Christmas with The Valencia Family

We celebrated Christmas last weekend with my family. Once again it was a nice day, real relaxing. The kids had a great time playing together, and everyone got really nice gifts. We love you all and need to have more time like that together soon. Look at all them presents!Us kids with Mom-this is how it started.One BIG Happy Family-this is where we are now. =) Our PrincessesAren't they soo cute!Mom & RickTio with the kids, they all just love himKissing CousinsA just loves all her cousins

Bye- Bye we will see you soon.

Dancing with Santa

Here is a cute video of A dancing and singing with her new Friend - Santa. She has learned how to sing "Jingle Bells" this year, it is really cute. Don't forget to scroll down and pause the music before starting the video so you can hear the video sound.

Christmas Day

MERRY CHRISTMAS! We hope you all had a great Christmas. We enjoyed a nice Christmas at home, VERY relaxing. We did get to enjoy lots of quality family time this holiday season.

D had to work on Christmas Eve and actually got sent home early because he was sick. (We found out Monday it was Strep Throat) So Christmas for him was not very fun, he spent most of the day sleeping and just relaxing on the couch. Santa Clause came and left a few more gifts for A. She really made out this year. Here are some pics from our day. GOOD MORNING!Santa Came!She loves her new Table & ChairsOpening PresentsA new Bath Time BabyEating Breakfast at her new Tableugh not feeling so goodFeeling a little bit betterKeeping warm by the firePlaying with the paperTime to play with her new kitchen- thanks for the cute new outfit Tata & TonyaSnuggling with Daddy All our Christmas Cards - Thank you

Christmas Eve Service

On Christmas Eve A and I attended our Church's Christmas Eve service, it was so amazing, I just had to share it with you. It was an open house style with traditional candle light sessions staring every 30 minutes. A and I got there and went to the candle light service first. It was beautiful the decorations, the songs and the message. From there we exited out the back doors and went into another tent where they were serving Hot Chocolate, fresh baked cookies and kettle corn. We sat there ate our snacks and listed to a chimes band play Christmas Music. From there we went on a Nativity Hay Ride through the field where we saw the wise men and animals following the star to find baby Jesus. While on the hay ride we sang Christmas Caroles and enjoyed the story of Jesus. The last stop on the ride was the manger where Baby Jesus was born. After that we got more cookies and Hot Chocolate then on to making a Christmas ornament, after that we went and watched a little play where A got a little gift at the end of the play. After that we went and sat by the fireplace and listened to the carolers sing Christmas songs. It was such a great night and a great service.

A visit with Tata

The other day on our way out of Phoenix, we stopped to meet up with my Dad. We met at Dennys for an apitizer and some hot chocolate. A was a little shy at first then warmed up and gave him his Christmas Present and some hugs and kisses. Here are some pics of A with her Tata.

Christmas with The Bates Family

Because the Holidays are always so crazy we decide to celebrate with D's side of the family a few days early. We all got together on Sunday evening the 21st and teamed up and had a Gingerbread House making contest. It was so fun. D and I decide to build a firehouse, unfortunately it took us so long to build our house that we didn't get any landscaping done which caused us to get 2nd place in the contest. But I could almost bet you D built it so sturdy t wasn't going any where. D & L built a house with really cool landscaping and ended up taking 1st place. 3rd and 4th [lace was kinda a tie between Grandma C & Grandpa J and J and Scot. Both house had fallen at least once during construction. =) At one point Grandpa J took a break to play with A, little did he know he was gonna get beat up. =) See video below. Team 1 - Grandma C & Grandpa JTeam 2 - Scot and JTeam 3 - D & LTeam 4 - D & MTeam 1's Gingerbread House - 4th PlaceTeam 3's Gingerbread House - 1st PlaceTeam 2's Gingerbread House - 3rd PlaceTeam 4's Gingerbread House - 2nd PlaceEveryone with their houses.

Grandpa getting beat up - don't forget to mute the music down below.

After building our Gingerbread houses, we let A open one gift, and what a surprise it was a new pair of PJ's and a new book, Twas the Night Before Christmas. We quickly got her into her new Pj's and all loaded up into the surburban and went and looked at Christmas lights. A had a blast, well we all did, this is one of my most favorite things to do at Christmas time. There were some really neat lights out there. Dan is in for it next year when I try to implement some of the things I saw this year. =) In the car going to look at lights

After Christmas Lights we came home and got ready for bed. We had written a letter to Santa and had asked him to come a little early for the girls so we couldn't stay up too late. We woke up in the morning and were all very happy to see that Santa had received our special request and came early for the girls. Grandma & Grandpa came back over, we all had breakfast then opened gifts. Everyone got lots of nice things. The best gift i recieved was a Mothers necklace from D, J & A. It has my birthstone in the middle and each of the girls on the sides. It is so beautiful! Thank you L for making it.

Santa Came!Getting Breakfast readyA loves her new kitchen

Me and my girls with my new mother's necklace

Later that afternoon D and I took the girls to go see the movie Twilight-Awesome movie if you haven't seen it yet.

We had a great weekend spending time with the family and not feeling rushed like Christmas's past. It was great "family bonding". =)