Christmas {Our Style}

When we got home on Sunday afternoon we discovered full stockings and the gifts that Santa left.  So much fun!

 We spent the rest of Sunday afternoon relaxing, paying no attention to the disaster that was all around us. I stayed home with Bryson on Monday and Tuesday. We played and played and played some more with all of Bryson's new toys. I also did about fifteen loads of laundry to try to catch up from being sick and traveling. The two days at home were just what we needed!

My mom came to watch Bryson on Wednesday and Thursday (Erin was taking a much deserved vacation) and then I had the day off on Friday.

Here is Bryson eating at his new picnic table with his new best friend the laughing monkey by his side. This monkey is no ordinary monkey. It laughs. Loudly. Over and over again. Jason said the only reason we are keeping it is because my grandmother gave it to him. :)

 Working on the laptop...

 On Friday Felisa came over and we had our last gift exchange.  She was so sweet to bring Bryson a sweater from Gymboree and a tray of candles for me. She also brought homemade flour tortillas that we enjoyed immediately {and have been enjoying all day today, too!}.

And last but not least, we put up our Christmas tree and decorations today.  My grandmother says that it is bad luck to put your tree up before New Year's Day.  A few years ago I warned Jason of this when he started to put our tree up early, and he said that he didn't believe in bad luck.

Famous last words of a fool...

 That's right. While he was putting the tree in the attic, he fell through the ceiling.  I heard a really loud noise and the next thing I knew all of my ornaments, decorations, Christmas tree, and Jason's legs had come through the ceiling.

Luckily some friends of ours knew how to make the repairs.

So, long story short, we NEVER pack up our Christmas decorations until January 1.

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So, we had a wonderful time traveling and seeing both sides of our families, but we have made a decision about next year. We have decided that Bryson will be old enough to understand what is going on, and that we want to stay home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This is sad {I will have spent the last 29 years opening presents with my family on Christmas morning} but also exciting {to start our own Christmas Eve/Morning traditions}. I am looking forward to a December full of family, friends, food, and balance. I've never been very good at the last one, but am determined to master it next December. So, someone please remind me of that when I am pulling my hair out and stressed about the season. :)

Christmas {Ruple Style}

On Christmas day we headed to Granny and Grandpa Ruple's house to celebrate with the Ruple side of the family.  Bryson slept the whole way there, so we had a nice quiet trip. From the time we got there until the time we left Bryson was into everything! He really enjoyed seeing his Granny, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Here is the best shot I could get of all of the cousins together:

Granny gave Bryson TWO suckers at once! Can we say SPOILED??? :)

 Grandpa teaching Bryson to play the guitar...

 We ate an amazing dinner of fried fish and shrimp with all of the fixings, and then it was time to open gifts. The boys opened these three gifts first. If you look closely at Phillip you can see that his gum box has a knife in it. Grandpa (who is a professional knife maker) gives each of the kids a knife when they reach a certain age. Phillip was totally surprised and so excited!

 Phillip and Uncle Will

 Sheldon

 Look at all of those presents!

Granny gave Phillip and Sheldon quilts this year {she is working on quilts for each grandchild-- I can't wait until Bryson gets one!}.

 Sweet Cousins

{right after Bryson got out of the bathtub}

 Phillip with the globe that we gave him...

 Grandpa being goofy!  :)

 We had a great time seeing everyone and again stayed up way too late. It was definitely worth it, though. We enjoyed every moment.

Before we left town on Sunday we went to see Jason's grandmother {aka MeMa}. She was thrilled to see Bryson and had us walk around with her so that she could introduce us to everyone at the assisted living facility where she lives.

She also gave Bryson a sucker and has a new friend for life.

Sunday afternoon we headed back to College Station. Bryson was exhausted and slept until we got to Bastrop, at which point he was fussing so we stopped at McDonalds. He sat in the booth and {sort of} ate a happy meal, but was much more excited about the orange Hi-C drink than the food. It is so weird to think that our little baby is old enough to eat a happy meal! Anyways, we finally made it home at about 5pm. We had an amazing extended weekend celebrating Christmas with all of our family.

We are blessed beyond blessed and are so thankful for this season of celebrating the birth of our Savior.

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift."

II Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

Christmas {Strawn Style}

Thursday after spending the day with the Shirleys we headed over to my parents' house for a quiet and relaxing evening. Bryson seemed to be feeling great and it was so nice to have nothing to do other than sit and visit with family.

He quickly found Uncle Matt's boots and worked his way into them. Wearing our shoes is one of his favorite things to do these days. The boots were almost as tall as his whole leg! It was so funny watching him walk in them.

 

We stayed up too late visiting and had a lazy morning on Christmas Eve. We enjoyed lunch at Clear Springs and then Grandma watched Bryson during nap time while Jason and I ran to Target for some last minute shopping.

Here is Bryson helping PawPaw and Uncle Matt change the oil in Aunt Shannon's car.

That evening I went to the Christmas Eve service at my parents' church while Jason and Bryson hung out at home {there was no nursery at the church}. After the service they met us at Mammacita's for dinner. It was delicious!
After dinner, we continued our tradition of Bryson getting to open one present on Christmas Eve that is a pair of Christmas pajamas and a book.

Great Grandma reading his new book to him.

New PJs! They say "I've been good... ask Mommy!"

Christmas Morning

Great Grandma and Bryson enjoying some coffee and milk before opening gifts...

Uncle Matt dragging Bryson around in a box. Still not sure why we spend so much on presents when his favorite toy is a box!

Grandma and PawPaw's Christmas tree with TOO many presents!

Even Halle was enjoying the festivities...

Uncle Matt is starting medical school in the Fall!

 I got Amy a box full of pregnancy tests! She used to make fun of me for taking them early on in our marriage, and now she takes them all the time! Zach thanked me for cutting down their expenses for the month. :) {I also gave her a Pier 1 gift card that was taped to the bottom of the box}

Family Photo Op

Bryson's 2nd Christmas!

 Grandma and PawPaw gave Bryson a Fisher Price Noah's Ark. He loved it and loved carrying around all of the animals...

 We stuffed ourselves full of waffles for breakfast...

 ...then ate {another} delicious traditional lunch complete with turkey and all of the trimmings.

 Bryson blowing a kiss for Great Grandma as she tells him goodbye.

We left shortly after lunch and headed to Pleasanton for Christmas with the Ruples.