Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  Weyland had a very successful first Christmas, even though he had no clue what was going on.  Haha.  Weyland got hooked up.  So much so that David and I had to make room in his closet to put half of the toys.  But the older he gets the more I realize he could have 50 really cool toys around him but all he want is my bracelet or the remote.  The remote never gets old.  But the toy that lights up and says all kinds of things gets old really quick.  Yet we continue to buy you toys.  Hum.  We started out the Christmas holiday with the Smith's.  We stayed a night or two the weekend before Christmas to visit with my parents and my sister!  Page had yet to meet Weyland and both her and I were very anxious for her to meet him.  At last they meet!  Weyland was mesmerized by Page and her hands.  She signed to him the whole time and he just stared at her in awe.  It was so precious.  One night Page helped me give Weyland a bath and put him to bed.  Page read Weyland his stories and I have never seen him so still during story time.  He loved her all of her animation.  Weyland got to open all his presents from the Montefusco's, Page and Nana and Pa Pa.  And he made out pretty well.  Nana and Pa Pa are already doing what grandparents are supposed to do I guess, spoil Weyland.   And he also got to go downtown Fort Worth to see Santa and all the pretty christmas lights.
I can't forget to mention that Friday night I had several babysitters so I pounced on the opportunity and went and had dinner with the girls (Tiff, Ash, Linds and Rach).  I had such a good time.  I treasured every moment of being with my girl friends, talking about what girls talk about out at dinner (men),  having some wine and remembering what life was like pre baby.  It was awesome.  Thanks girls!

"Christmas morning" at the Smith's Christmas

Weyland loves his Aunt Page!

 Time for presents

Downtown Fort Worth

Admiring the tree

Story time with Aunt Page

After our Smith Christmas we made our way southeast to Lufkin for a big Cook Christmas.  This was the first Cook Christmas I have been able to participate in also.  It all starts at Mama Cook's house on Christmas Eve Eve where we gathered with all the Cook sibilings and their families.  Lots of cousins.  I'm not sure how many people were there, but it was a lot.  Significantly more than at the Smith's house.  We had a fish fry and ate lots of yummy food.  Gator balls, fried fish, boudan balls, hush puppies, lots of good stuff.  After everyone has full bellies we all gather in the family room to open presents.  And there are tons of presents.  It's a little bit of Christmas chaos, but all the kids love it.  After gifts and more food, the late nighters end the night with dominos.  42.  I've never learned so I opted out.  It was at this point I went home to put Weyland to bed and let David stay and catch up with his Aunt, Uncles and cousins.

 Weyland with Mama Cook

 Weyland with Pop

 ALL the presents!

 The Cook cousins and their families

Cousin Will

 Uncle Mike (the lone Longhorn of the family)

 Blake and April Cook

 Uncle Don and his grandson Jacob

Mama Cook and Pop opening their gifs 

Christmas chaos!

Cousin Lauren 

The next day, Christmas eve we spent recuperating from the Cook Christmas just relaxing at home with Mimi and Big David.  We went to a candle light Christmas Eve service that night, which was really nice.  It isn't Christmas with out a Christmas Eve candlelight service.

Christmas day started off fantastic.  Weyland let me stay in bed until 7, which was a Christmas miracle. Santa came and it was cold and wintery outside.  Then the rain started, then the wind, then the hail and then the power went out.  That's right folks, Christmas day and we lost power.  That means no yummy Christmas dinner.  At least we made it through presents and breakfast.  Then Weyland started to act funny.  I had seen this song and dance before and knew fever had struck.  Great.  No power and a sick baby.  Fever I could deal with, we are experts when it came to fever.  But the vomiting, I didn't know how to handle that.  Luckily his one episode of throwing up was his only one.  And all with no power.  In and out of the bath, diaper changes and temperature checking with no lights.  Not fun.  It was around 3 pm and all the lights in the house suddenly came on.  Hallelujah.  Another Christmas miracle.  Becky rushed to get her beautiful roast in the oven so we could some how still have Christmas dinner.  She did and we finally got to have Christmas dinner, which was delicious!!  You can't beat a prime rib roast.  Weyland's fever was still up and down but it finally broke sometime the next day.  But Santa as well as Mimi and Big David were very very good to Weyland.  At the end of it all we had a whole truck bed full of presents.  Half of them are currently in still in boxes in Weyland's closet.

Santa came!

Tissue paper was much more fun for Weyland than any of his actual presents

 Weyland's first camo!

We had such a great Christmas!  We thank you for all the gifts that Weyland received.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful family that is so loving and giving.