Christmas Eve---After Dinner

We opened gifts.  The children had drawn names, but, somehow, most of the boys wound up with Mizzou gear!  (Grandpa was already wearing Mizzou)

 Then, it was time for the annual Gingerbread House building.  This year, we used graham crackers.  We never remember how crazy it gets because the kids are so engaged most of the time.

 We alway forget how much adult intervention is needed. . .

And how much gets eaten along the way.

Here are some great ideas on making a strong gingerbread house---Click here.

But, when else can you have an activity that develops those engineering skills, is creative, tastes good and entertains kids (and parents) with no one getting hurt?

Christmas Eve Before Presents

 We all met at Platte Woods Methodist for worship, occupying two rows.  Then we went back to Lewises' for festivities beginning with a dance "competition".

The Metallic Girls

Taco Boys

The Judges

A Surprise Entry

The Winner!

An early gift of Great-grandma Louise's dolls

Cleaning up to get ready for presents

Traditional Family Photo

All I want for Christmas is

. . . a photo of my grandchildren all together.

oops, missing one

Sam, can you wake up?

Please let this be the last photo

The 6 year-olds get the giggles

Great photo----Roman, really?

Someone is getting fussy

If Sam is going to cry, the rest of you cry on the next one.

Nice photo, Sam!

Garden Glow

Botanical Garden at Night--indoors

 Usually when I go to the Missouri Botanical Garden around Christmas, I visit the train exhibit (click here)  Here is another year at the Gardenland Express (click here), but this year they had a special outdoor exhibit in addition to the Gardenland Express.  Shaw's Garden was decorated for an outdoor, light-filled walk. Above were lanterns in trees near Shaw's mausoleum.  I was surprised that we also got a tour of Shaw's Home pictured below.  Bonfires along the walk helped warm us up and were available to fix s'mores, too.

Thanksgiving in St. Louis

 Puppet shows, dance parties, dress ups and video games---it must be Thanksgiving at Grandma's house.

 Uncles, Aunts, cousins, grandparents all feasting and enjoying themselves

 We took some family photos and then it was time to help Grandma and Grandpa with some leaves. . . .and have some fun while doing it.