First off let me tell you the most memorable moment of all (for me). It was the day we arrived in Pearland where Brent and Leigh Ann so graciously hosted the whole Vaclav family. The house was full of kids and food and presents. Presents! Here is a little snippet of a convo between and Michael regarding presents:
Me: Michael, will you bring in the wrapped gifts from our car?
Michael: What wrapped gifts?
Me: Blink, blink, silence.........ummm....the ones you watched me wrap for several hours the other night.
Michael: They aren't in the car.
Me: Blink, blink, silence......(light bulb!)....Hahahaha Babe. So funny! You forgot the presents. Good one.
Michael: Blink, blink, silence.......I'm not kidding...
Me: Yeah, right.
Michael: Babe, I'm really sorry!!!
Me: Oh SH*T!!!!
**************
That's right. We started the holiday by leaving the gifts in Austin. Well played V-Force. Michael dutifully drove back to Austin to retrieve the gifts and save Christmas. Now, on with the show.
Cousins Zane, Libby and Cade were totally gracious about sharing their rooms, toys and just about everything with their six cousins for five days. Very admirable.
These two played slide-n-crash for ages!
We rented a bounce house for Sunday afternoon; it was awesome. But the best part is that the rental company went on holiday break Sunday night so we got to keep the bouncy until Wednesday at no extra charge!! Hello Christmas miracle.
It came with a flying Peter Pan. Oh wait, that's Zane.
Here you can see that Michael is still a kid at heart.
And Michael's father is very, very brave.
He maybe should have thought twice about demonstrating how to ride the bounce house as it's inflating. But really it was J's idea.
It was a rare and precious treat to spend several consecutive days with Marik; she is full of love.
Now this is the only decent picture I took of Leigh Ann, who hosted this huge gathering with love and thoughtfulness and just-right holiday cheer. Wish I had beheld her more to tell you the truth.
Their house is directly under a flight path, lots of planes but angels too I think.
Also failed to get a decent picture of Cade; he is classic oldest-cousin awesome.
We feasted every meal. It's the best and only way to go at a Vaclav gathering.
And sometimes, Vaclav gatherings feel a bit like this...but in a good way.
Hazel was there too!!
Brent is an extremely diligent toy assembler; I have much respect for the skill and patience that requires!
The kids got schooled on their new tech. Hello iPad, nice to meet you Mac.
Uncle J and Cade included Austin in their ball tossin'. It may have been Austin's first time. I felt kind of bad that it has taken five and half years for him to have such an "all American" experience. Makes me extra thankful for uncles and boy cousins.
And here is J modeling The Hover. It's a stance all the grown-ups assume around the kitchen island as we graze, regret and graze some more on the continual bounty of Christmas fare. It is so, so GOOD.
