Christmas Highlights 2008

We made it back last night from TX after a long but enjoyable drive.
Shawn was father of the year and drove the entire way since I was doped up on Dramamine.
Anyway, these are our Christmas highlights (but only some because I did not have my camera on me at all times).

Christmas Eve at my grandmother's house.
Always so fun and tons of great food including my grandmother's
famous gumbo and homemade rolls.

Christmas with Shawn's mom (Grammy) and ALL of the cousins.
From the left: Mia, Hannah, Corinne, Grammy, Ella Kate, Emma, Brock, Ethan, Amilie
Olivia and Zachary did not make that photo so here they are below.
Aunt Heather and Uncle Shawn got all the cousins stylish
scarves and hats from our good friends at Mom and Me Boutique.
Thanks Pamela and Teresa!!

Brock and Ethan pretending to drive a train while waiting for
presents to be unwrapped. Ethan loves Brock like crazy and they were both excited
to get to wrestle and play with another boy. Seriously, they wrestled pretty much for an
entire week.

The sweet twins, Emma and Corinne. They are my
favorite hairstylists in training and provided me with several new "do's."

Mia and Hannah
They designed about 100 new dresses on paper
and wore out about 2 boxes of crayons.

Our Norwegian princess, Amilie was able to
make her grand appearance at our Texas Christmas
this year. I could have packed her tiny
self in my suitcase and brought her home with me in a
New York minute. She's precious.

Ella Kate with one of two new pairs of princess shoes.
AND...

Here's the other pair. E.K. went to bed with the new Snow White
shoes beside her, but at some point put them on and covered back up.
I found her like this before I went to bed.
Sister loves her some shoes!

On to Gran and Pop's house for Christmas morning.
Santa arrived and everyone had a great time.
Here is our sweet-as-pie niece, Camryn.
She and Ella Kate had a ball playing with Pop and Gilbert, the cat.

E.K. with one of her presents from Aunt Clarissa and Uncle Brian.

Even preggers needed some coffee on Christmas morning.

Mia got the one present she asked for:
a stuffed Penguin. And yes, she's eating
peppermint star peeps. Gross.
And yes, she's wearing shorts on Christmas morning because it
was almost 80 degrees that day. Again, gross.

Ethan and his "big bowling set."
And it is BIG.

One of Gran's traditions: making pecan pies with our kiddos.

Ella Kate feeding Gran and Pop scrambled eggs.

Resting with Camryn on Gran and Pop's bed.
Fun times.

And of course, the chile con queso.
Our kids loved it, and ate their first real cheese enchiladas.
Carmela's we love you.