An Early Christmas

My step-sister Shaun, her daughters (Ashley, Erica, and Aliyah) and her grandson (Joshua) live a few hours away.  They came up a couple of weekends ago, to celebrate Christmas early with us. 

I don't have nearly enough pictures of Shaun and the girls, but I guess that's what happens when you have such an adorable toddler, with a stellar smile and only 6 teeth, running around. 

Here's Mom and Joshua.

Joshua and Papa giving kisses.

Ashley, Erica, Joshua and Sherry

Ashley, Erica and Joshua with his killer smile!

Apparently if Ash holds Joshua up like this, he runs in place....totally cracked me up.

Stephen managed to capture some baby time for a few minutes.

Clyde playing "Where's Joshua?"

Iris and Joshua cooking.

Clyde pretending to try to catch Joshua.

Papa with lovely Shaun and my gorgeous neices.

Joshua enjoyed his clothes WAY more than any toddler I've ever seen.

Joshua is exceptional with technology!

Stephen and Clyde working on the electricity set that Shaun and the girls got Clydie.  They got the girls crafty stuff, but I haven't taken a pic yet.

Aliyah, Sherry, Lucy and Iris playing Chinese checkers.

Lucy and Joshua.

We had so much fun, we don't get to see them nearly enough!

Thanksgiving Afternoon

Thanksgiving afternoon, Nana, Sherry, Stephen, the kids and I took off toward Grandad and Grandmom's house to see them, Dyan, Brent, and Bobby.

You might think these pics look more like Halloween pictures than Thanksgiving...that's because the kids wanted their aunts, uncles and grandparents who hadn't seen them in their costmes to see.  That, AND Grandmom's famous trick-or-treat around the house.

Bobby and Lu as Lucille Ball

Dyan and Iris as the Snow Queen

Grandad and Clyde as a minion

Grandmom and kids

Nana and kids

Dyan and Lu playing on tablets

Clyde the taco...must have been cold

Iris looking worried during Looney Toons

Iris creeping up on Grandad

Nana and Lu on a walk

Grandad, Grandmom and Nana as hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil....not in that order ;)

Clyde upside down :)

Thanksgiving Morning

Thanksgiving morning, Stephen' mom, aka-Bobbi, aka-Nana arrived from North Carolina.  Shortly after her arrival, we all took off for a long 5 minute voyage, to my Aunt Rita & Uncle Allen's house.  I really don't see most of these relative often at all, so I have to post a lot :)

Nana with Clyde & Iris

Mom, my aunt Rita, Sadie, and my aunt Sissy

Iris and Papa

Mom and Salem, my cousin's baby

Sherry and Clyde

Lucy making Salem laugh

Sissy, Sadie, and Baby Evan

Barry, April and Baby Evan

Uncle Ricky with my girls

These are my youngest first cousins: Shane, Joshua, and Brenna.  My oldest first cousin is in his 40s, but Brenna is Lucy's age.  :)

My Uncle Roy and I

My cousins Barry and Sadie

Lucy, Aiden, Clyde and Iris

Stephen and Nana

Mom, Sherry, Lu and I

My Uncle Wayne, Aunt Yolie and Aunt Peggy

people eating

Fun had by all!  Thanks Rita & Allen!!

Daddy @ the Zoo Too

Boy!  Am I behind, or what?!  And during such a happening time!!

I'm going to rewind and catch up... so here goes...

I know that I do way to many posts with us visiting the local zoo, but it's small and we go there quite often, so we feel like we know the animals and they are ours :)

BUT, Stephen hasn't been there since they added many new exhibits and  animals, so we were very excited that he was going to come with us!!  So I had to include a few pics from this special event...

Lucy and her tamarins...

Stephen and the kids with one of the new jaguars.  Previous to these two, they had the same one from when I was a little girl, she just recently died. 

It appers that she's snarling at Clyde in this picture, but she was actually closing her mouth from a yawn...woops...bad timing.

Lucy shockingly posed for a picture with a REPTILE!! ( I personally enjoy reptiles.)

Iris and Clyde with the baby gators...

Lucy tucking close to Daddy while peering reproachfully at the snakes.

Lu and Clyde with the new sloth while she's eating...this was probably Stephen's favorite of the new animals, his previous being the snow leopards.

Some Monkeys :)

Stephen and the goat.