Christmas

We have always spent Christmas at my parent's house even when we still lived in California. It was always the time of year Jeromy had a break from school or work, so we came to Washington for a vacation. That being said, this year Christmas was different from years past. The kids are older and much more excited about the festivities than before. Rachel didn't really know what was going on but saw the excitement in her brother and knew it was something great. Having little ones around brings back the specialness of the celebration to those of us that are Scrooges out there! We decided to make a turkey dinner this year because we had been gone for Thanksgiving which gave us more to do all day than just sitting around. It was nice to be a little productive. We also played many hands of Pinochle which was a treat for us. Playing with 3 or 4 people is much more fun than playing with 2 people, like we have to do when we are alone at home. All in all, it was one of the best Christmas' that I can remember.

FIRST THERE WERE STOCKINGS


Rachel opening hers.



Bennett excited about his flashlight.



Rachel trying to open Grandpa's candy.



Rachel and Grandpa.



Family picture.



Bennett received his first two "guns" for Christmas complete with bandana and holster for the pistol. They are both capguns and he goes outside to shoot "coyotes" almost every day. It was all I could do to get him to take off that holster for a good two weeks!



Rachel's first "baby." She got a purse to go with it, so now she puts her purse over her arm, grabs her baby and says, "Bye, bye." It is funny.



The PIECE DE RESISTANCE. A wooden workbench complete with tools and bolts and wood. Bennett has built the neatest creations with the wood peices. He is so mechanical and the things he makes look exactly like the objects he is trying to replicate. It is pretty amazing! He is our little engineer.