Christmas Cheer

So what would Christmas be without food?

We started the day with a brunch of eggs benedict and Colombian coffee. Yummy!Munchies continued with candy-coated pretzels, peppermint bark, and mulled cider. Mmm.
I know this isn't a great shot of Brad, but check out my standing rib roast! It's awesome!
Brad's brother and his family came by to share our feast.


To go with the beef, we had garlic-cheddar mashed potatoes, miniature gougeres (gruyere cheese puffs), and green bean casserole. And for dessert, a chocolate cheesecake, because, well, Brad's getting really good at making them.
Noah loves the train set Grandma and Pawpaw sent him.And Jackson really wanted the basketball game we got for his cousin. Monkey.


I love how all the old games are back in style.

What a great day. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

Christmas Eve and Morning

We started Christmas by attending the Children's Mass on Christmas Eve. The school children have a program during the service, and it's very sweet.

Jackson wanted to leave as soon as we got to church. He did pretty well, despite all that. Then it was time for communion. I told Brad I'd take the kids with me so they could get a blessing, and so he grabbed the bags and waited for us at the back of the church.

Noah started crying as soon as we got in line. I was struggling to hold him and Doggy, whom he kept throwing on the floor, so I wasn't able to hang onto Jackson's hand. I think he thought we were leaving, because he took off down the aisle and into the altar area!

I signaled for Brad to go get him. It was so crowded that I lost sight of Jackson, but assumed Brad had found him and was waiting outside. Then, as I was still in line with Noah, Jackson walked by! I managed to grab him this time and hung on for all it was worth. Brad said by the time he had gotten past all the people, Jackson was gone. He figured Jackson kept going behind the altar to the lobby and went back there. I guess Jackson had gone up another aisle and back down to where I was. Little monkey!
Anyway, then the fun began the next day...though not as early as some poor parents had it! Remember these, Jen?
As usual, I did most of the unwrapping. Noah was interested right at the beginning. Then he just wanted to play.
We had presents in three stages...Christmas morning...Christmas evening when the cousins came over...and the next day when Uncle Tuan brought up presents from Rosenberg.
Here are just the morning pictures.
The kids really enjoyed their toys!
And they are already fighting over them.
Brotherly love is the best thing. Except when he's touching your stuff.
This $3 giraffe was Noah's favorite toy. Unfortunately, he's already lost it. Have you seen it?
We got lots of puzzles with animals. They're both really into puzzles and animals.
Brad is trying to teaching Jackson to use his new game. Unfortunately, his favorite button is the exit button.
Noah got a bed tent. It's going to go over the twin mattress in his room...which he only uses for jumping.
We're hoping it will entice him to sleep in a big-boy bed.
Merry Christmas!

Holiday Scenes

Well, it's almost Christmas, and to say that we've been busy is quite an understatement. The poor kids have been dragged out to so many errands and shopping trips. Poor things. Yesterday we drove up to Plano to deliver gifts to my brother who is turn drove them down to Rosenberg today. We all had dinner up there before driving back home. It was cold, cold, cold, and I think Jackson thought we were out of our minds for making him leave the warm house just as he had fallen asleep on the couch.

Oh well. We've tried to make sure they had some fun as well. Yesterday they went to a fun birthday party at a bouncing place. Last Tuesday we loaded them in the bike trailer and rode around Interlochen to look at lights. That's a big neighborhood in Arlington where they really do up their Christmas lights right. We drive through every year, but this time we went on the bikes.

On Thursday we drove through the Prairie Lights, a City of Grand Prairie -sponsored light show on the shore of Joe Pool Lake. At the end of it were some rides and goodies. We took advantage of the carousel, as you can see.I also baked some cookies. The round ones are Paula Deen's Monster cookies with peanut butter, oatmeal, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Brad really appreciates these. The other cookies are Christmas biscotti with dried cranberries and pistachios covered with a sugar glaze. The exterminator who came by was really impressed with them. I offered him one, but apparently he's diabetic and didn't want to end up in the hospital. His loss. They are awesome!
Well, amid all the shopping and wrapping and baking and cleaning, I've hardly had time to think, much less sit down and rest. But yesterday I had a one hour haven from the storm. I went to get my hair cut. Let me tell you, I love my salon! It's an Aveda day spa. I love Aveda. I discovered them back when I lived in Seattle, and I've only gone to their salons since.

At my salon they give you a smock to change into so you don't get little hairs all over your shirt. They give you a cold drink. The stylist starts by massaging oil into my scalp. This is very nice, I must say. Then a shampoo and cut and blowdry. Then she flat-irons my hair, and I always love the way it looks afterwards. She is so great, and she always listens and doesn't argue. I hate stylists who argue with me. I know what I want my hair to look like!

And while this is going on, a teenager comes by with a tube of hand cream and gives me a complimentary hand massage! And I get to just sit for an hour and do nothing but relax. It's really the best money I ever spend on myself.

So the countdown has begun, and the space under the tree is full of presents. We going to go to the Children's Mass at our church tomorrow night. My favorite part, though, will be watching my children's excited faces as they see all their new toys. I can't wait!