Christmas with Wes' Family

Between Christmas and New Year's, we had great visits with family in Dripping Springs and Utopia.


It was fun to see everyone again.


Rachel and Owen both got lots of fun presents.  Rachel enjoyed her new tutu.


Owen loved playing with Emily.


Owen with GranDave

Rachel and Owen with Mimi, GranDave, Taylor and Ethan

Opening presents with Grammy


Then, opening more presents with Jonathan and Conner at Granny's house


Jonathan is a very good big brother and cousin


So much fun stuff!

Owen loved playing in the leaves

Rachel's favorite is the tire swing

We visited Granny and took Old Blue for a drive in the dreary weather.

Turkeys!

Feeding the fish

Throwing out corn for the deer

Owen wants to learn to drive...he has a little growing to do before he can reach the pedals.

Playing at Grammy's house

Splashing in the puddles with Jonathan at Granny's house

Christmas at Oma and Opa's (Part Four)

After Christmas lunch, Rachel prepared a tea party for YaYa.

The next morning, we put Rachel back to work in the kitchen helping to make cinnamon rolls.

We went to the park on the lake front...not very long, though, because the wind made it very chilly.

Fun with YaYa!

One last round of biking and scooting before we hit the road back home.

Christmas at Oma and Opa's (Part Three)

On Christmas Eve, Uncle Richard, Aunt Dana and Mia came over to visit.


The cousins love to play together, but it is hard to capture a good picture of all three of them together.

After church, we had a yummy dinner.

Of course, many cookies were enjoyed by all.

Present time!

A special surprise...Mia got a shirt letting us all know she will be a big sister.  This time next year there will be 5 grandkids!!

Best effort at a picture of all three opening presents...

Richard and Dana

Rachel helped open many presents.

On Christmas morning, Rachel got a dollhouse, doll and tea set just like she had asked for.

Owen got a fun circus tent.

Also, many trucks.  This kid LOVES trucks.

Yummy waffles for breakfast.

Who doesn't love waffles?

Dollhouse fun

Owen relaxing with Daddy

Rachel delivered everyone their presents.

Playing with Owen's new garage.

Hooray - more food.

Delicious Christmas lunch.

Rachel helped blow out the Advent candles.

Christmas at Oma and Opa's (Part Two)

Next up on the agenda...gingerbread cookies!  Rachel had been asking to make these for two weeks because they are (evidently) a very important part of Christmas.


Rolling out the dough

Cutting the shapes

The best part...icing!

Rachel made a wide variety of colors all by herself with food coloring.

We all pitched in to get the cookies decorated.  Owen just wanted to eat cookies.


Here is some of our work.  Can you guess which ones Rachel decorated?

It is always fun to do art work after breakfast with Tante YaYa.

Wes finally decided it was time for Owen to lose some of his lovely curls.  He was happy to sit still as long as there was a cookie involved.

Rachel watching Owen get his hair cut.  For months, she cried everytime we suggested cutting her hair but it really needed it.  So, we thought watching Owen might help.

What helped her through it the most was eating a gingerbread cookie that she had decorated.  They both did great for their first haircuts.

Then, more scooting in the driveway.

And biking, of course.

Owen and Opa took a break to watch some TV.

It was time for more work in the kitchen.

 

And also time for more fun with YaYa.