Catching up on Christmas

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I'm back! Did you all think I was gone for good? I'm sure you've been waiting anxiously at your computer hoping, praying, wishing, longing for me to post a new blog update. Right?

No? You weren't? Rude.

Whatever. I'm back and hopefully I'll be a more faithful blogger in the year 2012.

Let's back up to Christmas, shall we? How was your Christmas? Did you all eat lots of food with friends and family? Read the Christmas Story from the Bible? Read "The Night Before Christmas"? Open some fabulous gifts? Go anywhere special? Get new PJs and underwear? Relax and go no where? Either way, I sure hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. And a Happy New Year as well!

On Friday, December 23rd, Jamie and I made the trek from Lafayette to Bartlesville which took right around 9 hours. Terrible drive. Boring drive. Long drive. We packed sandwiches, apples and goldfish for dinner so that we didn't have to stop. And honestly, there aren't many places to stop on that drive. Oh and I also made sure to pack a bag of M&Ms for Jamie and a giant chocolate chip cookie for us to much on for dessert. Dessert on a long drive is a necessity.

On Christmas Eve, Camie and I woke up early and hit the gym to prepare our tummies for our Mexican feast that would happen later that afternoon. Then we made a Starbucks run and got ready for the day.

Meme and Papa came over from Arkansas to enjoy some Christmas Eve fun. Like I said, we had a Mexican Fiesta and it was all delicious! We had taco salad, tamales, chili, seafood enchiladas, chicken enchiladas, queso, chips and salsa and more! Holy yum yum! So good!

Kirby, Papa and Meme looking at a football video of Kirby, I believe:

We were so glad Camie's BF, Darrin, was able to spend Christmas Eve with us!:
Darrin, I sure hope that we haven't scared you off yet :)

Kim, Jamie, Weezy and Lulu looking precious:
Weezy...put your girly goodies away! She's trying to bring all the boys to the yard with her milkshake. Naughty.

Oh Lulu...that tongue, honey:
Kim, I know you enjoy Lulu kisses, but that's a little much, is it not?

Cute family picture of the 3 of us:
Jamie, this smile couldn't make me happier :)

Aunt Camie and her niecey Leia Lu:

Darrin (Camie's BF), Me and Jamie:
Jamie...that smile...the constipated look is not a good one.

Camie and Darrin gearing up for some gift-opening:
Brosefs:
Meme always likes to play fun games at family events. During this game, we all had a gift, and passed it in the circle while Meme sang a Christmas song. When she stopped, we had to stop passing the gifts:

After our little game, Pops ended up with all the gifts. Why do YOU get all the gifts, Papa?!:

We all got new snuggie/poncho/blankets:
Broskis:
Left to right: Darrin, Kirby, Papa, Camie, Jamie, Me, Meme, Marty:
Now Kim is in this one! Love my family:
My beloved and me:
Believe it or not, these snuggie things are actually quite nice. They're really warm and comfy and fabulous :) Thanks, Meme and Papa!

The boys:
I had accidentally just let Weezy out of the house and she went running...the guys were seeing what the commotion was about:
She came back though! Praise Jesus!!

Kim's beautifully decorated tree:
She wrapped most of the gifts in newspaper with pretty ribbon. Very creative:
Uncle Kirby got Leia a Dartmouth hoodie:
She's my little Ivy League baby girl:
She was a tuckered out pup at the end of the day:
Jamie, my 8 year old husband, got LOTS of video games for Christmas:
A couple weeks ago, there was a little boy in the store with his mom and I asked him what he's asking Santa for for Christmas. His response?...The exact same items as my 24 year old husband. Wow.

Kim and Marty had this made for Kirby. Isn't it neat?:
The night finally calmed down and most of us went to bed. Kirby and Jamie headed to the casino with the rest of the Christmas crazies and didn't come home until the wee hours! Way to go, boys!

MOVING ON TO CHRISTMAS AT THE ERVIN'S:

On Christmas morning, Jamie and I drove to my parents' house for Christmas, Round 2. We had a pork fest! Lots of pig and breakfast casseroles and biscuits and gravy and bacon and deliciousness. So good. I love Pork Fest.

After lunch, our family usually gathers around and just chit chats. We're big talkers in our family and always enjoy catching up with one another. Love my family.

I'm so glad I captured this cute moment of KK and Leslie. Holding hands at Christmas time :)
Story-telling and giggling:
Grandma Betty was in a story telling mood that day. It was really sweet. I just love that lady so much.

The Schoenthaler Family of 3:
It looks like Leia is trying to smile :)

The newest addition to the family, Baby James:
Lila loved Leia Lu Bear. She let her lick her on the face and had this look of surprise and happiness every time. We call Lila, "Cindy L0u Who":
You can see why, can't you?

Aunt Debbie with Baby James:
Left to right: Kevin (Emma's BF), Emma, Grandma Betty, KK and Leslie:
Jay, Andrea, Hannah and Lila:
Lila, Aunt Debbie, James, and Hannah:
Cousins! Emma, Me and KK. Angela, we missed you dearly!:
The 4 of us need to do a sleepover asap!

After everyone left, Jamie took a much needed snooze since he stayed up until 5:30 that morning :) My mom and I snuggled in bed with the cats and Leia (shockingly!!!) and watched cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies. The perfect afternoon, if I do say so myself. Then it was present time at the Ervin home!

Jamie and Lulu opening gifts:
Dooda and Leia bonding:
Yet again, Leia was a tuckered out little pooch.

Jamie playing his new Atari game:
Dooda having a go at the Atari game as well:
That game is the coolest! I saw it on The Today Show, and it is a dock for your iPad, and you can play all of the old school Atari games. It's pretty fun!

Wake up, Lulu!:

The morning after Christmas, I met my Big at BBDII for some yummy breakfast :) And then we got pedicures! The perfect morning!

Love you, Big!:
That afternoon, we had lunch with my Uncle Cary, Aunt Kathy and my cousin Chad and his new GF even stopped by. So fabulous seeing everyone! Plus, we ate at Goldies, which had the yummiest hamburgers in the world! Yes, the world!

That night, we went to In The Raw with my family and Kim. She came over to eat dinner with us and get Leia since Jamie and I were leaving for Austin in the morning.

One last picture with Lulu before we leave her for a week:
Thank you, Kim for watching her :) She loves playing at your house!

Jamie and I shared a snuggie...
Very cozy in there.

I'm telling you, these things are the best. The perfect lounging blanket:
That's it for now. I'll pick back up tomorrow with our Austin, TX adventures! I love you guys and am glad to be back in the blogging world! Hope you have a marvelous day!