A Christmas Collage - Cousins of Course!

Some Cali Christmas

We spent the week prior to Christmas in California visiting Leah's family. We had a great time, on of the highlights might be laughing at the super tired kids play with the laundry basket for almost an hour the night before we left. They were super amused by that thing. We got to spend some good time with Leah's brother Dan. Sam likes his Uncle Dan.
Grandpa took the kids on a couple 'walks' (to the neighbors on the sidewalk) and they loved every minute of it. Maggie even wore her apron out on her walk.

Maggie got a shopping cart for Christmas (among other things)...although I think Sam has put more miles on it already than she has. They also got several puzzles that they LOVE...but you wouldn't know that by the faces. They are in a stare at the camera faze. No smiling allowed....apparently.

We had a great week and got back to Portland in time to put everything away and spend Christmas Eve at our house- trying to recover from the drive. The kids did great, but they way back always seems longer than they drive down. :-)

A little Christmas Teaser

Maggie (and Sam) received a kitchen from Santa....(aka G&G Viertell.) Thanks! They love it! Here they are discovering it on Christmas morning. Maggie on Christmas Eve in her 'Norwegian Cruise Line' hat she snagged from Gma Viertell's house.
Eric is enjoying a little treat our hispanic neighbors brought us. It's a fried dough dipped in a super sticky- and very yummy- honey syrup of sorts.

A Christmas Quote

We are in California visiting Leah's family this week (and having a great time!). I'll post pics when we get home, but for now here is a little teaser:

Leah's mom says about Maggie's appearance after BBQ beef sandwiches for dinner tonight: "She has meat in her HAIR. What a messy little girl you are."

Random Sam

Here are a few random pics of Sam from last night. What a boy!

Merry Christmas to us! Eric and I decided that the best gift to ourselves this Christmas would be a new mantel for the fireplace. It didn't have one previously and looked rather unfinished. But boy oh boy, do we feel fancy with this thing up! (we even finished it ourselves...!)

 

The Sam Show

Silly face on a silly boy What is wrong with this picture?
 

The Maggie Show

Very funny face, eh? A woman of many accessories, part 1
and...part 2
 

Pictures only a mother could love?

Okay, so I do realize that these are simply pics of two kids on a suitcase. But I like them. This first one is just proof that when you put your mind to it- you can do almost anything. Including fit you and your sister on a suitcase together.
This is Sam's camera face. I think it's cute.
I think the kids look kindof scary in this one....
And the best for last: I think we should title this one "Maggie: the suitcase model".