Happy Holidays!!

Merry Christmas!!!  We  had a great Christmas and hope all of our friends and family did as well!  December is one HECTIC month, especially with a toddler running around.  I feel like the fact that I can even blog is a miracle in itself.  In the petroleum industry, and especially in Corpus Christi, everybody sort of gets into a vacation-y frame of mind.  It is next to impossible to carry on any business! David and I attended several industry Christmas parties this year, just as we always do, but with just a little twist.  Cooper got to attend two of them with us, though we only stayed an hour (or so).  Aunt Libby kept Cooper while we attended our favorite party on the 9th, and Grandma kept him while we attended David's company party on the 14th.  Then, on the 19th, we attended a graduation party where Cooper spent the night with Grandma!  This was our first time to spend the night apart, and we all did fine!  Cooper woke up a few times, but he does that to me all the time, and there were no major meltdowns or issues! It went so well, according to Grandma, that we are already planning a weekend getaway for "just us".

After all the holiday party hoopla, the week of Christmas came roaring in.  I had tried desperately all month to do all the shopping and running around beforehand, so we wouldn't be in such a crazy state the week of Christmas...FAIL!!!  Oh well, tis the season!  On the Eve of Christmas Eve, three of my cousins, Uncle Clint, and Aunt Christie and Uncle James came over for a shrimp boil.  The next night we hosted Christmas Eve for my family, and our long ago adopted family the Morgans.  We stayed true to the south Texas tradition of eating tamales on Christmas Eve, along with a big pot of chili, and OUR tradition, a bottle of Bailey's Irish Creme.  Cooper miraculously stayed on his schedule, even if we pushed it back a little late.  After his bath, showing us his new "brush your teeth" dance, he hit the sack and slept relatively well all night.  On Christmas morning, Cooper immediately pointed at the now full stockings, so that is what we did first.  After Mom and Dad had coffee and Cooper had some milk, we attacked the mound of presents left by Santa.  Cooper got TONS of toys and books.  After breakfast and some hurried pie baking, we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for more presents and Christmas dinner.  Again, Cooper made a haul!  Grandma and Grandpa couldn't agree on what his big present should be...a ride-on BMW or a rocking horse...so he got both!  ONLY GRANDPARENTS!!!

The next day, we got up early, and hit the road to visit the Kirks in Houston.  We were greeted with 3 very excited cousins and MORE PRESENTS!  Cooper's big gift was a DVD player that you can watch in the car...thank you Nonnie and Papa Kirk!!  We stayed two nights, playing Wii with our nephew, taking Cooper to the park, and of course, eating WAY too much.  It was almost a relief to drive home...knowing that all the holiday indulgence was almost over.  At any rate, we had a beautiful and blessed holiday and are just "full" of the season.  Happy New Year!!