Merry Christmas Eve!

We started out the evening headed to the Christmas Eve Service.There wasn't anyone in the nursery, so we had Jenna with us. She did great!.....for about five minutes! So, we called a spade a spade and went driving around looking at Christmas lights.

After dinner and bath time, wearing her Christmas pajamas from Gumma and Bumpa, Jenna came downstairs to kiss me goodnight. I asked her if she would like to open one present tonight. She ran right over to the tree exclaiming, "Yea!!! Presents!!!" At first she picked out one of my presents to open. I told her she might enjoy opening a present for herself a little bit more. So, she chose a present from Mimi and Papa.

 It was an Elmo Karaoke Machine!

 It was a hit! Especially Elmo's Song!

 

Jenna and Daddy enjoying her new toy!

 

Stay tuned for more pictures!

More of Jenna's First Christmas!

Jenna seemed to really enjoy her first Christmas. How could she not? She got TONS of presents!

Reading Jingle Bugs with Mimi.

Foofa!

This is one of her new favorite toys, her shape sorter.

Jenna enjoying Yo Gabba Gabba Christmas Show with Papa. He would watch it with her all day long!

Merry Christmas!

More pictures to follow soon!

Jenna Goes To See Santa

She didn't even cry!

Jenna's First Thanksgiving...uuuummmm, Christmas....

My parents came to town for Thanksgiving this year and Heather drove up from San Antonio. Of course, Lawrence already lives in Dallas, so he didn't have too far to drive! Jenna really enjoyed seeing all of them and seemed to really enjoy the turkey, as well as the presents! We had a special practice Christmas, so my family could watch her open presents.

Aunt Heather shares her phone with Jenna while waiting to trim the tree.

Jenna helps Mommy "decorate" after dinner. She seemed to really enjoy turkey!

Presents!!!

Playing with her noisy penguin from uncle Lawrence.


Checking out her new ballpit/clubhouse.

Daddy and Grandpa inflate the clubhouse.

Uncle Lawrence entertains her with the balls, while she patiently awaits the assembly of her new ball pit!

Jenna tries it out.

She loves crawling in and out.

Yea!!!! Yo Gabba Gabba!!

Jenna sure loves her Uncle Lawrence!

Jenna helping Uncle Lawrence type on the computer.

Family Visit Part 3: The Pets

Roscito Bandito!
Alfie getting acquainted with his new friend. He seems unsure.

Best Buds.

The puppies with Grandpa.

All the pets made their way for snuggle time on the couch with Grandpa and me!

So cozy.

The puppies protecting me.

Family Visit Part 2: Christmas Morning

Brandon very excited about joining the 21st century and getting his very own I Pod!
He got me my very first gaming console, a Wii and also a Wii Fit. Hmmmm.... I hope he isn't trying to say something here!

Heather happy to have new clothes.

Lawrence happy to have new underwear. This kind of concerns me.

Dad happy to have more UTEP gear.

My very own Rachel Ray Garbage Bowl!!!

Brandon excited about our upcoming arrival; aka our "New Aquisition."

Yea!!! The BOB!!

Mom getting cozy in her new scarf.

After a yummy Christmas meal, cooked by my dad :-), I couldn't decided which dessert I wanted. So, being nine months pregnant and all, I tried all of them!!!

Family Visit Part 1

I can't believe my Christmas Vacation is almost over and back to work I go on Monday morning... unless our little one has other plans of course! My parents and sister came into town for Christmas and Lawrence was up in our neck of the woods quite a bit while they were here. Here are some of the pictures from their visit. There are so many that I am going to have to post them in bits at a time.

Whose belly is bigger? Hmmm...

Alfie and his Uncle Lawrence. Alfie was on his very best behavior. He let everyone hold him and love on him. He must sense that something is up and he will need to get snuggles from whomever will give them!

Me and Mom... she just loves pictures of my belly.

Alfie enjoying a snooze on the baby.

Alfie and Rosco enjoying a walk with Grandpa. He took them on several!

Me and Dad with the puppies. They seemed to really milk it... being their last holiday as the center of attention and all!

Me pretending to help Dad with dinner.

Somehow Heather was put in charge of sterilizing pacifiiers to pack for the hospital.

Merry Christmas!

As I am exhausted right now being nine months pregnant and all, I boycotted most traditions of Christmas. So, no tree, no lights, and no cards this year. However, I could not go without making my grandma's Swedish coconut cookies or without taking a picture of Alfie dressed in something festive. And this year, Heather's dog, Rosco, also is here to join in the torture. Aren't they the cutest little elves ever? I can hardly wait until next year. I'll have a baby and a dog to dress up!

My Christmas Cookie Party

This past weekend some ladies from my Bible Study class came over and we baked Christmas cookies! It's our second year to do this and oh what fun! We each supplied the ingredients for a recipe or two and then we baked all day long. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and a great way to get all different kinds of cookies baked!

I have included the recipes for my favorite cookies below. My grandmother made them every year at Christmas time and I always think of her when I make them. In the picture below they are the cookies with green sprinkles on the left.


Swedish Coconut Cookies


2 cups Butter (4 sticks at room temperature)
2 1/3 cups Sugar

Cream together. Then add the following ingredients.

1 ½ tsp. vanilla
3 ¾ cups flour (add gradually with other dry ingredients)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 cups coconut


Mix well. Pack into a 9 x 13 glass dish. Let it chill overnight in refrigerator. Slice into 3 rows. Then slice cookies 1.2” thick (very important). Roll edges into sugar sprinkles (red or green). Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes until light brown color.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Boy is putting lights in the ground a lot of work!! Maybe next year I can get Brandon to put lights up on the house! Or at the very least, hire someone to do it!!!

Sorry they are blurry, but it was cold and rainy outside!