Christmas!

WARNING: Picture Overload Below! We had a great "2nd" Christmas with Mason. This time last year he couldn't walk or talk - or open his own presents. This year was a different story - and I think Mom and Dad were more excited to watch him open presents than he was to get presents.
We celebrated an early Christmas here at home before heading down to Houston to spend the real Christmas with Mike's family. We waited to put any presents under the tree until Christmas Eve, because we knew Mason would try to open them or simply want to play with the boxes. He had a blast opening presents (once he realized that there were toys in each one)!
Here are some Christmas pics:

Mason, just out of the bath, insisted on wearing his "I''m One" birthday hat from his first b-day party.

Mike had to work late, so Mason and I picked out some cookies to leave for Santa. Mason seemed really confused that we put cookies on a plate and poured some milk, only to leave them there without being eaten.

All the presents are out!! It finally looks like Christmas!

Santa came early and left Mason a brand new car!!!

He also left Mom and Dad a new waffle maker. Which we used that very morning!

Mason's two favorite toys were is car and his shopping cart. When we brought him out Christmas morning, he sleepily walked over to the car. He took a look at it, got in and "drove" around a bit. Then, he stopped, got out of the car, walked away from us and simply yelled, "YEEEEESSSS!" and did a little dance. He had been wanting that car for a long time but just didn't have the words to communicate it! He was SO excited that Santa brought it. We have this special memory on video - but it is too long of a video to post on the blog :(

Doodling on the Doodle-Pro

Playing with his new farm and farm animals

FOOD! After we opened presents and ate an unbelievable amount of homemade waffles, we loaded up the car and headed down to Houston. Here are the goodies I made! I picked things Mike's Granny always made. He misses her so much. They had such a close relationship. It always meant so much to him that she would prepare lots of food and goodies any time he visited. Here we have Sand Tarts and Mike's FAVORITE: Swirly Cookies! (Those things are a labor of love. UGH.)

Pecan Pie!!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Drops!

On Christmas Eve we ventured out to the Houston Zoo. We had a fun time and can't wait to go back!

Mike and Mason check out some birds.

Turtles!

A zookeeper was walking a cute pig! Mason gave the pig a "courtesy pat" when the keeper asked if Mason would like to pet her. In Mason's defense, the pig did have some bad dandruff. I didn't want to touch her either!

Out to dinner with Pa Pa - Mike's Dad. This is minutes before Mason got ahold of a squeezable ketchup bottle and created a Ketchup Geyser that rained down on everyone. Only seconds after that he decided he wanted to touch the back of the neck of an unsuspecting black man in the booth behind us. Check, Please!

Christmas Morning. Gramby spoiled Mason rotten - and we loved it! Here Dad is putting Mason's Toy Story table and chairs set together.

Trying out his new chairs.

Sunday afternoon Mike's Mom's family met up at Casa Ole for a High Family Get Together. It was great seeing everyone and stuffing ourselves full of food!

When we got home, it was like Christmas all over again. Mason rediscovered all of the presents we had gotten him, and had a blast playing with everything while Mom and Dad unpacked.

Merry Christmas!