Christmas

We hosted the Whites and spent Christmas at our house this year.  We really enjoyed having everyone here with us.  Since Christmas fell on a Saturday this year, it was also easier to spend more time with everyone this way since Mike had to be at church on Sunday (he actually preached the sermon that day too!).   The only disappointment was Mike's brother's family was passing a bug around from person to person so it seemed at some point over the few days we were together someone was always missing.  Unfortunately that ended up being Dayna and Jared on Christmas Day.  Thankfully it stayed between the 5 of them and the rest of us were spared!

Christmas morning: Stockings and presents from Mommy and Daddy 

 Yes, we actually got him a drum

 Daddy and Aunt Nessa trying to set up the new train set

More presents with the cousins

Noah's first (Nerf) gun.  Compliments of Mike's Dad

 Movie time! Aren't they cute?!

 White family tradition--Gingerbread house decorating

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Christmas in Angleton

We celebrated Christmas with the Tiltons the first week of December.  We went out to G.G.'s nursing home and took over the activity room to have our gift opening extravaganza.  Noah got lots of cool stuff that he was super excited about (as you can see from his expressions) but I think the favorite by far was the set of Toy Story figures he got from G.G.  He also got the movie Toy Story 3 which was a big hit too.  Can you tell he really likes Toy Story these days (this was his first movie theater movie a little while back.  Excellent choice at the dollar theater!). 

I'm so glad we all got to gather as a family and have everyone there to spend the weekend together!

Sea World

Later Thanksgiving weekend we went to Sea World with Aunt Dayna and cousins Jared and Lydia.  It was great because we'd been wanting to go but were hesitant to spend the extra money (we'd looked into it back in September when we spent the weekend in San Antonio).  Then we were blessed when a member of Point of Grace offerred Mike some free passes that she wasn't going to be able to use.  Thank you!! 

Noah rode his first roller coaster--it was a small one but still pretty fast at times.  He LOVED it!  Little dare devil.  We saw several shows including Shamu and the Sesame Street holiday show.  All in all a good time. 

Noah's first roller coaster

 Waiting for Shamu to start

 Snow after the Sesame Street Christmas show

Thanksgiving

We went to Angleton for Thanksgiving this year.  It was low key and good just being with my family, though it had a little different feel this year.  This is the first year that my sister spent Thanksgiving with her husband's family.  Plus we were in Angleton instead of at Aunt Georgies (our usual tradition) and this year my Grandmother was still doing rehab in the nursing home so she wasn't able to be with it.  So it was us, my parents, and my brother.  A little smaller than the 20-30 people Thanksgivings we've had before.  But sometimes that's just what's needed too.

We did get to spend some good time visiting with G.G. at her new home.  Noah shared breakfast with her one morning.  And we went to Grandma's park (that's what he calls the park/playground that my mom takes him to).  As you can see Noah had a blast.

We headed back to Austin after lunch on Thanksgiving day to watch another pitiful excuse of a Longhorn football game.  Thanks to Mike's family for watching Noah while we went to the game.  What a way to finish the season.  Ugh.  At least there's always next season!

We are very thankful for all that we have...we are blessed with a wonderful family and many great friends.  We give thanks to God for all he has given us!