We traveled back to our hometown to spend some time before Christmas with my family. With all of the festivities I failed at getting pictures with all the family members we visited. It’s not like I have any distractions that keep me from taking pictures!
The kids enjoyed opening their gifts from many extended family members.
Good job on the bouncy balls mom. Now he’s really bouncing off the walls!
The kids waiting in anticipation on their gift from their great-grandfather.
Flying Squirrels! Only in Southeast Texas. Aubrey and G Man have seriously enjoyed caring for Diamond and Jumper.
Hazel and her great-grandfather, Pops. I’ll always cherish this picture.
The kids and their great-grandmother, Memaw.
After a weekend with my parents we loaded up and headed straight to Justin’s family Christmas. That may have been a stressful car ride.
Grandma and her grandbabies
Grandad and his great-grandkids
The kids really enjoyed their gifts from the grandparents. Grandad and Justin’s parents made the kid’s gifts this year and they love them.
Aubrey got a dress-up center complete with new dress-up outfits for her and Granger.
Her favorite is her new Laura Ingalls costume.
Granger received a work/tool bench.
We painted it to match his John Deere themed room and I love how it turned out.
Hazel’s new doll cradle
After Christmas celebrations with Justin’s family we loaded up the truck again, except this time we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies. We pulled in late Christmas eve and all crashed that night….and the following 7 days after that.
Christmas morning we all slept in, which is somewhere around 7:00 at our house. Then we headed out in our jammies for our annual Christmas morning breakfast at IHOP.
I see pancakes!!!
We then enjoyed Christmas day as our new family of 5. What a joy to have Hazel with us this Christmas and for her to experience the love, laughter, and joy of a family who adores the Very One who made us alive!
I totally recommend this toy. Symphony in B. So much fun for all of the kids and one I see them using for years. Heck, I’ve been playing with it!
And Christmas day could not have turned out better as it SNOWED here in Texas! My very first white Christmas.
This picture reminds me of the little girl we met 8 months ago, except with more life in her eyes now.
My Ukrainian-born American baby in her Ecuadorian hat and jacket!
I stayed inside and warmed up some hot chocolate for my cold darlings.
We ended the week with a family movie night watching The Nativity Story (totally recommend it). Then we went on our annual Christmas light expedition.
What a great 2012! I can’t wait to see how the Lord grows our marriage, our family, and our faith in 2013. To God Be the Utmost Glory!
We loved all the pictures! Taylor is asking for flying squirrels now! Aubrey at the Polar Express is adorable–of course they all are! Happy new year.
You have such a beautiful family! So glad you had a good Christmas. We stayed here but missed the snow… just rainy in Houston.