This year we decided to spend the holidays in Texas. Knowing that we wouldn't be able to travel with a lot of gifts, we gave Aiden a bunch of toys before we left. We didn't bother wrapping them since he had no idea what to do with a wrapped present! He has started actually playing with toys and figuring out the cause and effect relationships instead of just chewing on everything in sight (although he still chews a lot!), so toys are a lot more fun for us all now!
We flew to San Antonio on December 19 and Aiden did really well on the plane; he slept most of the way as usual. Then the next day we drove to Houston to see some of Andy's family for a couple of days. We got to see Andy's brother, Kevin, and his family (wife Sarah and kids Sean and Maggie), as well as Andy's grandparents (who moved from Delaware to The Woodlands that week), and his Aunt Casey and her three daughters. We hadn't seen any of them in years, so it was great to catch up and let the cousins meet for the first time!
Aunt Sarah, Sean and Maggie
Great Grandpa and Granny McEvoy
Aiden with Uncle Kevin and cousin Sean, and Casey with cousin Maggie
Aiden loved watching everything his older cousin was doing. He wanted to ride the big horsey, too!
We stayed at The Waterway in The Woodlands and got a few shots of Aiden at a fountain.
Back in San Antonio, Aiden's first Christmas awaited. He got to meet Santa for the first time and shop with Mommy and Daddy. I think he enjoyed that about as much as Daddy did...Anyways, he was a good boy for Santa and just stared at the white stuff on the crazy-looking guy's face!
We spent Christmas Eve with my family, going to church and unwrapping a few presents, including Aiden's first present opening experience...it was about as exciting as you can imagine it would be for a 10 month old who would rather eat the paper and stare at the fire in the fireplace!
On Christmas Day the whole family drove to Austin to be with my Dad's family. Aiden got to meet some very special people for the first time!
Aiden and cousin Landon (born Sept. 10)
We tried to get a few family photos since we were all dressed up!
Alison and Ben
Tyler
Searching for the turtle in the pond
Andy had to leave after a week, but Aiden and I stayed for another week with my parents. It was nice to have my family there to help with Aiden, cook us meals, and let me run errands alone! The highlight of the week was our trip to the family ranch outside of San Antonio. I knew my dad really wanted to take us up there since I hadn't been there in several years, and Aiden hadn't ever been there. When we drove up, Aiden had just fallen asleep in the car and I didn't want to disturb his nap. I stayed close to the car while he napped and I noticed my dad kept staring at the car from the barn, about 100+ yards away, as he moved a giant hay bail with his yellow front-end loader. When he didn't see any activity and about an hour had passed, he decided to come over and make sure Aiden was still asleep. He helped me get the stroller ready and asked if I thought he would wake up soon. I wasn't sure why he was so interested in Aiden's nap! As soon as he was awake we went to find my dad, who was messing around in the barn, apparently waiting for us. As soon as he saw us, he wanted to get a picture of he and Aiden on the big yellow front-end loader, which was holding the giant hay bail (I thought he was working, but as it turns out, he was getting the hay bail ready for the pictures to follow...). As soon as we finished that photo session he pulled the go kart out and wanted to take Aiden for a ride. I was a bit nervous and hesitated for a minute, but then I decided to drive and take it slow...at least at first! We introduced Aiden to the cows and rode around the property for awhile, and down to the creek. Back at the barn, we just had to get a picture of Aiden on my dad's blue tractor! It was getting late, so we started walking back to the house to pack up, when I heard my dad say, "Oh wait! We have to get one more picture..." He takes us into the dusty barn where his first car sits, a very rusty Jeep, untouched for many years. He was so excited! Aiden held the wheel as if he knew just what to do! Maybe he did after all of the pictures we had taken of him on the machines that day! It was a lot of fun to go back to where I spent most of my weekends growing up, and I've never seen my dad so excited to show off his big, loud machines! What a proud Grandpa!!
My mom, Aiden, and I drove to Corpus Christi to visit Alison and Ben for a night also. We got to see their adorable house and the city they call home. Aiden loved getting into mischief and chasing the cat in a new place.
We had a wonderful trip seeing friends and family. Aiden didn't fly as well on the way home (flying without hubby's help with a very tired baby is not recommended!), but we made it safely. He was so excited to see his dog and his daddy when we arrived. Our next trip to Texas will be in June (if not before) for Tyler's high school graduation. We hope to see some of you then!!
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