Christmas

Here are a few pics of Christmas:

Daniel with his wheel loader

 Catherine with her baby and cradle

 Bryson with his Lightning slippers

Carly

 Catherine "cutting" her new fruits and vegetables

 Daniel opening his telescope

 Catherine with her new stroller and baby

 We spent Christmas with my family in Bosque Farms.  On our way there, we spent the night in Lubbock to break up the trip and make it easier for the kids (and us).  I was awoken in the middle of that first night because Daniel had a fever.  Fun way to start a trip!  In hindsight, we probably should have turned around and gone right back home because we ended up infecting not one, not two, but five people with the flu!  Catherine got it the day before Christmas.  They were both fairly miserable for good portions of the time.

Other than that......the trip was really fun!  We were with my parents and my sister's family.  We got to spend time with Bryson and Carly which was one of the highlights.  My parents fed us more food than you could possibly fathom, and it was all wonderful.  Too bad that Catherine wasn't feeling well on Christmas Eve.  I think she would have liked the lobster!

A funny highlight of the trip was seeing Santa Claus.  Helen (from my sister's side of the family) dressed up as Santa and surprised the kids by knocking on the window one evening.   All the kids just stood there staring at him and waving.  We even heard his sleigh bells ringing!  Pretty exciting stuff!  Catherine kept saying "Want see ho-ho-ho" after he left.  :)

This was the first time that Catherine really understood who all the people there were.  She learned all their names (sort of) and we practice them a lot by singing "happy birthday" (her latest favorite song) to them all on a daily basis.

We came home the day after Christmas, and the kids felt better in a few days' time.  David's parents spent New Year's with us and spoiled the kids with more presents.  It was like a second Christmas!

I don't know why, but I like to remember the gifts that the kids got, so here's the rundown:
Daniel:
Santa Claus - wheel loader, camera
Grandma Fox - money
Daddy & Mommy - Book of Heroes saint book
Grandpa & Grandma - coloring books and magazine subscription
Abuelo, Abuela, & Uncle Luis - telescope and microscope
Uncle Brian & Aunt Cristi - science experiment kit
Uncle Brian & Aunt Heather - magnet art kit
Ms. Marcy - Skippyjon Jones workbook
Ms. Ashley - science kit and book

Catherine:
Santa Claus: cradle and Cabbage Patch Kid (Pax Charlie)
Grandma Fox - money
Daddy & Mommy - lift the flap Bible
Grandpa & Grandma - coloring book and magazine subscription
Abuelo & Abuela - doll stroller and back pack
Uncle Luis - Violet the dog
Uncle Brian & Aunt Cristi - cash register
Uncle Josh & Aunt Pam - baby highchair and pretend food
Ms. Marcy - headband
Ms. Ashley - stuffed cat and stickers