Texas Christmas

This year was the first year in the seven years we've been married that Ben and I spent Christmas in our own home. Since we just moved into this home and since Finn is at an age where it is fun to see his excitement over the Christmas tree, decorations and gifts we thought it would be a good year to enjoy Christmas at home. 

Our Texas Christmas was sunny, green, festive, fun, meaningful and full of family and friends. We had a wonderful time celebrating.

We took pictures with Santa Clause at the Pearl Brewery. Finn had to be coaxed onto Santa's lap with a candy cane, and it was still hard to catch him smiling. Last year he cried, this year he whined, next year…? Hopefully I can finish that sentence with smile! :) Fox sat nicely but it was hard to turn his attention to the camera with so much going on around him. So, the pictures didn't turn out "perfect" but I wasn't betting on "perfect." Ha! I'm smarter than that. 

The pictures of my cute boys with Santa turned out great.

Fox, telling Santa what he wants for Christmas. I wouldn't be surprised if he's asking for his very own cell phone… since he loves to play with mine. (They want them younger and younger these days!)

We bought a 9ft Christmas tree and decorated it with all of the ornaments we've collected on our travels. Everywhere we go, we buy an ornament for a Christmas tree. We were surprised that our ornaments filled the Christmas tree so well.

Our culdesac exchanges Christmas gifts. We made pecan brittle, a tradition we started in Fort Worth, Texas. Finn had so much fun being our little elf and helping with the deliveries. He carried the gifts to each house, knocked on the door and handed the gift to each family.

On Christmas Eve we invited our next door neighbors, the Cardons, our neighbors, the Clarkes, our Bishop and his wife, Cindy Ellsworth, Spencer and Dawn and a man, Michael who is investigating our church. We reenacted the nativity, did a candle lighting, ate turkey and ham sandwiches, and sang "happy birthday" to Jesus. 

Later in the evening we ate s'mores around our fire pit and read the Night Before Christmas. Since we don't have a fireplace, a fire pit will do! 

The Nativity actors