Start of the 12 Day Feast

And fun things following:

Tea at Amelia Grey's

A new baby!  My cousin's daughter (first cousin, once removed?): sweet Abigail.

The classic Christmas jammy shot proves to be a tough one to get right.

Eat your heart out, East Coast.

Papa's childhood train set.

Doing what I am SURE Papa did as a child: setting up a target for the rocket.  In this case, an unsuspecting family of bunnies.

Cinco Anos.  Grace sang, danced and made a "cake" for us when she learned of it.

Christmas in Tucson

We spent 10 days in my hometown. Warm days, Mexican food, baking, D's birthday, Midnight Mass, movies, time with cousins, anniversary number five--it was lovely!

Look happy, kids.  Mama wants a photo in front of the tree.

Sugar cookies with Nana.  Aunt Kerri is the Super.

Sheldon finds that, just like at home, the toys on the tree are removable!

We were invited to the Pooley's annual gingerbread house competition.
Grace won an award for Most Diverse.

The adorable newlyweds.

This is a FUN group of people!

Advent: expectation and festive preparation

There were birthday parties, cookie exchanges, tree decorating, carol singing, and a Nutracker fairy at the Phipps.  I was the happy beneficiary of crafty friends who invited me and my kids to make clove-studded clementines, icing covered Christmas tree cones, construction paper greeting cards and luminaria.   

We celebrated St. Nicholas' day and when Grace learned there was something in her shoe, she said, "That's silly!" but after she saw the cookie, she checked the other shoe too.  "It's Nicholas-time!"

St. Nicholas cookie exchange haul. 

And then we left for Tucson, and the parties continued!

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a Hot Springs Thanksgiving. (Late on this? Yes.) It was warm, and the days were relaxed and happy.

What I wore on Thanksgiving.  I meant to link up with Camp Patton.

Making hay!

Grace and I had a date.  She chose the cupcake. 

Then D and I had a date!  We got to soak in the famous waters of Hot Springs!

Sheldon loved Thatcher (the dog) and Grace liked to look at the horses (from a distance).  Thanksgiving itself was a feast with Susannah, Uncle John and Aunt Karen.  We had a visit from the Joshua Wright fam.

Thanks, Bill and Sarah!  We had a blast.