Our Christmas

I know that this will probably end up being kind of long so I am posting pics separately in case you want to skip the text!! We had a great Christmas in Texas this year, this was our first Texas Christmas since we have been married since I have always had to work around Christmas. We left our house @ 6:00 a.m. on Dec. 21 (Sunday morning) and boarded a plane for the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. It was the babies first flight and they did pretty well considering. We lucked out on the way to Denver and got to sit in the same row so it wasn't so bad that the kids didn't sleep on that leg. On the flight from Denver to Dallas they both slept for most of the flight which was a blessing. We got to Dallas where Ben's folks picked us up and we headed for Valley View (which is near Gainsville in northern TX). Ben's sister Holly and her two boys, Lyndon and Oakley, were waiting for us at the house. Anthony and Emily took to Holly immediately, lately they have been wary of strangers, even my family, but they had no problem going to her. On Monday Sandy and I went into Gainsville to do some shopping so I could buy diapers and food for the kids and left the kids home with Ben. Ben's sister Shauna came over to see the kids that evening as well. On Tuesday Sandy, Holly, and I went to Denton for brunch and shopping leaving the kids with the husbands. It was really fun to spend time with the two of them. Ben was very good to keep the kids several times while I went shopping. On Christmas Eve Ben's sister Shauna came over with her kids and we had a little program, ate some dinner, and opened a few gifts. On Christmas Ben's brother Corey was able to come and spend most of the day with us and we just kind of hung out for most of the day. The kids weren't real interested in their presents, we had to unwrap them so they could have them. I feel like a bad mother because I didn't even do stockings this year, I figured they wouldn't know the difference anyways but I will definitely have to do them next year. We didn't get much for them this year, we figured we couldn't pack much and they didn't care anyways. We just kind of hung out for the rest of the week, on Friday we went into Gainsville and ate at CiCi's pizza which we have missed. We were able to enjoy some beautiful weather, the day after Christmas it was 76 degrees and then in the 60's for the rest of the time. On tuesday (the day before coming home) we went to see my uncle Don and aunt Leisa and their kids and grandkids. They have two grandkids, Brooklyn, that is 9 months and August, that is 6 months so the babies had fun playing with each other. Can you believe that Brooklyn is already walking? I told her not to give Anthony any ideas ;D! We flew back on wednesday (New Years Eve) and had a less than ideal flight since Anthony was fussy most of the flight but we are very glad to get home and sleep in our own beds! We did have a wonderful time and are so grateful to Ben's parents for putting up with us for so long, I figure the only reason is because we brought their adorable grandkids! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!