Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and everything else

Swooosh - did you hear that?  That was the sound of Christmas whizzing by.  Man, it felt like it would never get here and then I woke up and it was over.  We had a wonderful week of festivities though, so I guess the whirlwind literally flew by.  My birthday is on the 23rd and it always kick starts the Christmas celebrations.  Mom and Dad are so great at making my birthday special, not just as a side dish to Christmas.  I'm my own entree!  This year they took us all (me, Brian, the boys, and Matt & Alli) to Benihanas.  To say Carter was enamoured would be an understatement.  He had a blast.  Cole did too, though he wasn't has interested as Carter - I'm not sure any one could have been though.   There was alot of food flying in the air, and most of it was caught.  Carter even got to throw some edamame at the chef. 

Brian gave me a new digital camera to keep in my purse.  I have nice DSLR but it's so bulky that I can't drag it every where that I drag the kids and I miss out on so many photo ops.  It's hard enough to wrangle the two boys, much less that ginormous camera.  I haven't read the manual yet, and I need to, but I put it on the easy setting and took a few shots.  Pardon the blurry, dark or over flashed shots - I'll learn the ins and outs soon.

Uncle Matt and Aunt Alli.  As part of my birthday present, they took the boys out for the afternoon to Chuck E Cheese while I got my hair cut.  Brian said he thought that M&A were more excited about the outing than the boys, and that's saying alot!  They're are a wonderful Aunt & Uncle.

 Cole ate pretty well at dinner, but was really excited about my ice cream.  He's good with a spoon when he wants to be.

Our group shot.  I promise I'm not drunk, really.  I was just trying to keep my hat on as Carter was trying to bite it off. 

After dinner we went back to Mom and Dads were we did our annual Beer Draft.  They started this 4 or 5 years ago.  Mom and Dad pick out 20 or so different speciality beers (and a few large normal ones too) and then Brian and Matthew take turns "drafting" their picks - do you get the play on words there people.  Very clever I think.  In years past Brian would go for the 24+ ouncers and Matthew would go for the 12 oz eclectic ones.  Well finally they've learned each other tricks and now it's all out warfare.  3 years ago after seeing that Allison and I were left out, Mom and Dad started a Chocolate Draft.  No play on words there, just lots of yummy expensive chocolate that we'd never indulge in through out the year. 

The next night was Christmas Eve and after picking up Grandmama and running in and out of church (long story, let's just say that we were blessed that 2000 people were worshiping the birth of Christ under one roof), we came back to our place and had a Tamale Dinner.  We were embracing our non-existant Mexican heritage.  Or maybe I should call it our Tex-Mex heritage :)  Mom made awesome mexican rice, I made homemade charro beans and waited in line the day before to pick up 4 dozen of the best spicy pork tamales in town.  It was a fun evening.  Here is Carter helping me cut cilantro

 All the presents to and from Mom, Dad, Matt, Alli, me, Brian and both the boys.  Plus ones that Nan, Pee Pa, Nana, PaPa, Sissy, Ruppert, Jerry, Lois, yada yada all sent.  We are lucky to have such generous givers in our family.  We want for nothing :)  I will say, I did put up a few toys in the closet to bring down in May.  Since the boys have January birthdays, it's just overwhelming so I try to sneak a few away and then bring them down in a couple months for a nice treat.

 Instead of cookies, Carter thought Santa would want some of he and Daddy's special rice krispy treats.  Santa left a note the next day saying he was thankful for the change of pace, or something like that.

And of course the next morning was Christmas.  I made Matt & Alli come all the way from Kingwood to arrive at my house at 6:30 just to make sure they didn't miss Carter waking up.  There were on time.  As were Mom, Dad and Grandmama.  Turns out they were still asleep when everyone got there, but you can never be too careful. 

Carter on his new 16" Spiderman bike that he asked Santa for.  Cole asked for a tricycle.  He isn't quite tall enough to ride the 12" Trek that Carter is passing on. 

 Allison showing off her new purse from Mom & Dad.  Matthew hamming it up with his new work shirt.

 Carter is very excited about his new Batman cave that Nan and PeePa sent him. He told Santa he wanted one, but then changed his mind for the bike.  Glad to see Nan & PeePa have Santa's phone number :)

 And the favorite gift of all to Cole was the Buzz Lightyear that Grandma & Grandpa gave Cole - as did Uncle Matt and Aunt Alli.  Great minds think alike!  He loves anything Toy Story, but the talking Buzz is a huge hit.  We took the extra one back and will be getting a talking Woody when they're back in stock.

I like this picture because it is Matt and Alli prentending to be surprised after opening the patio heater Brian and I gave them.  Carter showed them the box earlier in the week and told them what it was.  Don't tell him a secret that you don't want anyone to know. 

 Choices Choices.  We got several Imaginext playsets that Cole just loves.  He loves figurines and pretend play.  I set them up all around him in the playroom like a big city.

 And Sissy - I told you he'd get lots of cool toys but would still find the Shake and Go Woody awesome.  I'm always right!!

 Carter received Spiderman skates and pads from Uncle Matt and Aunt Alli.  He tried them out on the patio, but mostly Brian just pushed him everywhere.

 The boys picked out some Superman underwear for Brian.  He's such a good sport.

 Playing with Buzz again.  "To Infinity and BEYOOOOOONNNNNDDDDDD"

 Some of the hundreds of Legos Mom and Dad got Carter.  They gave Cole some Duplo ones with a zoo theme, he loves to carry around all the animls and Carter builds the cages.  I love Legos too, except when I step on them...

 And to prove my theory right, it won't matter what name you put on the gift tag - Cole will play with Carter's toy and Carter will claim Cole's.  It's just how it goes.  Here is Cole on Carter's bike.

 And Carter on Cole's trike.

As you can tell we had a fun Christmas.  We spent alot of family time, Dad took off alot as did Brian. It was special.  Tomorrow is New Years eve and Brian and I are going to our first "adult party" since before we had kids.  Thanks to Mom and Dad for watching them.  We are going to enjoy a night out.  Depending on how incriminating the photos are, I might post some in the new year.

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas as well.  And a Happy New Year to come.  We anticipate a very blessed and bountiful 2011.