Christmas wrap-up

This Christmas season was pretty exciting given that Liam is more aware of the holiday than he was last year. At school they have been creating lots of "art." It was not uncommon for him to come home with a Christmas wreath. Or a Kwanzaa kinara. Or a Jewish Menorah. But here in the Pate Household, it was all about Christmas. Each night before he went to bed, we would read him Christmas stories about what Christmas is really all about and what it means for us as Christians. Of course we threw in a few books like "The Night Before Christmas" for good measure!

Earlier in the month, my friend Allison, arranged for a group of us to take a carriage ride in Deerfield Park in Plano. Supposedly the tradition began years ago when the neighborhood was being built. At the time, people thought that the neighborhood was too far north to consider building a home. So the developers decided to give a $5,000 prize to the home with the best Christmas lights. The residents all went overboard and bought so many lights and decorations, that the next year they used them again. And so the tradition began.

As fate would have it, we happened to pick the warmest night in December for our horse drawn carriage ride. The daytime temperature was 85 and the evening cooled down into the 60s. The neighborhood itself was really amazing. And the lights were really beautiful. Liam even got to experience his first hot chocolate.

Greeting one of the horses pulling a smaller carriage.

Taking in the sights with Dad.

Look at these shacks. The poor residents of Deerfield clearly can't rub two nickels together.

Some of these homes were reminiscent of the Grizwalds, complete with timed music.

Saying goodnight to our carriage. What a fun experience for our entire family!

This year, we traveled to Wichita, Kansas for Christmas to visit Eric's family. We were a little bit anxious to see how Liam would do on the six hour car ride, but overall, he did really great. My only complaint about the road trip, was the lack of clean bathrooms. You never notice until you have children, the complete lack of changing tables in restrooms. Why Starbucks? Why?

The day before we left for Kansas, I was treated to a birthday massage and facial, followed by a great lunch with Eric. The evening after we arrived in Wichita, my sister-in-law, Jolyn, arranged for a babysitter to watch all three kids so that they could take me out for a birthday dinner. We ate at this fantastic seafood restaurant with great food and delicious wine. Afterwards we came home where I opened gifts and we ate carrot cake (my fave) that Eric made me from my Nana's recipe. It was a fantastic birthday!

Liam had a great time playing with Sam and Holly who just adore him. The feeling is mutual! It was really funny to see Sam running after Holly and Liam running after Sam.

Liam was obsessed with the piano. He loved banging around on the keys, making...joyful...music.

Moses surveying the scene.

On Christmas Eve, Holly recited the Nativity story to us. She memorized the whole story from the Bible to share with us before Christmas Eve service.

Sam is one of the most photogenic kids I know.

Liam in his Christmas outfit with Grandpa Ron and Daddy.

Grandma Becky, Mommy and Liam. Unfortunately Liam couldn't stay in the service the whole time after throwing Daddy's Blackberry in the aisle and then squealing at the top of his lungs. A reminder of why we love our Church nursery!

You know what they say: The family that wears funny hats together, stays together!

Jolyn bought the men matching cowboy pajamas and the girls matching owl pajamas for Christmas Day. Gotta love Nick and Norah! This shot is entitled, "What does a kid have to do to get a cup of coffee around here?"

Playing with a kaleidoscope.

I love this picture because amidst the excitement of Christmas Day, Liam was more interested in playing with a hairbrush that he found on the floor. Perhaps next year he will be more excited about the actual presents.

Holly and Sam singing Happy Birthday to the Baby Jesus!

Group shot of the girls.

The men folk

Opening Christmas gifts. Liam definitely had more interest in opening gifts than he did for Christmas last year or his first birthday. But the excitement was short lived.

A monkey pillowpet. It's a pillow. It's a pet. It's a pillowpet!

Sam and Holly were given a few Nerf toys. Eric thought it would be fun to stick a dart on the forehead of our unknowing son. Later Eric and Ryan had several tournaments with the Nerf gun and torpedo launcher. I married a man-child.

Liam wearing Woody's cowboy hat from Toy Story. In addition to his

fireman's hat, Liam has become obsessed with hats.

Chillin' on the alphabet train.

The cousins. This was the only shot (of many) that we were able to get of all three of them with their eyes open and no major blurs. Such is life with children.

Chloe after her holiday grooming.

Cooper in his Christmas finery.

I thought it would be fun to show two of my favorite ornaments from this year. Each year since we have been married, we have acquired a White House ornament. This is the 2010 ornament which celebrates President William McKinley and the role of music in the White House. It is really fun to look back on these ornaments and the historical stories each one tells.

Each year one of my coworkers makes me an ornament off of our

Christmas card. This was the photo on this year's card.

This picture pretty much sums up the after Christmas exhaustion!

Hope your Christmas was a wonderful one!