Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!

I'm not quite sure how many "Christmases" we had this year, but I tell you - it seemed like Christmas Groundhog's Day over here. We had "Christmas Morning" with my parents, with just our family, and with Seb's parents! It was awesome! Here are some glimpses back on our December ...

(12/06) Enjoying the snowy cold weather!

The snow was pretty soft - this was the best we could do to make a snow man!

Love my cheeseball!

(12/21) Josh and Sethrina dropped off "cousin" Langley for Christmas.

Beau adored our new doggy zoo.

(12/22) Getting dressed to hit the River of Lights - it was breathtaking! We had so much fun taking the Park and Ride!

(12/23) Putzing around with Beau in tow :)

(12/24) Christmas Eve preparations underway!

I just love our Christmas tree! We finally took it down a few days ago (mid-January). Feels empty! :(

(12/25) Hudson crept into our room Christmas morning to let us know that Santa had come!

He had already looked through the stockings before anyone else was awake.
I love the bleary-eyed look of joy on kids faces Christmas morning!

Beau missed most of the festivities, but he was just happy to have Langley here for Christmas.

Fighting over Hudson's electric toothbrush and jellybeans.

Seb's parents arrived the evening of Christmas Day - we had crock-pot lasagna and opened a few presents.

(12/26) The next morning was Christmas ... again! We still had loads of presents to exchange with the Dunlaps :) So fun!

So fun to all be together! Seb had December 21 - January 1 off of work! It was heavenly having him home for so long!

Grandma in her new Christmas jammies!

Forest green towels for their renovated bathroom!

Beau and his monkey twin!

The presents just kept coming!

Wrestling Beau into his new Christmas outfits.

It's like a got a doll for Christmas that I got to dress up!

Thoroughly enjoying dinner (sweet potatoes, green beans, mashed potatoes, chicken & gravy)

Another round of River of Lights

The whole gang

A new dino display

Don't you just love Christmas??

A masterfully composed nude - no winkies in sight!

Hudson came out of his room one morning dressed like a pirate.

Grandma and Beauey

A lovely walk down by the Rio Grande

It was really fun being "dog owners" for the week. Langley is such a good dog!

My honeys

My sweetheart man - I love you, Seb!

Grandpa quickly became Hudson's new best friend!

Our traditional family visit to the zoo - we visited twice this trip!

Favorite sights included:
1) Jazmyn the baby elephant getting scared by a duck - her family came running to her rescue
2) A trainer called to the rhino, who ran to him like a puppy
3) The enormous crocodile coming out of the water
4) A crowd gathered for the Tasmanian Devil debut

I love my sweet mother-in-law!

That Hudson pulls my heart strings!

My darling man building us a fire in the backyard

December Highlights:

• (12/07) After a long day of shopping, Seb and I decided to check out the Nob Hill twinkle light show. The boys fell asleep in the car, so we bundled them up in the double stroller and had a date with the sleeping boys in tow. We had dinner at The Frontier and then walked to the light parade. 
• (12/14) Sebastian's law firm holds an annual Christmas Dinner for the attorneys. It is always SO fun and fancy! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! We dressed up nice, my parents babysat, and we enjoyed a delicious catered dinner. 
• (12/20) I got to see Jared and his family one last time at Cheddar's before they headed off to Palo Alto. We really miss them but are so happy to see that they are loving California! 
• (12/20-22) Josh and Sethrina stopped in on their way to Idaho from Dallas. We got to watch Langley for the week. It was nice to experience having a dog - I realized that I am not ready for one! 
• (12/22-23) To spend Christmas with my folks this year, Seb suggested we do a Christmas sleepover at their house. It was SO much fun (but probably too stressful and sleepless for my parents!) Sorry! It was so fun eating, watching movies on the big tv, and opening presents in the morning! They always spoil us!
• (12/24) Christmas Eve was so fun this year. We had a big dinner at Golden Corral with most of the family (poor Hudson slept through the whole thing). Then, we headed to my parents house for more fun - lighting the luminarios, doing the nativity (the best one yet with lots of great "interpretations" from Dad - ha ha!), eating homemade donuts and cider, singing Christmas songs (I loved the New Mexican 12 Days of Christmas), jamming on the guitar, and caroling to some neighbors. When we got home, we left some donuts out for Santa and hit the sack!
• (12/25-31) We did lots of fun things with Seb's parents: The River of Lights; a fancy dinner at my parent's home with White Christmas on the big screen; two trips to the zoo; a walk down by the Rio Grande; Hudson and Grandpa played lots and lots of Legos; and mucho relaxation at home. We love having the Dunlaps in town and cherish any time we get to spend with them.
• (12/31) Josh and Sethrina arrived New Years Eve. We played Bang and rang in the new year with a little bubbly.