Enjoying our new toys the day after...

Today we made ourselves stay at home, get some rest and enjoy all our new presents! I received another camera that is smaller in size for when I can't bring our big fancy camera with me. It also is able to create videos which makes me oh so happy! You can see that I also played with my toy today too!

I did take these two pictures yesterday when I first opened my gift to test it out...not too bad!  

Today, they took their bikes out for a spin and somehow knew the way to the park! Todd and I kept trying to turn around and head back home but we were told, "No, slide!" They are also loving the swings these days. "Go high Dada!"

It was so cold outside and thank goodness no one saw me! I was not dressed to impress!

Okay, notice Chloe is riding Cooper's bike? Little Miss threw a fit when it was time to leave the park to ride Cooper's. Cooper was oh so nice and gave it up...

He kept saying, "No, pink!" He wouldn't ride it! He wanted to push it instead! He walked all the way back home from the park (and it was cold) while Chloe rode his! I wonder how many more times those crocodile tears will win her brother over! He's so sweet to her, most of the time.

Here are some cute videos of them playing with their new toys today....

Cooper's laugh is making me laugh out loud while I watch these...

My sweet Chloe being such a girly girl...

They still need some more practice!

I think Cooper and Chloe enjoyed having some quality time with their Mama and Dada today! All is well, they took good naps today, ate well, played hard and went to bed at normal bedtime. Now, it's Mama's turn to hit the hay!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas this year was so special. We always cherish our extended time with Maddie and Cooper and Chloe really loved everything about the holidays, especially passing out presents to everyone and opening them.

Our Christmas traditions include going to the Christmas Eve service with my Mom (this year my brother joined us :)) and then going back to our house to eat tamales w/ chips and queso and opening presents with my Mom and brother. Then, on Christmas day we get together with my entire family.

Maddie was not with us for Christmas Eve until 9:00 that evening. Chloe was into taking pictures before church much more than Cooper. Cooper wasn't having it. In fact, he lasted about 5 minutes of the church service and then walked around outside the sanctuary with Dad until the service was over. Chloe lasted about 15 minutes and then joined Dad and Cooper. We could tell that Chloe knew she was looking cute by her prance!

Yep, wasn't having it...

Okay, just one Mom...

The only one with them together, ha!

Opening Nana's presents on Christmas Eve...

Santa came!

Handing out the love...

Christmas with my family was hosted by us this year!

Cooper was playing Santa and handing them out, so cute...

Aunt Donna got all the little ones boots...

Big Girls...

Tummies are full and it's movie time...

Sisterly love...

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

More fun...

The River Oaks neighborhood is especially beautiful at Christmas time. Last night, Nana, Aunt Donna, Maddie, Cooper, Chloe and I piled in the suburban to drive around looking at the lights after meeting for dinner. My Aunt had already driven around prior and found out that Santa sits in front of a house. People park and actually sit on his lap to take pictures so we gave it a shot. We had been talking up Santa to the babies and hoped that their fear had lessened. 

This is our picture with Santa... 

This was the house with Santa...

Less scared of the plastic reindeer...

Chloe was scared of it all, she clung on to Big Sis the whole time! She preferred looking at the pretty lights in the car!

Going back on his own for a closer look...

He gives out candy canes, how bad could he be?

It's worth the drive, some were out walking with strollers and others were viewing the lights from their cars. It's beautiful and this one house makes it worth the traffic you drive through to get there.

We haven't made it to Prestonwood yet. If you haven't gone there before it's fabulous. Each street has a different theme. There is one Disney themed street with the Disney castle at the end. I've gone there since I was a child and it has never gotten old.

Christmas festivies have begun!

First, it starts with watching Christmas movies together!

  Then, it's going to the church's Crazy Kid Christmas Show and eating sugar cookies!

Next, it's dragging Grammy through an amusement park (Fiesta Texas)!

And Grammy buying them HUGE Lollipops!

And her hair getting shellacked to her face!

And being with a best friend!

And cousins!

And watching a tree lighting ceremony that includes Christmas carolers, cartoon characters, Santa, fireworks and snow!

(We have a video of it on the cell phone that Todd can add later!)

Wrestling with cousin Trevor...

Snuggling with Dada...

Being forced to take pictures....

Also includes for some to ride a crazy scary one...

  And, finding time to ride the kiddie rides too...

 Staying in a big hotel room with family....

Of course looking oh so cute...

Helping out...

And deciding it's best to let the big people take care of it...

Finally, wrapping up the big weekend at Uncle Ricky's house!

Fortunately, Grammy was able to come visit for a longer period of time and get to be apart of a new tradition of going to Fiesta Texas each year for Holiday in the Park. The big kids LOVED it so so much last year that they wanted to make it a tradition. Funny, us adults love it too. Uncle Ricky said he felt like a 10 year old again. If we are able, we will try to continue it each year. It's truly the best time to go, riding the roller coasters in the dark (and cold) is way cool, the Christmas music and lights put you in the Holiday spirit and nothing beats being goofy with your family! We ended the weekend with dinner prepared by Uncle Ricky and opening presents. Grammy is here for another day and will be coming over with Trevor and Brett soon. Cooper and Chloe LOVE playing with Trevor and Brett. We have another video from last night of Cooper and Chloe wrestling (more like attacking) the boys that Todd will have to add later as well. It was really funny! It was also sweet to watch Cooper and Chloe getting into handing out the presents and helping each of us open them!