A Mexican Christmas

We left Oxnard early Christmas Eve and arrived at my mom's. Here is where the madness takes place! Every Christmas, no matter what time it is on Christmas Eve, the house is always rockin'. Actually, it is like that most days of the year too. You can only imagine how only child Kent must feel when he comes in to this crazyness!

Only the mantel gives away the size of my family. This year, my mom ran out of room on the mantel and some treats had to be left below.
My brother fried a turkey for dinner and I walked in to see him teaching Kyra how to inject the juices into the bird.

Of course, the usual tradition of making Tamales was still on, but it was nice for a change not to have to produce so many this year. My brother not only fried the turkey, but he smoked tri-tip all day on Christmas too. So instead of overdosing on tamales, we had a buffet of foods. Yum!

We let the kids open one gift before bed........
......and it was an important one for sleeping comfort.

Early risers on Christmas morning. This year I awoke to everyone in hair and makeup! What the hell? My mom said she was tired of looking raggedy in all the xmas morning photos and Jimmy's girlfriend, of course, just wanted to impress and not look like a mess. So, basically, I was the only one in my jammies that morning.

Kyra is happy with Christmas chonies.
Alysia is over-joyed with her new hair straightner. Good! Now she will leave mine alone.

Giving the new straightner a test drive on Grandma.
Kent got some cool stainless steel with copper bottom pots and pans. He loves them!
My sister tries to give our dog away as a present.

Papa came by later and opened up his presents.

Trying to get everyone together for a family photo is not easy.

These are the only four that count.

Camera shy Nana was recovering from her latest bout with pneumonia. Jacob squeezed her into a photo op.