Christmas with MaeMae, PaePae and Uncle James

 A little reading time with Uncle James

 Brothers

 Honey's of the World...separate post coming soon...

 Silly Hair Lalaloopsy Doll...Santa didn't forget :)

 One of the many hats of PaePae

 Framed certificate of our 2011 Cardinal World Series Celebration

 Tools are always a popular gift

A massage chair...just what a hard working guy needs!

Oh, yeah, and beer to have while relaxing in the massage chair!  

(Separate beer keg pics coming)

And a little pool before dinner.  

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Morning 2011

Still a little sleepy but ready to open presents!

 A Fur Real Puppy- so far has been given the names Clara, Sarah, Cleo and Clementine.

It was a Harry Potter Christmas for Max- he used the cookbook to make Lemon Drops.

 The Wand

The PS3

And that's a wrap...oh, wait...that is, until MaeMae, PaePae, and Uncle James come over!

Christmas at MaMa's House

 The Angry Bird!

Yay, japanese erasers! I must have forgotten to red-eye this picture.  Maura's eyes match her dress :)

 A biker bracelet!

 Not sure if this is a pre-red wine spill or post.  I'm holding the sippy cup so it must be post :)  

 Christmas PJ's picture

 Now time for bed and an early morning!

Lone Elk Park

On one of the first days of break the kids and I went to Krispy Kreme Donuts to get "HOT" donuts and for a drive through Lone Elk Park.  We love going there but I always forget how freaked out I get about the elk being so close to the car.  I really should have gotten a picture of the sign that reads "Beware, elk and bison will attack cars and cause damage"!  Ben was in the front seat freaking out with me (not a good combination)!  Next time I'm going to remember that it is rare for them to attack the car and we are protected by the car, right?!  And it isn't like we are at Yellowstone and it is a bear but wait maybe bison and elk are bigger than bears...hmmm...our family vacation to the National Parks will be fun!

Botanical Gardens Holiday Train Show

 Sad looking Bald Cypress

 Great ornament idea for Scouts next year.

 Maura took the scavenger hunt very seriously.

Kate and I took the kids to the Botanical Gardens Train Show on one of the kid's half days in December. They had a scavenger hunt which was nice way to keep the kids interested.  The flowers were beautiful and there were also different species of Christmas trees.  It was almost nice enough to walk the Garden but we didn't have enough time.  

Fast Growing

There is nothing like lifelong friends.  Jenny and I have been friends for almost 30 years.  Each year they come back to STL for Thanksgiving and we get together with the kids.  And amazingly, every year, the kids just pick up where they left off like they see each other all the time.  I love watching everyone grow year to year.  And I love spending time with Jenny catching up.  I wish they lived closer.