Christmas!

I love Christmas!  And it doesn't get any less magical when you get older.  I love that.  :-)  This whole month has been wonderful and packed of fun Christmas activities.  Is Christmas night depressing to anyone else?  Another whole year until we can do it again!  Boo!  Anyway, I won't harp on depressing things.  Instead, I'll just say that we had a fabulous Christmas and made many good memories.  As a matter of fact, all of 2013 was pretty great.  I'm hoping 2014 is just as good!

Instead of posting 100 pictures, I just threw several of our Christmas pictures into a quick slideshow.  (I'm horrible at them, but hey, they're easy and fun!  And I'm kind of on a slideshow kick.  Next up - Kate's first birthday slideshow!  Whoa!)  The song for this slideshow was chosen because it has pretty much been stuck in my head all month.  Ha!  There are pictures of decorating the tree, looking at lights, wearing festive clothes, visiting Santa, Christmas Eve, and, of course, Christmas.

Byram Family Christmas:

Thanksgiving 2013

This year for Thanksgiving we went to Vegas!  It was our first road trip since about April-ish so I was slightly nervous about how the drive would go with the kiddos.  While they both definitely had their moments, overall I was impressed with how great they did - especially for hardly sleeping in the car AT ALL.  (Seriously, my babies only sleep well in their own beds).  Getting Taco Bell on the way didn't hurt Matthew's feelings either.  Or Michael's.  ;-)

We stayed for a full week with Michael's mom (Kathy) and her husband Don, who were very nice to host us during our stay.  Kathy had to work most of the week so we kept busy seeing family and friends and finding places for Matthew to play in leaves and run wild.  :-)  (Kate mostly explored indoors).

The nice thing about Vegas is that there really are so many people to see.  We miss our friends and family there already.  We also made a quick trip to the Bellagio so the kids could enjoy the garden there.  And enjoy it they did!  I love that Kate is old enough to appreciate stuff like that now.  Well, "appreciate" as in enjoy it.  ;-)  I was kinda hoping they would have the garden all Christmas-y but it was still Fall-y.  Oh well - at least it was still cool!

We spent all of Wednesday and Thursday with my family.  It was so good to be with them.  I so wish we lived closer to cousins and grandparents!  And we really are not even THAT far.  Everyone come move next door to us.  ;-)

Sadie and Kate.  Cousins 2 months apart!  So fun.

Family pic on Thanksgiving

David and Melody Hales family - minus Michael and Laura and their kids!  :-(

The Winder clan - so good to see everyone!  

We then celebrated Thanksgiving with Kathy and Don on Friday.  Kathy is a pro - she made basically all of Thanksgiving dinner herself.  I'd like to say I helped, but I'm not sure it counts when all I did was make green bean casserole..... anyway, the meal was delicious.

Then that night we went to Henderson to some chocolate factory where they have TONS of lights.  The kids were tired from a long week so we didn't stay that long but it was super awesome and totally got me ready for Christmas!

We came home the next day.  And is it just me or is December FLYING by??  Geez!  Better get going on that shopping!  ;-)