December photo 31

One last shot of our ornaments. That GHS ornament is a nod to my high school---I think my Mom got it for me. I like it.

Goodbye, 2008!

December photo 27

Somersault on the couch bed

December photo 26

The day after Christmas we went to Granbury to see the grandparents.

December photo 25

This is Christmas morning Santa stuff. Our rug makes it look crazier than it really is.

B got some gum, socks, lotion, and Easy Bake Oven cake mix in her stocking. Jamie got candy, Star Wars Christmas figures, a memory card for his new camera, man lotion, and pens. They got lots of stuff, each one lovingly picked out!

December photo 24

Christmas Eve was marred by B getting sick with strep throat and a trip to the doctor, but we were still able to give Santa some cookies. (B washed her hands first.)

December Photo 23

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . .

December photo 21

I have wanted my own advent calendar for many years. We've put together Legos out of their advent calendar for many years in a row, but not this year. We've done a countdown calendar before. And this year, with all my busyness, I didn't do anything like that at home. :-( But I had my eye on some Advent Calendars at Target since Thanksgiving, and since they went on sale, I got one I liked. Next year, I can be ready and add my own treats.

December photo 20

These are the gingerbread houses I made for B's class to decorate at her Christmas party. It takes a village!

December photo 19

I remember my sister at her cello recitals, and every year having to pick out a nice, big skirt for her to wear so she could get the instrument between her knees. B got lucky and got to wear black pants, but something of the elegance is gone. She had a recital with the junior high orchestra students and the String Academy students (4th and 5th grades) on Tuesday night. The boy to her left is a 5th grader, but the other cellist in her class didn't get to come! :-( I will post some video on the other blog.

December photo 18

We decorated little houses at our party. The kids had fun!

December photo 17

We made salt dough ornaments at school and painted them to give as gifts to the parents.

December photo 16

We had a kit to make a gingerbread house at school. They used it for a decoration at our Christmas program. Delicious, no?

December photo 15

I like the genuine laugh that I captured on this shot.

December photo 14

Here's our tree with just lights and the garlands. I love it already!

December photo 7

Day 361---Friday

The kids and I went to my Mom and dad's for the weekend. Larry got to go to a the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio with some friends. This is one of Dad's blow-up figures for his yard.

Day 360---Thursday

This is my favorite picture of the trip down to Moody Gardens. I had to post another one of the trip because Thursday was a slow day! The kids and I slept late after being out so late at night. Poor Larry had to go on back to work that morning.

Day 359---Wednesday

We went to Moody Gardens in Galveston on Wednesday night for their Festival Of Lights. Lar had won tickets from the radio station! It was about a 2 and a half hour drive down there. This is B in the Rainforest looking at the lights. Most of the lights display was outside, of course, but we got tickets that took us into the Rainforest Pyramid and also skate rental! Yay! B and I skated, the boys did not. It was a very windy night (which it always is at the coast), but it was also pretty cold, so the Rainforest Pyramid was a nice break form the elements.

Take a look at the website for Moody Gardens. This was our first visit, and we thought we'd like to go back in the summer.

Day 358---Tuesday Christmas!

This is B with her American Girl doll, Julie, from 1974. It was a Merry Christmas for us!

I wrote more about the whole day on my other blog on this post. Merry Christmas everyone!!

Day 357---Monday

Our tradition is to open one present on Christmas Eve. My Granny told me long ago (when J was still a pre-schooler), that she used to let my Dad open up presents early to keep him busy during Christmas time! It makes sense to me. :-) So we open one present in the morning of Christmas Eve, to keep us happy and busy during this day of beautiful anticipation. This is our J opening his present. He chose the one from his sister, which was a mini RoboPanda. I liked this picture because of his look of surprise and happiness. :-)