Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

I've already posted about the reason why we celebrate and the sacred side of Christmas. There were other festivities involved in our Christmas experience this year. I refer to them as the fa-la-la-la-la side of Christmas.

We went caroling with a group of friends at the assisted living center nearby. It was great fun! I hope the residents enjoyed it as much as we did.

We missed out on our extended family's Christmas parties but that didn't stop Jared from sending us his love.

 I wrapped presents and wrapped presents. By the end, this is what they started to look like. I didn't even care by that point.

Aaron and I attended the best company Christmas party ever. When we left the party, I asked Aaron if we could start having quarterly Christmas parties. Yes, it really was that fun. Here I am modeling the outfit I got for the party. Ethan was out of camera shot showing me the proper pose. I wish we also had a shot of his demonstration as well.

We had some of our favorite traditional Christmas food of Spanish rice and tamales. They were delicious!

 Esteban's girlfriend, Chabeli, even  provided a flan for dessert. It was perfect ending to a wonderful meal.

 I know I post a lot of pictures of food on here but with three teenage boys in the house it is kind of an important part of our family life. At one point this is what our counter looked like after Santa left every sugary cereal and Poptart flavor made by man. The little tile sign in the backgrounds sums it up nicely.

The girls and I made gingerbread houses. The boys were not interested. Bah humbug!!

First of all, this is the gingerbread house my sister made in Utah.

These are our gingerbread houses.

AJ pointed out they are not even made out of gingerbread but, calling the graham cracker houses doesn't quite sound the same.

Vanessa started eating hers right away. (Photo bomb Larry the Cucumber. We still love Veggie Tales.)

We left the others out on the counter which proved to be a good thing because we somehow completely forgot to leave cookies out for Santa and he ended up snacking on one of the houses.

The kids happily opened their presents.

Yes. That is a new toilet seat for Ethan and AJ. It is the gift that keeps on giving.

Savanah had the largest present under the tree.

Vanessa was excited for her gift from Este.

Ethan seemed confused by the gift that I gave him. All the other kids got some new cool clothes.

He got a shirt with elbow pads. That happens to be a very expensive shirt by the way.

Vanessa loved her toe socks.

Este was worried he actually got a toaster.

But loved the new sunglasses that were inside the box instead.

Colt was happy with his Christmas feast. Aaron likes to make sure he stays a fat spoiled house cat.

We drew names with all the cousins on Aaron's side of the family. Keeton liked the gift from Este.

Jace was excited for the football helmet sent from cousins in Utah.

Jace insisted on giving Vanessa a peanut butter sandwich. She was so surprised.

After all the festivities we went swimming that afternoon. Just because we live in Texas and just because we can.

I was the first one off the diving board and into the pool.

(That is the most unflattering photo on so many levels.)

I soon discovered that the pool surface was warm. The rest of the pool was not. As long as I was swimming, it was bearable. There were pockets of warm water and pockets of cold water. 

Before long I was in the hot tub giggling as every body else jumped in and came up screaming like a little girl. Before long we had stirred the water in the pool around enough to make the temperature more uniform. 

There is something that is so enjoyable about hanging out in the hot tub together on Christmas afternoon.

There it is. Christmas 2013. It proved to be one of my favorite Christmas holidays of all time but then again I say that every year and it is always true. Tis' the season to be jolly. Falalalalalala!!