Christmas with my sisters!

 

My sister Jamie and Jacinto flew in from Kazakhstan last week and stayed at my moms for a few days before driving into Midland on Thursday.  My sister Heather and her family came into Midland Friday.  It was so nice to have a full house.  Heather's youngest son Marcus and Beckett are nine months apart and they were very interested in each other.  Saturday night we celebrated Christmas all together.  The kids were so excited to spend time with everyone and especially to open presents.  After a huge meal and desserts we opened gifts.  We let the kiddos play for a while and then it was time for the Christmas photo booth.  What a great time we had dressing up, the kids even joined in too.  But the adults really had the most fun.  After the photo booth we played a bunch of Christmas trivia games.  My sister Jamie and her Husband left because they had another Christmas party to go to. We decided to end the night with going for a drive to look at lights.  The dads stayed home with the babies and Heather and I took the big kids to look a the lights. 

My heart was very full Saturday night.  I felt so thankful to have half of my family here, it was almost perfect.  Living back in Midland is biter sweet because its my home town but yet its missing my family.  It was wonderful to host my family here to cook meals, watch movies, laugh, chat, and just watch our kids play together.

Sunday morning after another big breakfast and watching a movie Heather and her family left.  After Church later on in the day Jamie and Jacinto came back over for dinner before they left town.  I was so glad we got to spend some time with both of my sisters.

Christmas Piano Recital

Instead of an official Christmas recital Allison's teacher set up a time for all of her students to play at the Cimarron Retirement home for there family night.  Allison had been practicing her three songs for two weeks.  She was very nervous to play in front of a crowd.  I had to warm her up to the idea of playing.  She was so excited about her grandparents, aunt and uncle coming to watch her play.  According to Allison the piano wasn't tuned and was missing a few keys, but she was still able to play beautifully.  I am proud that she faced her fear and played, she even volunteered to play first.  Afterwards we went to dinner with Richard's parents.

More Christmas Activties

This past Saturday was a full day of Christmas activities.  I was so bummed we had so many things planned and Richard had to work.  We even missed out on Richard's family Ski Trip!  To start off our day I took the kids to our church breakfast Christmas party.  It would have been so easy to stay in bed that early morning but I am so glad I got my crew out for this event because they had so much fun!  My kids have so many friends at church the were so excited to run around with them.  Beckett on the other hand kept me busy running out of the gym over and over again!  I finally got some food and candy canes for him so he would stay in his stroller.  The big kids had fun decorating ornaments to fill the churches tree, and they also sang Christmas carols as a group.  I loved listening to them sing, Christmas songs it always brings out the spirit of Christmas for me.  Santa even stopped by for a visit, Cooper jumped in line and was one of the first kids to sit on his lap!  Allison and her friends set back and discussed how familiar Santa's voice sounded, and if it was the real Santa his reindeer would be on the roof! 

After Beckett's nap we went to the annual Christmas event at the Museum of the Southwest.  The Christmas tree exhibits were beautiful.  I enjoyed looking at all the trees but the kids were ready to go to the children museum.  Hours flew by there and we stayed tell closing.  It was Beckett's first time there and he went crazy and was all over the place.  I rarely saw the big kids but made them check in  with me every few minutes.  There was also a activities room where the kids could decorate cookies and make ornaments.   The kids are already asking to go back to the museum! 

We went home for a quick dinner and Richard came home from work.  Beckett went down for his second nap.  I stayed home with Beckett and Richard left with the big kids to watch the Christmas parade down town.  I loaded them with blankets, gloves, and double jackets.  I also sent them with bags to put candy in that they caught from the parade and boy did they catch candy!  It was a full day of Christmas activities! 

Night at the museum

Thursday night Chevron sponsored an event at the Petroleum Museum. They sponsor an event six times a year, every other month.  We were so excited to finally make it to an event and we were not disappointed!  The theme for this event was Space Escape.  On top of the regular museum attractions there were 20 special stations that went with the events theme.  My favorite exhibit was the inflatable planetarium dome brought from the Lubbock's Science Spectrum.  Inside was a type of projector that transmitted on the inflatable dome.  We were able to see the Lubbock night sky constellation.  Other exhibits that were a hit with the kids included the balloon rockets, crater replicas, creating a telescope with a constellations, and creating there own planets.   Beckett was a bit fussy in his stroller but there were so many people and way to many things for him to get into to let him out of his stroller.   We had so much fun and stayed for the entire time, we definitely made some memories.  I also forgot to bring my camera and took these pictures with my phone.

Play dates

This week Beckett and I had a few friends over for playdates.  My friend Dana who I met while living in Hobbs came into Midland with her son for a visit while her husband was in town for some training.  Beckett and her son S are 4 months apart and have been buddies since Beckett's birth.  I use to walk 5 days a week with Dana and her son when we lived in Hobbs.  I've been missing my friends in Hobbs lately.  Especially since I missed a bridal shower for one of our friends this past weekend.  It was nice to catch up and chat, but two hours was not enough time to!!!!  On the bright side I have an orthodontic apt next week and we will visit again.

Yesterday we had another playdate at our house.  My friend Sandee who I've know since I was 10 was in town visiting her family.  Another mutual friend of ours thought it would be fun if we all got together for a playdate with our sons at my house.  Our son's are pretty close in age ranging from 22 months, 17 months, and 15 months.  It was a totally successful playdate!  The boys got along great and played in the play room together for an hour and a half and us mommies got some time to chat too!

I cant believe my Beckett boy is old enough for playdates, what happened to my newborn who would sleep the day away? 

Tis the season

I cant believe a week has passed since I last blogged!  We have been very busy in the Sanchez household.  The "ice storm" kept us in doors but Monday rolled around and we were back in reality.  I love the Christmas season even though things are very busy and its super easy to get caught in the hustle bustle.  There are many things I love about Christmas: music, movies, parties, presents, food, and most of all celebrating the Savors birth.  For one I am a natural giver,  I love gifting to others and giving my time.  Sometimes I over do it, but I just cant say no!  I am guilty of getting caught in the Christmas hustle and bustle this week.  I have a lot of Christmas oriented things I am in charge of and I have once again over extended myself.  I try everyday to sit back and take in a moment.  Allison and I have been watching Christmas movies this week.  When she gets home from school her and I sit on the couch and watch 30 minutes of a show.  So far we've watched the Muppets Christmas, Nation Lampoons Christmas Vacation, and Jack frost.  We finally put up our Christmas lights and racked up all the leaves!  Beckett is very interested in the Christmas tree this year, he doesn't go crazy but every once in a while he brings me ornaments off the tree!  Cooper is very excited and anxious for Christmas.  He literally had a mini break down earlier this week.  I wrapped all the presents while they were at school and he wanted to open just one right then.  When I told him he had to wait 16 days he begged me to open just one early!  We have a crazy weekend full of Christmas type events.  I promising myself to take it slow and to enjoy the season because in less then two weeks it will be gone.  

The week happenings

Random things from this week!!



*Beckett was sick earlier this week a trip to the doctor,  Motrin/antibiotics, lots of snuggles/naps.  I think he is finally better!  He literally wouldn't eat, or sleep for four days!  I was a walking zombie!

*Being the room mom of Allison's class is causing me to be over stressed lately!  With Allison's teachers birthday this week and the Christmas party coming up.  I've been thankful for Pinterest and the ideas it gave me to plan these two events.  I cant leave out how helpful my sister Courtney was to me too, she's the Pinterest queen!

*Back in October I received a calling in the Primary (my church's children's program) as the secretary.  I am not the most computer literate person but I sure am learning.  Making templates, newsletters, quarterly reports, year history, and planning Christmas gifts has made me a very busy lady!

*As a family we made a 25 day commitment to learn/study the Savor's birth this month.  We have been filling up our giving tree with stars.  Each night we have a new lesson and we choose some personal gift we want to give to others and write it on a star.

*One of the things I planned to give, was more one on one time with each of my kiddos.  Mainly the older kids, Beckett has mommy time everyday.

*I was playing an elaborate army battle game with Cooper when he told me "Mom I love you to Tokyo and back and to Tokyo and back again!"

*Allison and I had an impromptu date Wednesday.  She had told me about crazy sock day at school and was begging to go buy some socks.  I deiced to make it more special.  We first went to Starbucks and sat inside and chat with our frappuccino's.  We then went to the mall and looked at Claire's and Justice.  At both places the socks were outrageously priced but we had a fun time looking at things.  Allison is know requesting certain things from those stores for Christmas.  We ended our time at JC Penny and found two perfect pairs of crazy socks. 

*With the cooler weather and when Beckett was under the weather I was forced to pull out the treadmill to get my daily 3 miles in.  For some reason all of my kids think the treadmill is an awesome toy!  They literally all fight for it, even Beckett!  Drives me bananas! 

*Richard and I stayed up tell midnight a few nights ago snuggled up on the couch watching two of our DVR recordings.  Some times our schedules are so packed staying up a little to late is fun and necessary! 

 *We decorated the house last weekend and Ive been putting finishing touches around the house.  I added a few more ornaments and a new bow on the tree.  I bought a huge poinsettia, my mom use to always buy those around Christmas time and for me its just not Christmas unless I have a poinsettia!  Richard also bought me an early present, a Nativity picture for the mantel.  I had been eyeing this picture at Kirkland's for weeks, bought couldn't justify buying it!

*Today was a snow day at school for the kids.  To top off the perfect snow day Richard was off this weekend.  We had so many plans this weekend, but the icy weather has made us take it slow and spend time in doors.  We have filled our time with baking and decorating Christmas cookies, board games, playing on the Wii and Xbox, playing in the snow, listening to Christmas music, watching Christmas movies, sleeping in and taking naps, eating junk food, and just being lazy!