Trimming the Tree

I thought I had already posted this!!  How could I have missed one of our favorite yearly traditions?!

Stephen just LOVES pulling the tree box out of the under-stair storage that the kids have dubbed "the dark place" ;)

Once he hauls it up, we...

Fluff the branches...

Act silly to the Christmas music...

Untangle the beads...

Place the star (after Mommy and Daddy struggle with the lights and beads)...

Stand back and admire the star...

The everyone goes to town with the ornaments...

Kid shot...

The End.

An Early Christmas

My step-sister Shaun, her daughters (Ashley, Erica, and Aliyah) and her grandson (Joshua) live a few hours away.  They came up a couple of weekends ago, to celebrate Christmas early with us. 

I don't have nearly enough pictures of Shaun and the girls, but I guess that's what happens when you have such an adorable toddler, with a stellar smile and only 6 teeth, running around. 

Here's Mom and Joshua.

Joshua and Papa giving kisses.

Ashley, Erica, Joshua and Sherry

Ashley, Erica and Joshua with his killer smile!

Apparently if Ash holds Joshua up like this, he runs in place....totally cracked me up.

Stephen managed to capture some baby time for a few minutes.

Clyde playing "Where's Joshua?"

Iris and Joshua cooking.

Clyde pretending to try to catch Joshua.

Papa with lovely Shaun and my gorgeous neices.

Joshua enjoyed his clothes WAY more than any toddler I've ever seen.

Joshua is exceptional with technology!

Stephen and Clyde working on the electricity set that Shaun and the girls got Clydie.  They got the girls crafty stuff, but I haven't taken a pic yet.

Aliyah, Sherry, Lucy and Iris playing Chinese checkers.

Lucy and Joshua.

We had so much fun, we don't get to see them nearly enough!

Thanksgiving Afternoon

Thanksgiving afternoon, Nana, Sherry, Stephen, the kids and I took off toward Grandad and Grandmom's house to see them, Dyan, Brent, and Bobby.

You might think these pics look more like Halloween pictures than Thanksgiving...that's because the kids wanted their aunts, uncles and grandparents who hadn't seen them in their costmes to see.  That, AND Grandmom's famous trick-or-treat around the house.

Bobby and Lu as Lucille Ball

Dyan and Iris as the Snow Queen

Grandad and Clyde as a minion

Grandmom and kids

Nana and kids

Dyan and Lu playing on tablets

Clyde the taco...must have been cold

Iris looking worried during Looney Toons

Iris creeping up on Grandad

Nana and Lu on a walk

Grandad, Grandmom and Nana as hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil....not in that order ;)

Clyde upside down :)

Thanksgiving Morning

Thanksgiving morning, Stephen' mom, aka-Bobbi, aka-Nana arrived from North Carolina.  Shortly after her arrival, we all took off for a long 5 minute voyage, to my Aunt Rita & Uncle Allen's house.  I really don't see most of these relative often at all, so I have to post a lot :)

Nana with Clyde & Iris

Mom, my aunt Rita, Sadie, and my aunt Sissy

Iris and Papa

Mom and Salem, my cousin's baby

Sherry and Clyde

Lucy making Salem laugh

Sissy, Sadie, and Baby Evan

Barry, April and Baby Evan

Uncle Ricky with my girls

These are my youngest first cousins: Shane, Joshua, and Brenna.  My oldest first cousin is in his 40s, but Brenna is Lucy's age.  :)

My Uncle Roy and I

My cousins Barry and Sadie

Lucy, Aiden, Clyde and Iris

Stephen and Nana

Mom, Sherry, Lu and I

My Uncle Wayne, Aunt Yolie and Aunt Peggy

people eating

Fun had by all!  Thanks Rita & Allen!!