Austin/Stephens Family Christmas Palooza

 This year, part of the grandkids Christmas present from my parents (Mimi and Pops) was for all of us to go to Grapevine and stay at the Gaylord and ride the North Pole Express Train.  What a wonderful weekend it was!  From the minute we walked in the massive hotel doors, Griffin and Ella were in Christmas heaven.  The place is like Christmas Disney!  Every detail is thought out and geared towards families.  We had the BEST time and seeing these four kids squeal in delight at every turn was priceless!  I just loved seeing our kids having so much fun together and I'm so thankful they will always be best buddies.  Thank you Mimi and Pops for Christmas memories that will last a lifetime!

The cousin crew- Griffin, Ella, Lyndon, and Carson

 Griffin and Pops before we went into the Madagascar Ice exhibit!  SO fun and freezing too!

 LOVE this one!

 The Austin family...love them all!

 Griff on the ice slide...he did the slide probably 20 times and was not so happy to move on

 Attempt at a family pic...I think Ella was freezing

 Uncle Con con heading up the tube chute

 Gingerbread house

 All four kids LOVE trains and there were plenty to see

 Talking choo choos with daddy

 Attempting to get a pic with mimi and pops...FAIL but don't they look cute in their matching jammies?

 This ones a little better

 My sweet Ella Boo

 The kids loved zooming around on the tricycles

 Carson talking to the elf

 LOVE this little boy so much!

 Ella REALLY is a Daddy's girl!

 Almost time for the train

 Mr. Conductor

 Torturing Ella with Santa...ha!

 Pops and Car Car

North Pole Breakfast

 We continued our tradition of a North Pole breakfast to announce the arrival of their Elf on the Shelf.  Last year Griff was a little young and Ella was just a baby so they didn't really "get" it.  But this year, they both LOVED their special breakfast.  Griffin woke up first and got to enjoy the surprise while waiting for sissy to get up.  Last year Griffin chose the name "Elf" for our elf so we tried again this year and he chose to name him Bobbie Butter Stephens.  Ha!  I love this little family tradition and seeing the kids excitement is priceless!

 Ella just woke up and was a little unsure about all the fun...

 Oh this is fun!

 Griff helping Ella open her hershey kiss

 And now you get to watch Ella enjoy her first powdered sugar doughnut ever!  Think she liked it?