Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Christmas in Texas

Better late than never, right?

Well, after we arrived home from our California adventures, we headed over to my parents house in Moody, TX, where my brother and his wife and their kiddos were waiting. Adam and Chandra had made the long 29 hour flight from China with 2 kiddos in tow, just to be here this Christmas. All the cousins were delighted!

We made sure to have tons of activities planned; like trips to the zoo, making smores in the campfire, finger painting, face painting, puppet shows, and of course the all time favorite, hide and seek.

Everyone had a blast and, let me tell you, there is nothing quite like a household full of kids under the age of 4! :) Here are some photos from our time together:





Noah, Joaquin and Elijah in the aquarium

Chandra and Tristan looking for Nemo

Joaquin loved the alligator and the alligator loved Joaquin!

Trying to get all four of the boys to line up their heads in the peek throughs!


Tristan, Noah and Joaquin in the tepee

Sweet lil Tristan

MiMi's attempt at making the manger scene for dress up day

Elijah, Joaquin, Tristan, and Noah getting ready to head to bed

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Christmas in California...

We had a wonderful Christmas this year! Ian, the boys and I flew to California for a week to be with all the Kirkland crew. While we were there we had lots of adventures! Gamma and Gampa took the boys to the Discovery museum and to Disney Land! They had their first experience with Krispy Kreme and In and Out, and were blown away with the load of presents under the tree on Christmas morning! They were absolutely spoiled since they were the only grand kids / nephews around. And of course, they had an absolute BLAST!

Here are some photos of those adventures: (beware, there are quite a few pics)

The massive Christmas morning opening of presents

We all chipped in and got Ian a gift certificate to get his pilots license!

The creators of the whole shindig... Gamma and Gampa

all the boys got matching army jackets


Joaquin played his t-ball set all day! Thanks Aunt Katie! He loves it!!

Gamma and Gampa brought t-shirts back from Italy for the boys!



all the girls in our matching Christmas jammy shirts

Tarzan Joaquin

Tarzan Elijah

the fam in Tarzan's tree house

Casey Jr. Train ride...of course we were all put in the Wild Animals cage :)

my little sharing boy

mommy and her pony

happy boy, Joaquin in line for the Merry-go-round

Daddy and Mommy getting Elijah set to go on his horse

teacup boys


Elijah hiding under my mad hatter hat

mad hatter hat attitude

lollypop men

Joaquin loved driving Gampa around

the boys had special mickey mouse hats with their names on them


Gamma and Elijah looking out the submarine window on the Nemo ride

Aunt Katie and Joaquin looking out the sub windows

lollypops


can't go to Disney land and not get a big lollypop

Goofy's bounce house


Joaquin poking his head out of the pumpkin eye

silly Gampa

The boys with Pluto





Small World boats
mommy and Elijah on Small World
Joaquin loved pointing out all the recognizable decorations

Mommy and Elijah trying to get out of jail

Gampa and Elijah waiting in line for Small World

Gamma and Elijah in line for Nemo


almost time for santa...



finding dinosaur bones at the Discovery Museum

Elijah loved the space shuttle exhibit


Aunt Melanie and Joaquin, the boys loved to run around and wake everyone up in the morning

discovery wands telling us which bone to find


mommy and the boys trying to make the floating magnetic boats in the magnetism exhibit

Gampa, Gamma, Mommy, Elijah and Joa