The Parada Family: Happy Holidays 2009

The holidays have been busy and fun for our whole family. We’ve enjoyed spending time with our family and friends. It’s been nice this year with Sal off of school along with the kids and I. Since I haven’t blogged in a while, I thought I would share some images of what we’ve been up to this holiday season.

Our Failed Trip to the Tunnels at Neiman Marcus

While Vanessa and Jason were still living in their downtown apartment we decided to take all the kids to the Neiman Marcus window display to let the kids crawl through the tunnels. It was a long walk with our kids, their kids, our cousins and a friend who was with us.

A really long walk!

At least the kids didn’t get lost.

A group shot of the nine kids we had with us.
The bummer of the whole trip was after walking the whole way there the tunnels were closed!! We did take a few shots in front of the book display. At the end of the holidays all the books are donated to local charities.

Here’s a shot of our kids, Grace (9), Alex (7) and Andrew (5).

Vanessa and Jason’s kids, Rese (9), Isaiah (7) and Peyton (8).

On the way back we stopped at the Urban Park downtown and played in these spinning cups. The kids had fun spinning Uncle Sal around.

Those things make you pretty dizzy!

The Farmers Branch Recreation Center Open House

This was a pretty fun event. They had lots of crafts, activities and demonstrations for kids and adults to enjoy. The kids and I had a good time there!

We didn’t get a lot of pictures here; I was too busy keeping an eye on all the kids. Here is a picture of Andrew with one of his favorite people, Santa!

Andrew’s craft!

Grace’s craft – the girl loves her some glitter!

Alex’s craft!

Bass Pro Shops- Picture with Santa

We met up with our friend at Bass Pro Shops to take a picture with Santa. She waited for almost three hours to get a picture. Luckily we showed up right before our turn, jumped in and made it out. The place was a mad house! Luckily we make it out alive!!

The kids and our friend’s daughter with Santa.

Christmas Eve 2009

We always get together with my mom’s side of the family for Christmas Eve. It’s a fun time for all. We do a potluck, make the kids sing Christmas carols and open gifts. This year our good friends were able to join in the fun too!

We’ll sing for presents.

Too bad they don’t really know all the words! It was really cute though!!

Christmas Day 2009

The kids got a lot of cool gifts, as did Sal and I. (My husband’s sister and her husband are stationed with the Army in Georgia. We chat with them on the web cam often and opened presents with them online. Got to love the internet! So a lot of these pictures seem like the kids are looking away, because they are making sure Tia Marina and Uncle Jose can see them!)

Santa brought all the kids a new DS!

Gracie also got an American Girl doll brush she had been wanting.

The Moxie Girl doll she really wanted!

And her favorite of all, Dora Links.

The boys got new Star Wars bed sets from Tia Marina and Uncle Jose!

They loved them!!

The remote control cars were pretty cool too!

Sal and I got some pretty neat stuff too!

Sal got two new hats that he loved!!

I got a new Coach purse which was pretty awesome! But then…

I got this!! Just what I wanted, so goodbye Iphone pictures you’ve been good to us, but we’re moving on to bigger and better things.

We do lunch on Christmas for our family at our house. This was my first attempt at making the “Brown Bag Turkey.” It came out awesome! If you need the recipe go to www.1061kissfm.com and search Brown Bag Turkey. It was super moist and delicious!

Dad got a new sweater from Ness and Jason and the new James Patterson book I, Alex Cross from us!

Grace made this for Grandma at an art class at Joanns.

Christmas is also my mom’s birthday so Vanessa and I got her a nice tea set to enjoy.

Dad got her the tea and sugar for it!

Happy Birthday Mom, we love you lots!!

Ness and Jason

Diana, Juan and our kids

Nana and her twin Gracie

Bella and Alex

Salvador and I

We are so grateful for the blessing we have and for the opportunity to spend a fun day with our family and friends, both near and far.

After everyone left Grace and I played with the action setting on the new camera. Here she is running through the living room!