Texas Christmas Part 3: Christmas Day

Christmas morning we took our time getting up and then Brian opened his one and only present from his aunt Emily. I stayed at Aunt Debbie's beautiful house with Brian while most of the family went out to lunch. It was a nice relaxing day.
That evening we had a party at Aunt Debbie's house to celebrate Christmas and Lao Lao's birthday. The food this time was mostly all Asian food such as: blue gill crab, tempura, sushi, Peking duck, shrimp, squid, etc.



After dinner, Mark's aunt and Dad showed us how to play the traditional Chinese violin called an Er Hu. Mark's aunt was even nice enough to let me try. I definitely want one of my own now. It's not that much different than the cello.



Brian loved the window in our room at Aunt Debbie's. For some odd reason he really enjoyed scraping his forehead along the glass.

Texas Christmas Part 2: Christmas Eve Extravaganza

While Brian and I enjoyed 5 fun days at my sister's, Mark was busy working and then driving our minivan from Utah to Texas with his family. Our primary purpose in coming to Houston was to spend time with Mark's mother Alice's family. Except for one sister who is in Taiwan and Alice's dad who has passed away, all of her family was together for Christmas this year. I got to know all of Mark's cousins, aunts, and uncles. Mark and his family arrived on Monday morning of December 21st and he came and picked me up from my sister's house. We spent Monday and Tuesday enjoying each others company, playing basketball, going for walks, and starting the food fest. I have never eaten so much food in my entire life. Tuesday we went to a Sushi buffet AND an amazing Mexican restaurant. The next day, Christmas Eve, was even more full of fun and FOOD.(Uncle James, Aunt Debbie, Mark's Grandmother, Mark's Mom, Uncle Eric)




CHRISTMAS EVE
For lunch Mark's entire family, maybe 30 people or so, went to this great Chinese Buffet where we stuffed ourselves silly on all the Chinese food you can imagine. Following the buffet we sat around at his uncle's house waiting for the food to digest. At about 4:30 pm Mark, Brian and I went back to my sister Emily's for a traditional Evans Christmas Eve party, minus the rest of my family of course. Emily made to most delicious filled potatoes, artichoke dip, seven layered dip, salad, and more. Oh, and she even searched through the entire city of Houston to find us some Martinellis Sparkling Apple Cider.
Thanks Emily for the delicious food.

We couldn't leave without acting out the traditional Christmas Eve Nativity with costumes and all. For the first time ever Mark and I got to be Joseph and Mary and Brian was a rather old baby Jesus. Emily was an Angel and her husband Nate was a shepherd.

Cutest of all were the three wise men who were so exited about the chocolate gold coins that they had a hard time giving them to baby Jesus (Brian) when the time came. Lucky for them Brian was willing to give the coins back.

We had so much fun reading the Christmas story and singing the Christmas carols that go along with the scriptures. Thank you so much Emily for inviting us for a few hours.



BACK AT THE LIU'S

Following our fun time at Emily's, we went back to Uncle Eric's for another incredible meal prepared by Aunt Sandy (below), with help from other various people in the house.

Sandy was seriously in the kitchen ALL day long preparing the Christmas Eve dinner and it was AMAZING. We had Turducken (chicken inside duck inside turkey), ham, yams, squash, yummy cornbread muffins, veggies, casserole, etc. etc. Thank you Aunt Sandy!

One of the reasons for getting the whole Liu family together in Houston was to celebrate Lao Lao's (Mark's Grandmother's) 75th Birthday. My sister-in-law Vivian put together a beautiful scrapbook with pictures of Mark's family to give to her. Following our final Christmas Eve meal she got to open the book.

Nice work Vivian, she loved it!

Brian and his cousin Xander all dressed in their red jammies on Christmas Eve.

Almost all of Alice's siblings and spouses.

Texas Christmas Part 1: Vacation with the Smiths

We've just returned from one BIG Christmas vacation in the great state of Texas. The majority of the vacation in Houston was spent with the Liu side of Mark's family, but since my sister Emily lives in Houston as well, I was lucky enough to spend some extra time with her and her awesome three boys (four boys if you include her husband Nate). This post details the few days I stayed with her before we stayed with Mark's family for Christmas. Brian and I boarded a plane over two weeks ago on December 17, 2008 and we started one of the greatest vacations full of fun, family and food (more food than I ever thought I could eat).


I left five days before Mark and his family started the long drive to Houston, in order to spend some quality time with Emily. I guess that's one of the perks of being a stay at home mom, as long as I take my job (Brian) with me I can go do whatever I want anytime without having to take any "vacation days" from work. Emily picked Brian and me up at the airport after an okay flight with Brian and only a few sore muscles from wrestling with him on my lap for three hours. I got to spend 5 great days playing with her boys Clayton, Isaac and Brigham, catching up with Emily on everything, and watching Brian try to be one of the big boys.


Brian absolutely LOVED Emily's house because it is full of so many cool toys and three cool boys to play with. Clayton introduced him to the world of legos and I really think Brian thought he was such a big kid as he tried to play with (destroyed) everything the boys created.


I had so much fun listening to what the boys did at school, reading stories, playing games, and going to church with them. We played in the warm Houston weather at the park and I had a little time to read and relax. I spent the evenings talking to Emily and Nate, reading and watching movies. The perfect vacation.


Brian's favorite thing at Emily's house was this cute little nativity down on his level and sturdy enough for him to play with. He would often end up at this window sill throughout the days at Emily's. I'm just glad that he enjoyed something that represented the real reason for celebrating this fantastic season. Hopefully next year he'll be old enough to understand the story of Christ's birth.

Mr. Curious

Brian is curious about everything, especially electronics and computers. (Guess where he gets that one from?)

Hence a keyboard of his very own situated just where he wants it.

Yes, he still sucks his thumb.

And he misses our daily walks in the beautiful fall weather.

But he still loves crawling around playing and pulling himself up on anything he can.

Brian's New Cousin

My sister Allison had her baby yesterday! Baby Caitlin is Brian's closest cousin and the sweetest baby girl in the world. Brian and I went to visit her and Allison today in the hospital. Caitlin is so beautiful and Brian was especially excited to see her (or rather drool on her). Congratulations Allison and Dave!