Christmas Madness

Holidays always seem to descend on us way too fast and pass by even faster! Mad rush to get holiday shopping done, Xmas cards out, work wrapped up to some stoppable point, and packing for a trip - clothes, necessities (such as Elmo and binkie), high chairs, kiddie tent/crib, snacks, toys for the road, etc. Regardless of how early or how organized we are, we are ALWAYS ALWAYS forgetting something. We made it finally.. to see friends and family, after a 4 hour start delay from last minute present wrapping, snack packing, kid tending and diaper changing, and other miscellaneous things to do.. oh and, of course an emergency potty-stop right when we get on the freeway. A portable potty chair in the car is a definite MUST for all traveling kids!

Anyhow, I foresee it will take a week to decompress and catch up on sleep and transition back to normal routine. In the meantime, it is really cute to see the kiddies asking if we can drive over to visit grandma/grandpa and their cousins. =) The kiddies miss the family so much already!

Christmas Recap:

Kiddies had quality time with their cousins...

.. and the iPad.

Back in the day, pinky swearing or spit-handshake was a form of defining friendship. Now it is crayola markering that forms the bond.

Side by side dolly play with cousin K.

Opening presents!



Tons of toys to play with, and yet, the best fun always are the non-toys!



All the kiddies on Christmas day.

Christmas Day was mainly the kiddies and the cousins, though Christmas Eve fun was with the whole family - cousins, aunts, uncles, grandaunts, granduncles, etc. Quite chaotic in a good way.

Emilia was the first kid to dive into the mass of presents to look for her name on the label.

Christmas Eve present opening...

And the closest we've had to getting the whole family together. This is almost the whole family.. only missing 2, an uncle and great-grandma.

2013 Holiday Card...or not...

Looks like the company I ordered our holiday cards from sent us cards for the wrong family! So, if they can get us the cards by tomorrow, then you may just get a snail mail holiday greeting from us.. or from us, but of another family, hehe. If not, then this Holiday Card post will have to do! =P

Oy!

Kids and friends...