Christmas 2011 Part II

I spent the week of December 21st with the Galyons in Broomfield.  This was the first Christmas day I had spent with them in over 10 years!  I apologize in advance for all of the pics but I was just so excited to have posing subjects! 

Both the Hirsts and Galyons had elves who were sent by Santa to keep track of the kids for the holiday season.  The one below, Sparkle,  must have had a pretty rambunctious basketball game the night I got there, as he seems to be resting in the netting.

Sparkle hid candy canes on Christmas Eve before heading back to the North Pole. The search for the canes lasted for several days and ended when Alex, Aubrey and I were home together. I was upstairs putting Aubrey to bed when I heard absolute quiet from downstairs.

Gaga: Alex, are you okay?

Alex: I’m fine.

Gaga: What are you doing?

Alex: I just found a candy cane.

Gaga: Oh, good. Where is it?

Alex: At the top of the tree. The broom isn’t working!

Needless to say, I swooped a bewildered Aubrey up and went flying downstairs before the heavily laden tree was toppled. From a normal 5 year old this wouldn’t be so surprising but from Alex it was a shocker.

Both Alex and Aubrey LOVED having their pictures taken.  After each set of pics, they would come charging back to me to see how they looked. 

 

Dressed up for the annual extended Galyon family Christmas Eve movie – The Muppets. 

Aubrey’s elf dress.

Alex said grace for Christmas dinner.  She thanked God for sending Jesus and his blessings.  Even her heathen Gaga was touched!

Aubrey’s “smile” is really more of a pained look associated with “what’s this in my mouth”.

Eric and Alex constructed the most amazing marble structure.

Aubrey on the move!

Jamie worked at a Halloween costume store and was able to stock up the kids with some great costumes.  Alex, aka Ariel, is amazed that her tower is still standing with her destructo sister around.

Kids and Christmas, what a great combination!  I loved my time with all of the kids AND their parents.  Wonderful to hear Aubrey call out “GAGA, GAGA, GAGA” when she saw me and to have Alex jump up in my arms.  The only thing that was missing was Papa!