Back Home- Santa Presents!

We were very wary when we rolled up to our little house here in Texas at 7:45pm.  The last hour is always the worst- you are so close to home and completely run out of things to entertain ourselves.  The 11 hour trip was immediately forgotten when the girls saw the beautiful presents under the tree.  All the gifts were unwrapped by 8:15- I feel like that should be a record!

Barbie Camper

Barbie convertible

On top of G's list- a magna color!  Which unfortunately was not built correctly by Santa's elves, so we have to send it back to Amazon to get a new one.

There were of course many other presents (legos, hello kitty towels, books, and dressups) but they were all opened so fast I couldnt get pictures!  What a fabulous and Blessed Christmas we have had!

St. Louis: A visit with the McBrides

I'm so glad we were able to meet up with Rebecca this visit!  She texted me a few days before to tell me that little X had croup so it was up in the air whether or not we would be able to see them.  But he turned a corner pretty quickly, so we were able to playdate the day before we left.  It was so great to catch up with her!

Watching a show before lunch.

Playing dress up, a Sophia- Gianna favorite!

Rebecca is just a week and a half away from baby #4.  Her new house in St. Louis is perfect for them.  We will be back to visit soon!

St. Louis: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

After a lovely brunch at Aunt Shanny's house, a nap and church, we were all ready for the presents to begin!  First up, matching jammies for all the cousins.

Sunday Best

Doesnt everyone just look so happy here? 

The cousins also opened presents from their aunts and uncles. 

Hello Kitty Toe socks- good for the feet or your hands!

Probably the most favorite game- Angry Birds.  Both Gianna and Colin have their game faces on.

I love love love this picture.  Aunt Colleen and Uncle Bobby found Gabby Douglas Corn Flakes.  She was so excited.

After they were finally in bed, the siblings opened presents.  Then we put out the Santa presesnts.  This year instead of hauling EVERYTHING back and forth, we only brought stocking stuffers and a joint present for the girls from Santa.  Matt and Sarah were dog-sitting back in Dallas, so they made sure to put out the larger santa presents for us to come home to.

Annual fireplace and milk and cookies picture. 



Past 3 years!

Chirstmas day was spent opening presesnts, playing with presents, eating yummy food, and Santa even stopped by for a quick visit.

He gave out little presents to the oldest 4.

 

 

G was toooooo excited here

Merry Christmas!

St. Louis: Cousin Love

We left on Saturday to spend 5 days in St. Louis.  Gianna and Elia were so excited to see their cousins Colin and Austin, and of course the 2 babies- Brendan and Anna!

Almost to St. Louis!  I think we were in Mount Vernon, MO here.

G was the baby lover, as always.  She has little scratches all over her face from little babies grabbing at her.

It got cold!  G looks like a McHugh here!

My favorite picture!

My sweet god daughter!

No one could get enough of these 2.

Toms trains.

 

 

Holiday Hoopla

Our school's Chistmas Holiday party was awesome.  PTA put the entire thing on outside of the classrooms, and the different grade levels rotated through.  My class had a blast, and afterward we watched Narnia in my classroom since we just finished reading it.  Gianna's party was during lunch, so I went down to hang out with her on my break.

 

 

Cotton ball on your nose race.  SHe would not let me take a picture of her with it on her nose!  I promise she was cute.

Antler toss

Ski relay

I couldn't stay with her the whole time. We had a blast!

Christmas Card Pictures

This is the first year I took less than 30 pictures to get a decent one for the Rowles' Family Christmas Card.  Here are a few gems that didn't make it onto the card.

 

 

Previous crazy card takes: 2010  2011
Elia is becoming quite the ham.  She was a star at her Christmas show for her daycare.

Advent

 

Advent wreaths! Got the idea from here.

 

On sunday nights we burned the candles for a few minutes during dinner.

 

Tree time!



I like this pic of Elia becasue it shows how warm it was the day we got the tree.  Bare foot!

Lights Up

And done!

 

 

St. Nick's Day





Hello Kitty Jelly beans, gold coins, and christmas tree pen and paper.



Thanksgiving Break: Thanksgiving Photo Dump

The best appetizer ever- club crackers with parm cheese on top, wrapped in bacon.

My first pie.  Getting fancy with the top.

Elia and G helped make name cards.

The kid's table.  Thats Martinellis.

The table all decked out.

Nutella mousse.  Yum!

Sarah and I!