Days before Christmas

Not too much running around, but lots of getting together with family and friends. Asa made cookies and notes for his class. His last day of school was the 18th, and they do not go back until the 11th! So excited though because Helena and Asa will go together that day for the first time. We had some great picture opportunities, but I only took a few pics! I am lucky to get out the door in one piece so the camera gets left behind.


We decided to head to Houston for a few days to see cousins and spend time at Aunt Dora's. Then we drove with her down to Corpus. The kids were ...well not too good on the plane. They just love to irritate each other. They go back and forth between loving on each other and then fighting. They were great on the drive though.






Helena! She ate through everything while in Houston.

My cousin Joey's son, Ben. He totally took care of Helena all through dinner.

My great friend Felicia!

One of Shenna's fabulous parties.

Asa's cookies for his friends at school.

Asa wrote notes to all his friends to put on the cookies. This took a long time (24 kids). I was impressed with his patience.

Ready for the roadtrip. Wulfie wanted to sit in the back with the kids. We were stuck on the highway at a standstill for an hour! The kids were really really really good.

This is Aunt Dora & Uncle Ian's home. You can't see it all in this picture. It is beautiful and I feel so relaxed there when I visit. It has so many amazing things, but at the same time it is hard to be there without Uncle Ian. It was entirely his work of art and it is filled with so many pictures and articles of him. His library is amazing and reminds me of everything he accomplished during his life.

This month, we had two great reasons to get together. Mari's baby shower - for Luke Aidan Panko and Joanna's Engagement party. I have know these girls for almost 20 years and 2 of them 25 years! Cannot believe it. From our days at Windsor Park & Carroll High. We all went to different colleges and live in different cities now, but it takes no time at all to pick up where we left off everytime we get together. And thank god - the husbands/fiances all like each other!! So glad we have lots of parties the next year to see each other. We also take a yearly trip in the summer.




I love this pic. Stephanie and Bianca with their daughters, Kimberly & Julianna.

Hostesses!

Pam & Julianna.

Engagement party in Corpus. Congrats Joanna!

Christmas Spirit

Last night was a great way to remember what this time of year is all about. One of the organizations I am in hosts a Make A Wish Christmas Party every year. Over 100 wish kids and their families attend. These kids are precious, gracious, and hopeful. Their siblings are just as amazing. We have dinner, desserts, activities, gifts for the kids and siblings, pics with Santa, and entertainment. It was a great night and great way to celebrate this season.


Then I came home to the two sweetest kids in the world feeling very blessed. They were still talking about watching charlie brown's christmas when I was gone. Every year with Asa, he asks more questions about Christmas. He is so fascinated by it and very excited. I really need to buy an advent calendar or something because every day he asks how many more days before Christmas. I wrapped some presents the other night and put them under the tree so... the next morning he came down and thought it was Christmas. Slow down there son. Those are from mom and dad!!! But you should have seen his face! He was so in awe.




Here are some random recent pics.

ASA holding a butterfly his friend Sam caught. We had to really convince him to let that little guy fly away. He did not want to let go!

Asa's first big catch!!! He went fishing with Uncle Nathan and caught the biggest one.

Helena sporting Dora Christmas PJS!

I thought this pic was hilarious. Asa gets into the mail alot, opens it. It drives me crazy. He pulled out address labels from some organization and went to town.

Christmas tree ornament that Asa made for school out of a recycled orange juice bottle.

Helena not so excited that we are headed to shop at DFM!~

Love these PJS.

Thanksgiving Festival

Asa's Thanksgiving Festival was much more than I expected. The past two years, they performed a few songs in English and Spanish. This year they put on a play...pilgrims, indians, feast, and all. Then they had a costume change and of course did thanksgiving ala mexico. Here are some pics of him. Such a proud moment to watch your kid enjoy enjoy himself so much. He had been talking about the performance every day and all day. So we were just as excited as he was that day to finally see it.