Last Christmas

The second part of Christmas Day was spent out at the Pisor house with lots of family and lots of food.  We started things off with a gift exchange game and snacks.  Eric made some delicious samosas that were a big hit.  The kids also opened a few special gifts.  Before people began leaving for other celebrations, we took some good group shots, which you will see below.  Next we sat down for a feast that included BBQed turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffed mushrooms.  To wrap things up we played some games together as a family before everyone headed home into the rainy evening. 

Sani received his very own trike:

 Cadence has been asking for a "boy angel doll" for Christmas.  When pressed for more details, all she could really add was that it was something she had "in her heart".  Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, Oma and Ompa were able to find the very thing:

 Cadence also received a trunk full of princess wear, and as you can see, she knows how to play the part:

 Extreme close up!!!!  Taken by Cadence:

And to finish things off, some nice pix of all who were there that day with almost a century covered by all the ages:

Christmas Morning

After a late night at Granny Mouse's house Christmas Eve, the kids were all tuckered out and didn't get up till well after 9!  I know this will change in a couple of years.  This was ok though as it gave Eric and I some time to start getting ready for the rest of the day.  Cadence got up first, walked out rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, then exclaimed, "It's Christmas!"  Sani got up shortly after and then the fun began:

The delight of children puts magic in Christmas:

 Cadence digging deep for all her loot:

 Sani doing the same:

The kids testing out some of their new things:

 Some of the carnage:

 Cadence was so excited to receive a pogo stick...she'd had her eye on it for a few weeks:

Granny Mouse's House

It's a strong tradition in my family to spend Christmas Eve in Fresno with the Welter Fam.  We had a good time, ate too much good food, and even had a special visitor!

 Cadence scarily excited after getting a gift from Santa:

 Sani pensive with his gift:

 Cadence helping Santa with a few more packages:

 The Aqua Doodle was big hit with "kids" of all ages:

 Ompa helped decorate Sani:

 Anyone who knows my dad knows that this sort of thing comes naturally:

It's hard to see, but one of my Aunt's tagged everyone with glittery pixy dust...Eric's share was mostly in his goatee:

Aunt B's

Our first Christmas celebration was with Eric's sis Brea and her son Gauge the Monday before Christmas.  We made a taco dinner, hung out and exchanged gifts.

Gauge tearing open a gift:

 Brea excited by what she received:

 Uncle Eric and the kids assemble Gauge's new toy:

 The best shot of the cousins I could get:

 Sani picking a winner...what he calls "nose bites"

 What he did with what he found:

A long day

December 17th brought the much anticipated "showtime" for Cadence as she and her preschool class had a special Christmas presentation.  Here she is excited as she exited the car for the show:

 Oma and Ompa joined us there and Ompa recorded the singing:

 Brother was into the singing and did his best to sing along:

 The grand finale was a visit from Santa himself:

 And of course candy canes:

Unfortunately right after this moment Cadence decided to make a run for some cookies, and saw the quickest path would be sliding between a row of chairs and a rather pear-shaped woman.  The woman however did not realize Cadence's plan and turned, hip-checking Cadence straight into the corner of the chair, and she finally landed with a thud on the tile floor.  The result was a gashed eyebrow and busted lip.

 After cleaning her up at the school I told her it was time to go home.  Through sniffles she stated, "but mom, I still want a cookie!".   After getting home I started getting a migraine so I laid down while the kids watched a movie, only to finally realize I should check out Cadence's eyebrow again.  A closer look at home revealed a good sized gash, so I herded the kids to the car as quickly as I could and got her to their clinic just before closing.  A quick look by the doctor confirmed that she would need to visit the hospital for a better exam and stitches.  I left Sani with Eric and then began the drive to Fresno, but stopped at the McD's drive through first for a Happy Meal.  Cadence did quite well waiting at the hospital for her turn, it's amazing what a couple books, some markers and coloring sheets will accomplish!  

 Because of her age, the doctor recommended we use the "papoose" to help Cadence while he cleaned the wound and sewed it up.  The papoose is a contraption she laid on then was wrapped up in it with strong velcro to hold her still.  The nurse and I helped her keep her head straight.  She whimpered throughout the procedure, but was as good as new just a few minutes after, and it didn't hurt that she got a juice box and some stickers from the nurse!

She needed 6 stitches, which came out on the 23rd.  She's healing quite nicely....and hopefully we won't have to go through again.  One set of stitches in 4 years is not too bad, but still one set too many!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

One weekend we braved a little wet weather to pick up a Christmas tree from the ever reliable Home Depot.  The whole family then got into the Christmas spirit to the tunes of Muppet Christmas music.  See some of the results:

Sani concentrating on perfect placement:

 Some of his handiwork:

 Eric topping the tree:

 Cadence taking a breather:

 Ta-daaaa!

 The guys:

We are Fam-i-ly

In early December we celebrated Eric's grandma Kroeber's 80th birthday in Visalia.  Some family even came from out of state, including Grandma Kathy from Oklahoma: 

Grandpa, Grandma and their kids:

 Now with grandkids and great-grands as well, thought not everyone was able to make it:

 Us with Grandma Kathy and Grandma and Grandpa Kroeber:

 Brea, Gauge and fam:

 The great-grands:

Annual Women's Tea

One of our church traditions is an annual tea, this year we held it in early December. Ladies volunteer to decorate a table or two, then we get together, eat and be merry.  I did one table with my mom, and had my Sunday school class help with another. 

Here's one of the tables with some of my helpers:

 Paper bag lanterns composed a centerpiece:

 The other table:

 One lady brought a chocolate fountain for her's and it was a big hit:

 Gotta have dessert!

 A few of the delicious snacks: