If you enjoy reading this blog, you may also like to read my Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories blog. You can also read about the family stories in my novels at The Homeplace Series blog. You can sign up for e-mail reminders.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

More Christmas Day photos, from Annette's camera

Here are a few more photos of Christmas Day, in Austin, taken on Annette's camera... I get in a few more of her photos!  ;-)

Here is better photo of Alex with his guitar, with his uncle Larry in the background.


Here, I got a t-shirt from Annette and Larry with a Thomas Jefferson theme!


Here is a really nice photo of Kaylee playing with her new doll house, "The Loving Family" model.


Nancy got a nice "Welcome" sign with bears on it from Annette and Larry; she had picked it out in Estes Park, Colo, last fall, I believe. Very nice!  ;-)


I joined Ben and Alex for the first "adult" game of Monopoly for Alex. It was fun!  ;-)


Here Arrion is reading some new books with Kaylee, by the tree.


Here, Nancy has Alex practice reading to her. That is part of his 'assignment' for the holiday break


It was another very good day!  ;-)

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas morning in Austin 2010

Cameras are out and packages are awaiting being opened... Santa made his deliveries!


Kaylee really liked the van she got from Allison to go along with Lovely Family doll house set.


Alex got a Sorry Slider game from Allison.


Alex with Grandpa and his Knotts Berry Farm preserves from the Rathsack family. Yum!


Larry got both a jacket and a scarf... and some socks! Lots of books, as well.


Annette helps Alex look at this artist set. He got lots and lots of Lego sets, as well!


Kaylee paused for a bite of banana bread, while she listens to Christmas CD on her new "pedal" princess CD player!


More to follow... wanted to get these up early!

Merry Christmas!  ;-)

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve Day in Austin

Cooler today, and a good solid rain early in the afternoon. Ben and Arrion said it was the first they had had in a long time!

Annette let Alex open one of his Lego gifts early, so she could help him put them together, before some the other Lego gifts he has requested arrive. These were all people - amazing.


What better way to get ready for the holiday, than baking and decorating cookies. Here Kaylee is helping Arrion.


Annette let Kaylee open a 'baker outfit' for her early gift.


Bob and Janie Bolger, and Lucas Bolger, stopped by in the afternoon for an hour or so on their way to their Christmas Eve church service. We were so glad to see them.


Lucas and Larry posed for me...


Here are Bob and Alex and Ben deep in discussion by the tree. I'll have a few more photos that others took to add, later, I expect.


I read Alex his beautiful book of "The Night Before Christmas" tonight, on Christmas Eve. Neat!

It was a very good day!  ;-)

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Austin Holiday visit second post

Weather a little cooler, but still really nice. Here, I'll feature the grandkids outside, again. New since our last visit is Kaylee riding a bike. She rides down the driveway, on the sidewalk, and up the neighbor's drive and back. Neat!




Alex and Kaylee both like to ride their scooters, as well. Alex demonstrates. In one photo, below, you can see Kaylee's helmet at the far right, behind the bush, going to neighbor's drive.




Annette grabbed my camera an caught this photo of me reading to the kids. The book has something about a 'claw' and we were making that sign...


We had another great day!  ;-)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

First couple of days in Austin, for Christmas

The weather here has been unusually warm. In Holliser we've had highs in the low 40s for few weeks. It was high 70s as we arrived. It has backed off a little, but very pleasant.

Here, Ben is playing T-Ball with Kaylee:










The sock of the more modern kids...






Nancy and Alex playing a snowman game on the Mac:



Alex with completed Snowman.

We've been having a great visit!  ;-)