Merry Christmas!

Well, another Christmas has come and gone for us all, but what a fabulous Christmas season it has been.  I always feel so excited on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but once Christmas Day is over, I can't help but feel a little sad!  All the hustle and bustle of the best time of the year is over and it's time to move on with the new year! While wonderful to start over again, it's always hard to see the best days of the year come and go in a flash.  We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  It all started on Sunday with my nephew's (baby Blake's) baptism at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis.  We had a private baptism at one of the most beautiful churches.  It was decorated for Christmas and was simply stunning.  It was a perfect place to welcome Blake into the Catholic Church.  After that we were able to enjoy a party and eat the most delicious pizza in St. Louis, Saullo's.  They will be closing their doors on December 29th, so if you are in St. Louis and need a place to get some pizza, GO THERE.  They have been family friends for many, many years and you will NOT be disappointed.  I could go for a slice...or better yet, a whole pizza, right about now!!  After eating WAY too much pizza after the baptism, we headed home to enjoy a good night's sleep and get ready for the Keeven Christmas on the 23rd.  It was a great day surrounded by the family, eating lots of great food...again...and opening presents.  Being together is always the BEST present of all, and it truly hit home this year since more and more of our families are far away.  It was truly a Christmas blessing to see everyone from STL to KC to Florida...we all made it back together for awhile. After a beautiful early Christmas in STL, we headed home to enjoy a quiet Christmas Eve together here at home.  Juan and I put Elena to bed...a little later than usual...and then we helped Santa put a few presents under the tree.  It was a magical evening for us as this was our first Christmas knowing Elena would wake up the next day and understand that "Kwa Kwas" came with presents.  We had so much fun.  Elena woke up on Christmas Day and opened up some of her new gifts including a Dora bike, golf clubs, and a new cash register, which has definitely been her favorite so far.  We enjoyed delicious cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then headed to abuelo and abuela's house for the afternoon.  We ate a delicious dinner and opened lots of presents together.  It was a blast.  So, here we are the day after Christmas with not many things to return to the stores, which is always a great thing because I honestly don't like shopping at all...I do not like wasting time standing in lines, I like to just go, get what we need, and get out!!  Ha...We'll make it out in the next few days to return what we need, but for the time being, we are just enjoying putting the house back together after an awesome Christmas, opening all of our new toys, and just being at home.  Juan and I are looking forward to a few more days off school to re-energize and get ready for second semester. We wish everyone a blessed new year!!

 My new bike from "Ernie" and Blake!

 Ring Ring!!!

 I want to play!!

 Playing with Papa and Baby "Bwake"

 Sisters...I know I have a sweet t-shirt on...

 Blake and Juan having a chat.

 Beautiful family!!

 Loving her new baby

 "Nems!!"

 Homer wants to see too.

Playing with Mr. Potato Head and blocks!!  And look...E actually let me put a bow in her hair!!!!

Happy Winter!

It's officially the first day of winter today and boy we can definitely feel it!  It's been an icy day here in Columbia and it appears it's turning to just rain for now.  I think we're going to be between rain, ice, and snow until tomorrow morning.  I'm totally over all of it and would just like enough snow to make things look pretty for Christmas!!  We have been busy this week getting ready for our big Christmas week coming up.  We are so excited to spend some time with family and just enjoying ourselves.  Here are a few photos of Elena from the last week or so plus some videos that I have been forgetting to add.  Merry Christmas all!!

 Quality Control

 Yep, I'll try another...

It's just SO good, momma!

Happy Birthday Elena!!! (Sorry a little late this year!!)

Our baby girl is 2 years old...where is the time going?  Elena is running, talking, demanding, yelling, whispering, eating more foods (YEAH!!), playing HER ipad, knows all her letter,s and numbers up to 10, and may possibly be ready for potty training.  All of this happening in two short years is pretty incredible.  I never knew how much just talking to Elena, reading to her, playing, sleeping, snuggling, and just riding in the car helped her development during these first few fragile years.  Juan and I are starting to see now how all of the "little" things have help create such a well rounded person.  We learn so much about Elena and from Elena every single day.  I don't know that there is anything else we could love more than her.
     Elena enjoyed her very own birthday party here at home on November 30th.  Her wawa (abuela), wawo (abuelo), Tia Oly, Aunt Shell, Uncle Ross, MawMaw, and PawPaw came over to celebrate.  We had an Elmo party.  Elena even had her very own Elmo cake.  We had a great time eating pizza, cupcakes, ice cream, opening presents, and, of course, watching football.  Elena actually enjoys watching football, so it was just the most perfect birthday for her!! 
     Life is staying busy as usual and it will be getting even busier as these next few weeks come and go.  It is so exciting thinking about all the fun up ahead and time to spend with family, but before all of that comes one more stressful week of school for both Juan and I...I keep myself sane by listening to Christmas carols through the day...it really does help keep things into perspective when I think I might be buried in way to much more than I can handle.  But, the smiles from the kids at school and the anticipation of the Christmas holiday coming keeps me beyond happy through the school stress.  It is always a time of year that is here so quickly and in a blink of an eye, it's over.  I try so very hard each day to enjoy what a wonderful time of year this truly is. With each passing year, Christmas gets more and more special now that we have Elena.  She will be so excited to open presents this year and know that "Kwa Kwas" brought her special things. 
     I have a feeling I won't be posting again before Christmas gets here as times will continue to get busy, so from Juan, Elena, and I, we wish you nothing but the most blessed of Christmas's and a happy new year!

 My new kitchen set..let's open it, Daddy!!

 Playing a little old school Nintendo 64...Homer looks pumped.

 Birthday donut from Hyvee...her favorite store :)

 Icing the cupcakes and putting some pretties on them!

 Being 2 is awesome.

 I'll have some crazy bread too, please.

 She loves her Uncle Ross

 Showing PawPaw her Ipad skills

 Yup, it's good!

 She did her own hair.

Yep, that's Elena eating a chicken finger...let's all give her a round of applause ;)

Happy Halloween!!

I know it's a little late, but Elena had an awesome Halloween and a great time at the Pumpkin Patch.  She is growing up so quickly...she will be 2 in just a few short weeks.  Enjoy the rest of our fall pictures!!

 C'mon, let's go!!

 My first house of the night!

 Trick or Treating was hard work...

 mmmm...gummy worms with daddy :)

This is my everyday face.