Stephens Family Christmas Party

We spent our Christmas in the Long Beach area. We first stayed with the Araizas for a few days before Christmas and had a great time spending time with them!  Then we spent the second half of our vacation with the Stephens. We had fun, but we all ended up with the stomach flu! (except for Rick... somehow he manages to almost NEVER get sick!)

The annual Stephens Family Christmas party was at my parent's house this year, and it was great to see family that we haven't seen for awhile.  One of the highlights of the party was (of course), Santa making a special appearance with an early gift for each child.


When Santa arrived, ha asked the children if they wanted a present.  Owen enthusiastically raised his hand and kept it raised until his name was called (which was several minutes because he was not the first one called.)  You can see there is someone else on Santa's lap, but Owen's hand is straight up in the air.  So precious.

 

 Finally!  :) He went up all by himself without hesitation.  That is a big deal for him.  He asked Santa for a Batmobile.

 

 

Here's Lexie taking her turn. With Daddy she was very happy to visit Santa.

Lexie with her new kitty. Charlie with his new turtle.

 

Owen with his new Star Wars transformer.

 

Elena with her new bird. Apparently Santa went with a Disney animal theme this year. :)

 

The only Stephens cousin missing was Lynnlee.  She and her family went to Florida and got to do lots of fun things, but we sure did miss them!

Pumpkin Patch

Before Halloween, Owen's Pre-K class took a trip to the pumpkin patch and we made it a family affair!  I wish I'd dressed Lexie a little cuter because these are the only pumpkin patch pictures I got of her this year. Oh, well!  You can see that she is wearing red shoes. These are shoes that Rick found at a consignment store. They were okay, but kind of worn out. In the Halloween post, you can see how I painted these shoes green for her costume! That's why she is wearing green shoes with red soles in the pictures.  Anyway...

 

Holding hands. Melts my heart. Every. Time.

Even though Lexie is totally closing her eyes, I love how Owen is being so sweet with Charlie.

 

 I love how this one shows Owen's crazy energy and Lexie's calm, go-with-the-flow demeanor.

So sweet.

 

 

And here's our own little pumpkin.

 

 

10-4, Charlie

I have a new nephew and he is the cutest thing ever.

On July 7th, my ROCKSTAR- of- a-sister, Julie, delivered Charles Michael Majdali...All 10 lbs. 4 oz. and  22 inches of him. I cannot even imagine. I bow to you, Julie. :)

She delivered him via C-Section and I got to see him briefly before he was brought into recovery with her. I snapped a few pictures while I was there. He's got the cutest little cheeks and big hands that we are calling little puppy paws.

Since she's been home from the hospital, I've been able to snuggle him once or twice and I could just eat him up! He is so cuddly and cute. I'm so excited to have a nephew on the Stephens side and to have another boy cousin for Owen to play with!

His nicknames already include Charlie Bucket (from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) and 10-4 Charlie, referencing radio talk and his birth weight.  Welcome to the world, Charlie!!