Christmas 2012

Christmas time this year was so much better than last year! I am very happy to report that, as I was a bit nervous thinking each year was going to be a chaotic blur. LOL! I have been planning Katie and Nathan’s birthday parties for several months now, but lining up when to order presents, decorations, book venues, go Christmas shopping, squeeze in holiday parties, and celebrating with families is a bit of a mess. Hopefully I pulled it all off this year; I don’t remember hearing too much complaining, but then again, I might have selectively blocked that out.


We celebrated with our friend’s children on December 19th. Tiffanie and Jeremy, Noemi and David, Paul and I were able to gather almost everyone that was here last year to open up Christmas gifts, have some holiday treats and enjoy one another’s company for a couple of hours. I know it is hard to get together during the month when so much is going on, but it meant a lot to see the kids get together and play and open presents. I can’t believe how quickly these kiddos are growing!

Paul and I were able to attend the PCU Christmas party on the 21st. One of my co-workers hosted the party for us in his beautiful home. We had such a fun time hanging out and having some drinks with everyone. It was nice to be able to relax while not at work with the ones I spend so much of my week with. :) They were even able to get us to sing Karaoke. Oh my goodness, I am awful. lol!
The Greer Family opened their home to friends and family for their 2nd Annual Holiday Open House on the 22nd and Paul and I took the kids by for a little while that evening. Mrs. Greer had put out quite the spread, as she usually does, and we had a great time visiting with the Greer and Kazear families. This has become one of our favorite new traditions! After the party, we headed over to Irma and Ramon’s house for the Garcia/Gauna Christmas celebration. Unfortunately, we were a bit late and most of the family was headed out after we arrived. It is hard for the little ones to stay awake and not only was it past Charlie and Lorelei’s bedtimes but always Katie and Nathan’s. We were able to visit with everyone for a little while though before we headed home and called it a night.

My grandparents were able to come down for Christmas and Katie’s birthday this year. I always love having them here, and it feels more like “Christmas” to have them with us. Mom, Papa, Grandma, Grandpa and Jonathan all came over for Christmas morning at our house, and mom made lunch for us afterwards. Katie was so much fun to watch this year! She was really into opening her gifts and had to get every last piece of wrapping paper off before she looked at what she received. She seemed so excited about her toys and loved unwrapping Nathan’s (and anyone else’s) gifts, as well. Nathan started to help unwrap his gifts, but he quickly lost interest and let Katie take the lead. He loved banging all the gifts around after they were open, though. Irma, Ramon and Paul each stopped by to give the kids presents and visit for a bit Christmas morning. Katie and Nathan were thoroughly spoiled for Christmas this year! (as were Paul and myself!) They will have enough gifts to play with all year long!

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving this year was split up into two different celebrations. We went to Oklahoma November 2nd to 5th for an early Thanksgiving with the Murray and Tidwell families. We had a pretty good turn out, too, with about 65 people there. My Grandma and Grandpa were able to share this day with all of their brothers and sisters that are still living. A lot of my cousins were able to make it, too, however, there were a couple this year that missed that I was able to see last year.


Katie had so much fun playing with her 3rd cousins. Acelyn and Tailey are a little bit older than she is, already 3 now, and she loved getting to spend time with them. Even the older cousins were fun to play with as the little ones headed to the park, swung and played on the merry-go-round. It was really neat to see Katie play in the park that my cousins and I played in 20 years ago. I have such fond memories of my childhood in Aline; I hope that Katie and Nathan will also have memories of playing in mommy’s hometown.

For thanksgiving day, I had to work from 3pm-12am and Paul had to work from 7am-3pm. This is the first Thanksgiving in many years that we haven’t shared together. I took the kiddos to Mom and Papa’s house for lunch. Mom made a wonderful spread for us, and we really enjoyed sharing the day with them and with Jonathan. After we were nice and full, I loaded up and headed to work. Paul stopped by his sister, Melissa’s house, on the way home from work before spending the evening with Katie and Nathan. We have so much to be thankful for this year!

Mother's Day/Father's Day 2012

(Side Note: How late am I in posting these?!?!?!)

Mother’s Day 2012 was very low key this year. Papa, Jon, and Paul took Mom and I and the kiddos to Jim’s to have a breakfast/lunch. We spent the day hanging out at home and enjoying each other's company. Paul’s family had a get together the day before at his mom’s house, but Nathan and I were in Corpus for Tara and Kevin's gender reveal party. I heard Katie and Charlie had fun playing with each other, though!




