Christmas Eve

Every year we spend Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas Day with my Hubby's family.  This year was much like any other year.  Days spent with family, eating lots of food, and opening presents.  And it was perfect.

Mom and I working on our Christmas meal.  JJ stopped in for a quick visit (that's who Mom is making the funny face to).



Patiently waiting to open presents.


Hanging out with Uncle Andrew.


JJ's job was to pass the presents out.


His first piggy bank.  I don't know what I was thinking (I guess I wasn't) but this is the only picture I have of him with a present.  He received many more presents but I just don't have pictures of them.


Watching Grandma and Grandpa open their presents.


Mom made matching aprons for JJ and me.  Everytime I'm in the kitchen (which is a lot!) JJ wants to be there "helping" so matching aprons are perfect!


My parents had a surprise for JJ this year.  After opening up all of the gifts they told JJ to look under the tree outside.  Of course, there was a gift waiting just for him. 


Playing in the wrapping paper was just as much fun as opening the gifts!


JJ took these 2 photos.


Mom and I started the tradition this year of making Pecan Rolls at the end of the night.  The next morning all we have to do is bake them and we'll have pecan rolls for our Christmas morning breakfast!


It was a wonderful day.  I'm so glad my brother got to come home and spend Christmas with us.  It wouldn't be the same without him.  Last year we all spent the night due to a blizzard that came through.  Fun memories.  But I'm glad it didn't take us 6 1/2  hours again to get to my parents house this year!

December 2010 Family Photos

A girl Jorge worked with years ago has recently started a photography business and offered to do some family pictures for us.  We, of course, took her up on the offer and met up in Norman exactly one week before Christmas.  We thought a picture of JJ from the photo shoot would be a great surprise present for our parents.  It was very cold outside that day but I'm so glad we took the time to get them done.  I didn't post all of them but there are still a lot of pictures here.

{this is the one we printed and framed for our parents}

Wishing You...

a very Merry Christmas from our family to yours!  I know I am a bit early but I probably won't have time to get online much the next couple of days.  I hope everyone has wonderful days with family and friends and always remembers the true reason for Christmas.

Thanksgiving, Round 2!

We put off our family Thanksgiving for a week so that Andrew could be a part of it.  That was definitely okay with me.  After eating so much on Thanksgiving Day, I don't think I could have done it again the next day at my parents house (the original plan).  We celebrated Mom's birthday on that day as well.  So much food!  It was a great day spent with family!

Getting ready to devour our Thanksgiving feast!

JJ loved the drumsticks!

This is the only non-dessert item that I got an individual picture of.  Our appetizer, stuffed mushrooms.  Yum!

The cake I made for Mom's Birthday.  Chocolate Harvest Cake.  A creamy pumpkin filling sandwiched between 2 layers of moist, chocolate cake and topped with ganache and crumbled Heath bar.  And it tastes better the longer it sits!

Traditional Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie.  Gotta have those!

He's Back!

My not-so-little brother has been working in Iraq since April.  He came back a week ago for a 30-day vacation, just in time to spend Christmas with us!  He returns to Iraq at the end of December for another 6 months but for now we are so glad to have him back home!

I (unfortunately) had to use the flash for the pics in the airport so please excuse the glare.

JJ watches his Grandma give Uncle Andrew a big hug.

Checking his Uncle Andrew out.  Not quite sure about him yet. 

That didn't take long.  He warmed up to him right away.

Heading home!

Yep, they're weird.  But we love them.  :)

They were both laying under the Christmas tree.  I was only able to snap this one picture.  JJ wouldn't lay still long enough for me to try to get a good one.