Christmas Take One

(For some reason my camera will not release a slew of great pictures taken over Thanksgiving and Christmas. So until I figure out how to crack the secret code or pay the ransom, this is what I've got...)

Call us crazy, but we decided to save some money this year and drive instead of fly to Texas to celebrate Christmas with our families. That's 20 long hours in a car with a two-year-old. And that's only one way. After is was all said and done, we decided that it wasn't as bad as we had thought it would be. But that's probably because we expecting the very, very worse.

First stop, Christmas with DeDe and Poppy and Penelope's cousins, Cade and Ella. I think some form of food was used to bribe the wee ones into posing for this picture.

The cousins enjoying the loot Christmas morning. 

Stories by the fireside with DeDe

Poor Ella got a little beat up during the "Cousins under the Christmas tree" photo shoot.

The older cousins stole Ella's gifts and started Cade's Beauty Shop. All walk-ins welcome. 

After lots more fun family time  (the documentation of which my camera continues to hold hostage), we packed it all up and headed to Dallas to celebrate with my family.

Penelope and Evie and I playing with even more Christmas loot. By this point Penelope thought that every morning she woke up she would be greeted with more presents to open.

Evie and Penelope spent some quality cousin time hanging out in the red wagon in the entry way.

"Might I interest you in a sticker ma'am?"

"Excellent choice."

A trip to the Ft. Worth Zoo

Concerned that the tiger was getting a bit too close.

A rare pic of mother and daughter

Grandma and Grandpa figured out how to get Penelope to smile for a picture

The next crocodile hunter

The women hard at work making Christmas dinner

Patience darling. Good food takes time.

Meanwhile, the others are arguing over who is the greatest pool shark. Clearly Grandpa thinks he is.

But T.J. begs to differ

A trip to Uncle T's and Aunt Ali's new digs and neighborhood park. Who says you're to old to go for a swing? (Apparently Uncle T still needs someone to push him.)

Penelope and Evie hanging out on the slide.

A partial view of the growing baby bump.

Forget Christmas presents. Grandpa found the way to Penelope's heart.