Kailei’s Name in Chinese

After-Christmas Shopping

Always enjoy my after Christmas shopping and movie with my friend Judith.  We buy each other a Hannakuh and Christmas gift, get our yearly calendars, search for bargins, have lunch and grab a movie. I've lost track how many years we have been doing it, but I hope the tradition continues.

Archer Christmas

There aren't a lot of Christmas pictures this year as Tracie requested we not take them  It was a hard Christmas for her and her family. Late last night they came home to a sick dog.  They ended up in the emergency room and sadly had to put her favorite dog down.  With no sleep and lots of tears they made it over to Grammy's and we made the best of the day.  It is always hard to lose a pet and this was unexpected.  I felt horrible, but I was glad we were all together.  We missed having Caroline and Mark there as they spent Christmas in Scotland and we missed Kevin's crew, but hope they will all be there next year.

Keara’s Homemade Gifts

Keara shared her talents with us yet again this Christmas.
From puzzles to knitted scarves to picture boxes to books
about the meaning of Christmas, coasters and gnomes... we loved them all.

Kailei’s Homemade Gifts

Kailei is following her sister's footsteps making Christmas gifts. This year she did a lot with paint. Painting ornaments, pillow boxes, records, and keepsake boxes. She surprised us all.

Christmas Morning

We all had a great Christmas morning.  I woke the girls and made sure to film them coming down the stairs.  While the excitment is tempered with teenage attitude I think they secretly like the tradition.

Kailei was excited to get a label maker this year.  Pretty soon you will walk into her room and see labels on everything I fear.  She got some boots, wax seals and a wacom drawing pad.  Keara got a comforter, a laptop, a pet carrier, and of course some books. Zeb got a ring camera system and a firecube.  I got an Apple watch.  It was a good Christmas for everyone. Of course, our favorite gifts were the ones the girls made for us.