Happy 2013!

And we're back!!  I received my blog books in the mail the day before Christmas so I finally went into the blog system and deleted over 400 of my oldest blog pictures.   So...I should be good to go to get back to my blogs!

We would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!   Our holidays were wonderful and we are so very thankful for all the fun times we had with Joseph here at home as well as with our families over the holidays!    We are also very excited that it is 2013 now because it is the year of our new baby!  :)     C-section is officially 6 weeks from today - wahoo!  (and eek!)

So for Christmas, we headed to Temple the weekend before Christmas to celebrate with Michael's family.  Michael took that Friday off so he could help his dad who is busy with harvest season for pecans.  Even though it is a lot of hard work, Michael also loves helping because he just loves it down at the pecan orchard and I think it's also a good stress relief for him.   Faith and I went down and took the guys lunch on Saturday and let Joseph run around the orchard for a while - he had a blast.  We were out there for 2 hours and as soon as we got back to Faith and Jimmy's house, he wanted to go outside again. I tell ya, this little guy can not get enough outside time!

We had a nice Christmas lunch and party with all of Michael's family on Sunday the 23rd including his 2 grandparents as well as his siblings and their families.  Joseph loved his 3 boy cousins and I think they really like that he is big enough to play chase now and tackle them now!

Joseph with Santa this year - he did SO great, no tears at all!

In awe at the pecan orchard

On a trailor ride to our picnic spot

Standing on the edge by the river with Grandma & Grandpa Z

Exploring his way around!

Me and Joseph by "Little River" at the pecan orchard

Jimmy showing Joseph what's inside the big white bags - lots and lots of pecans!

The "pre-cleaner" dumping the pecans

At the Zajicek Christmas party - Joseph caught on very quickly to the unwrapping gifts concept. He was a big fan! :)

We came back to Houston that afternoon and spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day morning at our house.  Christmas Eve was spent baking a few goodies for Santa and then Mass at 4pm where it was standing room only. Luckily a nice man felt bad for this ol' pregnant lady walking in with a toddler and gave me his seat at the end of the pew - so thankful for his kindness!

Christmas morning was such a blast!  Joseph woke up at 5:45am (ug) due to teething.  I brought him out where the tree was and showed him that Santa brought him some toys!  He looked at it all for a bit and then just started pointing at it all.   He was so excited to see that Santa brought him a play kitchen!   He also got lots of new books, a play flashlight and a new Leap Frog DVD.    Michael gave me a George Forman grill, label maker (yes, I asked for it!), and a new soft floormat for in front of the kitchen sink.  I gave Michael a new jacket, some boxers, A&M shirt and some personalized beer mugs with "Zajicek Brewing Co" on it for his homemade beer!

Joseph with Daddy after Mass

With Mommy!  (we used the fan as a distraction that's why he's always looking up and pointing)

My 32 week bump shot!

Putting out cookies for Santa!

Look what Santa left behind!

So excited for his very own kitchen

Oooh - a dump truck!

Looking at one of his new books

And loving his new mega block construction set table

Michael with his Zajicek brewing beer mugs

Joseph taking a call on the pretend phone that comes with the kitchen while he is cooking - haha!

Me and my Christmas goodies!

And our tradition of homemade donuts on Christmas Day - yum!

Then we headed to Kilgore to spend a couple of days with my family.  Both my sisters were there as well with their families so it was great to all be back together!  Soon after we got there, we opened all the presents because the kids were all about to go nuts for another round of gifts!  :)    We then enjoyed a yummy dinner with smoked ham and all kinds of yummy sides.   

On Christmas Day evening, we had a super fun surprise when we looked outside and it was snowing!!   It snowed for hours and gave us a good "dusting" as they would call in Minnesota.  Now for my MN friends, it probably looks like nothing, but to us in Texas it was super fun because it is just so rare to have any snow, especially on Christmas Day!   Joseph loved the snow and had so fun playing in it while it was coming down.  The next day, we copied the fun idea we got from the people who own the pasture behind my parents and had my Dad pull a sled through the snow with his 4 wheeler. The kids were in heaven!  We had to get Joseph off after a few rounds though because he was getting so relaxed he was about to fall asleep - ha!

I love Christmas time and all the joy the Advent season brings.  It's been fun to teach Joseph what Christmas is and to experience all the fun activities through his little eyes.   And it warms my heart to think that at next Christmas, we will have a 10 month old alongside Joseph!

Gift time at Grandma and Grandpa Eckel's house!

Outside to see the snow!

He loved running through it!

Using his new drill to "fix" Grandpa  :)

Our White Christmas! (Dec. 26)

Michael with Joseph and Annie on the sled behind the 4 wheeler

Fun times!

Helping Grandpa drive the 4 wheeler for his cousins turn on the sled!

Little bundled up fella!