Christmas Catch Up

Christmas Eve

As we were on our way to church the snow flurries began to fall. :) After being in shorts and t-shirts the day before, it was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!! When we got home it was time to open our first gift of the season. Our traditional Christmas Eve present is pajamas. This year's rendition was that much more special...matching pjs for the whole family!!! We're going to have to keep this tradition going as long as the kids will allow it...too fun!!! The kids loved hearing Daddy read Christmas stories by the fire and leaving goodies for St. Nick. It didn't take much convincing that it was bedtime, the Santa tracker showed it all. The kids raced to bed with Santa hats and were out in no time. (If only every night was Christmas Eve!)

Christmas Day

Waking up to jingle bells was a Christmas morning tradition that I grew up with and LOVED so much that we have passed it on to our little ones. Little Miss A was already stirring when the bells began and raced down the stairs. Mr. D, on the other hand, needed to hear the bells for a while before waking up and running down the stairs himself. (Having stairs gives Christmas morning a completely difference experience!!!) Much like last year, opening presents took the ENTIRE morning. Unwrap this, open, assemble, play, repeat. :) It was awesome!!! What an amazing day! We lounged in our matching pj's and just enjoyed the kids, the day and just being a family. With family coming the the following morning, it was the FIRST year that I actually had Christmas put away ON Christmas Day!!! Everything already had a place..thanks to all the new space in the new house. :)

Mr. C. brought Little Miss A the horses she wrote to him about and Mr. D the voice changer that he asked for. This was a Christmas full of horses (18) and babies/equipment for Little Miss A. It was a NOISY Christmas for Mr. D...pretty much everything Mr. D received made noise of some kind or another...not that the little man doesn't make enough noise of his own. :) What an amazing day!!!!

Boxing Day

The day after Christmas brought wonderful guests to the house. My parents and sister and her family!!!! Over the past 3 months EVERY one of my family members have come to visit...how awesome is that?!?! We were SOOOO excited to see everyone. My nephew J has changed a TON since we saw him in June, but is still so sweet and patient with A & D...they sure LOVE their cousin. J...you're the BEST!!!!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Mom got tickets for us to go to this amazing show. J and I used to go all the time before we had the kids, but hadn't been back since. It was the best show we'd seen. Mr. D didn't quite appreciate it though as the Christmas songs we wrapping up, little man began bouncing in seat announcing he was ready to go...it was the middle of the show. Thankfully the pyrotechnics really took off at that point so he at least had more to keep his interest. Although I'm still not sure why the loud music didn't keep his attention by itself. After the show we went downtown for an amazing dinner. It was an awesome night!!!

The following week was full of good eating, walks, runs, more eating, nature trails, playing and even more eating and even an adult night on the town...thanks again J for watching the kids for us!!!! My parents and K & D hadn't really experienced Austin's nightlife and live music scene. A ton of fun...we just wished J wouldn't have fared the night a little better. I guess that just means the clan needs to come back so we can have a re-do. :)

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!

Our activity today was making indoor snow. The kids were so excited...they kept asking how big of a snowman we were going to be able to make. As we added water to our "snow crystals" the giggles began. "It's really snow!!!" After putting their hands in the fluffy stuff, the idea of a snowman went out the window. Instead, Mr. D started announcing "Diagon Alley" as he threw the now flu powder into the bin. (Yes, we're big Harry Potter fans over here!!) Little Miss A just kept laughing and whispering "it feels so soft!" Hooray for SNOW!!!! Thankfully, we'll have many more"snow" days before winter vacation is over. :)

Oh Christmas Tree!

After seeing the incredible "Big Top Cupcake" on TV, we knew the Caswells just HAD to have one...we're a little obsessed with cupcakes over here. :) It's awesome!!! We made our first one into a Christmas tree. The decorating of Christmas trees continues...

The Belated Birthday Trip

Six Flags

We began our adventure Saturday afternoon and headed to one of the kids' favorite towns...San Antonio. Six Flags had a wonderful Christmas set up with amazing lights, trees, wonderful characters around the park to take pictures with, cookie decorating stations, a wonderful winter wonderland to visit with Santa and even a snowy hillside to do some holiday sledding!!! This was obviously unlike any other visit to Six Flags...Fiesta Texas at night was so fun. :) We had an amazing time!!

Our hotel was on the river and had an awesome view of the Alamo...which we all absolutely loved!!! The kids loved that the river actually runs right through our hotel!!!! :)

View from our window

Alamo lights at night

River walk lights at Christmas are the BEST!!!!

View from our window, take 2

Carriage ride around town

Sea World

Like Six Flags, Sea World was totally setup like a winter wonderland. With all new exhibits and fun new shows as well, the Caswell kids had a great time. We started our afternoon with the Sesame Street Christmas show. Little Miss A and Mr. D both loved it...especially the "snow" at the end. :)

I think the flamingos are still one of the kids favorite stops...they didn't want to leave. :)

This was the picture of the kids before Mr. D got "lost".

