Christmas 2016!

Christmas was special, as always, but even more so now that we have a family of 5!  Dex didn't really have ANY idea of what was going on, but Jacob and Maddie were clearly excited.  It makes me sad at how big they are but their excitement for Christmas morning has not waned (yet).  We will treasure this for as long as we can!  Grandpa also spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with which made it even more special.  :)

Of course we had to start with making and decorating cookies for Santa.  We opened a couple of presents on Christmas Eve and then waited patiently for Santa to come.  Santa went a little over board this year (he does this EVERY year) but the look on the kids faces in the morning is always priceless.  We saved their Chrome Books for last which was the grand surprise!  They loved it!  Merry Christmas!

Later on Christmas Day, we headed to the airport and headed for Kansas to see Nanny, Papa and everyone in Topeka.  Two flights, 10 hours and 3 very tired kids later we arrived!  The days were filled with lots of fun with family (especially cousins!)  Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on the day after Christmas and Dex was not at all sure about those people.  In fact, posing for a picture with them was hilarious!  We also took family photos outside with a professional photographer (which I hope to post once we get them).  Two days in, Dex came down with the stomach bag and Maddie caught it shortly thereafter.  Ahhh, traveling with kids and exposing them to the ever present germs on airplanes, shuttles, etc. is always a challenge!  But, we had a great time and the short few days we were there went by super fast.  Next time we drive and we can stay as long as we like!  Here are some pics from Kansas.

Yep, that's vomit.  I know, I know.  Gross.  But I want Dex to know what he/we went through on his first Christmas!  ha.

Pre Christmas with our Texas family

Since John and Misty are now in Austin, we get to see them and their kids much more often which is amazing!  And Grandpa was kind enough to give us all the gift of iFLY for Christmas.  iFly is an indoor skydiving place where you can take a "flight" to get the sense of what it would be like to really go skydiving.

From the get go, Maddie said she was NOT going.  I knew she was scared but I thought after seeing everyone else do it that she might realize she wasn't going to die and would try it.  Unfortunately, she suited up, watched everyone go, and still held to her guns and refused.  I'm proud of her for sticking up for herself (when everyone else was pressuring her to go) because I understand that kind of fear and I didn't want her to feel pushed to do something she didn't want to do.

After iFly we all came back to the house and had a nice Christmas dinner and white elephant exchange!  The kids are always so happy when they get to spend time with cousins!