Christmas

Our Christmas break was a great one. It flew by but looking back we were able to do alot of fun things before sweet P made her debut. We kicked it off on Friday the 20th at Daniels ortho ugly sweater party. Delish tex-mex and awesome company! Love this program.

We made some yummy sugar cookies with our good friends on Christmas Eve. Evalyn worked on her cookie for 15 minutes straight. Can't say I was willing to bite into that one. May have chipped a tooth if I tried.

 We drove out to Alvin, Texas (about a half hour away) to go to this Christmas Train ride. It was the cutest little place and Evalyn is currently OBSESSED with choo-choo trains thanks to her cousin Colby, so she was in heaven. She had story time with Mrs. Claus and went on a long train ride around a pond all lit up with Christmas lights and with displays that told the Christmas story as you drove by. It was such a fun Christian environment. For some reason I don't imagine a place like that would have worked in Los Angeles. We loved it and will be back next year! And next year I won't be having contractions on the train ride..

 

Christmas morning we woke up, and had our favorite cereal (Daniels family tradition). Ev had been asking to eat her Lucky Charms in the pantry for a solid month. Next year I'll have to be more tricky with keeping Santa gifts out of sight. Then our little one opened her gifts. Her main presents were a play kitchen, and an Ikea train set. The Ikea train was a whopping 15 dollars, and she plays with it everyday for hours. Note for next year--just get her what she asks for and nothing more!

 Christmas Jammies

 Her princess cape

 Do you think she was excited about this Minnie Mouse gift from my aunt?

Our last picture as a family of 3!

 Saying goodbye to my little lovebug as she went to her Grandma Cheryls for the next few days while we were in the hospital!

The next half of our break was spent at home snuggling our new babe and adjusting to this new norm. So thankful for the Christmas season and for my Savior and his birth, atonement, resurrection, and plan. We felt so blessed this holiday season and can't wait to see what 2014 has to offer!

Beach Day

One Saturday we decided to take a drive down to good old Galveston. It was windy and cool out and it was our first "cold front" of the year, so we wanted to enjoy it. We jumped in the car and after sitting in traffic, got there almost an hour and a half later. We pulled up and Daniel started laughing. I have given him vivid descriptions about Galveston several times, as well as other people, and he still said it was worse than he imagined. Hahah. It had just rained alot so the sand was hard as a rock, and when I told him thats not totally normal he was more accepting of the place. Many more trips to come since Evalyn was in looove with it. We sure do miss those so-cal beaches though!

One Time We Went Camping

A few weeks back we went camping up at Lake Livingston with Daniel's brother Jayson and his family. It was a super fun night with little sleep on my end, even though I opted to sleep in the car instead of the tent. 7.5 months pregnant and sleeping on the ground sounded no bueno. It didn't matter though, we all had a great time! "Camping" in Texas (driving right to your assigned camping spot) is sooo different from what Daniels used to in Idaho. He thought it was so funny, but with a 2 year old, backpacking to a camping place in the mountains sounds miserable anyway. One day we will for real camp again :) But for now, bring on the bathrooms and picnic tables right at our campsite!

 Beautiful sunset at Lake Livingston

 Evalyn and Clara. Don't worry, they are only 6 months apart in age. Shes itty, and Ev is massive. They sure are cute though! :)

 Love my girl.

 6 am wake up call. Gotta love camping pictures---they're almost as horrid as Christmas morning. I've gotta note on here that ev went to bed around 9 in the tent by herself, and only woke up once to use the bathroom, and slept til hearing Clara at 6. Not too shabby!

 The morning we left we stopped at this little horse rental place and they let Ev and Clara do a ride/walk for free. Suuuuper nice people ran this place and they even let Ev keep this hat! Shes still obsessed with it and talks about her horsey ride. True Texas girl at heart.

We love having a little bit of family close by. Anyone else is welcome to move down here also! It's still weird being back here but I will say my husband has fallen in love with this great state already. Not sure we will ever leave!

Fall Summary in Pictures

Here is our fall simplified in a picture post. One day I wont be pregnant and I'll be willing to actually be IN the pictures again..hopefully. 

 We were too lazy to carve it so we colored a face and called it good :)

 

 My two favorite people

 

Cheeser

 Always

 Ward trunk or treat! Ev was a "spooky witch" as she called it. She still asks for her Halloween candy...it's December.

 Time is flying! Fall is my fave here in Texas and I wish it lasted longer than it actually did!