Christmas Morning

Everything about the day was absolutely perfect.

The first glance.

Her princess snowglobe from Santa. "This is exactly what I wanted!"

Audrey's gift to me, a darling book called "Along Came You". The Mom in the book has brown hair, and the daughter has blonde. "Just like us," said Audrey. Dave helped her write notes and draw pictures for me in the front of the book. Audrey drew a picture of me and then said, "Whoops. Mom looks like a witch." Ha!

The kids were spoiled by our families this year (well, every year).

This picture makes me realize how quickly Audrey is growing up. When I was teaching, student teaching, and helping in classrooms when I was in college, I always loved helping the kids make Christmas gifts for their parents. I can't believe I am now getting a gift my child made me at school.

Our very dramatic response to her lovely Christmas tree ornament she made. We should be actors.

We opened our gifts from Santa, then had a big yummy breakfast. Again, I need to write down the menu. Sausage, monkey bread, fruit soup (a new delicious recipe), scrambled eggs and juice. After breakfast we opened a few presents, played for hours, took snoozes, and then went to see Alvin and the Chimpmunks, the Squeakquel with Colby & Mandy (and kids), Chris & Megan (and kids) and Clay & Amy (and kids). (Which, by the way, I felt like we had come full circle. I took Audrey to see the first Alvin and the Chipmunks when I was pregnant with Joshua 2 years ago over Christmas break. Dave had to study a ton for his boards so we could get into specialty school. Well, here we are.) We came home and had junk food for dinner, and went to bed with presents still under our tree. We opened presents for four days. Monday night the kids opened their last gift. It was a great four day Christmas.

Christmas Eve

This was our first Christmas away from our families.
I am very glad I have these people to be my new Texas family.
It was a great night of delicious food, fun people, sweet kids, darling "Marys" and "Josephs" and I had my very own first white Christmas. I never thought it would be when I was living deep in the heart of Texas.

The girls getting ready for the Christmas play.

My very own Mary and Joseph.

Megan had a great program put together that included singing songs, the Christmas story, and of course all our little actresses. They took their roles very seriously.

Our handsome little wise men riding in on their very own camel.

Job well done ladies.

I need to write down our menu so I will remember it for next year. I have the worst memory and how can something become a tradition if it is not the same every year.
Ham, mustard sauce, jello salad with two hidden almonds (who ever finds the almonds gets a surprise. Chris and Megan found them...cheaters.), green salad, green beans, homemade rolls, homemade eggnog, and for dessert, french silk pie. Yummmmm.

After a fun night it was time to go home, write Santa a note, put out a carrot for Rudolph, and candy cane joejoes (brought all the way from Trader Joe's in California...I miss that place) for Santa and hurry to bed. Audrey was so excited and it made me feel like a kid again as well. Dave and I stayed up late putting together toys and being Santa's helpers. It made me feel like an official parent. For the first time, we was on our own. It was up to Dave and me to make this night something to remember. Thanks to the help of our great friends and some Christmas snow, I think we were successful.

My All Time Favorite Santa

We saw lots of Santas this year, but this Santa was my all time favorite. He sat and read the kids a book and then asked if anyone had any questions. Audrey asked him a question and he answered and then said, "Who is this girl's mom?" I raised my hand and he said to me, "Has anyone ever told you she looks like a mini Reese Witherspoon?" Ha! But that is not why he is my favorite. This is:
One of the kids asked him if he was magic, and he responded, "No. I am not magic. I am very good at what I do, but I am not magic. The only person who can work real magic is Jesus Christ. He is why we celebrate this season and He is the only one who can really change your life."
And then, as if it couldn't get better, he said to everyone, "I want to talk about Mrs. Clause for a minute. She does so much and hardly gets any recognition. I could not do what I do without her. She is like all your moms in a way, doing so much and hardly getting recognized. I want each of you to tell your moms how much you love them."

Audrey asked Santa what he wanted for Christmas, and he said, "I want you to tell your mom everyday how much you love her." I am obsessed with this Santa.

