Christmas Day in McAllen

On this day we had a very nice drive to McAllen and it wasn't long before we were going back and forth between all the relatives houses to celebrate Christmas Day. You met many of your cousins, great aunts and uncles and even your great-grandma Abelina. Everyone was quite impressed with what a good baby you are since you hardly fussed. In fact, you slept through most of the parties despite the constant roaring laughter, loud music and being bounced between arms over and over.

The second day we were here we spent it at a white elephant christmas party at your grandma & grandpa's house and you "walked" away with a very adorable nativity scene box that plays music, your first ornament holder for the fireplace and a beautiful cross for the christmas tree.

This is your 17yr old aunt Courtney. She had to work alot during this weekend but she held you when she could. You liked sleeping in her arms too.


This is your great-grandma Abelina. She's 93 yrs old and she was so happy to hold you as her newest great-grandson.
This is your second cousin Anthony who's 2.5 (Andy and Sara Pedraza are his parents) and Samantha is 2 yrs old (Sylvia Pedraza & Ramiro are her parents). They played with you alot, especially with the interesting toys on your carrier.
Kayra is also your second cousin- Ronnie and Janis Montemayor are her parents and she's 4 months.
Your grandma Olga was holding you here and laughing about who knows what, but apparently you weren't in on the joke. Aww.
I guess I did a good job of overdoing it when taking photos because you didn't exactly cheese it each and every time. Here I was trying to eat your cheeks and then you protested loudly!
Mama and Daddy cheesin' for the camera.
Every year mama tries to organize a family photo. It takes alot of yelling to get it done, but its worth it. This year the family photo grew by two (you and Kayra).
(L-R) First row - Your great-uncle Ramiro, Janis & Ronnie M. holding Kayra, Great-grandma Abelina, Daddy, Mama holding you , your second cousin John Andrew, your second cousin Anthony and his dad Andy, your cousin Ninfa and her son Matthew and your cousin Sylvia.

Second Row - family friend, your great -uncle Andres & great-aunt Amelia, your great-uncle Joe & great-Aunt Paulina, your great-uncle Rosendo & great aunt Linda, your grandpa Mando, Aunt Kim, second cousin Jenny, grandma Olga, second cousin Samantha & Aaron, cousin Pilar & Ruben, cousins Ramiro 1 & Ramiro 2.


Whew! That was tiring! Ok , a smaller group photo. Here is mama in the center w/ the girls who join me every time in picking on the guys in the family. They love you to pieces already and I love em back.Ninfa, Sylvia, mama, Pilar & Janis


Now, it won't be long before you start recognizing pet names we have for each other in the family. I might as well warn you now that between Ruben & Pilar and your mom and dad we call each other mullets. Yes, mullets. If you google mullets you'll find some pretty awesome photos and I quite honestly can't remember how that got started, but it has stuck for yrs. You're now the new lil mullet in the group. Congratulations!
Daddy is holding you here, Ramiro, Ruben (big mullet), Ramiro, Andy and Ronnie.


Merry Christmas Rowan! We love you so much and we're so happy you got to meet so much of your family this weekend. They truly love ya! Nite nite sleepyhead :)