Christmas eve

Christmas Eve

as with christmas eve tradition we spent the evening at nana and papa's. naturally we had garcia's and it was so yummy! we had a white elephant gift exchange, the hot item this year was an actual in-in-out burger, yuck!

family.

auntie.

wiggle worm.

i think this was a sneeze.cry.laugh situation.

ALL the cousins, such a rarity, glad we get together at least once a year...

dad time.

the kids with the kid.

Ward Christmas partaay

we had a lovely christmas party. i wish i would have taken more pictures, it was beautifully decorated. the program was very uplifting, it was the perfect way to kick off the christmas season. and of course santa was there. easton did pretty well until he realized he was with a bearded stranger, but we got a couple good shots. 

It began to look a lot like Christmas

we put off getting a christmas tree until auntie got home, then we decided to go on the first full day she was home. well as life happens we ended up going to a GCU women's basketball game to watch milee coach and after we were done the tree lot was closed. well we made the best of the situation  and eyeballed a good tree through the fence and us girls went the next day to get it. we of course took easton with us for his first tree picking experience. 

he is kinda giving kisses, they are open mouthed and he usually just ends up banging his mouth on your cheek. its cute though and we count it as a kiss.

easton was helping pick the tree

just a glimpse of our christmas decor, those stars are my FAVORITE and i am so so bummed i didn't buy more. 

after tree shopping he was exhausted and fell asleep instantly. i love his sleeping face.

Such a busy boy

oh easton! he is so much fun, i love watching him discover his surroundings. on this particular night i was trying to get dinner made and he was determined to be in the kitchen too. so i took the glass containers out and let him go to town with the plastics, mostly lids, but just as fun. he also is a magnet to the dishwasher, he loves to pull him self up and bang on the dishes.

Auntie comes home!

after four long months, auntie has returned from spain! just in time for christmas too.

we {me.jer.e.mom.dad.nana.aunt debbie.becca.sam.thomas} all piled in cars and met her at the gate. auntie had the experience of a lifetime {read about it here} and we are so thankful for the opportunity she was given BUT we are even more thankful she is home safe and sound. 

for a late night dinner we went to oreganos, yum!