Christmas 2014

It was a magical Christmas season!

To start off the holiday season we headed downtown for Christmas carols on the steps of the Texas capital building and the lighting of the Christmas tree. The kids enjoyed singing carols -- it was a fun and festive way to get into the holiday spirit!

Next on the holiday list was dropping off our annual gift donations to SafePlace!

Another fun Austin tradition is the Mozart's Coffee Shop (on Lake Austin) holiday light show:

Christmas cookie making and decorating...

Our favorite Austin Christmas tradition is the Zilker tree (and this year they added a Ferris Wheel):

 

Christmas Eve! To start Christmas Eve we went to an early service. The kids participated in the telling of the Christmas story (Jack and Ainsley were wisemen, Kara an angel). Since it was early the candle lights were mostly a prop, not a light. Jack had his own ideas of how they should be used. (That is a candy cane in Kara's mouth.)

Before heading to sleep on Christmas Eve, Matt checked Santa's update on the iPad so the kids could see where he was last spotted:

The stockings were ready for Santa...

And the cookies, carrots and milk left out...

Christmas morning!! There was such excitement opening gifts!

Our amazing neighbors (Tom & Erika) invited us to join their families for Christmas dinner. Before dinner they had a seriously fun treasure hunt and list of activities for the kids. SO much fun!! Smoke bombs, silly string, sparklers (and not pictured snap pops, a fort, airplanes, and to end the night a bocce ball tournament).

Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Ainsley!

Ainsley turned eight on a Thursday, so we did a low-key dinner that day and saved her party for Saturday. Ainsley shares her birthday with her good friend, Colin, so we joined up for a dinner at Gusto...where they surprised the kids with huge cotton candy bowls and sparklers! Afterwards we went back to our house for a cake Ainsley requested me to make - mint chocolate chip.

For the party on Saturday Ainsley invited her soccer team to play soccer at Ramsey Park. We had breakfast tacos, donuts, and cake. The parents even challenged the kids to a game!

We are so proud of you, Ainsley! You are an incredible joy in our lives!

Thanksgiving 2014

We drove to Phoenix to celebrate Thanksgiving with family. It was 15 hours each way, and well worth the drive to be able to spend the holiday in the warm sun and let the kids enjoy their cousins!

Pasta With Neighbors

We love our neighbors, Tom & Erika, and they kindly invited us over for a night of homemade pasta! The kids had so much fun making the pasta and the end result was delicious!

Friends Thanksgiving

One of our favorite traditions! What a great way to rev up for the actual Thanksgiving, with a house full of great friends, food, and laughter.