Catching up...

Happy 2009!

Wow, did I get lost in the "busy-ness" of Christmas! I had so many good intentions for updates, and had fun photos to share, but the ol' blog kept getting shifted lower and lower on the priority list as Christmas approached. It's good to be getting back into the old routine. So, here's what we've been up to...

We rang in the New Year in San Antonio.

We had so much fun. More about that coming soon.

First, an update on Christmas...

Visiting my family:
We went to San Antonio to visit my family. We went out to the Hyatt Hill Country Resort to look at the Christmas decorations.

Then we went back to the house and decorated Christmas cookies

and had the family gift exchange.

Brough's favorite??

Martian Matter! Thank you, Aunt Shannon!!

It was a great day of hanging out and enjoying being together!

Next, on to Pat's folks:

The train was set up under the tree, as always.

The kids only derailed it 3 times this year!!

If you look closely near Brough's knees, you'll see a dinosaur getting knocked off the track by the engine.

Much of the evening was spent tracking Santa on NORAD.

When we first logged on, Santa was in Ireland. The kids followed him to the Azores, Cape Verde, the South Georgia Islands, and through some of South America. When Santa hit Canada, Brough went on Red Alert and we had to head home!!

Becca's favorite gift of the day?

a GINORMOUS dog from Uncle Kevin.

Really, you can't imagine how big this dog is.

Christmas Day at Home:

How much do I love that their favorite gifts were

Hungry, Hungry Hippos and...

Operation!!!!

I'm tellin' ya, they're classics for a reason!!

We loved them as kids (right, Shannon??) and now our kids love them.

For the 3rd year, we spent a wonderful, peaceful Christmas at home, just the 4 of us. It gives us a chance to make sure that once the frenzied fun of opening the gifts is over, we spend some time together cuddled up on the couch talking, laughing and remembering what - and who - Christmas is all about.

And of course, just before bed, we gather together to watch...

I hope your Christmas was filled with joy and many blessings!