Christmas Morning 2014

Before opening presents we read all the notes in our Thankful box. In the days leading up to Christmas everyone writes little notes of what they are thankful for and then on Christmas morning we read them aloud. 

Stuart got a balloon rocket in his stocking. 

Look Grandpa!

A joke box! Oh wow!

Another whoopee cushion?! Alright!

All Lela wanted for Christmas was a toy dog that could bounce and bark. It ended up being one of Little Stuart's favorite gifts.  

A remote control dinosaur. Stuart liked this gift, but he played too roughly with it and it was broken within a few days. Next Christmas it's a card board box and more whoopee cushions!

Lela coloring so sweetly with her new giant Frozen coloring pages. 

Daddy setting up all of little Stuart's new car tracks. 

December 2014

On Christmas Eve we invited the sister missionaries and our friends from church over for dinner. The kids reenacted the Christmas story from Luke.  

Eating something good with Grandpa.

Goofing around. 

Ready for church!

Stuart loves that gingerbread music box!

Santa Claus at the ward Christmas party

Thula and Alli singing karaoke at the ward Christmas party. Bring us some figgy pudding!

Stuart really loved the ol' bean bag toss at Lela's school Christmas party. He played it over and over again. 

Cuddling with kitty. 

Thula had a sleepover for her 11th birthday party. They watched Harry Potter movies and ate pizza. Next to Thula is Alli from church, in the purple bathrobe is Katie from down the street, and Serena from school. 

Celebrating my 32nd birthday! I had cake and went out to dinner with the family. 

Thula's first violin concert. She looks so beautiful!

Thula's middle school auditorium. 

Excited for Christmas!

playing "Nacho Libre" with Grandpa

At the library making gingerbread houses with grandpa. 

Riding the horse at Meijer grocery store. This is a must for Stuart every shopping trip.

                                       

At Cheddar's wearing matching caps and jackets!

Visiting the General George S. Patton museum at Fort Knox base.

Grandpa wanted a picture by this tank because it reminded him of the tank door that fell on his leg when he was a teenager. 

Happy Thanksgiving 2014 with all the cousins!

We had a little snow Thanksgiving morning (it quickly melted). Thula and Kobe played outside together. Thula found a stray cat. 

At the kid table enjoying Michelle's delicious jello. 

Michelle's prized rainbow jello! She is so cute. 

Missy brought crafts for the kids to do. Missy is so much fun. 

Thula and Helena.

Lela and Kaia. 

Thula and Kobe (Briggs on couch). 

Stuart liked Missy. 

Josh got a game of football going and the kids had fun running around. 

We went to Christmas at the Galt House Hotel. They have all sorts of displays set up for the season. Everyone had a nice time. Afterwards we went out to eat at Texas Roadhouse for Emily's birthday. 

Missy helped Lela write her letter to Santa Clause. 

Meeting the sugar plum fairy. 

Beautiful cousins. 

Riding the train. This was the kids favorite part. They asked to ride it again and again. I think the "train conductor" was a little annoyed. They reminded me of the Sound of Music kids on their train ride. 

Stuart and Briggs were little pals. 

Inside the hotel.

We had such a wonderful time with our cousins, the Zimmermans, Yuyi's, and Missy. We ate and talked and ate and went bowling and made wonderful memories. I am so grateful for my extended family. Love you all dearly.