CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Christmas Day started early at Phillip and Brianna Santillanes home with family and friends.  Breakfast, unwrapping gifts and a late lunch- Turkey with all the trimmings (including (RED CHILI).

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FOURTH STOP - PLANO

Arrived at Sylvia son, Simon Paul and his family.  Wife, Alice, kids, Caleb and Sara.  We were blessed by a performance of three(3) Christmas songs played on the violin by Sara. We exchanged gifts and our gift was a double massage and the bonus was cinnamon rolls and Kolaches from their bakery, Kolache Station.

After that, we said good bye and prayed for a uneventful return trip back to San Antonio that evening and arriving home by 10pm.

Sara, knitting on a hoe

Head massage thingy

Kolaches

Helicopter gift

Jewelry box

Topaz earrings and necklace

Shirt and gift certificate

game

Testing out the helicopter

Violin performance by Sara

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THIRD STOP - ALLEN

Arrived in Allen to exchange gifts with Sylvia's son, Ernie and his family.  Wife, Kelly, kids, Connor, Austin and Violet.  He was roasting fresh coffee beans - WOW- what an amazing smell.  Took us to lunch at a Chinese Buffet. Came home and exchanged gifts and headed to Plano.

Violet and her new doll and doll clothes

Austin and his helicopter

Connor and his shirt and game

Kelly and her topaz earrings and necklace

Ernie and his shirt and GC

Kelly's wall of crosses

Helicopter landed

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SECOND STOP - KELLER

Arrived at my son, Trae's house where his family live.  We had a great lunch of chicken fajita quesadillas.  We sure enjoyed visiting with our grandson, Sam, who has grown so much, and also with Jacob, his brother.  Later, other brother , Andrew and his girlfriend Shelby joined us for a wonderful dinner of chicken taco soup and trimmings.  We opened and shared gifts. We were entertained by Sam on his "drum set" - he sure has the tempo! Julie looks so amazing with all her weight loss.  We played "WHOONU" and spent the night.  Sunday morning we went to Trae and Julie's church- Gateway in North Richland Hills.  Great message entitled "What Child Is This" from Luke 2 and Isaiah 9.  Then off to Third Stop - Allen.

Whirlwind Early Christmas Trip - (756 Miles (r/t)

DECEMBER 16, 2011 - My wife, Sylvia and myself, loaded up my Honda Fit with food and gifts for our families in the Dallas area which also included (4) dozen of her special homemade pork and chicken red chili tamales.

This was the tamale making process that Sylvia and I used to make them.  It sure is a lot of work and we managed to make about 16 doz - whew!

masa made w/corn meal flour, chicken and pork fat, chicken and pork broth and some red chili and Caldo de pollo salt

Pork, chicken and red chili puree cooked together w/garlic and salt

pressing the dough on the corn husks

FIRST STOP - CEDAR HILL  -- Troy and Paige's home.   It was my daughter, Paige's 38th birthday. Paige is a middle school principal and was at work when we arrived.  Sylvia cooked for her and Paige and Troy invited several couples to join us for dinner - there were a total of 12.

Chocolate Ice Cream Cake, Oreo cookies balls, green chili chicken enchiladas, salsa verde, regular red salsa, guacamole, chips, Texas chili, creamed corn, Mexican rice and fresh homemade tortillas.  We ate and "pigged out" and started playing "Guesstures" until after 2 AM.  We spent the night there and left early the next morning for our Second Stop-Keller.

Making the ice cream cake w/exchange student, In(her name) who is from Korea

Oreo cookie balls dipped in white chocolate

Paige opening gifts

Purple topaz necklace

Quilt made especially for her by Mama Sylvia