Going to the Dentist

This picture makes my mother heart happy

...on so many levels.

Question...

So is going to the dentist more fun or more scary 

when your brother is the dentist?

Christmas Day the easy way.

We had expected to be to lone birds for Christmas Day with Steph's family flying in a Christmas Eve (we try to be sure the far away grandparents don't have to share their precious visit with the grandparents that get to see the little people several times a week...we totally understand their position). So we had our plans with what we wanted to do with our solo day. 
But due to a badly time case of the flu Steph's family didn't make it...

But we still slept in,  had a leisurely breakfast 

and then hiked Lone Mountain.

 

I was glad I remembered my gloves since it's quite a steep, rocky climb.

 Love the view

...when I finally get up off my hands and knees.

After the hike we drove over to Jake and Steph's 

to see if Santa had come to their house...

He indeed had.

Jake, Steph and the little people followed us home  for dinner.  

 Turkey paninis made with cranberries and stuffing.  

A re-creation from our Christmas Eve leftover...Sooo good.

 We finished the evening with a competitive game of Scrabble

.
We wouldn't let Jake use any of his "creative" words

...and he still won.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve at our house

  One of  Ethnie's  favorite activities 

was taking all the apples she could reach off our tree 

and lining them up on the piano bench.

 Oh the joy of organized apples!

 At Tivoli Square

 We'd just come out of  Charming Charlie 

with some amazing Christmas Eve deals.

How could our men say no on Christmas Eve.  

So everyone was happy.

Train ride at Tivoli Square.

 

 While the little people napped 

we set to work creating our traditional graham cracker masterpieces.

 

 

 Creative people can create quite a mess!

 

 

   Our  finished creations.

 

 

 Playing with Mr. Potato Head grampa fell asleep on the floor 

so Ethnie made sure he had everything you need for a good nap...

Ellie the Elephant and silky blanket.

.

 Our Christmas Eve Dinner

 

 

 It was a wonderful Christmas Eve.

Wrapping up the Fun

Sunday Morning we discovered that Sebastian the Elf had come

... bringing lots of yummy goodies.

 

 

 Ummmm....Chocolate for breakfast.

 

 Janet had also gotten matching outfits for all of the cousins.

Geez Janet you think of everything... you're awesome!

 

 Katarina Salsa (the cat) checking out the little person.

 Sunday was Benico's Blessing Day.

Yeah...

he's almost big enough to walk up to the front of the chapel by himself

but Chad and Janet were waiting for a gathering of brothers for the event.

 

 

 Sunday evening it was time to officially welcome the the 

Christmas season and hoist the Christmas tree.

 

 A couple of technology addicts.

Monday Chad, Dad and Jake searched out a BBQ grill

...bring on the "Man Food".

 Ribs!

They were GOOD!

More Thanksgiving Fun

We talked about several options for our Saturday activity...Galveston Beach,  Moody Gardens.   But since the little people are volatile and the weather threatened to be a bit chilly Chad suggested  a park just  five minutes from his house.
A park that Janet hadn't even discovered yet.

Good choice...it was perfect.

 A beautiful place right on the water.

  

And the weather was great.

We were going to fly kites but the kids were having too much fun on the playground.

 

Love the little people sign language.

 Ethnie's sign for "all done."

 "Jack (Jeff) and Jill (P) went up the hill to fetch a pail of water"

" Jeff fell down and broke his crown and Presley came tumbling after"

Just kidding Jeff doesn't have any crowns. Besides he's a dentist...so could he fix them himself? 

 Just a thought :)

 

 

 

This lady-friend came home with us in my camera case.

 

"Come on Grampa, I want to play on the slide." 

 It was a great place to attempt some family pictures

 

 

 

 

Yay for sooo much fun.