Christmas 2011

Christmas seems to Fly by every year....

This year was the first year EVER that I waited until the week of Christmas to visit Santa.

Here is the before picture:

Such sweet adorable children....
Until we arrived at Santa's house....
I didn't pull out my camera.  Not one picture this year in my camera.  There were 43 meltdowns, and once it was finally our turn, I was about to throw in the towel, and the lady in front of us turned and said..."you can go ahead of us..."  So that's what we did.  I placed my screaming child on Santa's lap, told the woman behind the camera to snap away, and took what I got.  One child scared out of her mind with no shoes, and black dirt from the parking lot outside on her brand new tights, and one smiling child who was promised Chuck E Cheeses for lunch if he wore his tie and kept his "nice face" on until the photo was obtained.

Mission Accomplished.

Yesterday we headed to my In Laws for our Annual Christmas Eve Crab and Presents.

Casey was in charge of Appetizers....

Maddie had some MiMi time...(and insisted on wearing her Party dress)

Jack had time with his second cousins.
(They were so patient with the kids)

Shan always sets the nicest table.

Uncle Justin and Casey bought Madeline dress up shoes.
(She has worn them since they were opened.... even to bed.)

Mimi and Gumpy gave Jack a new game.

Which was opened immediately.
Fun!

The night was so nice, low key, yummy food, delicious wine and great company.
I love our time with Clay's family. They are so much fun!
Look at all of them! Such good sports!

When we arrived home, Mrs. Claus had stopped by to drop off an early gift!
Pajamas for Christmas Morning.
Hooray for PJ's!

Jack and Madeline loaded up Santa's plate.

and I tried to get a quick photo of the two before bed....
Oh well...
I was definitely pushing my luck...
(please note Madeline's feet)

As soon as the kids hit the hay the "some assembly required" toys were pulled out.

And some quality control testing was needed as well.

Here is how I left downstairs at 12:30am....

Jack patiently waited for his Sister to wake up....

Pure torture.

But it was worth the wait.

Henry dressed for the occasion.

Jack's big Santa Gift.
Nintendo Ds 3D.
Very Cool.

And Madeline was very content with her dress up clothes.

And Make Up.

:)

(I can't express how much fun it is to have a Girly Girl.)

Even Daddy joined in the dress up fun.

I was so excited to give my gifts this year.

Especially My Dad's Gift.

Growing up my Dad had these shoes he bought as a teenager from Mexico.
We called them the "Dead Cat" Shoes.
I was so embarrassed when he wore them.
I wish I had a photo to attach of the shoes to show how awesome this next gift is.

When I was shopping this last weekend in San Francisco, I found these shoes.

They are pretty much the Dead Cat shoes reincarnated. And Dad Loved them.
So, so funny.

This year Jack went to the Dollar store with Daddy and bought all of us gifts.
Mine was a stocking with a reindeer on it with glitter.
Awesome.

He wrapped and labeled all the packages himself.
He was so proud.
Cutest thing ever. 

Here is Christopher's gift from Jack.
You never know when a Knight shield will come in handy. 

Every year we buy all the boys the same toy.
(last year was the helicopters)

This year, Nerf Guns-complete with Lasers, Jerseys and protective eyewear.

There was an all out Nerf war for a good 40 minutes this morning.

(No group shot this year)
:(

But Dad got one this year too!

Some gifts were not a huge hit...

My Brother Chris gave me Croc Sandals.
In a size 10.
Brothers are the Best.
(At least they're pink....)

Mom hit the nail on the head this year.
 Please look at this book:

So Perfect.
Now..
I know my friends like to give me a hard time about reading...
I don't own a nook, and I have a small collections of books next to my bed that I want to read....but I just don't.

HOWEVER.

There was a time when reading was one of my favorite past times.

And Sweet Valley High was my guilty pleasure.
 I  CAN'T WAIT to read this book.
So, So Awesome.
Love my Mom, Love her Memory.

We had to take a mid morning break from opening gifts.
It takes a loooooong time for 10 people to open Christmas.

Here is our Mid point.

My house was a disaster zone.

Let's take a minute and talk about my Husband.
My amazing, wonderful, thoughtful Husband.

I'm kinda spoiled when it comes to the Husband category.  Don't get me wrong he has his moments...but overall...he understands me, he loves me, he puts up with me.

and I love him for it.

Every Christmas Clay succeeds in giving me the greatest Christmas.

I know, I know, it's all about The Kids, and Jesus's Birthday, and Giving....

I know, I know, I know.

But this Girl..

(I'm just gonna say it.)

This Girl likes Presents.

It's fun to get the Perfect gift.

And I don't think anyone can argue with that.

This Christmas Clayton bought me the Ultimate Gift.

Can. You. Handle. It.

Because I can't!

Dude.
6 inches of Fashion Bliss.

They are perfect.

Perfect Size, Perfect Style, Perfect Everything.

I almost cried when I opened the Box.

I have been coveting these shoes for years.

He never says:
 No you can't have those....
or
Are you insane?
or
Roll his eyes...

Like Most men would...

If we walk past Footcandy downtown, he always patiently waits for me while I dream at the window, fogging it up with my breath.

I never thought they would be mine.
Ever.

But ...

It's a new year.

And Mama's got a brand new Look.

And it wasn't just the shoes this year....

After I opened them, we were alone, and I gave him a huge hug, and whispered in his ear..."You realize you are creating a Monster....." and he just whispered back, "I know....But You're MY Monster" and pulled me in closer.

I was overwhelmed with his thoughtfulness.

He stole my Make Up Bag and ordered all my favorite MAC colors to restock my cosmetic bag.
He ordered everything I wear.
  From Foundation to Lipstick.
Love. That.

He bought me gloves that are specifically made for touchscreen Laptops so my fingers will stay warm while I work.

He Joined Pinterest just so he could see some of my favorite things, and he ordered me a dish for the sink that holds my Jewelry while I cook, so my rings stay clean.  He also ordered a Christmas pillow I wanted and tried to buy a few weeks ago, but the store and online were out of stock.  He bought it in November to make sure I would get it.

He bought me a printer that is wireless so I can print photos from my computer.

The list goes on....

He is so wonderful.

He didn't do too bad either.

He was VERY excited about his ROY Buster Posey Ball...and his new Remote Control Helicopter that can battle Ben's other people's Helicopters.  He loves his new Keurig for his new Office.

And He loves me.


What more could a girl ask for?

I had such an amazing Holiday.
Time with Family, Time with Friends.

Time with my adorable Children.

I am so blessed.  So, so much to be thankful for.

I really am one Lucky Lady.

Hope your Holiday was as fantastic as ours!

Merry Christmas!