Christmas 2012

It's only a month late but, Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating the season. I know we sure did. Sean's parents came in town for a week and we had a wonderful time enjoying the holiday break as a family. I got used to long mornings watching cartoons with Mason in bed, slowly drinking coffee and reading the newspaper, and brisk family walks with Hazel. Sean had almost two full weeks off work and we successfully accomplished taking it easy during that time. It was definitely a rough adjustment when we had to get back in the swing of things in January!

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is our annual Christmas Eve dinner at our house. It's open to any family that is in town, which this year included both sets of our parents. The Gadek's always have Christmas Eve with Brian's family, so they have never been able to attend, Doug was driving in from Oklahoma that night, and Grandma and Uncle Philip stayed in Louisiana. The six of us that were there this year know how to party and had a wonderful evening. Beef Tenderloin and Apple Pie are tradition, and we always have festive appetizers, sides and drinks to go with it. This year Sean made his favorite pie, minced meat, as well.

I still can't believe that we actually had a white Christmas in Dallas this year! Santa dropped of some goodies for Mason on Christmas Eve and we spent Christmas morning at home letting him play with all his new fun toys. Then we packed everyone and everything up and headed to my parents house to meet up with the rest of the family for the day. Everyone was in great spirits, there was delicious food, a fire burning, and merriment all around. When the snow started falling it really made the day perfect. I wish I could capture it forever - it was such a warm and cozy day with those I love the most. Mason took a great nap at my parents house while we all enjoyed a Christmas meal, the falling snow, and relaxing.

The snow stuck around for another day and Mason had a great time discovering it. He loved making snowballs and footprints in it, and of course didn't seem to mind the cold at all. For a good week after, he'd look for snow when we opened his window in the morning. Hope we get some more this winter!

It was hard to send Sean's parents back home, but our fingers are crossed that this time next year they'll make a move our way and we can see them more often. Sean still had a few days off after his parents left and we soaked up some valuable family time with just the three of us.

Here are some pictures from the week of Christmas. I really wish I could turn back time and experience this all over again!

Sean and his Dad cooking, and Mom R and Hazel bonding by the fire. Hazel loves it when Mom and Dad R are in town!

Merry Christmas Eve!

My silly boy loving life on Christmas Eve. We started a new tradition of reading The Night Before Christmas by the fire as a family before Mason heads off to bed.

Christmas Eve dinner. Yum!

Annual Christmas Eve dinner

Santa came!

Mason's big gifts were a bike and a chair. He loves them and has used them both daily ever since!

Christmas day excitement/madness at my parents house

Christmas day at my parents! I love having the whole family together.

One of the best Christmas's in recent memory! (Mason was a little over pictures in the bottom right pic)

The Robison's and The Henderson's

Discovering snow!

Our good friend, Pete, has a birthday at the end of the year and always hosts a delicious dinner at his house with his close friends. It's a great way to wrap up the week!