Very Merry!

We started what will hopefully be an annual tradition for our family...We went on a carriage ride through Highland Park to look at the Christmas lights.  It was a little chilly but we bundled up and snuggled on the ride!

Waiting for our carriage

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Such a fun night!

We had quite a week of Christmas celebrations and the kids had such a great time and were definitely spoiled!  They loved getting to spend time with everyone and it didn't hurt that every celebration included some gift opening.
We headed to Arkansas on Sunday to visit with Papa Bill, Sandra, LB and Christine.  Sadly we forgot to take any pictures!!  After that we drove to Little Rock to Nana's house for dinner and then got some rest for our Christmas celebration at Nana's on Monday morning.

Nana and Aunt Michelle

 Caitlin and Keegan passing out gifts

 Caitlin, Keegan and Benjamin

 Opening gifts

 Nana and the grandkids

 Riding the awesome plasma cars from Nana and P-paw

 Trying out Keegan's hairstyling kid with her first client

We headed to Warren on Christmas Eve morning to have brunch with the Sledges at Papaw's house.

 Family picture (just missing Clint)

 Benjamin loved playing with all the cousins, especially Lily!

 Papaw and the great-grandkids!

Caitlin loved the rocking chair!

 Opening gifts

 Visiting with the Ezells and playing with their gifts from Aunt Brenda

Nana and Caitlin

 Santa dropped off a few gifts at Papaw's house on Christmas morning

 Opening gifts

 Benjamin had asked Santa for a scooter, dinosaurs and a remote control car.  We tried to tell him that Santa was also coming to drop off the rest of the gifts on Saturday, but he was still a little bummed they didn't make it to Papaw's house!

 Opening the doll that big brother picked out for Caitlin

After opening gifts and having some breakfast, we got back on the road to Dallas to be home in time for mass at St. Mark's and dinner with the Yllanas...

Checking out the Nativity scene after mass

 

Caitlin sitting on her presents

 Benjamin posing for a picture

 With Aunt Nini

 Ben and Daddy

 Family picture

 Ben and Mommy

 Benjamin being silly with Nini

 Caitlin and Mommy

 Lolo and Lola with the grandkids

 Caitlin and Lola

 Friday night we had dinner and opened gifts and Lolo and Lola's house

 Daddy opening one of his presents

 Caitlin passing out gifts

 Sitting on their present piles

 Getting ready to open!

 Remote control helicopter from Lolo.  "I love it!"

 Opening gifts together

 Caitlin's American girl baby that Lolo and Lola bought for her in NY. 

Having a tea party with Lola in her princess tutu 

Santa was a little delayed bringing the rest of the gifts to our house since we were in Arkansas.  He decided to drop off the rest of the bigger gifts on Saturday!

Looks like we made the nice list!

 

 Benjamin was SO sad that Pinky was gone.  He said, "But he's my best friend!"

 Santa!!!

Finally got the scooter!

Playing with the new kitchen

Caitlin in her Christmas PJs

Mommy, stop taking pictures!  He makes the best faces

Trying out the new scooter and helmet. He's a natural.  He must have seen other kids use their scooters, because he immediately got on and started cruising.

Opening more gifts

Saturday night we decided to head to Fair Park and check out the Chinese Lantern Festival.  They have this every year and this is the first time we had gone to see it.  It was great weather and so fun to see all the festive lights!

 

 Of course, Benjamin's favorite part was the dinosaurs!

 There was also this dinosaur that had sound and motion, that Benjamin wanted to check out.

 Pandas!

 

 And before we left, we had to go back one last time to see the dinosaurs!

 ROAR!

 They even had pandas walking around for pictures!  Benjamin didn't want to join, but Caitlin loved it!

Whew!  What a fun and festive week we had celebrating with family!  The kids were spoiled rotten and loved every minute of it.  Everyone was so thoughtful and generous with their presents.  Now time for more fun and adventures in 2014!  Happy New Year!!