New Year's Eve 2009

I got a camera for Christmas and couldn't

quite figure how to focus- so some of

these pictures are a bit blurry.

Max smiles because he is sharing his first

New Year's Eve with his cousin Beckett.

Beckett loves his Good Night Book but Max

promises not to go to Bed until Midnight.

On New Year's Even we played games

And some more games!

At midnight we blew horns.

We popped fireworks.

Beckett ate the horns.

Kalia, John, & Emma celebrating.

Emma & Kalia making lots of noise.

Marlu, Ryan, & Virginia creating lots of sound.

Randy & Kristie joined us.

Cecily took lots of pictures of Beckett

eating things that weren't food.

Beckett Celebrating with Uncle Eric playing with him.

Lots of New Year's revelry!

Eric & Max merrymaking!

Beckett, Ryan, & Cecily - 1st New Year with Beckett.

Eric, Joanna, & Max - First New Year with Max

Chris & Barry - Barry really loves the puzzles!

Virginia, Kalia, Emma, Max, Marlu, & John.

Happy New Years Everyone!

Marlu, Ryan's Grandma, invited us over

to her Mansion at Liberty Square to enjoy

fun festivities for the New Year!

Thank you Marlu for the Great Food,

Fun Games, and all of the

Merrymaking horns & fireworks!

We totally enjoyed ourselves

...as you can see!

Christmas Grandkids

Max loved Christmas!

At Breakfast Beckett really liked the syrup!

The syrup kept Beckett very happy while
the adults ate.

There were some clementines sitting on
the table by him and he grabbed one
& enjoyed it.

Alexis liked her bumbo tray.

Max gathered all of the toys and played happily.

Beckett & Alexis chatting about old times.

Alexis in her usual smile.

She's a Little Cupcake!

The Bennetts invited the Jenkins & Mitchells
for Sunday Dinner.

It was good to be with Family this Christmas.
We are truly blessed and thank the
Lord for all that he has given us.

Christmas Night 2009

On Christmas night we went to the
Jenkins for Christmas Dinner!

Beckett & Max showed up in the same
Penguin shirt! Oh no!

We played Clue Charades again!
It is very fun!
Cecily is acting out something!

Barry & Eric try to guess what
someone is acting out.

Marlu, Ginger, Alexis, Mark, & Deserae
wondering what the clue is.

Thanks Jenkins for a memorable evening!

Bumbo, Bumbo! Who has the Bumbo?

What is a Bumbo Baby Seat?
"It is a snug & cozy environment for a baby.
This revolutionary infant chair is uniquely
designed according to the baby's posture. It
enables the baby to sit upright all by himself.
It is suitable for babies as soon as they can
support their own heads unaided until they
can get out of the seat on their own. This
award winning infant chair is manufactured
to the highest safety standards from
low density foam material, which makes it
lightweight & portable. It is soft &
comfortable for the baby, hygenic & nontoxic.
It is durable & easy to clean. "
Thanks to the Bumbo site for this information!
So that is what a Bumbo is!

Three Bumbos showed up under
our tree this year with
3 treasured grandchildren in them!

We were pleasantly surprised!

Alexis & Max seemed to like their Bumbos.

Max liked talking to Dad
while relaxing in the Bumbo.

Beckett thought the Bumbo was a horsey.

But then it happened.
Max didn't like the Bumbo!

Then Alexis joined Max in
being unhappy in the Bumbo.

Alexis was wondering why she ever asked
Santa for a Bumbo!

Pretty soon they all joined in being very
uncomfortable in their
'comfortable & soft' Bumbo! :(

Merry Christmas 2009!

Christmas morning brought lots of presents.
This year we decided to do a homemade
Christmas.We drew names and made
Christmas Gifts for the people that we chose.
Chris cross stitched 'Family' and then
Lynda & Steve Orme framed it.
Deserae said she was glad to get a
magnetic board because her fridge was
running out of room!

Joanna made Chris this cute
'Grandkids' plaque.
It says, "Grandkids Life's Greatest Joys"
Along the bottom are magnets so I
can put pictures of the darling ones.

More opening presents

Max sitting in his new Bumbo Seat

Barry in his gift of magnetic glasses.
Too bad they were way too small for him!


Alexis in her new Bumbo Seat

Cecily opening gifts

Beckett found his favorite toy.
It's a bag that he likes to touch & kick!

This year we chose names in our family
& made each other gifts.
Cecily made Joanna a
Family Home Evening Board.
Joanna made Chris a Grandkids magnet board.
Barry made Mark huckleberry jam.
Mark made Ryan his wonderful cookies,
peanut butter bars, and Brazilian candy
called brigadeiras.
Deserae made Ginger some 'Alexis' magnets,
gave her an 'Alexis' ornament, & painted
some ornaments and a picture frame with a
picture of Alexis.
Ginger made Cecily a beaded watch
& a wall organizer.
Joanna & Eric compiled some family
pictures for Barry and made
him a picture book.
Ryan made Eric's band,
Anodyne Red, a website.
Christine cross stitched 'Family'
and had the Ormes frame it and
make it into a magnetic board.
We can't wait for next year to see what
creative juices flow from everyone!

Alexis all decked out for a Christmas Party!


Beckett chewing on Dad's fingers.

Mom & Beckett loving each other.

We had a Great time having all the
family home together this year!