Christmas

Christmas - oh how much fun we had in the month of December.  Like the last several years J and I packed every weekend and many week nights with Christmas activities.  We did the carriage ride through Highland Park, Polar Express, some drive through lights in Grand Prairie, Christmas on Main which was a night time parade, Breakfast with santa followed by the Neimans parade, and Santa came to our house (twice) for a visit and some pictures of course.  My mom and I also took Zoe to the Nutcracker, which she totally loved!  She keeps changing her mind with what her favorite activities were, but the drive through lights, carriage ride, and nutcracker usually make the top of the list.  Chase loved everything I think.  We also went to ICE at the Antatole after Christmas and it was totally empty so it was a great way to get our energy out! The kids even ice skated for the first time.  We did Christmas Eve at our house with the whole Dallas crew attending.  Im so thankful I have a big family where everyone can all be together for the holidays.  Its never dull!  Christmas morning was so fun this year as the kids are getting to the ages where they know whats going on.  Zoe was very specific with Santa this year and wanted a "rainbow light up bag with makeup in it."  Santa asked her if she has seen one at a store, or on TV.  Nope, she just made it up in her head.  Santa came through of course.  Santa brought Chase a scooter which he continues to ride up and down our long hall on a daily basis, usually with his superman cape on.  The kids both LOVED opening presents and of course had to help us open ours, so Christmas morning really did take almost the entire morning despite waking up at 7:30.  One of the notable presents for Zoe was her first real Barbie (which J and I did not get her).  It came with a dog that poops (literally).  She was SO excited and loves to dress her up and pretend.  She also told me the other day when we were staying somewhere that had a trunkload of barbies. "Mommy, I have been waiting my WHOLE life to have more than 2 barbies!!"  Oh my.  Loli and Pappy gave them big wheels to ride around the back yard which they enjoy.  J and I got Zoe her first big girl bike, a 20" hot pink bike with a light up basket on the front.  She loved it of course and took to it like a champ with no training wheels.  She is riding it really well already.  Chaser got some new additions to his train track and is into all his choo chooo.   After our first "Christmas", the second group moved in which always promises to be a wild and crazy time.  Gigi and Pops got Z a Karaoke machine which has been a huge hit in our house.  She is so dramatic when she sings!  I gave J what is probably his favorite present, a ski trip!  So, we are going in January and he is thrilled!  We had a wonderful Christmas and were very blessed this year.  Life is pretty great, fabulous even.  Thank you Lord for blessing this family so abundantly.