Christmas Vacation

We enjoyed a glorious two weeks off school, and although we didn't go anywhere for long, we all enjoyed sleeping in and relaxing a bit.  Bryan had to work several days during our vacation, but he also had enough time off that he could enjoy a break as well.  We also put our visitors to work, by having Bryan's dad and grandpa work on a few home repair projects for us.  I actually have to report that these pictures of the men working were taken on Christmas day!  Who works on home repair on Christmas day??  Carlsons do!!  :)  We were very thankful for their help.  A couple of days after Christmas we all hit the road for a road trip to Jani's house in Jacksonville, TX.  It was an easy 5 hour drive, and we had a great time seeing Jani's house and farm, and spending time with Mya and Sydney.  Vicki took us to an indoor water park one day while we were up there, and the kids had a great time.  The boys enjoyed breaking every rule in the place, and came home bruised and sore from their antics.  But they had fun!  Ella and Ruby had fun with Mya and Sydney (and Chloe the chihuahua!) and they had two sleepovers together.  Mya was so excited that first night in the hotel, that she was up at 2am getting dressed in her swimsuit and making bracelets!  She was quite exhausted the next day.  We arrived back home in time for New Year's Eve, and we spent the evening and New Year's Day at the Lakehouse.  We dined on shrimp and dips and lots of other tasty treats, and we shot off some fireworks out in the road.  The kids loved that, since we don't get to do it very often for the 4th of July (there's usually a burn ban!).  The boys and I planned to stay up until midnight, but Tyler fell asleep on the couch at 10pm.  So with sleepers in every room of the house, Spencer and I had no choice but to call it a night.  The girls and I spent a lot of time making new designs of bracelets the next day, and we just enjoyed the last couple of days with all the grandparents.  After saying goodbye to Bruce and Vicki, and Grandma and Grandpa Carlson, the girls and I had one more event to look forward to - Disney Live!  We got all dressed up and enjoyed a really fun afternoon at the show.  We were right on the front row, and the girls loved seeing Cinderella, Snow White, and Belle right up close.  It was a perfect way to end a great couple of weeks.  Now...back to school.  Sigh!! 

Christmas Day

Santa came!!  The day had finally arrived.  The kids were all up early, waiting for the go-ahead to run downstairs.  Spencer's rush to the presents has dwindled a bit (kids getting old is so sad!), but he was still pretty excited once he started opening.  The kids were all happy to get the gifts they'd been hoping for.  For Ella and Ruby, that meant their new Rainbow Looms and cases.  Oh, and beanbags.  They also got some new art supplies, lots of One Direction accessories, and Ella got a cute soccer outfit and Ruby got a set of My Little Pony's.  They were thrilled!  Spencer and Tyler each had very specific and distinct things they were hoping to get this year, and I think they were very happy with what they got.  Tyler got a Lifeproof case for my old phone, which he bought from me to use as an iPod Touch, and he also got a cell phone, which he has been waiting and waiting for.   He got a new football, some new Nike Elite socks, and then a set of Soul headphones.  Spencer also got a set of Soul headphones, and as you can see from the pictures, they hardly took those things off all day!  Spencer specifically has hardly taken his off since Christmas!  Spencer had been wanting a black leather jacket, and he was thrilled with the one that he got.  He also wanted a cool belt buckle, and so he was excited to get that as well.  Spencer got some Nike Elites also, and a Tap Out shirt that he thought was awesome!  Santa is so nice.  Santa also brought a family gift again this year, and it was a trip to Disney World for Spring Break!  We're all really excited about that one.  The Christmas meals were just as good as remembered, with the morning Sticky Buns being the kids favorite of all Christmas traditions.  Bryan smoked a turkey this year, and since we weren't home for Thanksgiving, we had a full Thanksgiving-style feast for dinner.  It was so good!  Bruce and Vicki joined us for the afternoon, and then Bryan's grandparents flew into San Antonio that afternoon for the rest of the week!  It was such a treat to have them with us.  This Christmas was so great, and the kids were so so content and happy with their new things.  We hardly even saw the girls!  They were making jewelry all day on their looms, or writing on their new Boogie Boards from grandma Thompson.  The boys got new hats and pocket knives, too, and they just looked as cool as can be all day wearing all their new gear.  Inside the house.  Wearing sunglasses.  With just their family.  Even while peeling potatoes.  Tyler said he thought it was the best Christmas ever!!