Christmas Eve with Mimi and Papa

We opened presents with Mimi and Papa this morning. Jack got a Nerf gun and shooting vest. He's been in hog heaven shooting at Curious George from the hallway all morning. Theo got a Fur Real kitten and marshmallow shooter. He loves eating his "ammo" :) Next they are heading out to see Arthur Christmas. Next up is seeing Grandvonnie, church and then the big Christmas Eve gathering at Grandvonnie's with all of the Deuell family!

King Tut

Mimi and Papa took us to see the King Tut exhibit at the Houston Museum of Fine Art yesterday. I read a book all about mummies and the whole process of mummification before we went. Jack was INTO it and listened intently to each exhibit. Theo really didn't appreciate his listening device or any of the exhibits. Big surprise :) It really brought us back to our summer trip to Europe and how Jack loved all of the cathedrals and Theo had to be ushered outside ;) We did snag this pharaoh hat at the gift shop and all of us liked taking our pictures at lunch!

Mexican Food with the Moore's

Uncle Bill, Aunt Sonja, Mama and cousin Ashley drove over from College Station to visit with us over Mexican food this past Wednesday. We laughed that it was really the first time Theo has ever given Ashley the time of day! He usually avoids her, likely thinking she's a babysitter or something :)

Cameron's Cookie Exchange

Cousin Cameron hosted her 3rd annual cookie exchange last weekend (before the New Orleans Bowl) and the boys and I brought Puppy Chow. Puppy Chow has many names, but it's really chex mix with chocolate and peanut butter, sprinkled with powdered sugar. It's so messy but GOOD. We left with a plate full of goodies and full bellies. We also got to see cousin Lucy :)

Ice Skating

Mimi and I took the boys to Memorial City Mall in Houston today. I used to take skating lessons back when I was in elementary school and always have loved skating. Mimi and I laced up ourselves and the kids and then hit the ice. Jack took to skating immediately and LOVED it. Though he fell several times at first, he kept at it and improved vastly within just one hour! Theo, on the other hand, hated it immediately and had to be ushered around the rink by Mimi and myself. Jack is already asking when he can go skating again. Theo, not so much. :)

Passing of a sister

One of my sorority sisters passed away last week and left behind her husband and two small children. Pilar pledged the year behind me and was a super fashionista! She always wore extravagant stilettos since she was very petite. Her death was completely unexpected and from complications of strep and pneumonia.

Several Kappa Delta's from near and far came out to pay their respects to Pilar and her family. We all wore heels in her honor to the funeral, carried white roses and wore our pins. It was my first KD funeral and truly showed me how the bonds of sisterhood carry on past just the college days.

New Orleans Bowl

Jack's Cub Scout Pack got to go down on the field of the New Orleans Bowl (SDSU vs. ULL) last weekend. It was Scout night since SDSU didn't travel much from California. There were TONS of other Scouts there on the field but Dave was one of only two adults from our Pack. He said it was really cool to be down on the field of the Superdome and hear the noise of the crowd.

Jack's Christmas party

Jack also had a Christmas party today and a fellow mom snapped these pictures for me! Santa visited and gave each child an art kit with tons of water colors, paints, pencils and markers, as well as a personalized chalkboard. The highlight was the chocolate fountain though! Jack said he had marshmallows and thought it was the neatest thing ever. He has had a great first half of 1st grade!

PPK Christmas party

I got to volunteer today in Theo's class for the PPK Christmas party. It was my first time to go in his classroom, though I feel like I know the kids so well through all of the pictures that Mrs. Hoover sends me and my co-room mom responsibilities. The kids were treated to a visit by Santa right when the party started. They sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to him and then took turns sitting on his lap. Theo didn't tell him anything in particular that he wanted (Jack has been coaching him for weeks to ask for things that he wants Theo to get). Santa handed out presents (Barbie doll heads for the girls to style and Hotwheel loop ramps for the boys). The kids took turns making Reindeer Food to set out Christmas Eve and icing "Christmas Trees" to eat. They also participated in a puzzle exchange (they all wanted to pick the puzzle they brought in) and listened to Ms. Gina read "Froggy's Best Christmas". They wrapped up the party by having a Christmas feast before being dismissed. It was an action-packed party that was tons of fun for all! I have SUCH respect for Mrs. Hoover after seeing how wired those kids were after donut holes and frosting. She has more than earned a restful 2 week break!