Christmas Eve

Jared and I started a new tradition this year and it went off without a hitch.  We did a big Mexican dinner with all our close friends we consider family and our family.  I had so much help with all the food.  All I made was the Salsa and the enchiladas.  We had Posole, tamales, enchiladas, Mexican casserole, biscochitos and more.  Almost everyone we invited stopped by.  We worked really hard at preparing for it and I was so pleased at how great things went.  We love our friends and family more than anything and we appreciate them being in our lives more then they will ever know.  I got most pictures of the groups of families that stopped in, except for Meg and Chris Peterson, My mom and Debbie because they came late, Grandma Cella, My brother in law Jordan, Christy and Clay Jaqua, Wendi and Jody, Lana, Heath, Angela and Nevaeh Cates, and Karie and her date Micheal.  I'm so bummed about it, but I guess they either came later in the night or I got distracted.  I will do better next year.  All in all, successful new tradition. 



Jared, Kade and Uncle Mark Chavez





Terry, Anna, Henry and Tony Maurer



Kaci and Shane Cates





Erika, Mariah and Laramie Hardin



Amanda and my Sis in law Cam



Mari and Anthony Chavez (My inlaws)

 

Megan and Kade opening the gift her and Chris got him





Meg helping Taylor open the gift her and Chris got her





Kade was pumped Meg got him a Batman shirt (She did good)

Kade got his favorite things from Aunt Meg and Uncle Chris

Kennedy Lynn

 

Christmas

I am loving the holiday season and loving it even more now that Kade is getting the hang of this whole Santa and Elves thing as well.  We put up our decorations in the house and each year I acquire more and more items, which is also getting fun, but Jared didn't do lights this year.  We were out of town the first couple weekends this month and we just both agreed we will go a little further with it next year to make up for not putting any up this year.  I want my kids to always remember Christmas and any holiday for that matter to be all about family, happiness and the celebration of things. 

With that said I purchased the Elf on a Shelf in hopes that it would bring more cheer into our home and pump my little guy up more and more.  So far Kade just gets a kick out of everything Boo does.  I named him boo, because he is always popping up everywhere and it just kinda stuck.  We love our little elf, but I will say it hasn't affected Kade's behavior too much, but from time to time I will throw in that boo is watching and things do kinda settle down.  Oh how I love Christmas and I still have a billion memories in my heart from when I was a little girl.  I try and pull those moments that were special to me and add to that to hopefully make my children's Christmas just as special or more.  Happy Holidays everyone! Tis the Season!!!!

He's become one of our family members ;)

Random's

I have been a bad blogger lately, but it has been hard to find the time.  We have been fairly busy with going out of town the last couple of weekends and getting ready for the holidays.  I expect us to be busy into January.  Here are some random pictures of my kiddos!!  I love them so much and they are truly the best blessings in my life.  They make me smile each day more than a dozen times and I can't get enough of them.  So thankful to God.

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving we did something that we have never done.  We went to Las Vegas, NV.  We went for a couple reasons, but the main reason was because Jared's paternal grandparents live in Henderson and when Jared's mom told us to go along with them I didn't hesitate one bit since my brother lives out there as well.  I haven't spent a holiday with my brother in about 17 years.  I know, it's sad.  Very sad.  SO with that said I asked my mom to come along so I could be with the both of them.  I remember at one point we were posing for a photo and it took everything I had to fight back the tears.  I miss when I was little and had no worries and was protected by my parents and had my brother around.  

  We love having my mom come along on trips with us because she is a blast and a great help with our kiddos.  It was a nice day being with Jared's immediate family and mine all together.  We went to a restaurant which isn't our usual and it was dreadful in the fact that we waited in line for almost 4 hours to eat, it was crazy, but we made the best of it by acknowledging that we were with our family no matter what.  The next few days we spent shopping, shopping, shopping.  I got lots of good stuff and we got some goodies for the kids that we might not have been able to find here in good ol' Farm town.  I do vote that next year we eat a traditional Thanksgiving dinner though.  I sure did miss lounging around afterwards and then going in for seconds and thirds.  Hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving day.  Lots to be thankful for.

4 Generations

My family