Fiesta Texas Holiday in the Park

Tonight we decided to brave the cold and check out Holiday in the Park at Fiesta Texas, something we've wanted to do every Christmas since moving to San Antonio.  This year, we decided to take advantage of the current great deals on Season Passes, allowing us to return to the park whenever we want to for all of 2013. With the current promotion, if we used our passes by December 30, we could upgrade to free parking all year long, so, rain or shine, we were going to get there by December 30!  By the time we got out to Fiesta Texas, got parked, stood in the season pass processing line and ate a much too expensive dinner, we didn't have much time left for rides (plus, by this point, it was about 45 degrees!).  We did enjoy the beautiful lights and Christmas decorations, and the kids got to ride several rides, including a  ferris wheel wagon ride, the tea cups, the cars, a roller coaster and a spinning fruit ride.  We're planning to go back at least once before the kids start back to school. 

The Day After Christmas in Pawnee

Before returning to San Antonio, we spent a lazy post-Christmas day in Pawnee.  The kids played and played and played and we all stuffed ourselves with Christmas day leftovers.  That afternoon, the weather warmed up enough for us to enjoy some time outside in the country!

Playing at the bridge 

A flock of sand hill cranes flying away after we interrupted their serene afternoon in the stock tank.

Hiking on the "island" - which, at the moment, is actually, sadly due to drought, a peninsula. 

Exploring the dry tank bed.  According to Grandpa, the large rocks around the tree stumps were dropped there in the early 1950s (when the tank was full) by himself and a few others on multiple boat trips so that the fish could have a safe habitat for the eggs to hatch.  

"Plunking" mud clumps  

The kids getting lesson in what coyote poop looks like. 

Sometimes its fun just to run! 

Throwing an old cow bone into the water and learning that they don't float. 

Cow jaw bones 

Closing the gate is an adventure for the very young.  Peyton wondered why the cows don't just jump over the cattle guard when the gate is left open.  We explained that cows can't jump that far.  However, Reagan had other ideas.  "But in school," she said, "We read a book where a cow jumped over the moon."

Bonfire time!

Christmas Day

 After Santa's arrival...  and before the morning mayhem!

Antonio the Elf, on his last night in our house, played one last "joke" on the kids.  Both kids were sleeping in Peyton's room.

The first attempt to start Christmas morning occurred around 4:30 am.  That attempt was unsuccessful.  The second, and successful, attempt occurred at 6:30 am.  

Excitedly racing downstairs...

Finding all that Santa had left...

Reagan found My Little Ponies 

Both kids requested an "Elf doll that kids can touch", since touching Antonio is off-limits. 

Reagan was very excited about the My Little Pony panties she found in her stocking! 

Peyton playing on his requested DS. 

Reagan showing off her "pink jewel" - "It's just like the one I like at Hobby Lobby!  How did Santa know I wanted it?" 

Peyton's toy car wash that sprays real water and soap on the cars. 

As tradition goes, the kids requested to have their Krisp Kringle before breakfast, and, as tradition goes, the request was granted - the only day of the year candy is allowed before breakfast! :)

Reagan playing on her new key board piano.

 Playing with her new ponies.

Peyton teaching Daddy how to play the DS.

With our breakfast casserole baking in the over (and filling the house with yummy smells!), the kids just couldn't wait another minute to tear into the additional presents waiting for them under the tree - the presents that had been testing their levels of self control for days! :)

The little boy on the cover of this book looks so much like Peyton! 

She actually had no idea what this was! 

A "Hoopty-hoop!"  (aka: hoola-hoop) 

A flat Lego board for his creations. 

This is our Jesse Tree.  A few years ago (back in McKinney) a friend organized a Jesse Tree ornament-making.  Twenty-five of us each took one of the ornaments in the Jesse tree devotional book and made that ornament.  Then we swapped so that we would each have a collection of the 25 ornaments that go with the daily devotions leading up to Christmas day.  This is the first year we have done the tree with the devotionals each day, and the kids loved it!  On Christmas morning we put on our final ornament -  a baby in a manger.  

After breakfast, we got dressed, got the car (and Comet) packed up and headed to Grandma and Grandpa's house.  We stuffed ourselves with a delicious late-afternoon lunch, and then it was time for more presents!

Peyton made this gift for Grandma and Grandpa - a collection of popsicle sticks with everyone's name of them, wrapped in foil, and a picture of our family.  He carefully put everything in a box and wrapped it himself on Christmas Eve - and was very proud of himself! :) 

What on earth are they all laughing at??? ...

...up-side down Reagan showing her belly button! 

So Peyton had to do it too! 

Reagan with one of her gifts - a Groovy Girl doll. 

Peyton intently studying his new Lego book. 

A new tent - with a tunnel!  The kids played in it for pretty much the rest of the day!  

It was absolutely a wonderful Christmas Day!  Peyton declared that he had received "everything he wanted" for this Christmas!  Both kids were very happy, excited and in sweet spirits all day long!