The Christmas Marathon

I realize this post is terribly late. And in an effort to make up for lost time, let me overload you with pictures from all our of Christmas festivities!

Carson and dad putting up the tree. Carson was a big "helper".

Carson and mom making cookies. Again, such a big "help".

It got seriously cold here in Houston so I had to bust out Carson's winter hats. How sad is it that this is his only hat?! It looked cute on him though!

We also went to our church's Kids Crazy Christmas Show/Character Breakfast. Carson was not so sure about all the characters. Mrs. Clause was the only one he would even get close to!

FYI - feeding a toddler at a table without a high chair is difficult! Add to that the crazy music, kids running everywhere, and characters walking around I was stressed out!

But alas! The show started!

Carson loved all the lights and music. Afterwards, we headed to the cookie corner to load up on sugar!

The next week our sweet friends, The Ellis Family, came to stay with us. Sarah and I had been planning this trip for months! We were so excited to see one another and let the kids play together. The first day they got here was great! We took the kids up to Memorial City Mall to play on the playground.

Notice, these are the ONLY pictures I took during their entire 3 day/4 night stay with us. Why? Because they got sick! And I mean really sick! A stomach bug started with Taylor, their little girl, and passed through to each of them during their trip. It pretty much ruined everything! Total bummer! They were sick the last 2 days at out house, and then left to see more family. This was the worst part of the Christmas break because we had been planning this for so long! But they are all feeling better now, thank goodness! However, NOW they are back in California. Oh how we miss them!

Next on our agenda, was my parent's Christmas Cafe at their church in Cypress. Carson sat through the entire thing and loved when the high school drum core came out to preform!

We also took Carson to the Bass Pro Shops to see all their Christmas goodies. His favorite part? The moose.

On the 23rd, we went to dinner with Chris's family at the Taste of Texas. Is this not the most beautifully decorated restaurant in Houston for Christmas? We had a great time, but this was the only picture I got (Carson and his Gigi). Again, Carson loved the moose in the restaurant. Sensing a theme here?
'

On Christmas Eve we piled in the car and went to the candlelight service. My parents joined us (in the SWEET minivan, I might add!).

My sweet sweet friends from church:

Carson with the camel. Of course, what did he think it was?? A moose.

After the service, we went to Chris's parent's house for hors d'oeuvres and dessert.

My dad brought along his guitar. We sang Christmas carols and then read "The Night Before Christmas".

Carson's other favorite thing (besides moose)? His daddy!

The next morning, Christmas Day, we invited both families over for breakfast. But before that, we needed to wake Carson up (seriously, it was almost 9 AM!) to open presents.

Notice he's still waking up but he is trying his hardest to run towards the loot!

Nice bed head son!

Poor baby, still looks so tired!

He wasn't too sure about his new four-wheeler. It took some time getting used to.

He became disinterested in in when he opened his drum set.

No worries, the child has already broken this toy. He tried on the drum for a hat and pulled the top of his head straight through. This mom was definitely not sad about having to put the drums away!

Finally, he tried out the four-wheeler.

And then he was off!

After long naps that afternoon (what can I say? Our child loves to sleep., we headed over to Chris's parents to open gifts with them.

Reading the Christmas story.

More drums!

Carson got a bike from Chris's parents. He loves this!

But all in all, he loves Mickey Mouse {Mipey} the best. We were all in the other room cleaning up the gift wrap when we turned the corner and found Carson like this:

I tell ya, he loves the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It's the only show he'll watch.

Time for a little dessert with dad.

A few days after Christmas, we celebrated with my family. Here is Carson with my nephew, Stayton.

Carson's favorite toy from my parents? His guitar!

And a microphone!

Oh yeah! The slide too! This toy now lives in my living room because it's too cold for me to go outside and watch him play on it. I know, I should suck it up.

We enjoyed a fantastic dinner with just the "adults" at Churrascos.

This brings us all the way up to New Year's Eve (I can't believe you are still reading all of this!).

Our family tradition on NYE is to have game night. This year we started with a cookie decorating contest.

Chris was sick in bed (he caught the stomach bug too) but he made an appearance as the judge of the contest. Kara won!

Then, we started the games! Doesn't sound like that great of a tradition, but in my family it is serious! You see, mom puts together prizes and when you win, you choose a prize. The one rule: if you touch it, you take it. No trying to cheat in our family. Some prizes are good, and others are worthy of "the trade". When all the prizes have been taken (after all 5 rounds of games are played) we begin the trading process. You should see the wheelin' and dealin' that goes on in this family!

My game night loot after the trading:

Chick-fi-a gift card

Marshall's gift card

Fingernail file

Cute dish scrubber

Faith Hill perfume, with the matching Tim McGraw for Chris

Then, we headed to the TV to watch the ball drop and toast with our sparkling apple cider. Look closely at the boy's faces. I think they would have preferred the champagne!

Te next morning, Carson got to open his Game night gifts because he wen to bed too early!

New Year's Day we went to my parent's for lunch. My dad decided to teach Carson to box. I wasn't a fan of this.

That afternoon, we snuck out of the house, sans kiddos, and went bowling with Anthony and Kara.

Whew! What a Christmas it was! We had a great time and I can't wait for next year when our baby girls are here!!