Grandma & Grandpa Christmas dolls

Great Grandma H just sent the girls these dolls all dressed up for Christmas.

An Old Letter

My grandma sent this to me recently.

  It's a letter I wrote to her before I could even write my name.

Happy 60th to Grandfather!

Happy Birthday Dad! 
Need any help with that?

Buckin' Shark

Have you ever heard of a buckin' shark?

Swimming is always fun!

Aunt Vicki & Uncle Tim have a fun pool!

Cannonball!!

 

Grandfather always has to join in on the fun!

Fun with G&GH

We had a lot of fun with G&G H - So glad you could come for a visit!

Karis loved having them around. She loved getting up early and finding Grandpa since he's an early bird!

Visitors

My Grandparents came for a visit! Patty and Dan drove them down after their visit at their house and were able to stay for the weekend.

Karis could not wait to see baby Mark. She loves the baby.


Cousin Katie & Karis had fun playing together and especially enjoyed Uncle Dan's horsey rides.

Bedouin

Grandma and Grandfather went to Israel earlier this summer and had a great time. They brought a few things back for everyone. Caleb got a middle eastern "sun hat" of the kind one might expect Bedouin shepherds to wear .

One evening after he got it, I walked into the bedroom of our hotel room and Caleb said,

"Mom, what am I?"


I didn't know, so he told me he was a "Bed O In."

Dresses from Grandma

Grandma made the girls matching dresses, and they wore them to church this past Sunday.

Lots of pink. Caleb didn't mind that his new shirt didn't match!
Thanks Grandma!

Indoor fort

We made this fort a while back for the kids with pvc pipes, and they used blankets to cover it up. My mom and I sewed some curtains for the walls during our Christmas break. I think it turned out great. Thanks, Mom!

Peek-a-boo!

New doll

Thanks to G&GH. They sent Eliana her very own American girl doll. She was so surprised and loves it!!

An Operetta

Grandma, Grandfather & Joanna went out to see Ruddigore by Gilbert and Sullivan. They had a great time. They said it was really good and funny.

Karis & Grandfather

Karis thought it was so fun to spray Grandfather with the fountain!

The biggest kid of the bunch

Having a great time with all the family.

Grandfather's having as much fun as the kids, as you can tell from this picture.

Oh, but it is just a kiddie ride!

Kissable cheeks

Here's another picture from Christmas. Karis is getting some love from Grandma & Grandfather.

Doll Clothes and the Ballet

The girls were very excited when they got a box from Grandma. They already new what was coming in that box - some doll clothes she said she was going to make for them.

Eliana got some pajamas that were made with princess material!!

Joanna got a ballet outfit for her doll. It was very cool to get the box the day that Joanna & I were going to the ballet (we had gotten tickets for her birthday in November.)

We went to see Cinderella performed by the Russian Ballet. Joanna loved it. She sat on the edge of her seat for just about the entire show.

Eliana solves a mystery

Eliana loves Scooby-Doo. So much so that when we are working on a school paper and I ask her to put her name on the top, she has to write Daphne.

Grandfather and Grandma decided to give her something extra special -- a personalized Scooby-Doo book that featured Eliana as the main herione!

Eliana was on cloud nine as Grandfather read to her the story of how she helped Shag, Scoob, and the gang captured and unmask the "polar bear" that had been raiding the ice cream shop. (We had to emphasize to her early on, however, that this time she wasn't Daphne, but herself, in the story!)

The story ends with the gang celebrating Eliana's ingenuity with an ice cream party. We had a real ice cream party of our own for everyone afterward. I think we're going to be reading that book to her a lot!

Grandma & Carriage Crossing

Grandma came in the beginning of November to help Scott and Rebekah out with their new daughter, Chloe. Aunt Patty also came down for the weekend while Mom was here. It wasn't easy getting a picture of all the cousins together, but here's a good one.

One morning we all went up to Carriage Crossing for a late breakfast.

Everything is big at Carriage Crossing. Eliana is ready to dig into her plate size chocolate chip pancakes that she shared with Joanna, Caleb & Mom.

After breakfast, we all shared one of their big cinnamon rolls. They are so big and should not be eaten every week!

Can you tell Caleb enjoyed his share of the cinnamon roll?

Finding seashells at the beach on a cold day

Usually, we visit Boomba and Grandpa's in the summer. Going down to the beach in November this year certainly was a bit chillier!

Karis watched the activity from her vantage point all bundled up inside Joel's coat.

Follow Caleb's footprints down onto the beach with us.

The kids had baggies to collect their seashells and sea glass in. Eliana was all smiles.

Caleb particularly enjoyed throwing large shells and sticks into the waves.

Joanna collected more seashells for her collection.

Time to head home. Too chilly to stay a long time.

Just like me doll

Joanna received her new American doll last week. She just loves her new doll and loves that she could pick one that looked like her - brown hair & blue eyes! Lots of fun and lots of tea parties ahead. Thanks, Grandma!!