Christmas 2012

We got everyone's schedule to work for our Christmas celebration this past weekend.  The traditional potato soup and Santa Lucia bread, followed by Ellie and Summer reading us the Christmas story and kids opening presents, which included hooded princess capes that Joy made for them.  Then, after tucking in all the kids, the adults opened their gifts. The next morning gave us a beautiful day and we took the girls sledding on a hill in the park behind our house.  Happy New Year to you all!

 Pete & Rachel, waiting for the Christmas story.

 Ellie & Summer reading, Rachel taking everything in.

 Anna opening her present with Mommy (Jenny) nearby.

 Ellie watching as Summer opens her gift.

 Homemade princess capes for the girls.

 Rachel baking with grandma--those raisins in the dough sure look tempting!

 No no, don't eat them yet.

 This year we pulled off a successful grandparent/grand-kids photo.

 Summer coming down the hill.

 Tim coming down with Ellie.

 Michelle and Rachel (covering her face from the flying snow).

 Ellie is Santa, Summer is Rudolf.

 Tim gets a photo of Anna on Michelle's sled.

 With Summer at the bottom of the hill, Michelle and Pete take Anna and Ellie on the sleds.

 Rachel watches with Grandma.

 The cold didn't bother Rachel in the least.

Fall Colors at Maplewood State Park 2012

We started out with a picnic with fried chicken...

 and watermelon.  The moon was just rising over the hill.

 Then a hike up Hallaway Hill.

 All the way to the top...

 and then back down again.

The end of a beautiful day of fall colors at Maplewood.

Magnolia Finally Blooms

After holding our breath for years every spring, hoping for a tree full of blossoms, this spring it finally happened. Our record-breaking warm March did it.

Valentine Cookies!

Making the frosting...

I can stir it too...

Anna, watching how Grandma frosts the cookies...

Big sister Ellie, frosting cookies like Grandma did...

Mmm, frosting is good on fingers too!