On Friday, December 27th a big group of us got together at Teddy Bear Park which is an enclosed (genius!) park about 15 minutes from us here in The Woodlands. There were 9 of us moms there with a lot of kids! We played for hours, had lunch and then went home for a good afternoon nap!
Joseph, Elsie and the big boys.
Some of the kiddos-hard to corral all of them for a photo!
Ella had a great time, too! Kason is so great with her and they played here for a long time.
It was a little chilly but none of the kids seemed to mind and it was just so nice to all get together during the busy-ness of the holiday season and to just let the kids play together.
Merry Christmas! This year was so special as Joseph was just SO excited about everything and Ella would feed of off his enthusiasm and got into it as much as she could. It definitely made it easier being away from extended family since the kids were so excited and thanks to our amazing friends here we had a wonderful Christmas dinner at our home as well.
We started off the morning with Joseph coming into our bedroom around 6:30 a.m. but we made him wait to go into the family room until Ella woke up around 7:15. He wasn't even tempted to go out once we let him watch PBS kids on my phone so it made it easy.
When we walked out we found that Santa had come! (Next year we need to get more permanent stocking hangers-I love the ones that I have but they won't hold the stockings once they are filled which is why they are on the ground!)
We discovered that Santa enjoyed the cookies and the reindeers ate all of the carrots and that he left a note for Joseph and Ella along with baby Jesus in the nice, comfortable crib that Joseph created for him.
Joseph and Ella must have been good this year!
All he asked Santa for was a blue football jersey, blue football shorts and football cleats and Santa came through!! These requests all stem from the movie, "Air Bud, the football star". Joseph watched approximately 20 minutes of this movie on our flight to San Diego in October and ever since he has been obsessed with the main character, Josh. Josh wears a blue football jersey and shorts in the movie so that is why he wanted them. He was very particular about the shade of blue-we looked on the internet and I showed him different jerseys and this blue was the right one. This video of Joseph opening the jersey just makes me smile and tear up every single time I watch it. He was jsut SO excited! He wore the jersey for the next week non-stop and normally puts it on at least once a day (remember he still loves changing clothes frequently throughout the day!)
Ella didn't do much opening as her older brother wanted to help her but she didn't seem to mind and just loved being in the middle of all of the chaos!
Daddy says that she is never allowed in this store-don't get any ideas Ella!
Practicing walking with Dad. Both in their Christmas pjs!
I had such a hard time getting a picture of both of them looking at the camera today!!!
Finally...not perfect but not bad!
After a big breakfast, a relaxing mid-morning, skyping with family and good afternoon naps our friends came over for Christmas dinner. We had four other families (the Byers, Knellers, Killions and Enias) over and it was a wonderful way to finish out the day.
A few of the kiddos wishing us Merry Christmas!
The 2013 babies relaxing!
The kids were great, had a blast together and we had a fabulous meal (honey baked ham with lots of delicious sides and desserts!)
I made my family's traditional "delicous cake"for Jesus's birthday cake and we all sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.
What a fun day to end such an awesome Christmas season. Merry Christmas!
We had a really nice, low-key Christmas Eve this year. Started the morning off with a run and playing at the park and then came home for an early nap and to get ready for church. Christmas Eve mass is crazy at most churches but rumor had it that at our church you had to be there about an hour before if you wanted to get seats. Well, Rich had no interest (nor did I) in taking both kids to church an hour before the hour plus long mass so we joined forces wtih our good friends, the Enias, and came up with a game plan. The Enias came to our house and then Monica, their new baby Ben, and I headed to church about an hour prior to mass while the Dads stayed at our house with the rest of the crew so they could play and get some energy out. It worked out really well and although mass was still a bit crazy with four kids under 4, we are glad that we went and it was nice to celebrate with the Enias.
After church we headed home for a delicious fish dinner (thanks to Rich's Italian family who we have adopted that tradition from!)
Playing after church while we did the final touches on the fish dinner.
Ella practicing standing up on her own and taking a few steps.
That tongue!
Enjoying our fish dinner!
Attempt at a picture in their outfits from Christmas eve mass. And, no, Joseph didn't wear shorts but honestly the minute that that he enters the house he changes into shorts...
And then it was over...
Walking with Daddy
Getting ready to open his present from Nani and Poppa
Christmas pajamas!!
Ella liked her pajamas, too!
After bath Ella crashed fast (she only took one nap and it was early) so she was exhausted so she didn't get to join in on the fun of leaving carrots for the reindeer and cookies for Santa. Next year!
Joseph leaving his crib with the cotton balls for Jesus by the fireplace for Santa to look at.
Lots of cotton balls-Santa will be proud!
SOOO excited!! I really hope Santa brings him the things on his list which include: a blue football jersey, blue football shorts, and cleats.
After reading Twas the Night Before Christmas and the Grinch it was time for bed.
Merry Christmas Eve!
