We started our Christmas Family tour in Corpus Christi this year...
Not a second too soon and ALWAYS later than I'd like all of our presents were wrapped and sitting under our tree. To me, there is nothing like a tree with lots of presents (all packaged alike) under your tree! Each present represents a special face you hope will be smiling when that package is opened... the excitement is almost too much! :)
As soon as we could get all of our presents wrapped, our bags packed and our car loaded down the kids and I headed to the coast for Christmas number one with KK and Albi. Daddy came and joined us Friday along with Aunt Emily, Uncle Josh and their two "kids" Griff and Sadie!
Caden and Kaki were both suffering from yet ANOTHER cold so bunking in the same room was going to be a bit tough with the constant coughing from big bro, so Caden got the LONG-end of the stick and KK and Albi hooked him up with a QUEEN-SIZED "bubble bed" or blow-up bed as you and I know it and a TV all his own, complete with a VHS player so he could watch all of KK and Albi's old Disney movies... it was a DUDE PAD if you've ever seen one! And he was thrilled! I am pretty sure there will never be a day when Caden opts to share a room with Kaki again. Them days are over!!
On Thursday after we arrived at KK and Albi's we just took it easy and got settled in... couldn't tell you what we had for dinner but I am sure it was fab... oh wait...we had steak and it WAS fab! It was the perfect boost for the PARTY-HEARTY Christmas that awaited us!
On Friday, before the rest of the crew rolled in from the North and the East KK and I took nap time as the perfect opportunity to leave Albi to his ways so we could stock up at HEB. While we were there we happened to find a "steal of a deal" on little girl dress up shoes... so we bought Kaki some heels... SO CUTE! And I remember LOVING these when I was little... LOVING them!
She was a little wobbly until we helped her get her feet situated and then OFF she went!! Sassy...
BUT... then brother found them and tried them on... laughing all the way UNTIL he realized that they made noise on the tile floor... kind of like the "tap shoes" that the Sesame Street Stomp Team wears in one of Caden's favorite videos... so he proceeded to "tap" his way through the rest of the evening... going so crazy that he has some LARGE blisters/gashes across his feet from dancin' the night away. Pain is talent people... or talent is pain... or pain is beauty... I don't know what, but Caden loved him some tap shoes! Bless him!
Friday night KK did a yummy pulled pig for us with all of the fixings... after everyone got there we were ready for the fun to begin! It was so fun to all be in CC together... And we got to meet our dog niece Sadie for the first time!! Such a sweetheart of a dog and I usually don't get all oogly eyed over the pooches! :) But my niece and nephew pooches are the cutest, sweetest (and maybe most high maintenance...hehe) furry friends ever... and we love them!! Truly!! :-)
We called it an early night that night since the boys were going to be up with the sun in hopes of catching our dinner...
One of the many perks of coastal living is that there is good eatin' to be had just a boat ride away...
Oh and a fishin' pole or two...
And a guide who knows his stuff couldn't hurt either...
And if you have all of that then it's pretty certain you'll have a YUMMY dinner of something the likes of this guy...
Or this guy...
But those guys are hard work... just look at that wrist action...
Albi caught the BIG one...
But apparently the BIG one also meant the OLD one and none of us were particularly thrilled with the idea of eating geriatric redfish so we just ooooo'ed and ahhhhh'ed and gave Albi a thumbs up for a great catch and passed on the taste test! :)
But not to worry because we had plenty to choose from...
The boys were quite the fisherman...
What a great catch...
And yes I'm talking about the hunky husband behind the backwards hat... love a man in a backwards cap!! And one who can catch me dinner... bare-handed
Look at those smiles...
The men in my life... minus the tiniest man... who was at home with the girls! :) And let me tell you how SAD he was to be missing out... he kept saying, "I can go when I'm 4!"
I think it is safe to say they were having fun... and what's not to love about catching yo women some dinner! :) Amen?!
That night we had us some YUMMY grilled fish and smorgasbord of sides to fit anyone's fancy!
After our fish "fry" we had a fun night of games on the patio!! Another perk of a coastal Christmas... warm weather and lots of patio time! We played outside, went on walks, sat on the porch... it was FAB-U-LOUS!
Sunday was officially Christmas at Kk and Albi's house so the kids went to bed Saturday night in their Christmas PJs so they would be ready for the morning of fun! And fun we had!! Kaki was our late sleeper that morning so by the time she got up we were all ready to go... and the doggies were ready for their morning nap on the patio. I don't have any pictures to show for it but it goes without saying that we all had a great Christmas and are thankful to everyone for their gifting!! Isn't Christmas the greatest?!
The rest of the day was relaxing and low key... until that afternoon when we started prepping for KK's Christmas dinner... We spent LOTS of time enjoying the sunshine in the backyard!
And the outdoor livin' continued with dinner on the patio...
Caden was blown away by all of the meals we were eating outside... in the dark... with candles... ooooo.... ahhhhhh...
I tried to capture a few pictures of Kk's hard work and vision... but my photography skills do not do it justice... it was a splendid evening in CC...
Kaki was excited for another meal on the patio... can that girl rock the beach wave or what??!! :)
That boy... my boy... ready to EAT!!
Kaki-Lou... that hair...
Before KK brought out our first course we did a little Christmas story reading around the table...
Then we popped our poppers and put on our crowns and were ready to DIG IN!!
Kaki thought it was GOOOOOOD!!
And this guy...
I don't know what his problem is... I thought the food was good... :)
After a YUMMY dinner... we got the kids to bed and played some more games on the patio but after Aunt Emily STOLE (won) all of our money we headed in for a family movie!! Perfect Pitch... so good... it was a late night but we were all having so much fun that we just couldn't bear to see it end. Or maybe that was just me, but everyone else obliged... :)
The next morning we had to pack up and head home for the rest of our Christmas celebrations, but not a moment was wasted as Kaki and Caden got every last minute out of their Aunt, Uncle, Dog Cousins, Kk and Albi. I love watching my kids love our families as much as we do... it is s fun to see their relationships grow with the people we love the most... and even our furry favorites!
Justin and I are always so grateful for our families who love us and our kiddos (however high maintenance and BUSY/SNOTTY (like literal snot, not snooty snot) they may be) we do not take it for granted and feel blessed to experience Christmases like this one!
We love each of you!! Emily, Josh, Griff and Sadie... KK and Albi... Merry Christmas!!
Y'all are aca-awesome!
