondo's uncles.

The boys were excited to get to eat Sunday brunch at La Mansion Del Rio hotel. Mondo and I had eaten there a few times but it had been a while since we'd been back.

So delicious! I mainly ate breakfast but there was all types of food there!

Had to get a photo op in front of the Alamo. We went inside on a previous trip.

This was inside of a store on the River Walk. That kid...lol.

We were looking for a new restaurant to try and we found Mamacitas. It was really fun on the inside! I felt like I was at Disney World!

And the food was good too!

This was outside of the restaurant.

Christmas Stuff

As always, Christmas time is very busy! Between school activities and doing fun things at home there is little down time....but we wouldn't have it any other way. :-) This is a long post of random Christmas activities!

 

 

I put the tree up when the boys were at school but waited to decorate it until they got home. As soon as Caleb walked in he ran straight to it and said he had to put the star on! He looks forward to it every year.

 

I love this pic! Sometimes there is brotherly love. Ethan was helping Caleb put some ornaments at the top of the tree.

Finished product. Looks pretty good!

If you look closely at the tree you will see that Elfie came back to visit! And Caleb is holding Elfie's pet reindeer. He was so excited!

 

For the first few days of Elfie's appearance, Caleb would come home from school and talk to Elfie about his day. SO CUTE!!

Snapped a pic in front of a pretty tree at the club.

Caleb's class led chapel during the last week before Christmas break.

They put on a little play and it was so cute to see Caleb not being shy and actually performing!

I took a selfie in front of the tree before my work Christmas party.

Our party was at the House of Blues this year and it was SO FUN! I was happy that I didn't have to work and was able to go.

Ethan had a Christmas concert. I always love to hear him play the cello. He's awesome!

 

We had a little party at work with my co-workers and a few of the dr's.

I helped with Caleb's Christmas party at school. I'm glad he still wants me there!

4th grade momma's!

 

Caleb's 4th grade class. Sweet group of kiddos!

 

Enjoying some snacks.

 

I love how outgoing he has become. He's come a LONG way from my little shy baby!

 

4th grade teachers.

Switching gears to Nana and Papa's apartment! Even though they moved she still needed a mini Santa Land!

All of the grandkids working on gingerbread houses...a yearly tradition.

Here is Elfie showing you our completed gingerbread house.

This is part of Ethan's youth group at church. They got together and wrapped presents that they bought for a needy family. Love to see him getting involved! :-)