It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Just a quick Christmas post:


Baby bear inspecting the boxes.

In an effort to save money and cut back on the hassle of holiday travel we decided to spend Christmas in Houston. Even though we missed our family, we had a wonderful time together here at home.


Roo's favorite activity: attacking the tree.

Christmas Eve was filled with newly established traditions: making Grandma Ruby's spaghetti dinner, reading the story of the birth of Christ, singing Christmas hymns, and individually dedicating gifts to the Savior (to help us remember we share each one out loud and then write it down on a piece of paper and put it in our stockings), watching Elf, assembling toys, and playing Carrcassone.


She's probably wondering why we hung toys on the tree. (Or why there's a giant tree in our front room)

Then on Christmas morning I patiently waited for Ruby and Brandon to wake up so that we could check out the loot that Santa left and have a yummy breakfast together.


Scout already attacked and destroyed the poor little green duck she's holding in her hand. Good thing Santa brought lots of ducks!

We spent the rest of the morning playing with Ruby and enjoying one another's company.


Ruby loves, loves, loves what Santa brought her! She begs Daddy to push her around the house every day.

In the afternoon we had a wonderful southern style turkey dinner with our neighbors (our "Texas family") and played games and ate way too much desert with our friends.


We were surprised at how excited she got over this toy (even before it was out of the package). I guess Grandmas know how to pick 'em!

It was a wonderful holiday-- probably the best I've had in a long while.


Forget the snow-- this is my idea of a white Christmas!

I hope everyone else's Christmas was just as special and memorable.

The joy of Christmas morning: wearing new clothes and playing with new toys.