Christmas Day

We were still adjusting to the 14 hour time difference on Christmas day.  We opened the stockings that Santa left the kids in the cabin (Beau said that Chris and I were on the naughty list since we didn't have anything in our stockings this year) and then spent Christmas day with my parents.

Santa brought Emilia some Laloopsy peppermint doll and ponies, nail polish, legos, Hello Kitty slipper/socks (E calls them slockers) and fuzzy slippers.

Santa brought Beau a Planes coloring book, Planes slippers, skittles and Star Wars lightsaber chapstick.

Opening the presents from us at my parents house. Beau likes cars, trucks and legos.  Emilia got more legos and French Lalaloopsy and the little sister.

Emilia was so happy to finally have the Vader's Little Princess book

My dad just wanted his Shutterfly photo books!

 Poppy and Beau playing with his new Jeep with a trailer and front end loader.

Mia and Emilia got Lalaloopsy's with hair from Moppy

My brother, JC 

Michael, Kaley, Mia and JC's friend 

Earrings from Zorro (the dog) 

My beautiful Grandma. We all hope to be as with it as she is at 86!

Presents, presents, presents! 

JC and Aunt Carolyn (my dad's little sister) 

JC and my Dad 

My mom showing Emilia a book she bought her with stories from Greek Mythology 

Carolyn, my mom, Maggie and cousin Clifton.  Maggie and Clifton are having a baby boy and he needed a blanket, kangaroo and koala from Australia! 

JC and his FitBit Force.  Chris and I got one for Christmas too! 

Grandma modeling her new leather jacket. 

Uncle JC helping Beau get the remote control car out of its package. 

Emilia trying to figure out the Rainbow Loom that has taken America by storm.

Aunt Kaley helping Emilia. 

Trying out the remote control car on the patio. 

Beau feeding treats to Pepper and Pixie 

 Beau upset that he can't ride the tire swing with Emilia and Mia

Baby Jesus birthday cake 

3 generations - my dad, son and brother (with Zorro) 

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated Chris's birthday, made cookies and walked through Shenandoah to see the luminaries.

Beau helping Mamaw 

Beau making it snow (with flour) 

Beau and Briton playing with the lego train around the Christmas tree 

Decorating cookies - lots of coloring icing and sprinkles!! 

Beau really enjoyed decorating them this year 

Briton, Chris and his parents 

Just a sample of our cookies 

Chris playing around and picking up his mom 

Beau and Paw Paw 

Ivy, Briton, Emilia & Beau behind one of the angels 

The Cabin

My parents live in Riverside, Texas.  Riverside is a little town in between Huntsville and Trinity with literally 1 stop light.  They have a house, lots of barns and now a fixed up cabin.  We were lucky to have such a nice place to stay for free along with use of a car!

So here are a few pictures from the cabin on the day I got my Christmas present from Chris's parents - a new camera!!  I'm so excited to have a nice Canon Rebel SL1 now (as opposed to our last camera that I dropped on the boat tour of Penguin Island that broke the lens cover).

Wearing the eye masks included in the Emirates kid kit 

Post 1 from Christmas in Houston

Our family officially circumnavigated the globe in 2013!  When we came to Perth, we went the Houston-Dallas-Brisbane-Perth route on Qantas.  Then to go to Houston for Christmas, we went the Perth-Dubai-Houston route on Emirates.  We had 3 weeks in Houston to visit our family and friends.

Some behind the scenes logistics- We ordered Christmas presents off Amazon and then had them delivered to Chris's parents house.  We stayed with my parents in Riverside (about an hour north of the Woodlands) in a cabin that my mom fixed up for us.  We had 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a Christmas tree, decorations and a stocked kitchen.  The kids loved having new toys in a basket in their rooms after we arrived.  Ellie the Elf also found us in Texas and was still a bit naughty!

We had a quick visit with Stephanie, Jake and Brian.  Both of our boys wearing green jackets.

Lunch with the Aggies (TJ took the picture) and all our kids.

Had dinner with some friends from high school at Los Cucos in Tomball (after a haircut earlier in the day which explains the straight hair).

Had dinner with my brother JC at Pappadeaux's.

Last time in the gator before heading off to the airport

We also made it to church for 3 Sundays and visited our old workplaces.  We had lots of good food and our trip can really be summed up by driving and eating!!  We ate at Chuy's twice, Saltgrass Steakhouse, Los Cucos, Willie's Icehouse after church the 2nd Sunday with a great group of old and new friends, Daisy's Diner in Riverside where my parents eat 1 meal a day, Pappadeaux's, Farmhouse Cafe in Huntsville, Shipley's donuts for breakfast, Chick-Fil-A breakfast and lunch, Jason's Deli (recommend staying away from The Woodlands location-- long line, long wait for food, wrong food delivered, missing food, wilted lettuce on salad and "parsley" in the frozen yogurt), BJ's, Culver's and Cheesecake Factory.

Other highlights included Christmas cookies, Christmas times 2, the American Girl store, bowling with Amanda and lots of time on the ranch including Stef and Avery's visit for New Year's Eve. So expect many more pictures to come!!

Beau's First Day of School in Australia

I will get to the many posts from Christmas in Houston this week.  But first here are some pictures from Beau's first day of school last Friday.  He is in Pre-Kindy (3 year Preschool) montessori program on Mondays and Fridays next to his tennis school and Emilia's school.  His August birthday makes him miss the June 30th cut of for Kindy (4 year preschool) by just over a month.  But as they say in Australia-- No worries!  Emilia starts on Monday and she is so excited to get back!

Emilia and Beau at the house before school 

So cute with his backpack! 

In his classroom before he hangs his backpack up 

Telling Daddy goodbye 

No tears.  Ready to sit and listen to his teacher reading.

Beau had a good first day of school.  He didn't say much other than he ate all of his lunch and snacks.  He said he listened to his teacher and then told Mamaw on the phone that he painted.