Our Christmas 2012

Christmas has come and gone already.  When I look back over the past few weeks it seems as though time has flown by.

Celebrating with the boys was really fun this year.  Matthew is at an age where he has started to understand about presents.  He wasn't as curious as I thought he would be though.  He never even touched the presents we had under the tree before Christmas day.  In fact one day when he woke up from his afternoon nap I was wrapping presents.  He walked into the living room and asked me what I was doing.  I told him I was wrapping Christmas presents. He replied with, "Oh.  Can I watch a movie?".  So, not much interest. I think next year will be different though.

Samuel too, was not very interested in the presents.  He did like to touch the ornaments on the Christmas tree and occasionally brought me one.  But luckily he didn't break any.

We had our first Christmas celebration early at Grandmother and Grandaddy's house (Patrick's parents).

There were so many presents!

This was our attempt at getting all of the kids in the picture together.  

Samuel, Maverick, Matthew, Max

The day was filled with lots of fun and of course lots of presents.  

 Here's Max opening the metal detector we got him.  I hope he finds all kinds of treasure!

This is a picture of Matthew opening up the boomwhackers he got from Max and Maverick.  If you have not heard of these, they are a brilliant musical toy for toddlers.  

We spent Christmas morning at home this year. When the boys are grown and gone I would like them to look back and have memories of all the fun we had at Christmas time.  More importantly, I want them to know about the birth of our Savior, Jesus, that laid down his life for us. As Matthew has gotten older his interest in Jesus has grown.  This year as we were shopping he even suggested we buy Jesus a present and make him a birthday cake.  Talk about melting my heart.  

This is the first year I thought we should start some Christmas traditions.  I woke up early to make home made cinnamon rolls.  If you have ever made them, you know it takes like 4 hours.  So we did not eat them until 11:00.  But it was so fun and Matthew was so helpful.  

 Spreading a little butter love

A little sprinkle of sweetness.

 Into the oven. My mouth is already watering. 

Warm, gooey cinnamon rolls. They were delicious!

When the boys woke up we decided to have stocking Christmas first.  We all piled into our bed and dug in.

Lois handmade Patrick's, mine, and Matthew's stockings.  She is making one for Samuel as well.  Aren't they beautiful.  My stocking was actually one she made for herself many years ago.  But when I did not have a handmade one to match the others she took hers and had my name embroidered on it. It is a special gift that I will cherish it forever. 

 It's the little things that make them so happy.  Chocolate!

And here's Samuel reaching in...what will he find?

More candy!

We stuck a recorder in Matthew's stocking. I had to show him how to use it. We all took a turn.

After our stockings were emptied, we went into the living room to open presents.

The tree was filled with presents.

The boys went for the H-E-B grocery basket first.

Cereal, cheese crackers, ketchup, mustard, spaghetti and of course buddy bucks.

 Matthew was most excited about finding the buddy bucks.

After we examined and tasted all of the wooden food in the grocery basket, Samuel opened his big present.

Samuel opening a bilibo.

So far there has not been much interest in this bilibo.  But I think once they figure out how to play with it, they will really like it.

Matthew is opening 'The King" from the movie Cars. This was one of our most anticipated gifts.

And last but not least, Matthew opened the gift that Samuel got him.

We played with this toy every time we went to Target.  After I bought it, Matthew would ask me where his "very much trike" was.  I couldn't tell him that it was under our Christmas tree waiting for him.

This was the most excited he was all day.  He even took this motorcycle to our next celebration at Papa's house.  

And speaking of that, after we were done at home we packed up and drove to Papa's (my dad) house.

Once we got there is was into the kitchen for me and Patrick was on Daddy duty.  My sister Tracy taught Sally and I how to make tamales.  It is takes much more skill than it looks.  Getting the masa on the corn husk evenly is harder than one might think.  But after a few we started to get the hang of it.

 You soak the husks first so that they are soft then you spread the masa on them.

It is so much fun cooking in the kitchen with Tracy.  Sisters are the best!

We had a huge Mexican feast.  Beef enchiladas, homemade Spanish rice, corn casserole, tamales, and even homemade salsa that my brother brought.  Even with all of this delicious food, Matthew still wanted a corn dog.

So missed out on the yummy food.  But that meant more for us. Maybe as he gets older he will be less picky.

Me, Samuel, Papa (my dad)

This is one of the only pictures that we stopped for during the day.  Next year I will be better at getting pictures of the family together.  

It wasn't long after dinner that we piled into the front living room to open presents.  And boy were there a lot of them.  

It all happened so fast that I was not able to capture much of the chaos.  But it was definitely very chaotic...and messy.

"Chaos"

This is the only picture of our family on Christmas day.  I wish Matthew had been in it.  

My sweet boys

Dear boys,

I cherish all of our special times together.  I will be thinking and praying about more ways to teach you about Jesus not only during the Christmas season but all year long.  Each day is his and each day he is calling us to follow him.   

I love you both more than you can understand.

-Mommy