As Mr. D and Little Miss A were playing in the nets, Daddy told the little man we were heading to the show and that he needed to come down. When Daddy lost sight of Mr. D, he went up into the giant nets after him. As Daddy was up in the nets, Mr. D came down and couldn't find Daddy and started to panic. As he was crying, Daddy saw D at the bottom and was trying to make his way back down, not an easy feat when there are other parents in the net tunnels going in opposite directions. Meanwhile some very sweet people found our little man and asked if he knew his phone number. I knew he knew it, but had no clue he knew what his area code was too!!!! (We is constantly amazing me.) Anyway, we got home to hear his message since it was obviously our home phone number...now it's time to learn my cell number. It was the biggest relief when Daddy was reunited with Mr. D...SCARY!!!!

The 4-D Polar Express show...

The show was worth the entire trip!!! A very condensed version of the DVD my kids have already seen half a dozen times already this holiday season. My expert viewers were alerting me to every "skip" of the movie. :) They loved the vibrating seats when the train rumbled, the air blasts with the whistle and were wondering why the boy was "off the screen." I think their absolute favorite of all was the snow at the end. Mr. D replies as we were leaving "It's okay, it was just bubbles Mommy."

After the Polar Express, it was off to see Shamu. The new show was phenomenal. Christmas carols, snowflakes every where and tons of Christmas lights. :) Shamu was actually doing FLIPS...that was a first. The kids thought that was super cool!

The ride home was quiet...the kids fell asleep almost as soon as we left the park. What an amazing birthday trip!!! (Better late than never, right?)

Kicking Back...

This is a pretty common scene lately...both of our monkeys have gotten into habit of REALLY lounging when in the car. Definitely comfy, but most certainly not safe. So, we're constantly telling them to sit up, but they inadvertantly slide back to a lounge position.

A Night at the Nutcracker

Our anniversary tradition has been to see The Nutcracker. Knowing the the kids (Little Miss A in particular) would the the Ballet as much as we do, we did a family celebration this year. It was wonderful. We got all dressed up and headed to dinner. It was a really nice Italian restaurant, that TOTALLY reminded us of our trip to Italy a few summers ago.

Then it was off to the Ballet! We had great seats right by the orchestra so the kids could REALLY see the dancers on stage. Even though we've watched the Nutcracker movie SEVERAL times prior to the big night so we would know the story line and be able to follow the dance without words, the kids still had a ton of questions. It was cute. They did REALLY well...definitely a tradition to continue with the kids. :)

Chasing lights after the show!

Pajama Day

With a Polar Express day event at school, the kids got to go to school in their PJ's. :) What a nice way to start a day, roll out of bed, brush your teeth, comb your hair and we're off. Shouldn't every day be pajama day? :)

Class Field Trip/Party...Ice Skating

Miss A decided to have an after school Christmas party for the class this year...ICE SKATING!!!!! It was awesome!!! The kids did great!!! I was so proud of them! After being completely nervous about taking two 5 year olds out on the ice by myself, Daddy had to work, I am so glad we went. A & D had a blast! It was hard to get them off the ice for the Zamboni to resurface the ice. :) r. D took A TON of nasty spills, thankfully he had the big puffy coat!!!! I was so sure he was going to have a THOUSAND bruises the next day...nope. (Tough cookie!) Little Miss A didn't fall as often, far more cautious than her brother. About 15 minutes into the evening neither one wanted my help at all!!!! I think we may have to bump ice skating to a more than once a year event!!! :)

With their teachers...

On their own...

Decorating Christmas Cookies!

The kids ave 5th grade buddies at school and they get to do super cool activities with them every Thursday, some days it's just lunch bunch, but today was decorating Christmas cookies. What fun!!! These fifth graders are so sweet. The conversations I heard through lunch were too cute. "What are you doing for Christmas? What did you ask Santa for? Why? What is your favorite thing about school?" The older kids really try to connect with the younger kids which is just so special!!!

Little Miss A's buddies help decorate...

This was Mr. D's version of decorating...

Zilker Tree and Trail of Lights

An Austin favorite for the Caswells...Christmas wouldn't be the same without it!!!! They downscaled the trail this year, but it was awesome!!!! For the first time, we didn't even have to wait in line to get in. :) We went on SNOW night, which was absolutely amazing!!!

The first stop was the Yule Log...

Then it was on to the giant tree...

Under the tree and spinning...

Then we hit the trail...

Stopped for the dance performance...

And on to the snow...

What an amazing night with the most wonderful friends!!!! B family, what would we do without you? :)