The Christmas card shot
Looking at the tree (and Daddy)
Gabi's dance pose
We celebrated with Michael's family the Sunday before Christmas because his dad and uncle had to work Christmas Eve (and Christmas Day), and both his parents worked Christmas weekend.
Our family sitting in our new chairs
Annabelle learned to say "tree"
Annabelle giving Lola a kiss
Gabi's princess chair
Gabi trying on her hat and gloves
Bella cuddling her leopard
My stylish coat
Bella wrapped in a ladybug towel
Christmas Eve we drove to Texas in time to watch Notre Dame [finally] win a bowl game, and then to celebrate with my family on Christmas Day.
Family portrait at church on Christmas Day
Gabi examining the poinsettias
Gabi admiring the nativity scene
Our girls slept in on Christmas morning until about 9 AM. Gabi was excited to see that Santa had come, and she was very careful not to step on Santa's snowy footprints. Gabi pulled out Disney princess stickers from her stocking and proceeded to make up a very imaginative game based on the characters in the stickers which involved much narration and occupied all her attention such that I don't think she even looked in the rest of her stocking until after church.
Our family at my parents' house
Just like last year, once she opened a present, Gabi wanted to play with her new toy and could not be coaxed to put it down, even to open another present. You'd expect most children to show interest when you offer another present, but it's great that Gabi likes to enjoy each gift. Additionally, Gabi decided that her name is "Gabriella Christine" and not "Gabi" -- and she absolutely refused to open any present addressed to "Gabi." We had to get out a pen and write "Gabriella Christine" on each tag before she would even consider giving it a second look. So we ended up with a few presents left unopened (even a few days later).
Now that's a real box!
Michael needed the drill to open his big present (while Annabelle sat on it) -- a display case for all his martial arts belts.
Bella's box of block books
(small board books that can also be building blocks)
Bella reading one of her new books
Bella's smile
My brother Stephen and his wife Alicia moved to the Dallas area this summer. Alicia (and her sister) are excellent interior decorators, so their apartment is super-cute.
Visiting Stephen & Alicia's apartment
We also met up with my cousin Jennifer and her family (parents, husband, and six children) to go bowling one evening.
Bella saying "ball"
Our cousins Kaitlyn and Timothy
Cousin Benjamin
Cousin Jonathan
Bowling Team 1
Scott, Jennifer, Jonathan, Ryan, and Timothy
It was down to the last frame, and these guys won. Ryan had the highest score overall, but Michael was just 3 points behind him. The last team was at a disadvantage because they only had four players, although Bella did join them for their team photo. (Bella and Kaitlyn didn't actually bowl, obviously.)
Bowling Team 2
Jessica, Benjamin, Melissa, Michael, and Gabi
Bowling Team 3
Harvey, Josh, Jane, and Karen (plus Bella)
The night before we left Texas, Scott's girlfriend Amy drove into town and spent some time with us.
Amy reading with Gabi
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