Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer

I took Valerie to Casa Manana Playhouse to see Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer.
She wore her beautiful Christmas dress. Is this not the sweetest face? Before going in to sit down, she had to check out their tree.

Once we sat down she was very serious about trying to figure out what we were doing here. Once the show started she sat on my lap and was totally enthralled in the show. She clapped really big after every song. When the abominable snowman came on the stage she got so scared. Then when he left the stage she turned around and clapped. Everyone around us started laughing.

Lights on Main Street

Tonight we went to see the lights on Main Street Grapevine. The lights dance to the Christmas music. It was really beautiful. Julia and Valerie had fun dancing on the gazebo. They enjoyed seeing all the beautiful lights and sites.

Dancing Valerie.

Toys for Tots

Tonight we took Julia and Valerie to Wallmart to buys some toys to give to Toys for Tots.

Julia worked hard putting all of the toys in the Toys for Tots box at IHop.

Valerie just enjoyed going to IHop and spending time with her Julia.

Grapevine Christmas Parade

We had a group of 20 go with us to the Grapevine Christmas Parade tonight. We have been doing this for many many years with the same group of people. We think we started when Angela was a Freshman in High School. We go with the Andersons, Kowaskis, Dills and Finleys. Over the years our group has gotten quite large since our children started having children. This year we had Joan's Family, Susan's Family, Lorrie's Family and Amy's Family minus Amy.

Valerie, Kaitlin, Jillian and Julia.

Cousins at the parade together for the first time.

Here is Julia, Angela, Renee and Valerie. We first came to this parade when Angela was Julia's age.

Pretend Camping

Julia wanted to go camping so we took her for a family get together out at her great-grandparents, my parents. Her "everybody" was there and we had a fabulous time.It was a cool, sunny day. Below is Julia, Angela, Valerie and Renee.

Everyone always has fun riding the golf cart. Julia is getting to where she wants to drive. So she sat on Lauren's lap and drove.

Julia wanted everyone to help her make rock castles.

We roasted hot dogs over the open fire. The silly lady with the flower in her hair is my sister, Elizabeth.

We had a great campfire. Julia wanted us to tell ghost stories so we took turns telling her stories. She loved it. PawPaw was the best gitchie goomie story teller.

Baby Valerie is not a baby anymore. She enjoyed being outdoors and getting dirty.

Thanksgiving Day 2010

We started the day out in Fort Worth to watch Renee run in the Turkey Trot. It was cold but very fun getting to see Renee.

Here is the family who came to Thanksgiving Dinner. It is a bi-year ... Angela and Elizabeth's families are with their in laws.

After Valerie had a nap we decided to go to the Gaylord to see ICE. This is what Valerie said when she saw the Gaylord. It was really beautiful.

All bundled up waiting to go into ICE

Renee and Chris had to race down the ice slides.

It was really beautiful. Valerie loved looking at all the sculptures.

She is so bundled up she can hardly walk.

But everything was great when she got a gingerbread boy.

Thanksgiving Pies

Julia loves cooking. So when she arrived this morning and heard we were going to bake pies she was very excited.

We made a pumpkin and pecan pie. She has gotten really good at baking.
So proud of her pies.