Christmas {2012}

 Christmas morning finally arrived and Miss Elena was so excited! 

 She jumped right into checking out her stocking. 

 Dominic started off his first Christmas with a breathing treatment. :( Poor guy. He had been very congested  for the past few days. He was still a happy guy, just a happy and wheezy guy!

 

Then it was on to presents...

 Now Elena had been going on and on about the Barbie dream house and asking Santa for it. Every big package under the tree she would say ''oh, this one is mine'! But I told her to check the tag and she would realize it wasn't hers after all. Sneaky Mom and Dad...:) She opened all her presents and was very happy with them and didn't even ask about the dream house. Then I asked her if she got a present from Santa. She said no and I reminded her that we have another tree downstairs and maybe he left something at that tree instead. I made Robert get down there with the video camera ahead of time so we could capture her surprise - it was great! Excuse the weird color on the video - someone had the night vision setting on! :) 

Happiest 4 year old ever! 

 Then we ate breakfast and played with all the new toys before we got dressed and headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house. 

We got there just in time for lunch and also had an unexpected visitor - Phil! It was great to get to see him again so quickly!

 Then it was more present opening - Dominic got the hang of unwrapping quick! 

 We also have a bit of a dramatic present opener on our hands! Ha ha!

We were so thankful that we got to spend Christmas with my parents here and not in a hospital room. 

After all the presents were opened there was more playing with presents and of course nap time. Then we got to Skype with Tio Pete and his family! It was great, the kids loved it! 

What a busy day already...but it was not over. We still had plans to meet up with the Flores family for dinner and even more presents for the kiddos! (Can you say spoiled??) We decided to take Caldo (Mexican Beef Soup) with us. Oh man, it is so yummy. We have decided that we are going to start a tradition and make it every Sunday in the winter - it's that good. There is not much measuring with the authentic recipes that we have from Abuela so I am going to try to nail do some measurements and then I will be happy to share the recipe with you! :)

 It is amazing how quickly all of our little families have grown. There are so many kids now! Elena and Dominic love it! 

 You guessed it - more presents! 

 The shocked expression on Twila and Heidi's faces here is due to the fact that we got their kids a roller coaster!! How awesome is that?? :)

 It was a hit! Even though these are both pics of Elena, I promise the other kids got turns too! ;)

  By the 3rd round Dominic was ripping into the presents practically by himself!

And that brings 2012 Christmas to a close. It was a wonderful holiday full of family and friends! 

One last adorable pic of my handsome guys! 

 Merry Christmas from our family to yours!