Two Christmases

Yes, a Christmas post in February. So sorry 🙈

But I wanted needed to document the festivities! We had really good Christmases and lovely family time with relatives! Our kids are still under the impression that Santa exists because we just don't have the heart to tell them otherwise. So Christmas eve, we did the things that parents usually do to trick our kids, to put it bluntly. The kids loved waking up to their gifts Santa brought them under Nana's beautiful Santa-themed tree, and we had a good time opening the rest of the gifts.

Gary's mom and sister thought they would be funny and gifted me this rad ensemble. Jonah thought he'd be funny and gifted his Dad a 6-can holster for his Dr. Peppers. 

And Elena's Nana sewed up this mermaid for her. Super cute! 

The kids played with their toys and later on we headed to over to Moomie's to celebrate Christmas once again. 

We usually make tamales on Christmas Eve there, and family gathers round to make some really tasty ones with Moomie's heavenly salsa (seriously, the best!) Elena requested to make cookies for Santa, too! 

Aunt Debbie was a great sport, I believe this was her first time joining us for Tamale Night. Elena also volunteered to help. They both goofed off and made a snowman out of "masa". They looked like they were enjoying themselves.

And finally, it was time to have supper and enjoy the fruits of our labor! 

Christmas evening, after everyone gathered again, the kids were hustled to the Christmas tree in the big room. They liked what they saw....

After dumping our stockings, we started on the gifts! 

Chaos and trash and hugs and 'thank you's' were shouted across the room. The kids elated, the adults grateful and finally able to sigh that sweet sigh of relief. 

Good old Wita, my grandmother, was rocking the show with the hard candies and the green bills to everyone! 

Gary's mother-in-law is so thoughtful, she knew this is just what he wanted for Christmas, right babe? 

This year I thought super long and hard to do something super special for my mama. I wanted to give her a new gallery wall in her dining room. The same painting had been hanging there since 2006 and it was time for change. 

I looked forever and ever for the perfect wall decor items to carefully arrange on that wall. She cried a itty bitty tear and that's when I knew, she liked it.

Dawna helped me install it, and it came out fantastic! 

The days after Christmas are a blur. Like, what day is it? Should I have that 5th or 8th cookie? Is it lunch time or dinner? What-shall-we-do-today type of blur. 

The kids' toys roamed the house for a few days, played a lot of games, lots of coffee was consumed, watched a lot of shows, ate way too much candy, and enjoyed each other's company. 

'Til next year!