Our Neck of the Wood: Christmas in Texas

A touch before Christmas, we headed south to celebrate with C’s family, we said good bye to the cold as we boarded the plan and were greeted with what felt like rather balmy weather!

We were blessed on the way down with an empty seat for this nugget to enjoy…she continues to be busy as ever and the extra space allowed for everyone (especially all our friendly airplane neighbors) to enjoy a happy flight!

Our first stop post baggage claim was a trip to see a special train layout at a mall near Gigi and Papa’s house, not of course before stopping at Chick-Fil-A for some famed sweet tea! The train exhibit is hosted each year as a fundraiser for the area Ronald McDonald House…it is phenomenal as both nuggets squealed delight as we walked through and explored.

We also found a fun puppet show, and of course…had to stop to enjoy!

Then we headed to Gigi and Papa’s where we enjoyed some R & R…well as much as you can with two nuggets under the age of 4. We enjoyed connecting with friends, watching the nuggets play and did some exploring around Gigi and Papa’s neck of the woods.

B and A helped Gigi with a little gardening…

And as always, made sure that the neighborhood birds had plenty of food!

On Christmas Eve, we enjoyed a special Christmas Brunch with some of C’s family.

B was quite enamored by the opportunity to have an endless amount of chocolate milk and pancakes…while Little A ate herself silly with fresh berries from the waffle bar. After breakfast, the nuggets, along with their cousin found a fountain that provided seemingly endless entertainment for coin throwing and lap making!

Once the grown-ups finished eating, we all explored a bit…as we enjoyed yet another train display. The wagon was a help and hit as we explored…as little feet got pretty tired as a result of all the memory making.

Before heading home for naps, we managed to snap a family photo…

On Christmas morning we woke up and celebrated as our little family of four. We snuggled together in bed and read the Christmas story. Neither B or A really had any idea what was coming next, so it was a treat to be able to sit and simply enjoy some quality time with them before the day got underway.

After reading, we headed downstairs where we were greeted by Gigi, Papa and Auntie B. There we explored stockings which Santa had filled and exchanged gifts with one another.

***Our Christmas morning photos seem to have grown legs and gotten lost, we’re hoping to gather a few from Auntie B and Gigi and Papa’s cameras***

Later, we packed up and headed to Mimi’s house to celebrated. There we enjoyed watching some old family movies, a delicious Christmas dinner and some more gift exchanging.

At this point, B had gotten the hang of unwrapping…practicing patience as others opened was a bit of another story, but we all enjoyed sharing gifts that we had picked out for each other.

Little A was the recipient of this little stroller…which she’d been quite literally attached to all day. She was delighted to open a package that had her very own purse inside. As soon as she opened it, she hung it from her arm and pushed the stroller…as if to say ‘See Mom, I’ve got this thing down!’

The purse had some pretend lipstick inside…I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched her pretend to apply it to her lips…I’m not one who typically wears lipstick, I’m more of a chap-stick girl…but this nugget seems to be all about the red…and the brighter the better!

After opening packages, Gigi and B read Happy Birthday Jesus …

and in keeping with tradition, baked a birthday cake for Jesus!

There was no question as to what B thought about the cake!

Before heading home, in the SNOW, none-the-less (yes, it snowed on Christmas in TEXAS!!!! What a treat!) we snapped a four generation photo. Please excuse me in the photo, I know that I’m technically not one of the generations…tired nuggets required this momma to pose Smile .

The next day we packed up and headed west, a bit, to some more family. C’s grandfather rented a house for us to enjoy for a couple of days.

We kept the Christmas celebration alive as we enjoyed another Christmas dinner together and again exchanged gifts. Auntie B was the recipient of some new running socks (Sic’Em Bears), the socks doubles as knee highs for little A. C was quick to point out that she could wear the socks, but gently reminded A that we were purple at our house…not green and gold! Smile

The next day, we moseyed over into our former neck of the woods to explore at the museum. A and B were thrilled with the chance to play with more cousins.