Christmas Day with the familia... Valley Style

Our Christmas morning started like most Christmas' have begun before....an early morning start putting food in the oven and getting everyone ready for the present opening festivities... :)

Of course my chef got put to work... this time his task was the Christmas brisket that took the place of our traditional turkey lunch. 

It took awhile for Addie to open up to Chad...

Wow! Look at all those presents!

Let the festivities begin!

Papa Maldonado...

Christi's Dad, Larry Salinas...

My love, opening his goodies...

My brother and Addie checking out what Santa brought...

Mama Maldonado...

My Nana :)

Christi's mom Ana and Chad..

Nice Coach bag Christi!

Everyone seemed to enjoy the presents Chad and I made them... a book of Addies first year!

Let the tears of joy fall.. :)

Opening presents during nap time..

Two seconds later... she was out. 

Nap time!

Looks like someone's finally in a better mood!!

Nap time done.. on to opening more presents!

Loving her Aqua doodle...

Putting her first fifty cent piece in the piggy bank Aunt Yvette and Uncle Chad got her..

Food please...

Taste testing...

Sporting her disney heels.. :)

Christmas Eve with little Miss Addison :)

I have to admit that even though I miss the valley and my family, my heart lies with little Miss Addison.  She's my god daughter and niece and the REAL reason my heart aches to be back there.  She's a doll, and this Christmas was spent bonding like we hadn't before.  It had been a month since I'd seen her and it seemed like a lifetime.. It was sooo good to be back.  :)

Addie, mommy Christi and Aunt Yvette baking up a storm...

Something tells me she was NOT to happy with her apron... :)

Awww.... Someone take this thing off me please!

Seriously?  Who could resist this face?!

She's a freakin' SUPERMODEL!

Grandma Maldonado gave her a miniature broom... sooo cute!  She loves to sweep away...

Getting the house ready for Christmas!

Cheese!

Early Christmas present from Grandma! A slide...  :)

Sooo much fun!

Wheeeeeee... Thanks Grandma!

Thanksgiving Feast as Husband and Wife :)

Having just returned from our Honeymoon, we decided to forgo traveling once again to spend our very first Thanksgiving together, just the two of us.  :)

In keeping with tradition, Chad and I (well mostly him but you could've guessed that already ;) cooked up a Thanksgiving feast unlike any other.  :)  It definitely had the making of a very traditional meal, but this time, with a Chad Kelley twist.  :)

A cook, not a baker, Chad relied on the Joy of Baking to remind himself how to make homecooked, made from scratch, brioche. 

He made the first batch, I MADE the second!  :) (So Proud!)

Pounding out the dough... :) 

Turkey done right.  Two turkey breasts for the event.  One wrapped in bacon, one covered...well SLATHERED in chorizo.... MMM GOOD! 

This is one hard working kitchen!

Green bean casserole... almost done :)

The final turkey product... well one of them that is..

Our brioche... sooo soooo good!  Tasty, buttery, and super dense.  :)

All this for two people???!!!??!

And for dessert...... Rice Krispie treats. :)

Our signature dessert (inspired by our very first date to Fearing's)

One SERIOUSLY good meal.  :)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!! 

We love you, miss you and can't wait to see ya'll again!