Bye Bye Christmas

Bye Bye Christmas, until next year. We packed away the tree but before we closed it up, Maya had to give the tree a hug and kiss.

Christmas Day 07

We had Christmas dinner at Gigi and Hidy's and it was a beautiful day so the kids got to play outside.

Carmen and Gabe got scooters for Christmas so they were anxious to scoot!

Hidy and Maya and Paloma had a little cuddle time.

Maya got the hat off a little snowman and was being super silly.

She started playing peek-a-boo from around the corner, entertaining us all.

7 Cousins

Hidy and Gigi took this picture for their Christmas card this year.

Christmas morning

Santa left some surprises and Grandmother and Pops were there bright and early to see all the action. Santa has to leave all of the presents in big bags because Mason gets up so much earlier than Maya. So we wait to display them all until both kids are up.

Mason got the L-Max from Grandmother and Pops. It is a hand held game that also can be plugged into the TV and played there. Santa brought Mason 2 games for the L-Max, along with many other things.
Maya got a "FurReal" kitten from Christopher and Julie -- and this is her reaction when the kitten meowed at her! She LOVES it.
Mason opened his new MP3 player from Christopher and Julie -- AWESOME! Now I don't have to share my IPod with him. It came with some tunes on it and we have loaded many more songs from his CDs.
He wasted no time at all trying out his new electonics! After trying to listen to music AND play a video game for a few minutes he decided he could not concentrate on both!

When Maya opened some new shoes from Grandmother and Pops, she was hilarious, immediately stripping off her footed pajamas. She wanted to get those furry clogs on her feet ASAP. (of course her new kitten is still in hand)

We ALL love Tony Romo! Mason got a Dallas Cowboys jersey from Chip, Debbie, Lindsay and Landon. He loves cheering for the Cowboys!

Maya opened her new really soft Dora blanket and pillow from Chip, Debbie, Lindsay and Landon and just had to test it out.

And C,D,L&L also gave her a Disney princesses tea set. She loves it!!

Thanks everyone. We had a fabulous Christmas.

Christmas Eve 07 part 2

We did things a little different this year. We usually take so long opening gifts that the kids get tired and cranky or hungry. This year we broke it up -- let the kids open gifts in the morning and then the adults opened gifts that evening.
Gigi tried on her new coat that we gave her.

We got Lauren a cute new purse and make up or accessory bags.

Devin opened a special gift from Bill and Brian. It was an orange -- it was a joke. (long story, but it was funny and we got a big laugh out of it) I think they enjoy teasing Devin.

Gigi did have a few more gifts for the kids, including some little books for the 3 little girls. They immediately began reading them.

Little helicopter, BIG reaction

This gift caused such a huge reaction out of the kids that it gets a post all its own!! For many many months Mason has seen commercials for remote control airplanes and helicopters and always is asking me if he can have one of those.

Hidy and Gigi got a helicopter for him and Brian. It was for both of them because it is actually pretty complicated to fly.
Mason and Maya's reaction as the rotors start to spin fast.
And then as it lifts off the floor the kids are also jumping off the floor - and screaming with delight.

It was dark by the time we had the helicopter charged. That is why we were trying it indoors. But we quickly found it was too powerful for indoors and moved outside in the dark. It was later in the week when some really good flying took place in daylight.

Christmas Eve '07

Traditionally we open gifts with my side of the family on Christmas eve. Mason thought it would never get here.... but it did!! He could not wait to open the camouflaged wrapped gift under the tree. So at his first opportunity, he opened it! It was The Incredibles toys. These are hard to come by these days. I had to get them on Ebay and probably paid way too much.
Maya opened this Dora bath set - although she doesn't look too excited, she really was.
Oh BOY!! A talking Mr. Incredible. (again, Mommy probably paid way too much....)
Cool PINK soccer ball for Maya from Gigi and Hidy.

Gabe made a special gift tag for Mason's Christmas present. It is the biggest "gift tag" I have ever seen! Very cute.

The "Maya" from the show "Maya and Miguel" toys that Angi found for my Maya were a big hit.

Zoe opened up a Dora motorcycle just like Maya's.

Many cousins gather around the oldest of all the cousins, Lauren.

Paloma was a little more interested in food than presents.

Sneaky P-Lo and Maya

Angi and David had a Christmas party to go to so Carmen, Gabe, and Paloma came over for a little visit. It was getting later in the evening, so some of the kids got into their pajamas. All but Paloma and Maya were sitting together in the living room watching something or playing. I started to hear little giggles from the kitchen. When they continued, I decided I better go and see what the girls were up to. I found the pantry door wide open and then saw this. Apparently hungry for a snack, they got the container with cereal out and helped themselves.

Tech Basketball

Fran and Charlie, a.k.a. Grandmother and Pops, gave Brian tickets to the Tech basketball game for Dec. 22nd played at the AAC for his birthday. Along with that -- they offered to keep the kids while we went and enjoyed ourselves.

We had a fabulous time. We met up with a lot of Brian's college fraternity brothers at the game. Jeff, on the left, had a suite so we went up to visit them.

Our seats were up close and personal -- the 2nd row from the floor. I took this picture of Bobby Knight in action!!

Thank you very much Fran and Charlie --we had so much fun -- and so did the kids!

Christmas cookies

Grandmother had a great idea for the kids to make and decorate Christmas cookies after they went to see Santa.

Of course, one of the BEST parts of making cookies is EATING THEM!

Here comes Santa...in a HELICOPTER!

Each year Santa and his crew make visits to the H-E-B elementary schools. It is really so awesome. Even for an adult (I'm speaking about myself) it just brings tears of joy watching how excited the children get about this event. Unfortunately this year I missed it. But Grandmother and Gigi took the kids.

They see the helicopters coming...


Waiting patiently...

Ms. Clause stops for a quick hug and picture...

they talk to an elf...

and finally SANTA!!

Thank you Grandmother and Gigi for taking the kids! I know they really enjoyed it.