Christmas

We had our usual fun biscuits and gravy Christmas breakfast with the kids.

Gabe made prime rib for dinner.  Des and the girls made ham, scalloped potatoes, roasted carrots, macaroni and cheese, brussel sprouts, salad, and rolls.  It was all delicious.  (Their addition is a work in progress, note the vent pipe in the background.)  We had pie and ice cream and then played a marathon game of "31".

Since they didn't make it up on Christmas Eve, we had a nice day-after-Christmas lunch with Nancy, Katelyn and Colin at Olive Garden. 

Christmas Eve

Robin and Dan hosted another fun Christmas Eve celebration.  Ava's popcorn covered sweater won "most creative" ugly sweater.  Mik won the Ugliest and Robin's was voted the funniest.

Robin had her trivia game and also a bingo game during the gift exchange, which had 36 gifts and took a long while to finish.  

Two of my favorite guys.

The kids had a wild time with the cellophane ball game.

It was so sweet when Josie greeted Santa with a hug.

Harper and Ava endured Santa's teasing about possible boyfriends.

They liked their Santa gifts.

At Cathy's urging the girls reenacted a song they performed on Christmas Eve 2006.

They weren't thrilled to do it but it was very funny, especially when Mik added his special touch at the end.

Even baby Kennedy wore a Christmas sweater.

 

Alissa and Parker

We had a fun time Saturday night celebrating at Alissa and Parker's reception at the Hotel Monticello.

Denice made their cake and cupcakes.

Rielee and Macee gave toasts.

And the happy couple thanked everyone for coming.

The girls got me into the photo booth.

Ava and Harper requested the "Cha Cha Slide" and they all danced to it.

 

The Daily News

 

Elf Float

 

The Country Cousins were back together again for the Lighted Parade in Castle Rock.

Cale and Rick made a roof for this year's float, but it didn't rain like last year.

All the kids looked so cute in their elf costumes,  so did Cale and Erika and baby Kennedy.

Harper stayed on the float to take care of Josie while Ava and the big kids passed out candy.

Gingerbread houses, Christmas-opoly

I bought these houses thinking they were cute and different. The girls liked them but it took a long time to decorate and assemble them.

Christmas-opoly is a fun game.  We played it Friday night-Papa was winning but then Harper managed to beat him.

Rielee came over to play with us Saturday night, Papa won.

 

Kelso volleyball state

Rielee being introduced at the start of their play-in game Friday morning, a win over Monroe.

They lost to Mead in the afternoon and beat Gig Harbor in the evening.  

Celebrating with Mom after their first win.

A big hug from Mom after they beat Lake Washington.

What a great finish to her senior year of volleyball, coming in as a 15 seed and going home with 7th place!

 

Papa's 80th

We had a great time Saturday at Papa's 80th birthday party at Papa Pete's.

Lots of family came to help him celebrate.

Ava and Harper came up to spend the night and watched a movie with Rielee.

Ava soccer, Josie Halloween

Saturday afternoon we took the girls to Tigard for Ava's game then they came home with us to spend the night.  We watched Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle, it was really funny.

                                         

Monday's playtime with Josie, she was calling Daddy.

She was our only trick-or-treater but she was the cutest ever!

Kelly sent a picture of the girls, Ava was Wednesday Addams, Harper was Iron Man.

 

Happy Halloween Mr. Skull

Josie loves the Halloween decorations-she evens hugs the skulls and skeletons.