Christmas 2012

We celebrated Christmas on the December 14-15 weekend.  With everyone here we pretended it was the real thing.  Friday evening we made the traditional pull apart bread, breakfast casserole and marinated the brisket.  The girls received their Christmas pj's and we went to bed anticipating "Christmas morning".  On Saturday we were joined by Mom and Dad and Tom and Betty.  We enjoyed our Christmas brunch and exchanged gifts. The house was full of the the aroma of the Christmas dinner to come.  Saturday evening we went to Botanica to see Santa and the beautiful illuminaries. Harper was excited to see Santa and Austen kept a safe distance away.  On Sunday we all made it to church.  Sunday afternoon I took Alexandria and Harper to see the Nutcracker performance.  It was great!  Harper was all dressed up and when it ended she asked, "Can they start it over?"  Great "Christmas " weekend!

Christmas PJ's

Our Christmas

Christmas brunch

Stockings aren't just for presents

Elmo!

Dress up clothes

Setting the table for lunch.

Saying the blessing

Botanica

Santa and the princess.

Ready for the "Nutcracker".  Harper isn't sad to go, she just doesn't want her picture taken.  Austen isn't going but she loves to have her picture take!

At the Nutcracker

Some fun pictures

Not too crazy about Santa this year.

Harper at Union Station

Harper Christmas morning with her new sled and friends.

Austen Christmas morning in Katy, TX with her new kitchen.

End of a Perfect Thanksgiving Weekend

We finished the Thanksgiving weekend with a great in home dinner.  It was wonderful having the kids all here for four days.

Celebrating Austen's 2nd Birthday

Since Austen's birthday is in one week, we decided to have a birthday party.  The theme was her favorite character, Olivia.

Caught tasting the frosting.

Harper helped with the wrapping.

The doll laughs and wiggles.

Love the dolly!

Fun playing outside.

Favorite pass time of going up and down the stairs.

Thanksgiving Weekend Fun

We headed to the park.  It was very cold so we did not last long.

Decorating the Christmas tree on Friday with traditional pizza and watching Christmas Vacation.

The Grandchildren put the angel on top of the tree.

Somehow decorating has become the job of the women in the family!

Thanksgiving Weekend

The special bonus for Thanksgiving was having the girls and their families here for the extended weekend.  It gave us lots of time to have fun, decorate the Christmas tree together and enjoy the grandchildren.

Tired after a busy day.

Harper reading to Austen

Performing

 Time for bed

Thanksgiving 2012

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with 44 of our friends and relatives joining us.  We had family here from Iowa and Louisiana.  It was a very special day that we will always remember.

Table set.  We sat 30 in the basement family room and exercise room.

Almost all of us.  Jason, Taylor and Alexandria had left.