Christmas: The Finale!

To close out our Christmas celebrations, we hosted the Roberts family on the 26th to exchange gifts and spend time together. Because it had been a whirlwind of a week preceding our event, I decided it would be an Italian Christmas. We ordered iFratellis, everyone brought appetizers and/or desserts, and we stuffed ourselves and had a fantastic time. :)



My attempt at a crafty centerpiece. :)

One of my students got me these beautiful cookies as a gift - I had to share!

Gifts under the tree for one final "big rip!"

Brent and Audra's sweet boy, Parker

 Pretty nieces: Alex, Alyssa, and Halle

Luke enjoying some awesome presents - how great are his aunts, uncles, and grandparents?

Audra, Brent, and Parker

Kudos to Lori for coordinating our first white elephant exchange - it was a hoot, and it's going to be fun to continue! 

Luke had fun sharing the chocolates from the advent calendar my friend Kim got him. (These were a huge hit last year since Mr. Man looooves him some numbers.) He would find a chocolate... 

...and share with his family.

A great get-together marked the end of a fantastic holiday season! Jeremy and I were able to enjoy a nice New Year's Eve dinner together - and alone - to commemorate a wonderful year in which we added our sweet little Kitty Kate to join our Monkey Luke in our little family zoo. (Hmmm... what does that make Jeremy and me? He's a giraffe, obviously... because of the height... I'll have to think on what animal I am. =D)

2013 was such a great year for Team Roberts - can't wait to see what 2014 has in store! 

Though It's Been Said, Many Times, Many Ways...

...Merry Christmas, to you!

Pre-Christmas 2013

I often reflect upon how different Christmas is as an adult compared to how it was as a child. Being a kid at Christmastime is amazing - just show up and reap all the blessings! Being an adult at Christmastime is also amazing - but boy is it also exhausting. It's wonderful to be busy, because we're celebrating with many family and friends... but it's also nice knowing there's a whole other week off of work following all these celebrations! :)

Here's a disclaimer it sure seems like I always make: I did not take enough pictures at all of the events I'll be sharing. UGH! It makes me crazy, but I guess my hands are full in the moments, too.

Because school went until December 20, there wasn't much time to prepare for the big day. The bad weather earlier in the month meant that our Eubanks Christmas in Caldwell fell on December 21. While Jeremy stayed at home to get the playroom ready, my brother Chris generously piled in the car with Luke, Kate, and I and headed south on 35 (on a VERY rainy morning - he chivalrously drove) to see the family! And, in a very special treat, my sister Megan and nephew Parker made the trip from Illinois! Kate was so excited to meet everyone. :D

I wish there was some magical way for Caldwell and Dallas to be 15 minutes away or so. It's always so wonderful to see Dad's family, and for them to see Luke and Kate. And good Lord is the food just amazing. Our visit was far too brief, as we were out the door by 3:30 or so to head back home. Nevertheless, seeing the Eubankses, Rowlands, Foltermanns, and Featherstons was good for the soul, as always!

We spent the 23rd at Mary and Steve's celebrating with the Calvert clan. I can explain very succinctly why I don't have pictures from that night: IT. IS. MADNESS. It's wonderful madness, and I adore growing up so close to many aunts, uncles, cousins, and their babies. We ate wonderful Mexican food and did a white elephant gift exchange with 50 people there (not a typo there) and children sprinting all over. New babies Harper, Carson, Kate, Hallie, and Claire joined the fold this year. Calvert Christmas is crowded - but every person in the crowd is a blessing to the other. Ceaselessly thankful.

December 24 was spent at church first, and then at Mom and Dad's, where my Texas siblings and our kiddos did our annual exchange. I'm just going to let the pictures tell the tale. :)

It's not a party for Luke without wafer cookies.

JD added Santa to the countdown calendar. (This has always been one of my favorite things about Christmas. I still get a kick out of putting an ornament on the tree.)

Sweet Hallie

 Luke retreating to the office when things get over-stimulating

When the "big rip" was over, everyone got in their Christmas jammies (the boys' were provided by Honey, of course) before heading back to our houses.

So many reasons to celebrate - and the best was yet to come!

SANTA! I know him!

Once again, we hit North East Mall for their special needs Santa event. This time, Kate joined us for the first time!

Snow Days

We had some snow days this season, and it was fun to chill (no pun intended) around the house! The highlights...

We spent lots of time in our jammies!

Thanksgiving Break

I am so fortunate to work in a district where students and teachers have THE WHOLE WEEK of Thanksgiving off. What a blessing! We made the most of it! 

The 20th of November marked our ninth wedding anniversary - can you believe it? Mom was amazing as usual and stayed overnight with the kids so Jeremy and I could have an overnight date. (Let's just keep it real: we met our family deductive and out if pocket max by October 11, so we had more than enough Marriott Rewards accrued thanks to all of our credit card use. Ugh...) We went to a Mavs game - exciting and fun for us, though not a conventional anniversary celebration by any means. We had a great time! 

Seeing this will NEVER get old...

A Saturday in Aggieland

Jeremy and I took a trip to College Station last weekend to watch A&M play Mississippi State. It was a whirlwind trip - just down for the game and back home - but we had a great time hanging out together!

We sat in the Zone Club - amazing view! 

At least most of the time. ;)

We got to see what was likely Johnny Football's last home game, and the last game at Kyle Field before its remodel. To commemorate this, the Aggie Band and Corps formed a huge block T on the field: very cool! 

Meanwhile, Luke (who was a little under the weather and kept to himself) and Kate stayed with Honey and Grand and played with their cousins. 

I hear JD was quite taken with Kate. I can't wait to see him with her! 

When we returned, we got to briefly see my sister Megan and her friend Chris. Though I wish we could have visited longer (and that I had taken a picture... Ugh!), it was wonderful to see her even if just for a little while. 

What a great day... And I didn't even mention the glorious kettle corn. ;)