Christmas 2008

We were fortunate to spend time with both of our families this year. We made the trip to Dallas in one day with only a tiny incident. We stopped in Missouri for breakfast and had a hard time convincing Georgia that the Cracker Barrel was both a store AND a restaurant. In the end, she gave it a thumbs down because they had big crunchy bacon which aided her in losing a loose tooth at the table. I have always said that she brings her drama with her.

I think Chris and I each gained a few pounds from all of Geolita's cooking and fresh tortillas. I even left with her hot sauce recipe, so Chris no longer has to hoard it like gold. The kids had a great time hanging with their cousin, Erick and spending time with Aunt Amy.

Houston was a least warm one day, so I got to wear shorts and flipflops.....bonus. We had lots of fun visiting family, making cookies and playing with a raspberry-blowing baby cousin.

Our holiday highlights included:

some serious PSP football games and really big lollipops

Light Saber fights with a willing great-grandma

choosing which cookies to leave for Santa

a sweet paper-tearing baby


checking out things under the tree

Santa brought an American Girl doll bed and lots of Star Wars figures and ships

a bouncy-jumper that got a real workout

new light saber (with light and sound)


Merry Christmas!

Preschool Party

I had fun attending Brody's Holiday Party at his preschool today. We made some super cute snowman cookies for the occasion, but I forgot to get a picture of them. He and his friends showed the parents around the room, listened to a story from Miss Angie and Miss Lynnette,
sang a song with jingle bell bracelets

and made snowmen with peppermint-scented playdough.

Christmas Cuties

Away From The Manger

There seems to be a criminal theft phenomenon that is purely seasonal in its occurrence......theft of Baby Jesus. You hear it on the news every year. Someone has stolen the Baby Jesus from St. Whatever's nativity display for the 9th straight year. They have made the decision to lo jack their Christ child to prevent further theft and catch the kidnappers.

My house is not immune to this petty thievery. I have an old nativity set that I played with throughout my childhood that is embedded with a child magnet. It calls to the under 10 set, begging them to play with it's paint-chipped magi, faded trees, and one-legged sheep. I bought my kids their own Little People nativity set last year to distract them, but was an effort in futility. Baby Jesus always goes missing. I have found him hanging out with Barbie, riding in a tractor and chilling in a block castle with Spiderman. Apparently the manger scene is just not that hip and the wise men and sheep are just not his kind of crowd. I am considering hot glue to curb his running away from home.

This year is different. He left a stand in. I really don't know why the King of Kings asked a lackey from an evil empire to keep his seat warm, but I guess I will have to ask him when I see him. Time to check with the Lego guys or look in the Bat Cave. WWJG? (Where Would Jesus Go?)

Ornament Exchange III

What makes a good party? Some creative cocktails, entertaining conversation, great food and a bunch of awesome chics. No foot of snow this time, but the tassel came back. Thanks again for a fun night, Trish!

Merry Christmas Martinis

(courtesy of Nancy our mixmaster)

2 oz Citrus vodka
3/4 oz Midori
splash of white cranberry juice
Shake over ice and strain!

Fancy Nancy

Arecelis, Dori, Mary and Me

Michelle modeling the "Tassel"

Dee, Dori, dragonflies and Jennifer

Amy and her Frog

Erika, Joanna, and Caroline

Donita and Kylla

Donita, Nancy, Trish and Sally

Freezing Brownies

Tonight we braved the weather and 'teen temperatures to watch the local Christmas parade. We have never attended since it seemed to me that sitting out in freezing weather to watch floats, high school bands and get candy thrown from participants was kind of a dumb idea. Last year it was even cancelled because of an ice storm. Maybe the fine people of Illinois would snicker at the thought of us Texans doing the same in the third week of August. I guess it is all in your perception of dumb. At least there was free hot chocolate!

Anyway, the area Scouts, including Georgia's Brownie Troop were walking partipants this year. So we were obligated to bundle up and watch our girl in the festivities. Thankfully, she was in one of the first groups, so after Brody had his fill of floats and candy, we headed inside for pizza and beer to thaw out and wait for the call that they had sucussfully navigated the parade route.