Christmas was SO fun this year. Watching the excitement and joy on all the kids faces is what it's all about. I had no idea Jackson would be into Christmas this year. At only 16.5 months old, I thought for sure he wouldn't have the slightest clue about opening gifts. He sure surprised me though. He loved tearing the paper and peeking what was inside....After he saw what was there he moved on to the next gift. We were spoiled more than ever this year and are so grateful for each and every gift. Thank you so much Weeb, Herm, Grandma and Grandpa and to the rest of the family as well. We must have been good because Santa defiantly came to all of the houses!

We started out the festivities at Kathryn and Neale's house on Christmas Eve. John, Amy and Owen weren't with us this year since they are in San Diego for the Holiday Bowl for UT Football, but Eloise represented their family! Jackson is SO into Eloise and always sitting next to her and touching and kissing her sweet head. It really is the most precious thing ever. Neale made the most delicious Christmas Eve dinner ever.....beef tenderloin and crab cakes! Makes my mouth water just typing it!


We woke up Christmas morning and went straight to my parents to start the day....LOTS of presents to unwrap, then we ate breakfast, J had a nap, then we went to the Woodlands to do it all over again! We are overflowing with toys in our house.....2 drill sets, tent and tunnel, Power Wheels, ELMO Rock n' Roll, monogrammed bean bag, table and chairs, train set, airport terminal set, 6 trucks, a whole new wardrobe and so much more!! And I won't ever forget the big gifts that both sets of parents gave Justin and I! It was a wonderful day! Hope you were as blessed as we were this year :)

I'm so bummed that we don't have pictures of him seeing his bean bag, power wheels and Elmo that Santa brought him....We were video taping it instead....and wouldn't you  know that they video is too big to upload onto the blog!

(FYI, my Christmas decorations got taken down yesterday.....Aren't you jealous?!)

This past weekend we had our new annual party....Breakfast with Santa....I thought it was SO fun and by far my favorite party that I have ever thrown! I served breakfast (just think kolaches, quiche, fruit, muffins, sausage balls and chicken minis) and fun morning cocktails (mimosas, Bloody Marys, screwdrivers) and of course little sippy cups for Santa's Elves! Santa made his appearance at 10:30 am....Lots of happiness, crying and screaming from all 30 kids....Yes, I'm crazy for having this many children at my home but it was SO worth it and by the amount of friends that we have I'm sure it will be more next year! From all the chaos I didn't get that many pictures during the party. All I have to say is, I'm SO thankful that it didn't rain. If it would have rained I'm pretty sure my house would be ruined and this annual tradition would already be over....BUT its not! I already got the green light from Justin that next years party is on :)

Jackson wasn't a  fan of Santa nor did I expect him to be. Kids are so funny though....Jackson will go to any one but for some reason all (most) kids are terrified of the big man himself.

Here are the details of this precious party. I'm already thinking of next years party. Not sure there is one thing I would change :)

What a fun weekend! My parents had their annual "Biegel" Christmas party. It was too much fun this year! I don't have any pics of the actual party but I have our annual family picture and wow....every year it seems that we add another baby to the mix. Jackson got tons of Owen, Makena and Eloise time and loved every second of it! Let the pictures tell the story!

Thanksgiving was SO much fun this year. Jackson had a blast with all his cousins and couldn't get enough. Seriously, its so much fun to have them all around! They all just play so happily together the whole time! I just can't describe the joy it brings to me to watch him play with Owen, Makena and Eloise!
Anyways, the food was amazing. Chef Neale totally outdid himself and graciously served it up to my family and Justin's family all under the same roof. My mom also outdid herself with the setting the table. I swear, she takes each task to the extreme and I love that about her. She put so much thought into everything. She also had a little craft for the kids. She got a burlap looking tablecloth and we did each grandchild's hand print. Each year we will do another hand print on the same tablecloth and it will serve as the tablecloth for the children's table. It was so fun! Notice how Jackson has a left handed print. He is SO left handed :

Oh, and I can't leave out the "bike" rides! My parents got a cart for the grandchildren (not sure what they are called) and it attaches to the back of a bike. Jackson went on 3 rides! Last week when we tried it he wasn't a fan but wow, he LOVES it now and kept going back for more!

Weight: 26.0 Pounds (71%)
Height: 32.75 (90%....dad is really proud and hopeful)
Head Circumference: 18.50 inches (45%)

Overall: Healthy, growing and beautiful little boy! Drinks 24oz of whole milk a day out of stage 3 sippy cups, loves pretty much anything you give to him. Still hard to put a diaper on.Sleeps from 7pm-7:30am.One nap a day lasting about 2 hours.

If I can't find him in the house 9 times out of 10 he is in the laundry room playing with all his shoes or he is in our bathroom either pulling everything out of our drawers or flushing the toilet! He's getting pretty good a walking down the stairs holding onto the rail. LOVES to be outside and cries when its time to go in. Has recently become a "mommas boy", reaching for me when he's somewhere unfamiliar. He can now get up into the highchair all by himself and thinks its funny when he gets up there and gets situated! Just this week he has started to show a little bit of interest in books (like 20 seconds, but that's more than ever).

Can say the following words very clear: "uh oh spaghetti-oh" (every time he drops something), momma, dadda, na na (not sure if this is banana or night night), bye bye (with a cute wave with his hand), boo, and a few others that I'm drawing a blank on!

Can make the following animal sounds when you ask him: cat (meow), dog (rough), monkey (oo oo aw aw) and a couple of others that I can't think of.

Does the following gestures when I ask him: Where's your head/nose/mouth/ears/nose/belly/toes/feet/eyes! and of course "Where's Jackson" (covers his eyes and loves to play that game!)

Consensus: Still the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on!

Geez Louise, I said it in the last post but time just needs to pause for a few days.....Here is what we have done in the past 2 weekends....Makes me tired thinking about it! Gone to the St. Peter's Fall Festival with friends, hosted a Sip n' See at my house for my dear friend Jill, went to 2 Halloween parties, drove to Austin for the day to go to the UT football game, went to a birthday party, celebrated Halloween tonight with Jackson and tomorrow night I have bunco....That's way too much and I need to stop committing to everything....Sorry, if I say "no" to the next event that we are invited too....I can't even stop to breathe. Here is the last 2 weeks in pictures!