Christmas week in Austin

Our first Christmas in Austin consisted of a weeklong chain of events! This was an extra special one since it was the first one in our new home, plus Uncle Neil and family came down to visit! As many pictures as I post of Nico opening gifts, the best part of this time is really getting to spend it with all of our family. 

We kicked off the week at Jack Allen's on Monday night for dinner and drinks with Ryan and my dad. Best food in Austin.

Tuesday was Christmas Eve, so when I finished seeing a couple patients that morning, we headed over to my parents. We had a ton of appetizers to munch on throughout the day.

It was torturous for Nico to see the gifts but not be able to open them yet!

These two were buddies all day...

We always get in a picture taking mood around this time of year. Here are a few of the highlights of our photo shoot.

He makes me smile...

Our classic joking pose that turns out halfway decent...

We headed back home by Nico's bedtime so we could get to sleep and await Santa's big arrival :) 

I think I was possibly more excited about Christmas morning than Nico. It's as if I am getting to relive all those exciting, childhood emotions again. I couldn't wait to see his eyes light up and hear the excitement in his voice when he realized that it was finally Christmas morning and Santa had come! We had been building it up all month with various Christmas themed movies and shows. He also opened his advent calendar every night and had to find his Elf on the Shelf every morning. These are some of the memories that I will always treasure.

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas morning...

He kept going "ooooh, oooooh" with each gift he opened.

After the Santa gift opening came to a close, we headed over to my parents house to have my dad's infamous Christmas morning French toast. Here's the proof that he does know how to work in the kitchen (as if I have any room to talk?! ha)




Another tree filled with presents underneath...

Gift opening for Nico... round 3...

I'm not sure who enjoyed the bubble leaf blower more, Nico or Ryan?

 

 

Later in the afternoon, Uncle Neil and his family arrived! It was definitely a different Christmas for us all, with us now living in Austin and them in Alabama! It was really cool that we still found a way to be together.

 

Nico and Caitlyn played for a while outside before dinner time.

 

Nico loooooved meeting Alex. He was very interested in helping out and wanting to be around him. Everyone kept commenting that he's ready for a sibling! (Hey, we're working on it!)

We finished our day with our usual, traditional Christmas dinner of ham, mashed potatoes, broccoli and cheese casserole, rolls, jello, and green bean casserole...

Thurday was appointed "girls' day," and Amanda, my mom, and I went out for a few drinks downtown! Then, on Friday, we had everyone over to our house for a pasta dinner.

Bath time for these silly kids...

 

 

The last day of our weeklong party was Saturday, and we went to one of our favorite spots, Homeslice Pizza for dinner.



Since Nico and Caityn ate a good dinner, we walked nextdoor to the food trucks to let them pick out a cupcake. (The eating never stopped this week!)

There are no words for Nico's reaction to his first bite of that giant chocolate cupcake.

I'd say we crammed about as much family activity into the past 5 days that we could. It was a fun, memorable week! Couldn't have asked for a better time with family.