Saw this in the bathroom and only had one thought: brillant. Why didn't someone think of this sooner?

San Francisco Visits

While we were in California for Thanksgiving, I managed to make it back to San Francisco three times.
The first time, Dave and I met up with our dear friends, Rocia and Emerson (and angel baby, Baine). We met at Mama's and of course had the Monte Cristo. Divine. Then we went and saw New Moon, visited with friends who still live there (and got to meet baby Jude and baby Iris), and then went to dinner at Umami. It was a fun day, and it was so fun to see this cute family again. It felt like we never left (especially when we were driving around looking for a parking space!).

The second time was on Thanksgiving when we were able to bike all around the beautiful city by the bay. The third time, sweet Rocia came to pick me up and we went and had a sleepover with Kathy. It was also Enrichment night, and all star Addi had planned the coolest activity ever-she rented a trolley car and we got to go caroling around San Francisco. It was so fun to see so many familiar faces.

Addi, Juli, and me

We had a sleepover with Kathy and it was a riot. We stayed up late eating yummy food, listening to hilarious stories and spending time with good 'ol Roger and Kathy.

In the wee hours of the morning.

We had to leave early the next morning so I could make my flight back to Texas, and we discovered Rocia had a flat tire! I quickly did what I knew how to do (called AAA), and Rocia proceeded to quickly nurse Baine, and then she went out and changed that tire before AAA could even get there. This girl...jack of all trades, master of ALL.

I now know how to change a tire. My Dad taught me in high school, but of course I forgot. This is very valuable information.

San Francisco, thank you for giving me so many wonderful friends.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving in California was...perfect. The kids and I went for two weeks, and Dave was able to join us for a few days. There is nothing better than hanging out, making memories, and gaining weight, all with the people I love so much.

There was lots of cooking, ice skating, playing and snuggle time going on.

Beautiful Aunt Ritz

The second part of the time we went up to my family's house for more playing, a football game, ice skating, and a day in San Francisco.

The intense football game.

You could tell how intense it was by the fact that Audrey got to play (she even scored a touchdown!) and I played in jeans. All the players.

After the game we had a little round of Rock Band. Much more serious than the football game.

Hanging out with Grande.

On Thanksgiving Day we all headed into the city for a fun day of biking around San Francisco. It was so fun and a great way to work up a good appetite! We biked all around San Francisco, had Boudins bread bowls for lunch, and then over to and across the Golden Gate Bridge. It was good to be in our old stomping grounds again. It was the perfect feeling being there, enjoying all our memories we made there, but happy to have moved on and to be where we are now.

The kids getting their naps in. I love how they are holding hands.

The famous arrow cupid left in San Francisco.

My mom, talking to my Grandpa on the phone, right in front of Dave's old building. All the things I love...my Mom, my Grandpa, and the reason that brought us to San Francisco all those years ago. Plus it shows what a good multi tasker my Mom is! Riding a bike, talking on the phone, and smiling for a picture. Talent I tell ya.

Thanksgiving dinner. Since we got back from San Francisco so late, we decided to have a late dinner, after all the kids were in bed.

We ended the trip with a little more ice skating, going to see Blind Side, and a fun night of going out to dinner- adults only.

I love Thanksgiving. I love the food, the quality family time, and the carrying on of traditions. When we were little girls my Dad would read to us, and we would play with his hair. My now little girl is playing with her Grandpa's hair.

I have so much in which to be grateful.
Happy (very late) Thanksgiving! May the pounds come off as easily as easily as they came on (yeah right).

Thanksgiving Program

Audrey's preschool Thanksgiving program. Loved it. Loved that Dave missed school that morning to come. Loved that Joshua sat so still during the whole 7 minute program. Loved that a few days before the program, the Principal at the school stopped me in the hall and told me what a "performer" Audrey is. Ha! She was really fun to watch.
I am so very thankful for my little cornucopia head.

Happy New Year!