Christmas

Again, after numerous texts back and forth between all of us, we finally decided on a plan for the holiday (seems to be a pattern with us, I supposed that's the nature of coordinating so many people?). We had the traditional Christmas Eve pizza (um and for record-keeping and poking-fun-at-in-20-years-purposes, I have to rat my Dad out. They ordered pizza on Monday because they had a deal then, froze the pizza, then reheated it and served it to all of us Wednesday, Christmas Eve. HA. Once a frugal man, always a frugal man. The kids will love this story, sorry Dad.)

Once we were all ready, we heard that Santa was close to coming...so we rearranged the living room and got in our hiding spots. Steve had to keep Parker quiet and calm, as Parker was NOT exactly thrilled Santa was on his way. There were lots of promises that Santa was to stay far, far away. The cousins all hid as quietly as their little toddler bodies would let them. Parker gasped and ducked when Santa said his name and laid out his present. Lyla kicked her little legs and waved her arms all about. 

Grandma Anderson sent Lyla this high-tech stroller that talks and sings and converts to a bed and a highchair. The kids love it, and Parker loves singing (and memorizing) the songs. They fight over the strollers constantly, although now (almost a month later), the fighting is slowly dying down. 

Super-cool Cars track also from Grandma, along with some new DVDs.

She loves her baby dollies and pushing them in their strollers. She threw this one in her new stroller, then went to go find her little monkey. Threw in the monkey, looked at 'em, and decided all was well.

Christmas morning was so nice this year! We woke up when the kids woke up around 7:30 (after Lyla being up a time or two at night, per usual...ugh), opened presents, played with them a bit, then headed over to my parents.

Had a wonderful breakfast with everyone.

Opened gifts from Grandma and Grandpa, including a fun game where we had to get the right answers to questions about Mom and Dad...the winner got to pic envelopes of cash. Steve and I ended up with the $1 bills both times. GAH! But in the end we all got to trade in our unfortunate fortunes for the real deal. Hooray. We learned that my mom learned to ski in the Andes in Chile and my dad won a regional science fair in middle school! The grandkids all got these cute little puppies and/or horses that walked when you pushed on them, they got a kick out of them.

We then made and decorated Christmas cookies, which the little people loved. It was mostly pouring all of the sprinkles in one spot and licking frosting off the spoon, but what else should it be with 3-year-olds?

Aaron was a little tired of the pictures. Over it. Dunzo bunzo.

It was a wonderful, bittersweet, exciting year with finishing rotations, graduating, permanently leaving California behind, moving to Texas, starting new jobs, making new friends, and just figuring this life thing out. I feel so grateful to have this guy by my side, I love him dearly and he makes me laugh and keeps me sane every day. He is my heaven. Can't wait for 2015!