Christmas 2008

Our Christmas was a whirlwind of events! We wanted to start our family tradition of the girls opening their gifts at our house, and then after opening gifts head to Cincinnati. The girls slept in until about 8am (yeah, yeah, yeah) and then after opening gifts, we headed to Cincinnati.

Here sis, let me do your hair with the new Dora Vanity.

A thank you note to Liz and Le for the art easel (a huge hit with both girls).

Thanks Nguyens!

We had our evening meal with my side of the family in Cincinnati.
Here is a picture with Norma, U. Fred, A. Nancy and Grandma Jean.
The girls were so tired by the end of the dinner and became rather cranky (imagine that?).
But the Christmas celebration still wasn't over :)

Mom and Ella.
It seems to me my mom is explaining the flashlight to Ella.

Grandpa Mike and his girls

After a quick 15 minute power nap in the car, the girls woke up ready to go

and open gifts at Nana and Pappy Stan's.
By this time it was about 7pm and the girls are usually in bed by 6:30 pm so I was impressed they were so good at the
Willett's (definitely Santa's magic was involved).
Ella loved her Easy Bake Oven and her Littlest Pet Shop.

Nana and the bow wreath the girls made for them.

Laney and her new cottage.
She loves it even though most of the food doesn't end
up in the stove but in the washer instead.

Later on during our visit, we went to Chuck-E-Cheese to celebrate Jayden's 4th birthday (Jason's cousin's oldest son).

Laney driving

All smiles during the party

Ella, be careful! Precious cargo :)

Ella and a big mouse

Kevin and Lisa; Lisa is Jason's cousin

Nancy and Harry, Jason's aunt and uncle

Nana Dean and Laney having fun at Chuck-E-Cheese

Jason and his dad, Stan

Although it wasn't under the best circumstances,
Jason's Dad's whole side of the family was in town. Jason's Grandfather had emergency brain surgery the day after Christmas. A malignant tumor, the size of an orange, was removed and an MRI later showed that the surgeon was able to remove 85-90% of it! Grandpa Stan is such an amazing trooper and when we visited him the day after the surgery, he looked amazing. He had already been joking with family and the nursing staff. Our prayers for a successful surgery were certainly answered!
In this picture is Stan, his sister Shirley, Grandma Lil, his sister Nancy, Jason, his brother Clyde.

Stan and his sister, Shirley

Carol (Jason's Aunt) and Misty (Jason's cousin)

Stan, Lillie (Stan's Mom), Carol (Stan's sister) and Jason

Another day, another Elmo cake.
Since we were in town my mom was nice enough to get Laney an Elmo cake. It was so delicious! It was just us, my parents and my Grandma Jean but it was such a nice celebration of Laney's second birthday!
Thanks for the cake, Mom and Dad.

Do you think this girl likes cake?

Or does this girl like it??

Then Ella decided to show us her muscles...I love when she does this. She gets so intense!

It was such a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. We all got some wonderful gifts but the most important gift was spending time with our family; we are truly blessed to have each of you in our lives! Thanks for all you do for the girls and for us!