'Tis the Season

And it was a FABULOUS season! 
One of my favorite days of the year is when Starbucks switches to their red and white Christmas cups... it heralds the beginning of the chilly, wintry, foggy Christmas season here in Bakersfield and I LOVE it!  
On the 22nd, we packed up and headed to Texas for Christmas.  It had been 4 years since we last visited Joey's parents there so we were LONG overdue for a visit and it was so so so so wonderful.
My kiddos are excellent travelers.  Even Sophie insists on pulling her own suitcase. A suitcase that she had packed and unpacked and packed again at least 3 times a day the week prior to leaving.

We set sail with only 5 carry-ons.  For those of you who knew me in my younger days, you would realize that this is AMAZING!!!  Of course, we came home with much more... 5 carry-ons and 4 LARGE checked bags/boxes due to Christmas happening :)
One of Jake's favorite moments was the minute we came off the escalator at baggage claim.  My twin nieces,  who are to-die-for adorable, ran straight past Lauren and into his arms.  They LOVE him from afar (they live in New Jersey) and apparently have a picture of him taped to their wall next to their beds so they can see him each morning.  Aaaah.....

That's Grace and Kate (we think...)
We had lots of fun in Texas but mostly just hung out together.  We visited a couple of parks:

 Kate and Grace (we think...)

We also had a chance to visit with Joey's best friend from Jr. High who he has stayed close with.  Will was the best man in our wedding and he and his family moved to Austin from Los Angeles a few years ago.  We ate at a yummy breakfast taco, bar-b-q, store, gas station, crazy place.

We made gingerbread houses:

And Nana read The Night Before Christmas to the babies on the night before Christmas:

And Santa visited that night:

See Jake's stocking? And a little of the girls'? I wish I had taken a picture of all of the stockings hung by the chimney with care.  They are phenomenal...  Joey's mom needlepointed every last one of them.  For her 3 kids, their spouses, and all 8 grandchildren.  They are truly a sight to behold.  Mine has beautiful ornaments embroidered...I think it's my favorite :)  This was Sophie's first year to see hers and it was GORGEOUS!!
And there is another baby on the way (the twins will have a sibling) so I'm sure she is already planning for the next stocking!
Christmas morning was just as you would expect with 5 kiddos in the room :)

I didn't take many pictures because I was navigating the present opening for Sophie, but suffice it to say my children were overly blessed for being good this year :)
Sophie loved her new camera:

And on our last day in Texas, Joey's special Aunt Nonnie and Uncle Jack came to visit.

That's Joey's littlest sister, Anne. He calls her "Piesky"... Like Sweetie Pie.
Lauren used to love on her like the twins now love on Jake.  It's very cute!!


Unfortunately, we had to leave Texas.  Jake said he felt like crying and that he wanted to move there.  I don't blame him... it was wonderful to be with family at Christmas time!

And one last hug for the girls... who were slightly preoccupied with their popsicles :)

That's Kate and Grace (we're pretty sure!)
And then finally on the plane to home... 

We hope your Christmas was as fabulous and fun-filled as ours!