Christmas break

The kids eagerly waiting for Mom and Dad on Christmas morning. We have a mandatory picture each year before they can come downstairs.

Charlie has been asking for his own guitar for years and really hoped Santa would come through for him. Sawyer kept assuring him that he wouldn't. So, boy were they surprised on Christmas morning.

I think Brad enjoyed it more than Charlie. He's been wanting to learn to play for years. Maybe this is the year?
Sawyer enjoying his assortment of sugar cereal- a tradition we've carried over from my childhood. They love it!

We had a relaxed Christmas morning opening presents and making a yummy breakfast. By 2:00pm, we had everything cleaned up, had packed the car and were on the road heading to Texas to visit good friends.

We spent the night in Dallas and arrived in Houston on Friday afternoon. We spent five wonderful days relaxing, visiting, and eating good food.

Some of the highlights were hunting for alligators, a day at the beach in Galveston, Nasa Space Center, racquetball (for Eric and Brad), a Latin dance class (Megan and me), eating out as adults, and ditching our winter coats for a week.

The kids were in absolute heaven to be with their friends. Everyone got along perfectly barring Lucy and Braden's random screaming wars over who was bigger, etc.

I can think of few things I enjoy as much as a trip to the beach with kids. Unfortunately, the water was cold, but they made the most of it just the same.

We had adjoining hotel rooms, so the kids were thrilled about being able to watch a show together one night.

Sawyer felt crummy the morning of departure, so he slept most of the day in the car. Brad was a complete superstar and agreed to drive the kids home alone while I flew. We had a one way ticket which was about to expire, so knowing how much I dislike long car rides with kids, he suggested I stay an extra day and fly home alone. That was probably one of my best Christmas presents. Thanks sweetie! Not only did he make the 12 hour drive with four kids alone, but with two sick kids. Spencer threw up three times before reaching Kansas. Twice in the hotel and once in the car. Luckily, we were prepared with plastic bags, so it didn't get everywhere. I don't recall a trip we've been on with kids, when someone wasn't sick.