Seeing Santa....

I was talking to C about seeing Santa soon. The conversation went something like this....

"You know you get to see Santa on Friday. He's going to ask if you've been a good boy. What are you going to say?"

He replied, "I'll say I've been a little bit bad - but I said sorry!"

Classic!

River of Lights!

We went again this year to the River of Lights at the Botanical Gardens. It was so much fun! This year we went with some dear friends. We first ate at a very quaint and yummy, Mom & Pop Diner - Route 66 Malt Shop and Grill. It was wonderful! Very yummy food and a very cute atmosphere! We had a lot of fun! Then it was off to the River of Lights! The traffic was pretty bad but we ended up finding a spot right outside the gates and then walked in. It was a very good spot! Even though it was crowded, it was so much fun! The kids all had a blast seeing the lights and C of course climbing in and around all the displays. We even got to see my sister and her family for a minute! T favorites were the Rhino, T-Rex and the birds. C favorites were the T-Rex, Rhino, and the Submarine! I always love the hummingbirds and the Snowman village and I also liked the Rhino, too. We had a very fun evening and really enjoyed all the lights and the fun time spent with friends, too! We'll do it again next year!!

The Polar Express on the Rail Runner!

We went with our playgroup on a Polar Express Themed Train Ride! The kids wore pj's (T didn't because he had a class before the playgroup - but I did put him in comfy clothes!), ate cookies, drank hot chocolate, heard the story, and got a bell! We got on the train in Bernalillo and then headed north for 35 mins. (Ending up in the Southern part of Santa Fe) We then waited there for the train home for about 12 mins. The first leg of the trip we did all the organized activity. On the way home everyone ate their sack lunch. It was a wonderful idea and turned out to be a lot of fun!













Playing in the snow in Santa Fe.

Holiday Fun

Every year, it seems that December is just a blur of fun activities! This year is no different! Last week started off with a Christmas party with our preschool friends. It was lots of fun and very cute! I was having so much fun that I didn't take many pictures - but I did get one of C with his special friend Nadine - playing stuff the Santa Overalls. Too fun!

Last Friday was a very fun Christmas party with church friends. Unfortunately, I had to miss that one because I was sick. Hubby took the boys though and had a great time. On Saturday, I missed the Christmas Brunch with the women at my church because I was still sick! Grandpa even got to come for a quick visit Saturday night. We had fun visiting! Now, I am finally feeling better and we are still enjoying the festivities!

On Tuesday, hubby went out of town for work. He'll be back late on Friday but the boys and I have been taking advantage of this time together! Yesterday, we stayed in our pj's all day and had fun being together. We baked cookies (for MOPS on Thursday) - a recipe that I invented - Peppermint Cookies with chocolate chips! Yummy! The boys were such big helpers - they love baking with me! Then for dinner we ordered pizza and ate it in the living room - with Dr. Pepper - while we watched a Christmas movie! After pizza, we each got to eat a cookie that we made! I love making memories this time of year!

Funny things they said tonight

So on the way home from Bible Study tonight, the boys started asking about windows. C asked, "Do all the window roll down?" Daddy answered, "No. The front doesn't roll down. The sides do and the back window opens so that you can put things in." Then C starts talking about reasons to roll down the window - "maybe to let more sun in," he said. Then T pipes in : "Or you roll down the window to let the toots out." :)

Then, tonight when I was putting C to bed. I sang to him and then kissed him and told him to sleep good. He replied as I was leaving, "You sleep good, too. Okay, Pumpkin?"

I love my boys.

Sisters

Yesterday, life went back to normal. C happily went to school and hubby went back to work. T and I got to go hang out with my sisters. Dottie came down from Santa Fe and so we all went over to Emily's and got to hang out together. It was a great day. We just spent time playing with the kids, playing Super Mario Bros and talking and being together. The kids had a good time playing. I even got to pick up C from school and take him over there to be with his Aunts and cousins for a while, too. I love that for this time in our lives we all live close enough to be together frequently. It might not always be this way but for now - we love it!

San Antonio Trip

We had a great time over Thanksgiving week in Stockdale, TX - just outside of San Antonio. We stayed with hubby's sister and family. After attending the memorial service in Amarillo, we drove 10 hours to Stockdale. We made a brief stop in Tulia to have lunch with my sister, niece and Nanny and Papa Papa. I would have loved to spend more time with them but I will just have to make another trip down there soon! The kids really did great on the drive there and back home! I was amazed at how cooperative they were - I guess snacks and movies are an amazing thing in the car! We got in late Sunday night.
On Monday, we spent the day resting from the drive and just hanging out. The kids spent a lot of time outside playing in the dirt and on the play set. They were so cute all together. The boys constantly wrestled and rough housed around. And little Paige is so cute and reminded me so much of my little T at the same age. She talks all the time and her and T got into many debates. They liked to push each other's buttons. :) too funny!
On Tuesday, we all got up and headed to SeaWorld! It was a little windy and cool in the morning but warmed up by the afternoon. It was a blast and the kids (and grown ups - I think hubby is just a big kid when it comes to these places!!) had a wonderful time! We loved the Clyde and Seamore show! Shamu was amazing! But most of all, I think we enjoyed the Dolphins. They didn't do a "show" but at one of the feeding times a trainer was out there and had the Dolphins come up to the side of the tank and we got to pet it! (No pictures - it happened too fast!) Hubby and I also very much enjoyed the 2 roller coasters! Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Rick took the kids for a little bit and we got to ride each roller coaster 3 times! No lines!! Too fun - I told hubby I want to go to Six Flags for our next anniversary! :) Overall, we all enjoyed SeaWorld a lot!
Wednesday, we spent time together as a family - Gigi and Grandpa were there too. We just cooked and prepared for Thanksgiving.
Thursday was Thanksgiving and we had a wonderful day! The food was yummy and we enjoyed watching the Cowboys play! The whole family was decked out in Cowboy gear and had a lot of fun watching the game. It was a nice relaxing day just being together and watching the kids play. It was this day that the boys discovered video games and loved them! the played on the Wii and the Nintendo DS and had a good time on each! At midnight, Gigi, Carolyn and I decided to go to the San Marcos Outlet Malls for Midnight Madness!! It was crazy - the traffic was unbelievable and so were the crowds but it was a lot of fun!! We ended up getting home at about 4 am. Thank goodness the hubby's were available the next day to entertain the kiddos!
Friday was full of more family time outdoors and just being together. We had a wonderful trip and really enjoyed getting to spend time with every one! Thank you Dan and Carolyn for opening up your home and letting us come and spend time with you! We were so happy that Gigi, Grandpa and Uncle Rick were able to come down too. It really was a blessed holiday! We had a safe drive home and made it in about 14 hours. Surprisingly, I quite enjoy long road trips! Hubby did get pulled over once for speeding - but the officer was nice and let him off with a warning. I think because the boys were so interested in seeing "the man outside the car. Mom he looks like a cowboy!!" Great trip - can't wait to go back again!