Christmas Past

Grandpa Bob as Santa Claus with the little Mrs.

So, the other night we were gathered as a family to celebrate Nicole's birthday at Cedar Creek Inn.  Scott, myself, the two couples, and the three little treasures all squished around a table.  I was going over the Christmas Eve plans with Michael.  (Nicole and Dan will be with the Davis family this year.  Our last year without Robby.  Quiet year.)  "So we thought we could meet up with you guys for lunch at Ramos House Cafe and then head down to the beach and play on the sand with Jordyn for a little while.  Then Scott and I will head out to Richard and Stacy's and you can go over to Candice's family's house.  How does that sound?"  Okay.  "What would you rather do?"  I'd rather go to Grandma and Grandpa Stowell's with everyone and exchange gifts and get Christmas pajamas.

Scott and I drove away with tender hearts that night reminiscing about Christmases past that have had such an impact upon us and upon our children.

So there's a Shout Out to you Grandma Judy. From Michael and from all of us. Thank you for more than a dozen years of family gatherings on Christmas Eve in Oceanside filled with delicious food, lots of laughs,  nativity pageants, great presents, an amazing Christmas tree and a house filled with love.

photo shoot????

I had visions of taking a picture of my three little treasures to send out as a Christmas card.  We couldn't even get two together.  You see the black bump on the left of this picture?  That is Nicole under a black sheet trying to hold onto Presley so she won't fall!!  This picture cracks me up!

Presley keeps trying to check out what her mama is doing under that sheet.   Jordyn was trying to cooperate but she soon got bored.  She couldn't figure out why Presley was having such a hard time just sitting in a chair by herself!

We did get a couple of darling solo shots of Presley.

Okay Robby - This one's for You!!

We decided to send you a little Christmas project - since, really, what do you send a missionary overseas.  I said I'd do the dishes if everyone got started.  Jordyn loved doing crafting with everyone.

Pulling the boys away from the Laker game was a little challenging!!

Finally they got into the spirit of the thing and were putting their heart and soul into it.

Here's Dan "anxiously engaged" in his project.  You'll understand that one after you receive it !

Chloe was sent outside due to farting.  But she sends her regards as well.

The girls finished off the night with a "nurse-off".  I'm sparing you that picture and just showing the post nursing burping.

My Flower Girls

I have been trying to occupy Jordyn lately so that Candice can have some quiet time with Tyson.  We have been to the petting zoo to ride the big horse, and yesterday we went on a field trip to the wholesale garden center in Carlsbad.

Jordyn was captivated by all the flowers.  She picked her two favorites and carried them around the whole nursery and then in her carseat for the whole ride home.

Nicole and beautiful baby Presley amidst the poinsettias.  We had such a nice time on a beautiful day.  Thank you Nicole for driving and spending the morning with me.

We ended the morning bringing lunch to Candice and getting our baby Tyson fix.