Merry Christmas

Holidays always kick my behind.  Not sure why.  I offer to do to much then I get so overwhelmed I have a hard time enjoying things.   A few years ago I learned to scale things down for the boys.  They get just 4 things.  Something they want, need, wear, and read.  Then the main family gift and something from Santa.  It has defiantly made the Christmas shopping less expensive and stressful. That's for sure   This year we was our 1st one in Houston.  I also volunteered to be the room mom for both boys classes.  Luckily just a helper to Gavin's and the main one to Josh's.  so I had their parties to prepare. I was also asked to teach the Christmas lesson and come up with the Christmas present for the entire young women organization in our new ward.  And my parents were coming.  The 1st Christmas anyone has ever joined us.  To say I had a few things on my plate was a bit of a understament.  I'm still trying to find my way here.  This move has been quite the adjustment for me.  Overwhelming adjustment.  Houston is just so different from anyplace I've ever been.  I'll get the hang of it (hopefully)

My parents arrived the 19th and I had all these plans of taking them around.  But my Dad is a homebody (like me) and I was just so exhausted we ended up not doing to much.  We did venture out and see Christmas lights and my Mom and I did a lot of shopping but that's about it.  I thought my Mom was going to go nuts I felt so bad.  Hopefully when I get more comfortable driving around here I'll dare take her to the beach, and the Houston space center and all the things I have been wanting to check out. 

Christmas eve we did our tradition of the Chocolate fountain.  My Mom was surprised that we do this considering how messy it is and how much of a clean freak I am.  But the boys love it so much and I only break it out once a year that it's worth the huge mess.  The thing I love the most about it is we all just sit around the table and talk enjoying yummy chocolate.  My favorite its fresh pineapple and strawberries.  And I put coconut oil with the chocolate chips so it gives it a nice slight coconut flavor.  Yum. 

Gavin is always a huge mess after this.  But Gavin is always a huge mess after I give him a glass of water.  This kid is always sticky.

Our challenge was the upstairs of our house is open on the catwalk, and there is a opening by the game room.  When my SIL Diane came to see the house she asked "how are you going to do Christmas with out the boys seeing?"  Something I didn't think of when we were looking.  And yes it made for a big challenge.   Luckily Santa left a Trampoline for the boys so there wasn't to much that wasn't wrapped for them to see.  I had to put the younger two to bed 700 times that night.  So Santa came in the wee hr.s.  He was going to put up the trampoline that night but was to exhausted from all his deliveries that he just left a spring in the socking for the boys and we all got to put it together Christmas Morning.  It was pretty funny as they kept saying what it this and didn't figure it out for a while.

Josh had been asking for the Mellinum falcon for two years.   It's expensive and the problem we have with getting these big sets is the kids put it together then someone breaks it.  They throw all the pieces in with the 7,000 Legos we have and it never gets built again.   So I decided if he asked again for it this year we would get it and put it up high.  His face was priceless.  He's such a happy kid.

Gavin wanted everything Plants VS zombie related.  This kid is so funny. 

And Trevor wanted the Lebron shoes.  I can't believe we are at the age with our kids where they want only electronics, nike elite socks and super expensive Shoes.  He was thrilled.

My Mom got lots of books.  And some new glasses.  I had to laugh as she was reading with out taking the tag off the glasses.

The trampoline was a huge hit.  They miss our one in Round Rock that got destroyed by a huge windstorm.  And I am more than thrilled to send them outside to wear off some energy when they get wild. 

We did lots of baking.  Well I did.  Ryan always has to have his peanut butter balls (not pictured) and candy cane cookies. 

And I made some orange rolls.  Love these things.

Gavin spent days out on the trampoline just saying "Thanks Santa".  It was beyond cute.

It took him 3 days but he got it done. 

It's been Chilly here (unusually cold for TX) and Sadie refused to go outside.  So we got her a little outfit to keep her warm.  She was less then thrilled to be in it.  We would put it on her and she would just sit there not move and look at us like we were complete idiots.  It was so funny.  And she just looks so stinking cute in it.  The poor thing.