Holiday Pics, Part III

And the last of our 2010 holiday pics!

We flew out to Dallas on Christmas Eve, and then rented a car and drove to Tyler, about ninety minutes east, to meet my family at my mom's house. It was the first time Beck's aunts and uncles and cousins had seen him since we had moved to Albuquerque back in May!



We started our time together by, of course, making cookie dough for Christmas cookies! We usually make the dough and let it sit overnight before frosting them the next day. The recipe is my dad's, and we have enjoyed re-starting this tradition during the past couple of years.

The cookie cooks.



Making it work.



Checking it twice.



And enjoying it.



The little guy definitely had a fun time with everyone. We all stayed at my mom's house, so there was always something going on for him to check out.

















Oh, so much fun!









The kids enjoyed working with art supplies at the kitchen table. Beck had six cousins there!



Sophie, the oldest, is nine. She definitely has some amazing small-kid-wrangling skills!



And she got a new camera for Christmas, so she's developing her photography skills. Although, it's a digital camera, so she's not really "developing" anything, but...you know what I mean.



All the kids opening gifts at one time was quite the scene.





It was hard work, as Macy would tell you.





Gran with her seven grandchildren!



And Gran with Beck. We love these pictures. :)



And then it was time to bake the Christmas cookies and frost them! The kids really enjoyed this (and so did we!).



Lots of activity in the kitchen.



Mmmmm . . . so good . . . and so fun!





Beck shows Uncle Joey his mastery of "the point."



Aunt Steph and Sophie show off their masterpieces, as well!





So fun . . .



. . . and so tasty!







Hart, Tish and Joey's youngest, turned three on December 27, so we enjoyed some more fun celebrations!





Tish, Gran (Mom), Stephen, and me. We really enjoyed having our families together for Christmas. It was very special for Stephany and me to have Becker with us this year. It was such a great time.



We cherish our time with our families, and this was a great holiday for us. It was so wonderful to celebrate as a family of three this year.

Nathan