Christmas dinner at the Aguiñaga home

After my parent's house, we all headed up to my Aunt and Uncle's house for our family dinner.

Kid photo, except Victoria.

Not sure where she disappeared to.

Emma loved her Barbie, dress and shirt from Raven in the kids gift exchange.

During the adult gift exchange Emma was exhausted.

She kept telling me "Bye bye... go house."

We had a wonderful Christmas, and we feel so blessed for all of our friends and family!

Christmas morning

Christmas morning Emma woke up at 6:45.

She just couldn't wait to open up her presents from Santa, so we woke up daddy.

Then she woke up Uncle Andy by knocking on his door and saying "Santa... presents."

She really loved the toys, books and movies that Santa brought her.

She even had Barbie help her open her gifts.

Then we headed over to my parent's house to open some more gifts.

We had to wait awhile until the Covarrubias family got there, but once they did we had lots of fun.

I loved Christmas this year!

Emma really got into opening her gifts, it was so fun to watch her get so excited.

She loved her princess dress up dress from the Kok family.

She had me help her put it right away and she kept it on all morning.

Thank you Kok family!

I think Omar was wishing I didn't wrap his gift in tons of bubble wrap and tape.

Emma's big gift from us was her tricycle.

So funny that our neighbors bought her bike gear without even knowing she was getting a bike.

Now it is all decked out with tassels, a bell and horn.

And we had a yummy breakfast.

Christmas Eve

Our morning started out with a tea party with Mrs. Claus (Corona).

We delivered some goodies to our neighbors.

Played around our Christmas tree that is held up by a rope.

It actually fell twice, once on Douggie as he walked past.

So he decided to tie it to the curtain rod so we wouldn't have a third fall.

Looks like we need a new tree stand next year.

Figured out that Emma can stuff a whole thing of Pez candies in her mouth when nobody is watching.

Then we headed off to Christmas Eve Mass and after, we came back to our house for dinner.

Poor Uncle Andy showed up minutes after we took the group picture.

So tired and ready for sweet dreams of Santa.

We opened up our Christmas jammies...

looks like Emma's are still a bit too big on the bottom.

Emma headed off to bed and we read Twas the night before Christmas.

Santa put in a request for brownies and Egg Nog this year to change things up a bit.

We watched a the Christmas Story, and as I went off to bed, the big man in red made his stop at our house for Emma.

JuJu's Christmas Program

I am not really sure why I didn't post this before, but oh well, here it is now.

On Friday December 17th, JuJu's school had their Kindergarten Christmas Program.

It was bright and early at 8 am.

They sang the Christmas ABC's.

And then right near the end, it started to rain.

Emma kept yelling "rain" and "no like."

They were all such great performer.

Despite the rain, the show went on.

What a week!

Why is it that the week before Christmas is always one of the busiest?

Monday

Work as usual for Douggie and me.

Emma went to Papa and Abuelita's.

Then off to dinner at the Cervantes home for Ricardo Jr.'s Birthday!

Excited for some $.

Tuesday

Work as usual for Douggie and me.

Emma went to Papa and Abuelita's.

Home for dinner and decorating Christmas cookies.

Wednesday

Douggie traveled to Simi Valley for work.

I went to work half day.

Emma went to Papa and Abuelita's.

Sports Center Christmas lunch.

Dinner at Phil's BBQ with Papa and Abuelita.

Tessa came to babysit.

Went to the movies with some family.

We had our work lunch at North County Tavern and Bowl.

Peter announced the Employee of the Year, congratulations Cruz!

Emma loves the beans at Phil's!

Some of the family all ready to see "Little Fockers."

Thursday

Doug was still in Simi Valley for work.

Work as usual for me.

Emma went to Papa and Abuelita's.

Douggie came home!

We baked some goodies for the neighbors.

The best news of the week is that our dear friend Wendy has been released from the hospital and will be home for Christmas with her family!

Thrilled that she is home and we continue to pray for her speedy recovery.

This little tushie...

set a Stephens household record this morning.

It sat in timeout 4 times in a 15 minute period.

Emma refused to apologize to her Daddy after being a meanie and screaming at him for giving her her juice in the "wrong" cup.

After several failed attempts to get her to apologize I gave her a choice, say "sorry" to Daddy or sit in time out.

She chose time out.

She was done with her time out and was supposed to say "sorry Daddy" and no go, so back to time out. This went on for a total of 4 time outs.

Before you judge me and think what a mean parent I am, she is completely capable of saying "sorry" she just decided to be a little booger today.

This little girl isn't turning 2 for a couple of weeks, but she decided to become a bit terrible early.