feliz navidad

{ i've been putting this off because i have so many pictures! i decided to try the photo collage thing this time; you can click on the collage to see it enlarged. enjoy!! }

we got to spend 2 weeks in texas over the Christmas break! we did our Christmas morning on friday before we left ohio to minimize the luggage. as it was, we took 2 suitcases (3 on the way home!), 2 strollers, 2 car seats, and 5 carry-ons (not including the baby), so i guess it was a good idea.

after russell's test on friday night:

after a 6-hour delay in memphis because of weather, we made it to grandma and grandpa roberts'! most of the clan picked us up in the rv with a HUGE welcome banner on the side! (i wish i had a picture!)

monday, we headed up to killeen to visit ephraim, heather, max and ezra. they are the texas bbq gurus and recommended that we stop at kreuk's in lockhart. we're glad we took their advice - amazing brisket!

heather and ephraim treated us to some delicious meals, a drive through Christmas lights show, and a fun visit to the 1st cavalry museum. and all these boys treated us to some laughs! they sure had a good time and calvin misses playing army guys in max's backyard. thanks for letting us drop in for a fun visit!

back to san antonio... we performed the nativity pageant at a nursing home, which i'm sure was entertaining on some level! we had a good time. Christmas eve started at bruce, nancy and grandma's home with food, ornament-making, and a program with scriptures and songs.
we got some fun pictures of 5 of grandma's great-grandkids born in the last year...
then to kelly and john's for the opening of Christmas jammies...

FINALLY, the magical morning! grandpa read from the bible and book of mormon about the Savior's birth. we started unwrapping in an orderly fashion, then had some chaos for awhile. we took a break for a delicious breakfast and then started round 2 of the presents. we were definitely spoiled! (i love the pic of russell holding up his "blinded by science" t-shirt from his parents. he looks like a mad scientist with that hair!)
calvin had a blast making SNOW with cousins that night, which was the closest thing we got to a white Christmas.


calvin turned 3 on the 26th. watch for a separate birthday post SOON, but here's a preview pic...


we got some cute shots of the boys in their new sunday suits with grandma and grandpa:


we got to test out a flight simulator at kyle's work.
grandma took us to see the san antonio children's museum and eat yummy mexican food on the riverwalk.
russell and i got to go to the temple.
kim and mike treated us to a heavenly breakfast at magnolia pancake haus.
reese let us take him to northstar mall (that's big...he's a teenager. and it was fun)
we met our good friends the wright's for dinner and shakes at ez's. so good to see them:

on new year's eve it was a gorgeous 75 degrees and we spent most of the day outside. we started with the mandatory visit to rudy's bbq:
then off to breckenridge park to feed ducks and play corn-hole, fox-tail, and on the playground...

we rang in the new year (or in calvin and mason's case, slept through it) at "the shire" (grandma and grandpa's vacation rental home). we had a shrimp boil and strawberry shortcake, played a bunco tournament and monopoly deal, and exchanged white elephants. russell and i barely made it til midnight then somehow stayed up til 3 to get everything packed for our trip the next day.

after another long day of flying we (and ALL our luggage) made it home.
p.s. this little guy came home with three new teeth on top (now he's getting a fourth up there for a grand total of 6)

big thanks to rod and karen and kelly and john for hosting our stay. we had such a good time!
worst part of the trip: coming back to SUB-freezing temps! it was so nice to fly south for a bit of the winter and now i'm ready for spring.

happy new year!