Christmas Blessings continued...

This year we celebrated Christmas with my side of the family. We've always celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve, so as soon as Adolfo got off on Friday, we loaded the car and headed to the Hill Country!

Once our car was loaded down, it raised a great question, How would we ever be able to have kids, when we do a great job packing our car with just the two of us, ha!

Car loaded down and headed home!

We had Christmas Eve at our cousin's house this year. We had tons of family come home from all over, but it got a little hectic because my Aunt was put into the hospital at the last minute. We decided to continue ahead with Christmas celebrations, and family time, and on a side note she is well, and home getting better.

We got to spend the whole evening with this little angel! Baby M and my sisters, Christmas 2010

Our family played a new ornament game!


We did our part to help teach Baby M to walk! I LOVE this picture Baby M, her Daddy, and her Great Grandma! These moments you just never get back!

My sister won the Christmas Cookie Contest! But on a side note, and to make me feel better, Grandma said I placed 3rd overall, so that made me smile, haha!

The Alamo Bowl brought our cousins, The H's in from Arizona for Christmas, and for that I am grateful!

We ended the evening with our Christmas Eve gifts from our parents, Pajamas of course, but we still LOVE opening them!

The Castro's Christmas Eve 2010

The soon-to-be Rincon's, Christmas Eve 2010

Sister Christmas PJ picture, Christmas Eve 2010 What can you do with a red bow?

I love the beauty of Christmas morning. Our family wakes up and sits together in the living room because it takes us girls a bit to wake up, haha. My mom always makes us hot tea or cocoa, and we just chat a bit before we jump in! It's just our time to be together, before the business of the holiday kicks in!

My little sister playing with a new toy....

C&J opening presents!

2010 will go in the books as the first year Adolfo's gift was a REAL surprise! Since forever, his polo jacket has been on his wishlist, but it's always been a want not really a need. So this year I wanted it to be special, and I got it!

Boots have been my want, not need. So my gift was semi-surprise. Earlier we went and got my size, and I picked out a few styles I'd be more than happy with, but the choice was his, this is me finding out!

Next, we do Christmas lunch with the Summy's. We always have an abundance of food, family and BABIES!

TONS of granddaughters, make the perfect little helpers....

more girls and presents...

The littlests played so well together...

Our generation of girls all grown up!

Our Christmas always ends with a visit to our Grandpa and Grandma Ribera's house. It's such a special time to wind down, enjoy an amazing dinner, and just be together. We did presents, and the guys watched sports, and us girls went for a walk on the ranch. It was exactly what we needed to end our day!

Grandma opening presents...

J cutting the turkey!

Grandpa taking care of the gravy....


Grandma waking up sleeping beauty, ha...

And the Castros, ready to eat ;)!

I am so grateful we have this time with our family, to just be together and remember the true beauty of this season. We still have Christmas to do with Adolfo's family, and then Christmas will be done till next year!

I think I've worn myself out just remembering everything, ha...

C.

Christmas Blessings

I find my peace in preparation! With that being said, we start preparing for Christmas right after Thanksgiving. You know... decorations up, shopping on black Friday, and hopefully presents wrapped by the end of the 1st week in December. If we follow that schedule we have alot of down time to enjoy Christmas festivities and reflect on the true meaning of the season!

WARNING: Since, it's becoming a trend that I don't update but once a month this blog is picture packed and full of stories, pre-Christmas Day!

Our little apartment tree is so special to me, it's part of the first birthday present Adolfo got me while I lived in Abilene. This year he surprised me, and the night we decided to decorate we went shopping for new decorations!!!! This made me so happy, I loved our gold balls and red bows, but I've always wanted a more rustic tree, with berries and pine cones, and that is just what my wonderful husband gave me!

Our new rustic themed tree, Castro Christmas Tree 2010

We enjoyed my firms Christmas party, and enjoyed a night out on the town with friends! No night out is complete without a Ropollo's pizza run!

We celebrated our cousins, Heather's pinning ceremony and Darnell's Birthday!

This Christmas, I organized our firms first Adopted a Family program. This was such a special and humbling experience. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of all the wonderful people I work with, and because of their big hearts, we were able to provide a beautiful Christmas for a family right here in our own neighborhood. This program was different than any I'd ever participated in before, because I actually got to deliver our presents and meet the family. They were so sweet and grateful, and it made it all 1000 times worth it. I can still see the Mom's big smile and feel her hug as she welcomed me into their home!

Just a little of what they found under their tree....

And a little bit more.....

More!

More, continued!

All wrapped and ready to deliver! Christmas morning, as I sat with my family ready to share in our special day, I couldn't help but be excited thinking about their big smiles, and how special Christmas morning would be for each of them too! I know Christmas isn't about things, but just the fact that we got to create that special family memory for them made my heart smile! He were able to give them a harm meal, more than they wished for, and tons of family date nights! I am truly blessed to work with such AMAZING people, and that I have a job that allows me these creative opportunities!

Our office had a cube decorating contest the last week of work, before I went on my 2 weeks vacation! Here is my homemade Christmas wreath, I LOVE it, it smells like Cinnamon!

This December, Adolfo and I have definitely had our fare share of coffee dates :)! One night we got Starbucks and enjoyed the Macy's Tree and strolling at the Domain....

Another night he surprised me with Starbucks, Christmas carols, and a trip to see 37th street! This was my favorite house....

My first official day of vacation started off in Albert, TX. My little sister and I had a date to see our cousin's band, Hilltown, open for Kevin Fowler!

Tay and I with our cousins, before their big show!

Re-uniting with old friends....

Hilltown!


And Kevin Fowler, of course! He was awesome!

This year, I got to attend my Grandparent's restaurant Christmas Party for all their employees and their families. My Grandparent's have owned Janie's Mexican Restaurant for over 30 years, and employee over 30 people, alot of them working their for over 10 years! I love seeing the beautiful family environment they've created for their employees. It is such a blessing to share in moment's like these with them, and see how much their employees respect, and care for them.

Each year, my cousin host's a cookie decorating party. This year was awesome, it's always fun to see how everyone steps up their game each year!

Christmas Cookie Party, 2010

Sisters, sporting our aprons...

My little sister, making her own colors!

Can you see the concentration?

My sister's first year to participate, we never knew she was such a wonderful cookie decorator!

cousins...

Why do all Tay's aprons turn into capes?

Waiting on Chica!

Finally, The reigning champ!

So, out of all the cookies we decorate, only one can be entered into the contest. On Christmas Eve, our Grandma picks her favorite, and then it's bragging rights until the next year, cookie decorating is serious business in our family!

WOW, I can't believe all this took place between Thanksgiving and Christmas week, no wonder I am not having any problem going to bet by 10 this week! No matter how hectic, and activity packed this time of year is, I wouldn't change it for the world. The most precious gift to me is my family, and the one thing I can give them is my time, to create beautiful moments like above. I am so thankful for times like these, it reminds me everyday, how truly blessed Adolfo and I are in our lives.

I promised a Christmas post, but I'm going to have to break it up! Hope you enjoyed part one of our Christmas festivities, to be continued - Christmas Day :)!