We had a great time together. We talked, watched a movie, ate chips and some AWESOME salsa, exercised with the Wii, clinked glasses of sparkling cidar at midnight while watching Dick Clark countdown. He was a little (lot) orange looking with all the makeup they put on him and he messed up the countdown, I think he said 14, 12, 10, 11, 10, 9, but he still rocks the Rockin New Years Eve Countdown!) It was memorable and relaxing.
Phil.
Laurie. 
Jake.
Me!
Perhaps next year we'll get out and go to a party or something. Or maybe have one at our house???
P.S. Jacob signed "milk" today. He opened and closed his hand twice in the way little kids do when they are learning to wave bye-bye. It was SO CUTE! I remember when Shyla did it for the first time. She'd throw both her arms out as if she were startled and make little fists. *sigh*
On Christmas Eve, Shyla put out milk and cookies for Santa to eat when he came down the chimney. You can tell in the picture she was E X H A U S T E D, but she didn't let that stop her. She was still energetic and running all around the house well after 11pm. We had gotten home late from dinner with the family in San Jose but still wanted to let Shyla put out the milk and cookies. She had been talking about Santa, the cookies, and the chimney for a while so we couldn't deprive her of it. 
After opening presents, we ate breakfast. We're trying to perfect the best choice for Christmas breakfast that doesn't take to long to make. We're leaning towards blueberry pancakes and eggs. 
Great Grandma Fernandez with Jacob aka JD. It's always so sweet to see great grandparents with the little ones. He looks so happy too. He's a people lover (except for when he sees mommy on the other side of the room, then he wants to be with mommy).
There was some time set aside to open presents for the kids. Jacob got a build-a-bear, clothes, and some learning toys. Shyla got dress-up Tinkerbell clothes, jammies, and electronic learning books. When she opened the Tinkerbell clothes, you can see it on her face in the picture, she said in such a sweet voice, "Oh my gosh!" What a sweetie!
Now what possessed me to later on that day, without Jake or any extra help, to have a mini photo shoot with both kids is beyond me, but here are a few cute shots I was able to capture. I tried to teach Shyla a "sassy" pose, but it didn't quite work out. 
Sometimes the shots worked out nicely, sometimes they didn't. It was still a lot of fun and Shyla is starting to love when I take pictures of her. She always tell me to, "Go get your camera momma."
Shyla has becomes quite the budding artist. Jake and I work a lot with her on her drawings. It seems to be something she's rather interested in. I used to draw a line down her easel. I'd draw on one side and she'd mimic what I drew on the other side. Well, one day she really wanted to draw faces, so with each face she drew, she'd tell me who it was and I'd write the name. When Jake got home she proceeded to proudly show off her drawing and tell him who each person was. And she got them all CORRECT! Go Shyla!
Shyla loves to carry her brother around the house. I used to stop her from doing it. After one particular day of ALL DAY LONG telling her to stop, I gave up. I decided I can't stop her from doing everything, all the time, every day. I choose instead to show her how to lay him down gently so his head doesn't hit the ground. Voila! Now even though she carries him around she's careful about it and knows not to let his head hit the floor. (Now if I can just get her to not whack his head with her toys or squish his binky in his face we're making progress.)
Although she doesn't always show it, Shyla loves her brother SO MUCH! She talks about him all the time. Tells people about the new things he does. Brags about him going to the doctor, the foods he's eating, and that he sometimes pulls her hair. I pray that they will grow to always love and care for each other. And I pray that I can teach them that before my time here is over.