Christmas

Family Photo at Denver Botanical Gardens Holiday Lights...don't mind the reflector on Stan's jacket!

We drove to Virginia for Christmas, arriving at Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom's house on Friday, Dec 20th. We had a belated birthday party for Garrett which included yummy ice cream cake and a new scooter.

Making Christmas Cookies with Aunt Kel, Aunt Marcy, Lily and Jack at Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom's house.

Santa came to visit on Christmas Eve.

After crying when Santa first came in, Garrett pulled it together to accept his present from Santa.

Christmas morning...Jack, Garrett, Casey and Lily are ready to see what Santa left for them.

Santa brought Stan a beard...

 Casey got what she asked for from Santa...American Girl doll, Kit Kitteridge.

We then headed to Roanoke to celebrate Christmas again with Gramma Lois. Aunt Lisa, Ashlynne, Morganne and Max came up from Alabama.

Horsing Around

Cheesing with Aunt Lisa

We also got to see Aunt Cousin Blair, Uncle Cousin Chad, Grayson and Everett in town from Oklahoma. We visited the Science Museum and Butterfly Pavilion with them, as well as, Aunt Linda and Uncle Marvin. The kids got to touch horseshoe crabs, starfish and sea urchins. Look how brave Everett and Garrett were.

Though you can't tell in this photo with Gramma Lois...Casey was a little freaked out in the Butterfly Pavilion...she absolutely did not one of them to land on her.

Who bought these kids drums?
Oh their parents did!
I think we bought them more for us than for them;)
Garrett is a big fan of them. He'll drum away, then say, "Daddy's turn." "Mommy's turn." 
For a couple weeks after getting back from Christmas, Garrett was walking around with a guitar magazine saying, "Geetah." He wanted to sit in the rocking chair and read it, show the pictures to everyone, look for the green Geetahs. He then added a tiny skateboard to his group. So then it was, "geetah. saboard." He then moved onto Sport Illustrated magazine and pointed to every ball he could find, "foobah, bazebah, bassbah."

Casey will play the drums every once in a while, however, her passion is singing. She has a microphone plugged into Stan's old amp and she likes to belt out made up song after made up song.

We arrived home the weekend before school started. We had a great trip to the East Coast. It was fun visiting everyone and we appreciate the hospitality!!  Happy New Year to everyone.