December 2014: Christmas Festivities--Part II

On December 19th and 20th, Mike and I spent a pretend Christmas eve and Christmas morning at Jessica and Sebastian's house. It was SO FUN! Jess made an amazing parmesan chicken dinner on the 19th. That night, we let Hudson and Beau open one present before taking a drive to look at beautiful Christmas lights in a nearby neighborhood. 

The following morning, Sebastian read the Christmas story from Luke, and the rest of us acted out the nativity scene. Mike and I had loaded our Jeep with gifts for the Dunlap family before heading to their house. When we arrived, we stacked the gifts under their Christmas tree. It was fun watching everyone open their gifts on Christmas morning, and Mike and I got some sweet gifts in return!

Mike and I ended the 20th by having dinner with Jacob and Shauna at Applebee's, which they treated us to, and then going to the Botanic Garden's "River of Lights" together--our first time ever. What a FUN early Christmas weekend we had! Thank you Jess and Seb, and Jacob and Shauna!

Our Jeep loaded down with gifts for the Dunlap's

 Enjoying our awesome dinner with the Dunlap's

I have to get Jessica's delicious parmesan chicken recipe!

 Here's the talented cook--my sweet daughter Jessica in her lovely kitchen

 Love this beautiful family and their wonderful family traditions

The amazing parmesan chicken, green salad, and pretzel bun partway through the meal

Beau, our great little eater who also likes to play with his food

Sebastian sporting a gotee 

Hudson at mealtime

Gorgeous Christmas tree and adorable stockings hung on the fireplace
And so many presents!

The boys open their first Christmas gifts--
A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sleeping bag and pillow set

 Jess with her fluffy new robe on Christmas morning

Love the look on Hudson's face

Beau tries on his Spiderman slippers

Love the boys' super hero pajamas

Beau grabbed this cool Robin figurine from Hudson's new toy stash
This little blondie reminds me of Jess and Jacob as little tikes

Super heroes rule for Hudson and Beau! 

Hudson tries on his new oversized jacket

Grandma reads new books to Hudson and Beau

Mommy assembles the boys' new car track 

Okay, so these "learning" books were not the most exciting things this Christmas

Shauna, Jacob, and Tyler at Applebee's

Grandma with her sweet-loving Tyler boy 

Jacob and Shauna, thanks for the yummy dinner treat!

The cool pirate ship, one of hundreds of amazing lights at the Botanical Gardens

 On Christmas eve, our whole neighborhood sets up and lights luminarias/farolitos!

The bags of sand and candles glow on our street all night

Here's our home on the left, which reminds us of a stable

The enormous box of chocolates we got from Justin Wallace for Christmas!