My blog is beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

...and only 2 months late!

A novel by Tecia

This is how you get things done w/o a fireplace (awesome stocking board and beautiful stockings courtesy of best bud Lynsey @makeityourowngifts.blogspot.com--she makes some pretty amazing things-check her out!!)

Now, this looks very "Charlie Brownish," but keep in mind that last year we did the whole "go-to-Christmas-tree-farm-and-chop-down-big-live-tree-only-to-leave-town-for-weeks-
and-come-home-to-big-dead-Christmas-tree-mess" so we decided to take the easy route since we were leaving for Christmas anyway and put up a little baby fake tree up high where little girl (and preschool kids) hands could not rearrange our ornaments for us. It worked and everyone was pleased (esp. Daddy who did not want to fork out cash for a tree this year...I just had to include that...scrooge)However, cash was still forked out for new church Christmas outfits because that is something Moms will always fight for (well, this mom at least).Cash well spent, in my humble opinionSanta was visited and liked by Carterbut not by our ornery little galGingerbread houses were made with good friends Jandi and Sydney (who both made amazingly artistic houses that resembled actual houses rather than just pile on as much of their favorite candy so they could eat it later like this sweet boy)

A trip to Temple Square was had...beautiful , but short and sweet because it was SOOO COLD!!The nativity was amazing this year...we LOVED it!

More fun preschool treats...Christmas trees this time around

And then we were off!

So , maybe we're like the crazy astronaut lady , but we do pull-ups on trips because-come on-24 hours is a long road trip. Too many bathroom breaks makes a super long tripFYI:pull-ups for THE KIDS...not us.

The kids did what they had to do to get some shut eyeOur 1st stop: AlbuquerqueThis should have been a warning to Santa that our kids really did not need more toys...boxes can entertain for hoursespecially if shared with beloved cousinsGood food was made by great hosts (my sis #2 Janessa & fam)and shared with great companyand fun games
(who invented this game for little kids? The adults spent much of the game stuffing the little ropes into the fishes' mouths so the kids weren't upset)Happy feet

and big boy war games...with a captive audiencethen it was off to a slumber partywith very little slumbering
Our next destination: San Antonio
with Gma & Gpa, my sis' #1, #3, #4, & #5, my bros #1 & #2, and cousinsAwesome company

Along with more gingerbread house makingTy's (below) and mine (above) were not so creativeCarter utilized his strategy again of dumping as much candy as he could onto the plate, hoping he would later get to eat all that candy (this pic is after we emptied most the plate of the dumped candy...and he DID NOT get to eat it all)Bro #2 Caleb was very creative...this is the SCREAM ride at Fiesta Texas that he worked up the ...gumption... to rideand bro-in-law Riley (married to sis#1 Krista) was very creative with a manger scene complete with snowman, hanging star, and sheep droppingsA nativity play was heldAnnie was not going to give up her chance to be a donkey for anything
and doesn't Katy really resemble an angel?

Carter as Joseph (as the only boy cousin on our Lundeen side...until baby Corbin makes his debut in May...he was our only option)and our wiseman ...doesn't that look just reflect wisdom?there were gifts to be had
...wrapped gifts......and Santa gifts too many gifts...especially when Santa knew that the kids were very content with a boxbut I was very grateful for my new mixer (thanks Mom &Dad!!)and Carter was very grateful for his shaver and cream..."just like Dad!"and Taylee for her baby ensembleI think my fave gift was one my sis#1 Krista gave to sis #5 Marissa (above)She made AMAZING decorations for her cute new room...and it was all a surprise! I have awesome sistersNo trip home would be complete without a visit to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. I LOVE roller coasters and love getting my fill here. Even Carter and Tay ventured on all sorts of rides. And Ty kinda did...I "peer pressured" him into riding the new big roller coaster, Goliath. He's not a roller coaster-type guy and wasn't happy about it. There was singingand rocking...lots of rocking with Gma (thanks again!)and ridingand hanging out wth cousin Katyand bro #2 Calebthere was good foodand more good food with awesome matching hairdos!there was making treats for New Years Eve with sis #3 Saraand the inevitable sad time to pack and head hometo this: Then it was time for preschool to start againand new backpacks to be wornand Daddy's birthday to be celebrated with birthday...horns??and big messes to be made on the carpet by mischevious little boys wanting their room to smell "nice" like handsoap......and hairspray
...so much hairspray, in fact, that the said boy has to sleep in a different room so that he can breathethere were costumes to be worn (ok...what show has taught my son that stuffing his underwear with more underwear will make him a superhero???)like superheroes, cowgirls, and...

?????And finally some really crazy positions to be learned. Here is a Taylee special:

her favorite spot is comletely draped over Dad's shoulder.

And finally...time to chill

THE END