Happy 2017

Happy New Year's Eve.

We spent the day in Lakeland visiting Grandma Stott and David and family.

We went to lunch and then a fun center and played arcade games until we won a Gator's basketball that only cost us like $40 dollars.  

Then we can home and spent the evening at home playing Risk.

A picture of the revelry.

Poor bottom of the human tower.

 We then went outside and lit Chinese lanterns and watched our neighbors fireworks.

 Until we almost caught our neighbor's tree on fire.

Happy New Year.

Christmas Eve

 Christmas Eve, the acting crew for the Nativity.

The role of Mary was given to Eliza this year.

Adam was Joseph, Grace and Jacob were shepherds and wisemen.

Merry was the angel and a wiseman.  

Brian was the donkey.  I was the narrator and Papa was Herod.

Ready for Christmas Eve in their new PJs.

Happy birthday Eliza

Happy 4th birthday dear Eliza.

 Don't let her sweet face fool you, she is full of spunk.

 See Exhibit 1.

 See Exhibit 2.

 Oh look there are some ducks.

 She loves all things pink and anything about mermaids.

 She is pretty sure she is going to be a mermaid when she grows up.

Maybe I should take her to Weeki Wachee Springs to see the real mermaids.

 More looking for ducks.

Eliza and her birthday cake.

Huff and puff.

For her birthday we went to build a bear and she picked batman and batgirl costumes for her stuffed animals. 

 

2 weeks before Christmas

All snazzied up in our Christmas wear.

 The cute kiddios.
Our front room is under construction so our festivities had to be move to the back.

  Jacob still is about the same height but his feet keep on growing.

Merry, Merry.

 A lady from church told Grace that she looks like a British soldier in this dress.

I have to tend to agree.

 Adam showing off his 2 front teeth.

Last but not least, little Eliza Jane.

A visit with Santa

 What would Christmas season be without a visit with Santa?

Santa said we had both been extra good.

Poinsettia's at U of F

 Eliza and I went to visit Papa and to see the poinsettia sale at University of Florida.

We picked a beautiful pink poinsettia, hopefully it will grow in our yard.

 We then visited some other greenhouses, most importantly the taxonimist' s succulent collection.

I took some small cuttings to add to my collection.

We also visited Papa's day lilies.

The beginning of December

 To begin December the kids made gingerbread cookies.  

Adam looks particularly thrilled about this.

Excellent kid decorating.

Merry concentrating.

 Eliza supervised while watching kids youtube.

Of course she is the boss.

Only Merry actually liked the gingerbread.

Jacob didn't participate as he had just finished a soccer game and doesn't enjoy crafty schmafty stuff.

On December 2 we went to the parade to see Jacob march in the band playing the baritone. 

The kids collected a ton beads.

 Eliza fell asleep in a bead cage Grace had made for her.

On December 3 Brian and I went to  his work party.

Luckily Grandma Stott was here to hang out with the chitlins.

 Oh yes, and there was more soccer, both Jacob and Grace played.

Grace had a goal and an assist.  Jacob was a mighty defender.

On December 4, Brian worked on his Christmas cards.   Good job Brian.