Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!

Hi cute Hannah!

Cousins ready to walk the Botanic Gardens

Seb jimmy-rigged this outdoor space heater to keep us warm - love that rule breaker of mine!

Seb and his mini-me

Cute cousins!

Calvin (5 months old) + Hannah (7 months old)

Gentle Calvin and Emotional Hannah

Daddy and his boy loving the snow!

Don't these guys look like they should be in a magazine?? What a gorgeous family!

The Stoddards!

Love Calvin's snow suit!

Love that little Langley

Sweetest new papa!

Beau decked out for the winter weather

A family let Hudson borrow their sled and make a few runs down the hill - he LOVED it!

There's my sweetheart and best friend!

Peekaboo Hannah!

Wild child!

Aww! What a fun day!

My newest nephew, Elijah Kevin Hobbs (what a doll!)

Way to go, Kiley and Sam!

Brothers!

What a cute daddy

The house is all decked out for Christmas - made that garland for $3!

The boys loved the airplane race - can you tell?

I especially love Beau's attire

And Hudson's enthusiasm!

A little Christmas Eve bowling, anyone?

We hit the lanes with Dion's pizza in tow

Loved watching this tiny man hurl his ball down the lane

He didn't want any help!

Cousin play time!

Calvin's the most solid baby I've ever felt! He's so heavy!

Calvin has the prettiest eyes!

Yay! It's Christmas!

SO MANY PRESENTS!!!

Hannah's first Christmas present ... a Butterfly doll from Cracker Barrel

A drill for Pop!

SOOOO COLD!

The nativity

"Baby Jesus" (yeah, he's a girl, but Calvin was asleep!)

Daddy, Mama D, "Baby," and Hudson

So fun to have a white Christmas!

There's Beau's alter ego "Baby" again

Love all the trees in our neighborhood

So happy Seb could spend some quality time with his family

Calvin's got it good

So comfortable he fell asleep!

My gorgeous sister!

Haul those kids, Jess!

Sweet, smiley baby girl

There's my girl!

We were able to host Mama and Papa Dunlap and the Stoddards for Christmas this year, and boy did we have a good time! In our nine years of marriage, we had only spent two Christmases at home, so it was a treat to have everyone over and spend time together around the house. Josh and Sethrina drove into town Sunday afternoon (12/20) and checked into their hotel. They stopped by in the evening and we were able to meet darling 5-month-old Calvin! He is the most gentle, happy, precious baby! I could just steal him! We had fajitas and Mennonite ice cream cake for dinner and spent the evening chitchatting away. We sure love those guys and really enjoy their company. 

It was pretty cold all week, but we did have a few fun adventures before Mama and Papa Dunlap arrived on Christmas Eve. On Monday, we had crepes for breakfast then braved the Botanic Gardens and had a "snacky" picnic in the rose gardens. That evening we had feta chicken for dinner and chatted the night away! The next day we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel then went swimming and relaxed in Josh and Sethrina's hot tub. That afternoon, I got my hair cut and highlighted. It took much longer than I had anticipated, and while I was out Sethrina nursed Hannah for me! It was awesome to have my very own wet nurse! I returned the favor and nursed Calvin while Sethrina had her nails done. I was surprised how different their nursing styles were - Calvin is as gentle as a lamb and Hannah is extremely aggressive! Later that night, the boys went to see Star Wars and Sethrina and I hung out at home and chatted. It ended up being one of my favorite parts of their visit. I love her so much and feel so lucky to have her as my sister! 

Another morning we had breakfast at Josh and Sethrina's hotel followed by a fun "snow day" in the east mountains. It was a beautiful winter wonderland! My newest nephew, Elijah Kevin Hobbs was born on the 23rd, and I was able to get a quick peek at him in the hospital on our way home from the mountains. He is so soft and sweet and looks so much like his daddy. That night we threw an impromptu paper airplane contest. It was a great distraction for the boys while I cooked dinner and it was so much fun getting serious about the competition! Hudson and I ended up competing for first place and he won! He was soooo excited and was awarded a "drinking bird" toy as his prize.

Highlights of our time with Mama and Papa Dunlap included having a devotional on Christmas Eve. We lit luminarios, ate tamales, and looked at Christmas lights in a nearby neighborhood. And of course, we finished the night wrapping last minute presents to White Christmas. On Christmas Day we opened presents all morning! My parents joined us for a hash-brown casserole and Belgian waffle brunch. We took a freezing cold walk to the park to get out of the house, but rushed home immediately since it was so cold and windy. Sethrina made a delicious chicken pot pie for dinner. Josh ended up leaving the day after Christmas to beat the "Winter Storm Goliath" that swept across Texas. We missed him but were so happy Sethrina could stay longer. 

It started snowing pretty hard on the 26th, but we ignored the weather and went to Explora. We drove through the snow to El Pinto just in time to beat an early closure due to the weather. We were seated in a large room fit with a fireplace and lots of space heaters. The windows perfectly framed the beautiful snowy scene outside. It was breathtaking and the food was great! 

Church was cancelled on Sunday (yippee!), so we pulled the kids (Calvin included) on sleds through the neighborhood. It was invigorating! My parents treated us to a gourmet feast and we played "Box of Lies" (which Hudson and I had prepared earlier that month). 

Sethrina and Calvin flew home the 28th. We went to Dion's that evening and did the River of Lights afterward. It was the best year yet - it wasn't crowded and we got a great parking spot! The Dunlaps went home the 29th. Seb was able to take his mom shopping for some new pants and Mama D was able to do a little more reading with Hudson. What I really appreciate about my in-laws is the one-on-one time they spend with my kids. Papa Dunlap planted himself in the playroom and spent hours on end playing with the boys. Mama Dunlap worked on Hudson's reading and sat down to color with him. He loved that! I definitely missed their help when they left! 

We ate lots of fun food all week. Josh and Sethrina spoiled us by helping out a lot with the cooking. Sethrina made delicious mushroom chicken and asparagus with mashed potatoes and lemon cream cheese cupcakes. On Christmas Day she made delicious chicken pot pie. And Papa Dunlap made his signature oatmeal cookies - a favorite around this house! Noah and Laura's family as well as Trent and Nancy sent over delicious fruit baskets, so we were definitely spoiled. Other treats we enjoyed included burgers with rice and veggies, muddy buddies, wasabi almonds, salt and pepper pistachios, peanut butter M&Ms, grasshopper cookies, oreos, ice cream, cocoa, pumpkin pie, chicken and wild rice soup, homemade rolls, calico beans, chips and salsa, little smokies, and chocolate cheesecake. What can we say?? We like to eat! Merry Christmas!