Happy New Year 2009

Guess what we found when we woke up this morning? SNOW!! Fortunately, it started to rain and it is mostly gone now.

We had a good New Years Eve. Jana & Gary, Matt, Amanda & Nora and Mark & Debbie joined us for food (way too much!), fun (we played games until 1:30am), and friendship! It was a good ending to a really hard year. The economy is down, we lost a lot of good friends and family this year, and the weather this past two weeks was awful, but when we can spend time with family and friends it helps us to remember that it is people that matter, not things.

May God bless you and yours in this New Year. Let us keep our minds and hearts focused on the real reason for the Christmas season, Jesus.

Blessings!

Monkey fun!

Theo got a barrel of monkeys for Christmas, but guess who found them in the study and decided to take a turn?

Looks like fun to me!

Zoolights 2008

One of my favorite things to do during the Christmas season is to go and visit the Zoolights in Tacoma. The Point Defience Zoo decorates all up with thousands of lights and it is a wonderland to visit. This year was extra special, with all the snow the zoo had been closed since before Christmas. The weather was mild and everyone was able to join in the fun. Penny really enjoyed her very first zoolights, and we all ended the evening with hot chocolate and coffees at Starbucks (that was Memaw and Grandpa Dougs favorite place!)

Whenever we have an outing with the Lewis clan Doug and I alway take pictures of each other taking pictures of each other! I think we are geeks.

Penny had a great time.

Theo wasn't to sure about touching the goats, but Ashley and Deryck loved them!

It is hard to take a picture that does justice to the beauty of all the lights. I always describe it as like being in the middle of a fireworks display without any noise!

More Presents

Memaw and the girls,

Jenn & Aunt Genine called to get in on the fun.

Papa was in charge of assembly, as usual!

The most important things about Christmas, family & Love.

Ashley the dancing princess! Penny can't wait!

Polar bowling and our little Chef. Santa brought Theo a new kitchen, Memaw provided the outfit. Where are the cookies?

Penny loved Christmas, but she seems to be asking is there any more?

Penny & Theo finally gave up.

Merry Christmas to you all, and to all, a good night!

Presents!!

Penny just got right in to the fray and helped anyone and everyone open their gifts. I think it was mostly for the pretty paper.

Deryck got lots of games. We hardly saw him again that day, he was busy trying out everything!

Penny got a new baby and a stroller, I think she will be walking on her own by next week! She took off and just kept on going!

Deryck and Uncle Andy sure do like Ashley's Dance Pad!! I know they played on it a lot more than she did!! She was spending her time on more scholarly pursuits.
I think she will be a reader rabbit!

Our kitchen was quickly turned into a very small soccer field-----look at that form! Score!!

Christmas 2008

Our family Christmas was celebrated this year on the 27th. As a memaw and papa, we think it is very important for grandbabies to wake up in their own warm little beds. How else can one dream of sugarplums? So we spent Christmas morning at home and then ventured to Tacoma to join with Jim, Michelle, Ashley and Deryck. Daniel and the Kramer family for a tasty ham dinner and lots of fun games. On our way back home, we stopped for dessert at the Lewis home and checked up on the antics of Penny and Theo. Penny was already snoozing, but Theo was still going strong!
On Saturday, we got up early and started making soup and breads. Just around noon, a very special visitor stopped by to say Hi!
Theo's first words to him were "did you eat my cookies?"
Penny liked Santa and Mrs. Claus

Theo, would only walk by him. He would talk, but no way was he going to let Santa and Mrs. Claus touch him!
Ashley and Deryck are old pros at the Santa sitting! Everyone got to have their picture with Santa, except Uncle Daniel. He got a tin full of coal!!
Good looking Kids!

Christmas 2008

So, on our family "Christmas eve" Theo got to open his gift from Uncle Daniel....rockem' sockem' Robots!! After some very interesting man assembly stuff, they had a very fun time! Penny liked watching, but she also liked tasting Memaw's decorations. Here they are, all ready for bed. Of course, it took a very long time to settle down and sleep. Ah, holidays!