Santa Pictures 2016

We were happy to once again attend a company family Christmas event at a local hotel.  It's a brunch that normally includes snow they bring in to make a sledding hill and Santa + reindeer.  This year the rainy Saturday kept us inside, but the kids had fun building gingerbread houses, petting dogs and cats, receiving balloon animals and having Collin's face painted.  Cas and I enjoyed mimosas, a great brunch, and laughing at poor Maya whose fear-of-Santa streak continues.

We were in line to take Santa pictures, and in discussions with Maya the days prior to the event, she assured us she wouldn't be afraid.  When it was our turn, Collin hopped right up.

Maya - who ironically was wearing an "I love Santa" shirt my mom bought - refused to join her brother.  Since she's three-and-a-half years old, we felt we were bordering on child abuse to force her to sit in a stranger's lap that frightened her, so I had to jump in with my teary-eyed girl for an annual photo with Ole St. Nick -  

As soon as we were a few feet away from Santa, she was back to cheesy smiles -

Cas and the kids -

Balloon lazer gun and baby Cinderella balloon animals -

Our little white tiger decorating his gingerbread house -

Sugared up, crazy haired Maya generously applying icing to her gingerbread man -

The boys -

Cas suggested this pose - 

Sneaking in some icing for a straight shot of sugar -

Oh this girl.  I had to be at church early, so Cas was in charge of bringing the kids on Sunday.  In Cas' defense, Collin had just woken up and he had to get them to church in 30 minutes, so he wasn't set up for much success.  When I picked Maya up from her class, the teacher who I know was laughing at how Cas had dropped her off.  Her hair was a ratty messy and he didn't even attempt a bow (although most days we start with a bow and she takes it out so that her hair is a wild 'fro of frizz) -

Do you see her decorated gingerbread man?  We won't be winning any decorating contests, but she had fun and covered almost every square centimeter with sugary items!

Covered in decorations from the party - necklaces, bracelets, sunglasses and face paint -

When we arrived home, Santa had delivered the first thing Collin requested - our elf-on-a-shelf, Holly, returned to us!

Maya switched out of her Christmas gear, into a princess dress, for a hallway-consuming tea party -

Collin kept on his face paint but switched into cub scout gear for a service project in the afternoon -

After the service project was complete, Santa passed out pinewood derby kits -

We're looking forward to a joyous, fun, and Christ-exalting season!

Thanksgiving 2016

The Thanksgiving weekend continues to be one of my favorite five-day stretches of the year.  We are generally all on vacation Wednesday - Sunday.  The last few years, we've been able to meet my brother on Wednesday morning at a park, run around like maniacs to pick up Cas' cake in one of the most traffic-prone areas of town, hit the grocery store, cook, clean, and get ready to host Cas' family Wednesday night for our Thanksgiving Eve meal.

My cuties on the Sunday before Thanksgiving - 

Wednesday night, the cousins gathering on the couch in a rare moment of calmness.  Throughout the night they were dressed up in super-hero and princess costumes (Maya eating Thanksgiving dinner as Disney's Mulan), building legos, playing outside, fighting with foam swords, and generally burning a ton of energy throughout our house.  Smiles from all but Maya -

We are so thankful to have 91-year-old Lita with us for Thanksgiving.  She has been pretty sick the last few months, but we are grateful she and Cas were able to continue the tradition of celebrating their birthday together.

On Thanksgiving Day, we stopped by my mom's family's lunchtime gathering for a quick hello and a few photos -

We then made our way to New Braunfels - poor Maya had the sun in her eyes when we needed her to nap in the car, but with Collin's hat, she eventually conked out.

We arrived in time to heat our food, go for a quick deer walk, and gather for dinner and family time.  My kids were often seen in the lap of cousin Jackson or their Great-Uncle Bobby.

With all the family taking turns with our kids, the long weekend gives Cas and I a chance to eat meals in a more relaxed atmosphere, play tennis and basketball, watch college football, and catch up with family members.  

Friday was spent on the tennis courts followed by Advil in the late afternoon.  Friday evening was Hanukkah - lighting the menorah, singing the song, eating potato latkas, and opening presents.

Showing off one of her presents - monster finger tattoos and a princess shirt -

Collin tagged along to the gym with the cousins and loved every minute of hanging out with the boys!

Saturday morning we played putt putt and hung out at the tennis camp, eventually making our way to the park.  Posing with cousin Jasper -

First up at Landa Park was riding the train with Uncle Alex and Grammy - 

Then we walked along the train tracks in route to feed the ducks -

Not sure where they came up with their pose, but they were committed to the hands-on-hip stance with the beautiful scenery behind them -

We arrived at the park later than normal, and the ducks must have consumed a hearty breakfast from other park goers, because most turned their beaks up at the bread we tossed to them!

Luckily we had a bread consumer in our midst to prevent it from going to waste -

They finally found some ducks to not only eat the bread, but take it out of their hands -

Maya was so proud of herself -

Last stop - the playground -

We're all fans of Uncle Alex, with Maya warming up to him more and more with each visit!

Before BBQ dinner and trivia night on Saturday, we took family pictures - this time in gingham -

The kids wouldn't cooperate when we took professional pictures earlier this fall to pose like this, but they were happy to oblige Uncle Larry, our photographer -

Waiting for Cas, the last one to jump in the shower, to join us - 

Cas arrived before the sun had set - hooray!

My parents, their children and grandchildren -

We need to practice our jumping timing, but we're leaping with love after a great Thanksgiving weekend -