What a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas eve when we came back from church. Don't my renegades look sweet and adorable!

This is what happens after a full morning of opening presents for the first time.

I tried to get one last shot of the kids sitting next to the tree, but as you can see Elena didn't feel much up to it.

Elena is enjoying playing with her art easel Grandma Sylvia gave her for Christmas. It didn't take long for her to get daddy to put it together so she could get started drawing on it.

Marcus was very much entertained as he watched everyone open up presents. Then he had his fair share of being able to rip into them, too.

Enjoying some hot chocolate from Starbucks as we just got home from looking at lights! If you notice, she's got some chocolate on her shirt from drinking it so fast.

Christmas morning

Since we don't have a chimney for Santa, we have a special "Santa Key" that allows him to come in our house to make his delivery.

We had a very special Christmas this year as always, but were even more excited that Marcus was here to help celebrate. Elena remembers her Bubba just being a "tiny baby in mommy's tummy and sleeping" at this time last year. The week of Christmas we did last minute shopping, looked at Christmas lights, and tried to get ready to prepare for our big Christmas meal. We also attended Christmas Eve mass with Aunt Cindy and cousin Aaron. Marcus did good for his first time at church. He did get a little fussy, but it wasn't anything a bottle couldn't fix right away. Then we came home and enjoyed some homemade tamales and munchies.

Christmas day was spent opening gifts and then making a big late lunch for my family. I did pretty good making a pork loin and ham with all the sides. It was 'yummo'! Then we pretty much rested and recooped from our big day while watching our annual viewing of "A Christmas Story". I can't help but feel for Ralphie each year.

Then on Friday Aunt Stacy and Uncle Danny came over and brought gifts and then hung out for awhile while Jack had a playdate with his cousins Maddie and Coda. It was a nice visit, especially for Elena since she wanted Aunt Stacy to draw with her the entire time.

So another Christmas has come and gone very quickly. Our family has been tremendously blessed this year with the birth of Marcus, Elena having a great start at her new school, Analissa working tremendously hard as a 4th grader, and mommy and daddy continuously working hard at their jobs they enjoy doing.

Many blessings to all of our family and friends for continued love, health, and happy memories!