New Mexico Christmas

Finally getting caught up (or recovering:) from our long holiday vacation.  This year (2012) we had decided to stay in Atlanta for Thanksgiving and try to split time between both our extended families over the Christmas break.  We headed to see Mike's family in New Mexico prior to Christmas.   The girls had a great time with family and certainly were beyond spoiled while we were there!  

Spending time making a foam gingerbread house with Grandma Patty and cousin Ahlyssa.  

 The finished product......and the best outtake photo of two 3 (well nearly 3 Ahylssa) year old girls!

 Auntie Becky brought these super fun 3D glasses.  If you put them on and looked at the Christmas lights you could see different images (there were several different glasses).  Some of the images included angels, elves, santa, stars.  They sure were a hit!

.....even with Tio Raul.....

....and daddy:)

 Evie has recently been really wanting to play hide 'n seek.  She had fun playing with cousins and friends.   Thought you'd like to see how good she is at hiding......bet you can't find her in the photo below :)

She even got to make cookies with her Nino Chris one morning.  Well.....she was a little confused since the process was a little different than what she does with mommy....ha!  No mixers, cracking eggs, or stirring fun....it was open the box, put them on the pan, and bake them in the oven!  :)  But tasting them at the end was still just as good!

On Christmas Eve morning I let them have "candy canes" for breakfast.  Well....my version of a mommy approved candy cane made of strawberries and bananas!

.....and while you are on vacation and at your Nino Chris' house you get to eat your breakfast while watching cartoons!  (Oh and BTW...cousin Andrea was so sweet to paint Evie's nails for her...Evie was in heaven:)

Christmas Eve with Nino Chris!

Layla's favorite holiday song this year was definitely jingle bells....(and of course a month and a half later as I catch up on my blog she still sings it!)

Here is her rendition (along with a duet with Auntie Kathy of Santa Claus is coming to town)

I liked this photo of the girls in front of Grandpa Alfredo's Christmas tree!

Auntie Becky also taught Evie how to have "earrings!"  Oversized red ornament earrings are all the rave this Christmas, right?

It's a tradition in Mike's family every year to place the baby Jesus in the manger on Christmas eve.  This year Grandpa Alfredo said Evie could be the one to put baby Jesus in the manger.  Well from the time she heard this and for the next two hours I think she asked every five minutes if it was time to put baby Jesus in the manger.  Needless to say she was super excited she was getting to do it this year!

Here is a quick video of everyone singing while she placing Jesus in the manger.

Overall, we had a truly wonderful Christmas with Mike's family!  We were truly spoiled and loved by all!