Baking Day

We had our annual Christmas baking day with the Zollmans and Meyers. Of course, we went to Nana's for our special day.

This isn't even half of the finish, plated product.

Jello popcorn was heeping over. I love the colors. It's also one of my favorite treats now. Imagine that. Laura likes something that is not covered in chocolate.

Ty was a great babysitter while I helped in the kitchen.

Nana and Ruby took a time out to do some laundry.

Ruby liked her new playpen.

Nana, Nana, Nana. :)

Trev andNana made little candy molds.

And yes, we all spent the whole day eating. Who wouldn't.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXXwtFWpAI8&feature=player_embedded

Rolled Over

Ruby rolled over for the first time today!!!!!!! She did it all herself, from start to finish!!!!!!

Christmas Season

I love Christmas!!! I probably love a little more now because I don't work a full time job outside of the home and so I am more free to make things and find fun activities to occupy my time and Ruby's time. For instance, Mindy, Ruby and I went to Breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning. We had a fun time and Ruby...

met Santa. She was fascinated with this man in red. She just looked him up and down. It was fun to watch.

We love Aunt Mindy.

Then, the Zollmans introduced Ruby and I to the Bethlehem exhibit at Fairview Missionary church in Angola. AMAZING!!!! They had everything. First we sat and listened to live music while we waited to enter the exhibit. Then we entered Bethlehem on the morning after Christ was born. As we entered we saw the three kings planning their trip in a distant land. Then we met the shepherds who visited the babe the night before. The head of household signed the census and then payed our taxes before entering the city. Then we walked through the Bethlehem market place. There were slaves, beggars, dancers, roman soldiers, and merchants. It was AMAZING!!! The floor was covered in sand and they had live animals. At the end we were greeted by the inn keepers and directed to the manger. Then we saw baby Jesus and his parents in a dark room with a single light on their family. AMAZING!!! Have I said that enough?! I loved it. In fact, I went back the next day with the Patterson clan. They loved it too. If you are interested and want to put it on your calendar for next year the dates are December 4 and 5. It is already on mine. AMAZING!!!

Yummmm....

I gave in and started Ruby on cereal. She couldn't stop giving me that look at supper every night. You know, the look that says, "Mommy why aren't you feeding me?" She loves it.

The first time Sam put Ruby in her high chair I cried and wouldn't talk the rest of the evening. I can't believe that she is getting so big. It's so sad and wonderful at the same time. Now she loves sitting and playing in her high chair while I cook or clean in the kitchen.

We are so blessed to have such a healthy, beautiful and happy baby.

Say hello to the camera.

Here is a video of Ruby's first bites of cereal. We gave it to her on Thanksgiving. We figured this way she could join in the feast.

Texas Thanksgiving

Peeling Thanksgiving potatos is a family event.

We had an eventful Thanksgiving with the Skinners. While waiting for the turkey to get done we noticed that there was water gushing out the back of the house. Mike went inside and found that the toilet had been overflowing for more than an hour. Sam and Mike worked hard to suck up all of the water on the tile and then from the carpet. Mike later said that he was very grateful for having a reason to get the shopvac that he has always wanted.

Sarah and the boys moved all of the stuff out of the wet closet out into the hall, including a sleeping Lydia. We finally ate our Thanksgiving meal a few hours later.

OMG!!! So I took over 150 pictures on our trip to Texas to see the Skinners so this is a really long blog. Here are the two girlies enjoying a Thanksgiving movie.

Which one is showing more?

Downtown in Tyler.

Outside the train museum. Todd wasn't feeling photogenic.

Let's weigh the baby.

Ethan is counting to see if there are really 101 Dalmations.

We visited a wildlife museum that also had an old fashion general store in it. Lydia was in awe of the candy display. She screamed when her mother had to pull her away to move on to another exhibit.

Zollman General Store.

The pictures are out of order. Here are the Skinner train engineers in training.

We really enjoyed the train museum. A train even went by while we were there. A Tyler native told his wife that he never had an electric train growing up, so his wife bought one for him for Christmas one year and put it under the tree. That sparked an expensive and extensive collection that now fills this old train station as well as another storage building in town. Don't even think about it Sam! :)

Lydia was not having fun at the Train Museum.

Introducing the new Wildlife Museum exhibit...Ruby Ann Zollman.

Watch out Brandon!

Nobody throws a party like the Monkeys.

Do we blend in?

What a beautiful family. We love you Skinners. Thanks for having us.