Mawmaw, Katie and Mommy, Mother's Day 2012

Father’s Day 2012 was also pretty low key. We spent the day with our families. Paul’s dad came over to our house, as did mom and Papa, and we BBQ’d. Paul is an excellent grill master and made us some really good steaks, burgers and “dot dogs.”



Grandpa, Pawpaw and Nathan, Father's Day 2012



Happy Fourth of July!

Fourth of July is my favorite time of year, second only to Christmas. I love the summer and being outside all day at the pool or the river is the best way to spend it for me. :) Unfortunately, Fourth of July fell on a Wednesday this year, and we all had to work the day before and the day after the 4th. We usually stay at the Hyatt for a few days, but this time would be a little different with limited days off.

We ended up making a reservation at the Hyatt Wild Oak the day before and swam over there all day on the 4th. We had so much fun! I didn’t even know this resort was over by the Hyatt, and it is really neat! They had an indoor/outdoor activity pool, two big waterslides, a lazy river and a couple of restaurants there.
Katie had a blast floating in the river! She took her floatie that we got her for Easter and insisted on floating all by herself. She didn’t even need a life jacket and did very, very well. She jumped off the side of the pool into the river and built a few sand castles. Nathan likes being outdoors as much as Katie did at that age and did very well while we were at the pool. He had his little sun shade floatie, and he floated the river with mommy for hours, snoozing off and on.

Katie and I took a quick nap, and we all changed before heading over to the Hyatt Hill Country. They had their annual wagon parade to kick off the festivities that evening. This year, they even had a marching band! Seems like it is getting bigger and bigger each year. The BBQ was held at the Luckenbach Pavilion instead of in the big tent, and there wasn’t any live music/dancing like there usually is. It was different, but still a great time! We were able to get a bunch of blankets and sat on the golf course to watch the fireworks. I don’t know which we enjoyed more: watching Katie watching the fireworks or the fireworks themselves. She was so excited and clapped and screamed for each one. She would occasionally jump up and yell “Catch ‘em!” as she reached up in the sky for the fireworks. LOL! I am loving this stage and seeing the world through her eyes. Nathan did well, too, and didn’t seem afraid at all. He smiled and watched the fireworks with amazement and “look Bubba!!!” as Katie instructed him to. Hahaha. It was a wonderful day!

Nathan and Papaw getting in the lazy river, Hyatt Hill Country Wild Oak Ranch

Happy Fourth of July from our family to yours!

Katie Bug

Mom and Papa

Having lunch at the Hyatt

Building sand castles

Waiting for the fireworks on the green!

Eating BBQ

Mom and Me

Watching the fireworks



Nathan



Easter 2012

Easter this year was on April 8th. For Nathan’s first Easter, we celebrated Mass at St. Luke’s as we did with Katie’s first Easter. He was such a good baby during the sermon and happily looked around and cat napped. Katie, on the other hand, was restless and went up and down our pew getting into trouble. :) But she did fairly well for being so little and having a short attention span. The church had a lovely easter egg hunt after the service and breakfast taco's for the big kids.

Katie at the St. Luke's Easter Egg Hunt 2012

Katie, Nathan, Mawmaw, Pawpaw and Uncle Jon

We went out to have brunch at Crumpet’s afterwards with Mom, Papa, and Jonathan. It was so delicious! Paul and I took the kids to his mom’s house to celebrate Easter with his mom and sister. Charlie, however, was due for a nap and Melissa and Jason had taken her home before we arrived. Katie and Nathan got some lovely Easter Baskets from Aunt Melissa, Uncle Jason, and Grandma and Grandpa Gauna.

Nathan on his first Easter

Nathan and I at Crumpets

Katie and Paul at Crumpets

Mom, Papa, Katie and I had decorated Easter Eggs the night before Easter, and mom and papa hid them in the backyard for Katie and Nathan to find Sunday afternoon. Katie is getting so good at finding the eggs and would tell us “There is it!” lol! She is such a doll. Grandma and Grandpa spoiled Katie and Nathan with baskets of chocolate and even got some candy for Paul and myself! :) Now Katie is well adapt at asking for “CANDY!” with her eyes all lit up.

Making Easter Eggs, April 7th

Katie inspecting her eggs

Nathan's Egg

Katie's Egg

We even made Camo Easter Eggs

Hunting for Eggs at Mawmaw's House

Nathan, Mom and Me

Even Nathan got some confetti!

The Medina Family