Christmas Pictures

Christmas in my family is always a week long affair (if not longer). We started this year with a gingerbread party with my stepsisters and their families. Then we exchanged gifts with my parents, before heading to Paul's parents for Christmas with his family. the next day we went to East Texas to see my sister and brother-in-law, followed a couple of days later with my dad. Here are just a few pictures from all the events.

Wrangler waiting patiently for his presents

Christmas morning with Santa's presents

Sophie helping Grandpa Mike open his present...a box of framed pictures of her!

Maw Susan and her grandkids

Opening gifts at the Walkers



Dad Paul opening his present from Sophie...a Thor t-shirt

Sophie opening a present on December 23rd. My mom always let us open one gift early, so I let Sophie do the same. Of course, it was Christmas pj's.

My nieces, Maya and Olesya

Maya with Sophie

Sophie playing with her first Christmas present. Cousin Levi picked it out even though it may be a tad too old for her, it is an elephant so of course she had to have it.

New Year's Eve

(I'll get to Christmas, I promise. I decided it would be easier to try to keep current and work on the past as I have time.)

Paul has been super busy at work, including having to work full day on New Year's Eve. (He also didn't get to take his last few days of vacation, but he'll get them next year.) We had decided that since he was also going to have to work New Year's Day that we would just go have an early dinner and then come home and watch movies and play board games. When I said early, I meant "senior citizens" early, you know like at 5pm, in order to avoid having to wait at all. I called to check on Paul at 4pm and he said he was going to be at least another hour. Add in the hour or so it takes for him to drive home, and I said "Forget it!" that would put us at dinner too late. We (or maybe just me) decided to order pizza instead. I'm sure it didn't help that the weather was gray, wet, and yucky all day, or that I've been battling an upper respiratory thing since Saturday. I was disappointed, partly at Paul too, because he didn't seem to care too much that we had no plans for New Years Eve. I want to make sure that we have regular date nights...what hope do I have when those built-in "dates" don't happen.

Anyway, we had our pizza (or toasted sandwiches to be more accurate), then watched the proposal after putting Sophie to bed. I was having a hard time staying awake, so Paul sent me to bed after the movie. He joined me and was snoring before my cough medicine even kicked in. I just happened to wake up at 11:58pm and woke Paul up to wish him Happy New Year!

Paul went into to work today and I worked on laundry. I also took Sophie to get pictures with my mom and stepdad. My sister and her kids come other for dinner of ham and mashed potatoes (I requested the potatoes because I didn't get any at Thanksgiving or Christmas with the Walkers, and my stepdad requested the ham for the same reason). It was a very productive day, I just wish Paul didn't have to work. Of course, had he been home I probably wouldn't have gotten nearly enough done.

Thanksgiving with the Walkers

We spent Thanksgiving with Dad Paul's family. I stayed at his mom's house while they went to his brothers to eat. (At least I didn't have to stay at home in the kennel with the Kitty Krew!)

This has become the family tradition. We join Bill and Cheri and her family for Thanksgiving lunch of turkey, dressing, deviled eggs, and Cheri's famous sweet potato casserole. There is other food but these are the staples. Paul's mom usually does the turkey and Bill and Cheri take care of the rest. this year they asked me to make a green bean casserole. I can only assume it tasted okay, since I don't like green bean casserole. Paul said it was fine, but he eats anything.

After dinner the guys watched football while the ladies cleaned up some. Somehow I didn't end up helping with that , maybe I was doing something with Sophie? At some point there is at least 2 people sleeping in front of the tv. This year it was actually Paul, his dad, and Sophie.

Levi's Birthday Lunch

Mom April and Sophie went to have lunch for her nephew Levi's birthday.  His original birthday celebration was cancelled due to rain.  He had a haunted hayride planned but they had to cancel because of all the rain we have gotten here.  They had his favorite meal, Sweet and Sour meatballs and rice.  Uncle Paul had suggested a drawing book for hims and Aunt April also picked out a madlibs book.