Saturday, December 31, 2016

Getting Ready for Santa


This is the only picture I have from Thanksgiving. We went over to the Strout's for their final Turkey Trot. The we had dinner over at my house and watched the Cowboy game.


Happy Thanksgiving from this little turkey


Papa celebrated his birthday with his family: John Jr, Angel, Steve, Christie, Tom, Julie at his favorite restaurant: le bilboquet. So Yummy!


Decorated the house before the Thanksgiving weekend was over! These kids are ready for Christmas.


Our annual trip to Neiman Marcus to visit Santa - the girls were all about the sparkle!!



O'Neill and Victoria had their first piano recital. They did absolutely amazing! I am super proud of them!!! They were only a few who played by themselves without the duet of the teacher and all from memory! Twenty children played and half of them were boys. O'Neill could not get enough playing - he made friends with one of the teachers husbands and just played -

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       









Victoria was the donkey in the Christmas play - she did great! Her lines were loud and clear! Bravo, sister! And she is a smart cookie - she was the donkey and was center stage the hole time and she didn't have to hold the folder for the songs... she's one of a kind!!






Threw in a photo of one of her favorites!


O'Neill's sweet class performed 10 songs with hand motions and instruments. I am so proud of him!






The class got a visit from Santa on Polar Express Day in their jammies...



O'Neill's basketball team - The Shark Shooters!! They had their first game after practicing a few times and O'Neill made the FIRST basket. He loves his orange shoes - and is easy to spot on the court. His coach is Coach Roos, his buddy's mom who is a real winning coach.





Victoria brought home the class guinea pig, Charlie, and that is all they could do for the weekend. And that is one tough pig.


The White Rock Marathon passes by our house and Cecie and Papa came over to celebrate the race with our neighbors and the great band that was playing all day.


Sister had her first hair cut and she got a braid!


We continued the day of beauty with a mani and pedi! She's such a little diva!


Rebecs even had a little Christmas party at her school. And gingerbread making party.






The kids and I traveled to the Gaylord Texan for the ICE exhibit! It was 7 degrees in the room!


They LOVED the tubbing the best and they didn't even mind the wait in the line.


Snoball fight  - now that is something they didn't like waiting for!


O'Neill loved the ice slide - it was fast! V and R didn't really like it


Beautiful ice display of the nativity


The best part of all was the hot chocolate and cupcakes!










Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Halloween 2016


Halloween is such a fun and special time in the Zavala house. We had a Monarch Butterfly, a Fairy Princess, and a really Scary Dragon in our house. The kids picked out their costumes weeks in advance (on sale!).





Victoria loves to put on face paint and she loves to put some on her sister! Love this picture


We made it to the Lakewood Country Club Halloween party. And Rebecca was found dancing in the middle of the dance floor most of the night.







2nd grade school friends: Ryan, Audriana, Kena, Calla


This one didn't want to go home (at 9pm).


Family dance party!





Our annual Pumpkin Carving Party was bigger than ever. With more people who attended than ever (around 130) we had more pumpkin seeds than ever! The fall pumpkin party ended up turning into a pool party for those that stayed late. The weather was more hot summer than cool fall.

The game truck was a new addition - it was great to host all the kids - and it was air conditioned!



Their new friend - the Monarch Butterfly. They saw it hatch from it's chrysalis


The Fire Truck Pizza Truck. The best pizza and best idea for a large party!


Lots of work going on in the carving room (aka the garage)



It was a gorgeous day to be outside.



 The kids went crazy for the piñata! 






Pin the stem on the pumpkin


Halloween night!



After Halloween, Victoria's school had All Saints Day the day after. She chose St Bridget of Ireland and did a report on her. Each student had to dress up as their saint for the Mass. 




2nd grade saints


Took our candy to the dentist to get rid of it and send it to the Troops